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Portable remote control device enabling three-dimensional user interaction with at least one appliance

  • US 8,773,512 B1
  • Filed: 06/29/2012
  • Issued: 07/08/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method to enable at least one user interaction made in a three-dimensional hover zone to be recognized by a hand holdable remote control device that creates a detectable event, corresponding to said interaction, useable to remotely control an appliance, the method including the following steps:

  • (a) providing said hand holdable device system with an acquisition system that includes at least a first camera have a first FOV to acquire at least a number N of data points of two-dimensional image information of at least a portion of said user in said FOV, each said camera being attached to said remote control device;

    wherein said at least first camera has a characteristic selected from a group consisting of (i) said camera is a time-of-flight (TOF) camera that acquires three-dimensional image information of at least a portion of said user, (ii) said first camera includes a structured light camera system, and (iii) said camera is a two-dimensional camera that acquires two-dimensional image information of at least a portion of said user;

    (b) processing said at least two-dimensional image information acquired from each said camera at step (a) so as to represent an imaged portion of said user using a set of landmark points sufficient to recognize a gesture made by said user, said processing discarding at least about 90% of said number N data points;

    said landmark points being three-dimensional if said acquisition system includes at least one of (i) a TOF camera, (ii) at least two two-dimensional cameras, and (iii) a structure light system; and

    said landmark points being two-dimensional if said acquisition system includes only one two-dimensional camera;

    wherein said processing has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (i) processing occurs within said remote control device, (ii) processing occurs externally to said remote control device, and (iii) at least a portion of said processing occurs within said remote control device and at least a portion of said processing occurs externally to said remote control device;

    (c) translating each user gesture identified in step (b) to a command to control said appliance, wherein said translating has a characteristic selected from a group consisting of (i) translating occurs within said remote control device, (ii) translating occurs externally to said remote control device, and (iii) at least a portion of said translating occurs within said remote control device and at least a portion of said translating occurs externally to said remote control device; and

    (d) transmitting each said user gesture translated in step (c) to said appliance to control at least one aspect of said appliance, wherein said transmitting has a characteristic selected from a group consisting of (i) transmitting occurs within said remote control device, (ii) transmitting occurs externally to said remote control device, and (iii) at least a portion of said transmitting occurs within said remote control device and at least a portion of said transmitting occurs externally to said remote control device.

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