US 2015/0029100 A1 · 2D AND 3D POINTING DEVICE BASED ON A PASSIVE LIGHTS DETECTION OPERATION METHOD USING ONE CAMERA

Abstract

Systems for surface-free pointing and/or command input include a computing device operably linked to an imaging device. The imaging device can be any suitable video recording device including a conventional webcam. At least one pointing/input device is provided including first, second, and third sets of actuable light sources, wherein at least the first and second sets emit differently colored light. The imaging device captures one or more sequential image frames each including a view of a scene including the activated light sources. One or more computer program products calculate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional position and/or a motion and/or an orientation of the pointing/input device in the captured image frames by identifying a two-dimensional or three-dimensional position of the activated light sources of the first, second, and/or third sets of light sources. Certain activation patterns of light sources are mapped to particular pointing and/or input commands.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A pointing/input device for effecting two-dimensional and three-dimensional pointing and/or command input using a single imaging device operatively connected to a computing device having at least one processor and at least one memory, comprising:

a housing;
a first set of actuable light sources disposed on a first surface of the housing, at least one light source of the first set emitting a first light color;
a second set of actuable light sources disposed on the first surface of the housing, the second set emitting a second light color that is different from the first color;
a third set of actuable light sources disposed on a second surface of the housing, the third set emitting a light color that may be the same as or different from the first or second color;
and
one or more actuators for differently activating one or more of the light sources of the first, second, and third sets of light sources.

3 more elements

In a computing system environment, a method for two-dimensional and three-dimensional pointing and/or command input, comprising:

providing at least one pointing/input device including a first set of light sources emitting a first light color, a second set of light sources emitting a second light color that is different from the first color, and a third set of light sources emitting a light color that may be the same as or different from the first or second color;
holding and/or moving the at least one pointing/input device within a field of view of an imaging device operably connected to a computing device having at least one processor, at least one memory, and at least one graphical user interface;
by the imaging device, capturing a plurality of sequential image frames each including a view of the at least one pointing/input device having at least one light source of the first set, the second set, and/or the third set of light sources activated to emit light;
from one or more views of at least one of the first set, the second set, and/or the third set of light sources in the captured plurality of sequential image frames, calculating a two-dimensional or a three-dimensional position and/or motion and/or orientation of the at least one pointing/input device;
and
rendering a visual marker on the graphical user interface corresponding to the calculated position and/or motion and/or orientation of the at least one pointing/input device.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

2d and 3d pointing device based on a passive lights detection operation method using one camera

Life of this patent

2d and 3d pointing device based on a passive lights detection operation method using one camera

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17