Man-machine interface using a deformable device

• US 7,639,233 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Marks, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Henry N
• Application Number:
  US11/364,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20060139322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 463 37- 39, 715/835, 715/856, 715/863
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042

Abstract

In one embodiment a method for triggering input commands of a program run on a computing system is provided. The method initiates with monitoring a field of view in front of a capture device. Then, an input object is identified within the field of view. The detected input object is analyzed for changes in shape. Next, a change in the input object is detected. Then, an input command is triggered at the program run on the computing system. The triggering is a result of the detected change in the input object. An input detection program and a computing system are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for triggering input commands of a program run on a computing system, comprising:

monitoring a field of view in front of a capture device;

identifying an input object within the field of view, the input object being held in a human hand and analyzed for changes in shape;

detecting a change in the shape of the input object held in the human hand; and

triggering an input command at the program run on the computing system, the triggering being a result of the detected change in shape of the input object, the change in shape being physical of the input object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the video capture device is a digital video camera.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the digital video camera tracks a color of the input object.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the digital video camera tracks reflected light from the input object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method operation of detecting a change in shape of the input object further includes:

detecting a change in an aspect ratio of the input object; and

detecting a change in the position of the input object.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the input command causes a change in a size of an image being displayed on a monitor coupled to the computing system.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the input command causes an image being displayed on a monitor coupled to the computing system to be selected.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the program is a video game and the computing system is a game console.

9. A computer implemented input detection program executed at a computing device, the input detection program having program instructions stored on a computer readable medium for determining when to trigger input commands of a main program, the input detection program, comprising:

program instructions for monitoring a field of view in front of a capture device, the capture device providing data to the input detection program;

program instructions for identifying an input object within the field of view, as held by a human hand;

program instructions for detecting a physical change in shape of the input object when held by the human hand; and

program instructions for triggering an input command at the main program run on the computing device, the triggering being a result of the detected physical change in shape of the input object.

10. The computer implemented input detection program of claim 9, wherein the program instructions for detecting a physical change in the shape of the input object includes:

program instructions for detecting a change in an aspect ratio of the input object; and

program instructions for detecting a change in the position of the input object.

11. The input computer implemented detection program of claim 9, wherein the computing device is a video game console.

12. The computer implemented input detection program of claim 9, wherein the input object is a collapsible sphere.

13. The computer implemented input detection program of claim 9, wherein the program instructions for triggering an input command causes a change in a size of an image being displayed on a monitor coupled to the computing system.

14. A computing system, the computing system having an input detection system, the input detection system determines when to trigger input commands of a main program run through the computing system, the computing system comprising:

a capture device;

circuitry for monitoring a field of view in front of the capture device;

circuitry for identifying an input object within the field of view, the input object being held in a human hand;

circuitry for detecting a physical change in shape of the input object; and

circuitry for triggering an input command at the main program run through the computing system, the triggering being a result of the detected physical change in shape of the input object.

15. The computing system of claim 14, wherein the computing system is a game console.

16. The computing system of claim 14, wherein the circuitry for detecting a physical change in shape of the input object includes:

circuitry for detecting a change in an aspect ratio of the input object; and

circuitry for detecting a change in the position of the input object.

17. A computing system, the computing system having an input detection system, the input detection system determines when to trigger input commands of a main program run through the computing system, the computing system comprising:

means for capturing image data;

means for monitoring a field of view in front of the capture device;

means for identifying an input object within the field of view, the input object being held by a human hand;

means for detecting a physical change in size of the input object; and

means for triggering an input command at the main program run through the computing system, the triggering being a result of the detected physical change in size of the input object.

18. The computing system of claim 17, wherein the means for detecting a physical change in size of the input object includes:

means for detecting a change in an aspect ratio of the input object; and

means for detecting a change in the position of the input object.

19. The computing system of claim 17, wherein the input object is a passive device.

20. The computing system of claim 17, wherein the computing system is a game console.