Method and device for detecting an object in an area radiated by waves in the invisible spectral range

• US 6,353,428 B1
• Filed: 07/23/1999
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gesturetek Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kämmerer, Bernhard, Maggioni, Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spencer, William C.
• Application Number:
  US09/355,168
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/179, 345/180
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386

Abstract

The arrangement detects an object that is irradiated by waves in the invisible spectral range. Infrared illumination is preferably employed in order to recognize an object on a display projected onto an arbitrary surface that is displayed for the user in the visible spectral range and to be able to track the movement of this object. User interfaces produced by a computer can thus be projected onto an arbitrary background. Touch-free inputs can ensue on these user interfaces by moving the hand or with some other input unit, whereby the triggering of an action is coupled to a dwell for a prescribable time over a field linked to a control characteristic.

Claims

1. A system for detection of an object in an area irradiated by waves in an invisible spectral range, the system comprising:

a projector configured such that a video image is projectable onto the area;

a device for emitting waves in the invisible spectral range configured such that the area is substantially illuminated;

a reception device configured such that the reception device registers the irradiated area, the reception device being specifically balanced for an invisible spectral range corresponding to the waves; and

a computer configured with a recognition algorithm, whereby the object irradiated by the emitted waves is detected using the recognition algorithm.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device for emitting waves in the invisible spectral range has at least one infrared light source, and wherein the reception device is at least one camera.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the infrared light source is one of an infrared light-emitting diode and an incandescent bulb with an infrared filter.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the camera has a filter that is transmissive only for infrared light.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the filter of the camera is only transmissive for a spectral range of the infrared light-emitting diode or the incandescent bulb with an infrared filter.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the area is transilluminated from below with infrared light, and the projection surface is implemented reflective in a visible spectral range and is implemented transmissive in the infrared spectral range.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device for emitting waves in the invisible spectral range has at least one device for emission of ultraviolet radiation, and wherein the reception device is at least one receiver for ultraviolet radiation.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device for emitting waves in the invisible spectral range has at least one device for emitting ultrasound, and wherein the reception device is at least one receiver for ultrasound.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device for emitting and the reception device lie on an optical axis.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the area has applied thereto at least one of reflective fabric, reflex films, and specific weave with prism-coated surface.

11. A method for detecting an object in an area, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a video image having at least one field with a function available thereto in the area by a computer, the video image being projected onto a predetermined area;

moving the object into the predetermined area;

irradiating the area by waves whose wavelength lies in the invisible spectral range in order to detect the object;

using a reception device specifically balanced for the invisible spectral range corresponding to the waves to detect the object; and

triggering a function of a field by the object in that the object dwells in the field for a predetermined time.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of moving a mouse pointer associated with the object across the projected area by moving a finger of a user.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of implementing the predetermined area as a canvas.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of implementing the control characteristic as one of a finger of a user, a hand of a user or a pointer.