User interface device
First Claim
1. An user interface device comprising:
- an imaging device which takes an image of an imaging range in which a hand is placed along a predetermined insertion direction;
a tip area detecting module which detects a tip area in the insertion direction from the image taken by the imaging device;
a tip area locating module which locates a position of the tip area in the imaging range and sets a position of the tip area as a tip position;
a verifying module which verifies whether the tip position indicates a position of an actual fingertip based on at least one of a size of the tip area and an area of the tip area; and
an outputting module which outputs coordinates of the tip position as coordinates of the actual fingertip if the tip position is verified as the tip position of the actual fingertip;
whereinthe tip area detecting module uses a first image which is the image taken by the imaging device and a second image which is an image obtained by shifting the first image parallel to the insertion direction, and detects a non-overlapping area generated on a distal end side in the insertion direction between the first image and the second image as the tip area;
the tip area detecting module detects a plurality of non-overlapping areas as potential tip areas, when a plurality of non-overlapping areas are separately detected by inserting a plurality of fingers into the imaging range; and
the verifying module determines whether at least one of the non-overlapping areas is an actual fingertip area or not based on whether a value S/d estimated as a finger width is in a predetermined range or not, where a value S is a total area of the image, and a value d is a sum of distance between each non-overlapping area and an edge of the imaging range, the edge being located on an entering side of the insertion direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user interface device detects a fingertip placed on an imaging range. The imaging range is located or arranged so that a user inserts and place a hand along a predetermined direction. A device detects a tip area corresponding to the fingertip from the imaging range. The device determines whether the detected tip area is a finger or not. The determination can be performed by evaluating a size of the tip area, for example, whether the width is in an appropriate range or not. If the tip area is verified as a finger, a position of the fingertip is calculated. According to the device, it is possible to determine whether it is a finger or not by using a relatively simple algorithm. As a result, it is possible to eliminate objects other than finger and to provide sufficient accuracy for detecting the fingertip.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An user interface device comprising:
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an imaging device which takes an image of an imaging range in which a hand is placed along a predetermined insertion direction; a tip area detecting module which detects a tip area in the insertion direction from the image taken by the imaging device; a tip area locating module which locates a position of the tip area in the imaging range and sets a position of the tip area as a tip position; a verifying module which verifies whether the tip position indicates a position of an actual fingertip based on at least one of a size of the tip area and an area of the tip area; and an outputting module which outputs coordinates of the tip position as coordinates of the actual fingertip if the tip position is verified as the tip position of the actual fingertip;
whereinthe tip area detecting module uses a first image which is the image taken by the imaging device and a second image which is an image obtained by shifting the first image parallel to the insertion direction, and detects a non-overlapping area generated on a distal end side in the insertion direction between the first image and the second image as the tip area; the tip area detecting module detects a plurality of non-overlapping areas as potential tip areas, when a plurality of non-overlapping areas are separately detected by inserting a plurality of fingers into the imaging range; and the verifying module determines whether at least one of the non-overlapping areas is an actual fingertip area or not based on whether a value S/d estimated as a finger width is in a predetermined range or not, where a value S is a total area of the image, and a value d is a sum of distance between each non-overlapping area and an edge of the imaging range, the edge being located on an entering side of the insertion direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An user interface device comprising:
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an imaging device which takes an image of an imaging range in which a hand is placed along a predetermined insertion direction; a tip area detecting module which detects a tip area in the insertion direction from the image taken by the imaging device; a tip area locating module which locates a position of the tip area in the imaging range and sets a position of the tip area as a tip position; a verifying module which verifies whether the tip position indicates a position of an actual fingertip based on at least one of a size of the tip area and an area of the tip area; and an outputting module which outputs coordinates of the tip position as coordinates of the actual fingertip if the tip position is verified as the tip position of the actual fingertip; a display device having a display range which is related to the imaging range by a coordinates system; and a fingertip point displaying module which displays an actual fingertip point on the display range in a visible manner;
whereinthe fingertip point displaying module includes a pointer displaying module which displays a pointer image for indicating the actual fingertip point based on a pointer image data prepared separately from the image, and which does not display the pointer image at the tip area which is not determined as the actual fingertip, the pointer display module includes; a finger direction base setting module which sets a finger direction base on a coordinates plane which defines a displaying position of the pointer image on the display range; and a pointer direction determining module which determines a direction of the pointer image based on the finger direction base and the fingertip point, wherein the pointer displaying module displays the pointer image on the display range so that a longitudinal direction of the pointer image is placed along with the direction determined in the pointer direction determining module and a position of the distal end part of the pointer image is placed on the fingertip point; the finger direction base setting module sets the finger direction base on an outside of the display range, the finger direction base being a wrist position estimated as a position of a wrist, the finger direction base setting module sets a plurality of wrist positions each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of fingertip points determined on the display range, and the pointer direction determining module determines a plurality of directions for the pointer images based on a respective one of pairs of the fingertip point and the wrist position. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification