Motion and gesture recognition by a passive single pixel thermal sensor system
First Claim
1. A system configured to recognize a gesture made by a warm object, comprising:
- a thermal sensor configured to generate a low frequency and/or direct current signal upon receiving thermal energy;
a spatially modulating optic disposed between the thermal sensor and the warm object configured to modulate the thermal energy received by the thermal sensor as a function of an orientation of the warm object with respect to the thermal sensor; and
an electronics unit in communication with the thermal sensor, further comprising;
a memory; and
a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured by the memory to perform steps comprising;
detecting a change in the thermal sensor signal; and
recognizing a characteristic in the thermal sensor signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for recognizing a gesture made by a warm object are presented. The system includes a thermal sensor configured to generate a low frequency or direct current signal upon receiving thermal energy. A spatially modulating optic is disposed between the thermal sensor and the warm object. The optic is configured to modulate the thermal energy received by the thermal sensor as a function of an orientation of the warm object with respect to the thermal sensor. An electronics unit in communication with the thermal sensor includes a memory and a processor. The processor is configured by the memory to detect a change in the thermal sensor signal and recognize a characteristic of the thermal sensor signal.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system configured to recognize a gesture made by a warm object, comprising:
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a thermal sensor configured to generate a low frequency and/or direct current signal upon receiving thermal energy; a spatially modulating optic disposed between the thermal sensor and the warm object configured to modulate the thermal energy received by the thermal sensor as a function of an orientation of the warm object with respect to the thermal sensor; and an electronics unit in communication with the thermal sensor, further comprising; a memory; and a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured by the memory to perform steps comprising; detecting a change in the thermal sensor signal; and recognizing a characteristic in the thermal sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for recognizing a gesture of a warm object moving in a monitored space, comprising the steps of:
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receiving incident thermal energy at a modulating optics from a field of view of the modulating optics within the monitored space, wherein the modulating optics comprises a plurality of lenses and/or apertures; directing the incident thermal energy received by the modulating optics onto a thermal sensing device optically coupled to the modulating optics; producing, with the thermal sensing device, a direct current output signal that is sustained at a level proportional to an amount of thermal energy being directed to the thermal sensing device by the modulating optics; and providing the output signal to an electronics unit in communication with the thermal sensing device, the electronics unit further comprising a memory and a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured by the memory to perform steps comprising; isolating a characteristic of the signal; and comparing the characteristic of the signal to a reference characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification