Power consumption in motion-capture systems with audio and optical signals
AssigneeLeap Motion, Inc.
InventorDavid S. Holz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The technology disclosed provides systems and methods for reducing the overall power consumption of an optical motion-capture system without compromising the quality of motion capture and tracking. In implementations, this is accomplished by operating the motion-detecting cameras and associated image-processing hardware in a low-power mode (e.g., at a low frame rate or in a standby or sleep mode) unless and until touch gestures of an object such as a tap, sequence of taps, or swiping motions are performed with a surface proximate to the cameras. A contact microphone or other appropriate sensor is used for detecting audio signals or other vibrations generated by contact of the object with the surface.
Claims24
A method of operating an optical motion-capture system with reduced power consumption, the method including:
- monitoring a contact microphone coupled to an optical motion-capture system and in contact with a surface of an object;
- detecting an audio signal generated by contact of a control object with the object surface;
- and
- switching at least one camera of the optical motion-capture system, in response to the detected audio signal, from a standby mode to an operational mode.
An optical motion-capture system, including:
- a camera for capturing images of an object within a field of view thereof;
- a contact microphone coupled to the camera and in contact with a surface of an object;
- a sensor for monitoring the contact microphone;
- and
- a control module for switching the camera from a standby mode to an operational mode in response to detection of an audio signal generated by contact of a control object with the object surface.
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions for programming one or more processors to operate an optical motion-capture system with reduced power consumption, the instructions, when executed on the processors, implementing actions including:
- monitoring a contact microphone coupled to an optical motion-capture system, wherein the contact microphone detects audio signals propagated through a solid object surface;
- and
- in response to detection of an audio signal propagated through the solid object by a control object, switching a camera of the optical motion-capture system from a standby mode to an operational mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.