Image capture system and method
AssigneeLeap Motion, Inc.
InventorDavid Holz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example of an image capture system includes a support structure and a sensor arrangement, mounted to the support structure, including an image sensor, a lens, and a drive device. The image sensor has a sensor surface with a sensor surface area. The lens forms a focused image generally on the sensor surface. The area of the focused image is larger than the sensor surface area. The drive device is operably coupled to a chosen one of the lens and the image sensor for movement of the chosen one along a path parallel to the focused image. A portion of the viewing area including the object can be imaged onto the sensor surface and image data of the object, useful to determine information about the object, can be created by the image sensor to determine information regarding the object.
Claims39
An image capture system comprising:
- a support structure;
- a sensor arrangement, mounted to the support structure, comprising an image sensor, a lens, and a drive device;
- the image sensor having a sensor surface, the sensor surface having a sensor surface area;
- the lens forming a focused image generally on the sensor surface, the focused image having an focused image area;
- the focused image area being larger than the sensor surface area;
- and
- the drive device operably coupled to a chosen one of the lens and the image sensor for movement of the chosen one along a path parallel to the focused image.
A method for capturing an image of an object at a portion of a field of view comprising:
- directing a sensor arrangement, mounted to a support structure, towards a viewing area containing an object, the sensor arrangement, comprising an image sensor and a lens, the image sensor having a sensor surface, the sensor surface having a sensor surface area, the lens forming a focused image generally on the sensor surface, the focused image having an focused image area, the focused image area being larger area than the sensor surface area;
- moving a chosen one of the lens and the image sensor along a path parallel to the focused image, the path extending between a first position and a second position;
- imaging a portion of the viewing area including the object onto the sensor surface;
- creating image data of the object by the image sensor;
- using the image data to determine information regarding the object.
A system for displaying content responsive to movement of an object in three-dimensional (3D) space, the system comprising:
- a display having an edge;
- an image sensor, oriented toward a field of view in front of the display, within the edge;
- an assembly within the top edge for establishing a variable optical path between the field of view and the image sensor;
- and
- an image analyzer coupled to the image sensor and configured to:
- capture images of the object within the field of view;
- reconstruct, in real time, a changing position and shape of at least a portion of the object in 3D space based on the images;
- and
- cause the display to show content dynamically responsive to the changing position and shape of the object.
A method of displaying content on a display having an edge, the content being responsive to movement of an object in three-dimensional (3D) space, the method comprising the steps of:
- varying an optical path between an image sensor, disposed within the edge, and a field of view in front of the display,
- operating the image sensor to capture images of the object within the field of view;
- reconstructing, in real time, a changing position and shape of at least a portion of the object in 3D space based on the images;
- and
- causing the display to show content dynamically responsive to the changing position and shape of the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.