Fingertip location determinations for gesture input
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- capturing first image data using a camera of a computing device;
determining that there is one fingertip within a threshold distance of the computing device represented in the first image data;
activating a self-capacitance mode of the computing device, the computing device capable of operating in at least the self-capacitance mode and mutual capacitance mode;
detecting, using at least one capacitance sensor of the computing device operating in the self-capacitance mode, a position of the computing device closest to the fingertip when the computing device is not contacting the fingertip;
capturing second image data using the camera;
determining that there is more than one fingertip within the threshold distance represented in the second image;
activating the mutual capacitance mode of the computing device;
detecting, using at least one capacitance sensor of the computing device operating in the mutual capacitance mode, a first position of the computing device closest to a first fingertip when the computing device is not contacting the first fingertip; and
detecting, using at least one capacitance sensor of the computing device operating in the mutual capacitance mode, a second position of the computing device closest to a second fingertip when the computing device is not contacting the second fingertip.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user can use a finger, or other such object, to provide input to a computing device. The finger can be positioned and/or oriented at a distance from the device, and the device can determine an input that the user is attempting to provide based on a position, motion, or gesture associated with the finger. One or more cameras can capture image information, which can be analyzed to attempt to determine the location and/or orientation of the finger. If the finger is at least partially outside a field of view of the camera(s), the device can use another sensor (e.g., EMF) to determine one or more potential locations of the fingertip. The image information then can be used to determine which of the potential locations actually corresponds to the fingertip by analyzing that portion of the finger or hand represented in the image information.
17 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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capturing first image data using a camera of a computing device; determining that there is one fingertip within a threshold distance of the computing device represented in the first image data; activating a self-capacitance mode of the computing device, the computing device capable of operating in at least the self-capacitance mode and mutual capacitance mode; detecting, using at least one capacitance sensor of the computing device operating in the self-capacitance mode, a position of the computing device closest to the fingertip when the computing device is not contacting the fingertip; capturing second image data using the camera; determining that there is more than one fingertip within the threshold distance represented in the second image; activating the mutual capacitance mode of the computing device; detecting, using at least one capacitance sensor of the computing device operating in the mutual capacitance mode, a first position of the computing device closest to a first fingertip when the computing device is not contacting the first fingertip; and detecting, using at least one capacitance sensor of the computing device operating in the mutual capacitance mode, a second position of the computing device closest to a second fingertip when the computing device is not contacting the second fingertip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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capturing first image data using one or more cameras of a computing device; determining that there is one object within a threshold distance of the computing device represented in the first image data; activating a self-capacitance mode of the computing device; detecting, using one or more capacitance sensors of the computing device within a first period of time that the computing device is operating in the self-capacitance mode, a position of the computing device closest to the object when the computing device is not contacting the object; capturing second image data using the one or more cameras; determining that there is more than one object within the threshold distance represented in the second image; activating the mutual capacitance mode of the computing device; detecting, using one or more capacitance sensors within a second period of time that the computing device is operating in the mutual capacitance mode, a first position of the computing device closest to a first object when the computing device is not contacting the first object; and detecting, within the second period of time, a second position of the computing device closest to a second object when the computing device is not contacting the second object. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computing device, comprising:
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one or more processors; one of more cameras; one or more capacitance sensors; and a memory device including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to; capture the first image data using one or more cameras of the computing device; determine that there is one object within a threshold distance of the computing device represented in the first image data; activate a self-capacitance mode of the computing device; detect, using the one or more capacitance sensors within a period of time that the computing device is operating in the self-capacitance mode, a position of the computing device closest to the object when the computing device is not contacting the object; capture second image data using the one or more cameras; determine that there is more than one object within the threshold distance represented in the second image data; activate a mutual capacitance mode of the computing device; detect, using the one or more capacitance sensors within a second period of time that the computing device is operating in a mutual capacitance mode, a first position of the computing device closest to a first object when the computing device is not contacting the first object; and detect, within the second period of time, a second position of the computing device closest to a second object when the computing device is not contacting the second object. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to:
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capture first image data using one or more camera of the computing device; determine that there is more than one object within a threshold distance of the computing device represented in the first image data; activate a self-capacitance mode of the computing device; detect, using one or more capacitance sensor of the computing device within a first period of time that the computing device is operating in a self-capacitance mode, a position of the computing device closest to the object when the computing device is not contacting the object; capture second image data using the one or more cameras; determine that there is more than one object within the threshold distance represented in the second image data; activate a mutual capacitance mode of the computing device; detect, using the one or more capacitance sensors within a second period of time that the computing device is operating in the mutual capacitance mode, a first position of the computing device closest to a first object when the computing device is not contacting the first object; and detect, within the second period of time, a second position of the computing device closest to a second object when the computing device is not contacting the second object. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification