US 6,674,424 B1 · Method and apparatus for inputting information including coordinate data

A method for inputting information including coordinate data comprising:

extracting a predetermined object from an image including the predetermined object above a plane;
recognizing a shape of the predetermined object and determining whether the predetermined object is a coordinate input member;
detecting a motion of the predetermined object while the predetermined object is within a predetermined distance from the plane;
and
determining whether to input predetermined information.

2 more elements

An apparatus for inputting information including coordinate data, comprising:

a plurality of one-dimensional image input devices each including one-dimensional imaging cells configured to input an image of a region on a plane configured to input coordinates;
an object extracting device configured to extract a predetermined object from an input image;
a ranging device configured to determine whether a distance between an extracted object and the plane is in a predetermined range;
a motion vector detecting device configured to detect motion vectors of the extracted object while the ranging device determines that the distance between the extracted object and the plane is in the predetermined range;
a motion recognizing device configured to recognize a coordinate inputting operation of the extracted object based on the motion vectors of the extracted object;
and
a coordinate calculating device configured to calculate two-dimensional coordinates of the extracted object on the plane based on a formed image of the extracted object on the imaging cells of the image input device when the motion recognizing device recognizes the coordinate inputting operation.

4 more elements

An apparatus for inputting information including coordinate data, comprising:

an image input device including a plurality of imaging cells configured to input an image of a region on a plane configured to input coordinates;
an object extracting device configured to extract an object from an input image;
a shape recognition device configured to recognize a shape of an extracted object and to determine whether the extracted object is a coordinate input member;
a ranging device configured to determine whether a distance between the extracted object that has been determined as the coordinate input member and the plane is in a predetermined range;
a motion vector detecting device configured to detect motion vectors of the extracted object while the ranging device determines that the distance between the extracted object and the plane is in the predetermined range;
a motion recognizing device configured to recognize a coordinate inputting operation of the extracted object based on the motion vectors of the extracted object detected by the motion vector detecting device;
and
a coordinate calculating device configured to calculate two-dimensional coordinates of the extracted object on the plane based on a formed image of the extracted object on the plurality of imaging cells of the image input device when the motion recognizing device recognizes the coordinate inputting operation.

5 more elements

An apparatus for inputting information including coordinate data, comprising:

an image input device including a plurality of imaging cells configured to input an image of a region on a plane configured to input coordinates;
an object extracting device configured to extract an object from an input image;
a shape recognition device configured to recognize a shape of an extracted object and determine whether the extracted object is a coordinate input member;
a ranging device configured to determine whether a distance between the extracted object that has been determined as the coordinate input member and the plane is in a predetermined range;
a motion vector detecting device configured to detect motion vectors of the extracted object while the ranging device determines that the distance between the extracted object and the plane is in the predetermined range;
a memory device configured to store data;
a motion recognizing device configured to store components of the motion vectors perpendicular to the plane into the memory device one after another, to bring the apparatus to a coordinate input state when a component of the motion vectors perpendicular to the plane has become zero, and to release the apparatus from the coordinate input state when the component of the motion vectors perpendicular to the plane has become a direction leaving from the plain;
and
a coordinate calculating device configured to calculate two-dimensional coordinates of the extracted object on the plane based on a formed image of the extracted object on the plurality of imaging cells of the image input device while the apparatus is in the coordinate input state.

6 more elements

An apparatus for inputting information including coordinate data, comprising:

a plurality of one-dimensional image input devices each including one-dimensional imaging cells configured to input a first image of a region on a plane configured to input coordinates;
at least a two-dimensional image input device including two-dimensional imaging cells configured to input a second image of the region on the plane configured to input the coordinates;
an object extracting device configured to extract a predetermined object from the second image input by the two-dimensional image input device;
a ranging device configured to determine whether a distance between an extracted object and the plane is in a predetermined range;
a motion vector detecting device configured to detect motion vectors of the extracted object while the ranging device determines that the distance between the extracted object and the plane is in the predetermined range;
a motion recognizing device configured to recognize a coordinate inputting operation of the extracted object based on the motion vectors of the extracted object detected by the motion vector detecting device;
and
a coordinate calculating device configured to calculate two-dimensional coordinates of the extracted object on the plane based on a formed image of the extracted object on the one-dimensional imaging cells of the plurality of one-dimensional image input devices when the motion recognizing device recognizes the coordinate inputting operation.

5 more elements

An apparatus for inputting information including coordinate data, comprising:

a plurality of one-dimensional image input devices each including one-dimensional imaging cells configured to input a first image of a region on a plane configured to input coordinates;
at least a two-dimensional image input device including two-dimensional imaging cells configured to input a second image of the region on the plane configured to input coordinates;
an object extracting device configured to extract a predetermined object from the second image input by the two-dimensional image input device;
a shape recognition device configured to recognize a shape of an extracted object and determine whether the extracted object is a coordinate input member;
a ranging device configured to determine a distance between the extracted object that has been determined as the coordinate input member and the plane is in a predetermined range;
a motion vector detecting device configured to detect motion vectors of the extracted object while the ranging device determines that the distance between the extracted object and the plane is in the predetermined range;
a motion recognizing device configured to recognize a coordinate inputting operation of the extracted object based on the motion vectors of the extracted object detected by the motion vector detecting device;
and
a coordinate calculating device configured to calculate two-dimensional coordinates of the extracted object on the plane based on a formed image of the extracted object on the one-dimensional imaging cells of the plurality of one-dimensional image input devices when the motion recognizing device recognizes the coordinate inputting operation.

6 more elements

An apparatus for inputting information including coordinate data, comprising:

an image input device including a plurality of imaging cells configured to input an image of a region on a plane configured to input coordinates;
an object extracting device configured to extract a predetermined object from an input image;
a first ranging device configured to determine whether a distance between an extracted object and the plane is in a first range;
a second ranging device configured to determine whether the distance between the extracted object and the plane is in a second range that is located farther than the first range from the plane;
a motion vector detecting device configured to detect motion vectors of the extracted object while the first ranging device determines that the distance between the extracted object and the plane is in the first range;
a motion recognizing device configured to recognize a coordinate inputting operation of the extracted object based on the motion vectors of the extracted object detected by the motion vector detecting device;
and
a coordinate calculating device configured to calculate two-dimensional coordinates of the extracted object on the plane based on a formed image of the extracted object on the plurality of imaging cells of the image input device when the motion recognizing device recognizes the coordinate inputting operation.

5 more elements

A network system comprising:

networking means for networking apparatuses and transmitting data among the apparatuses;
program serving means for serving at least one of programs carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for extracting coordinates and motions of an object, for transmitting and receiving information via the networking means, and for controlling images displayed on an image displaying means;
and
a plurality of information inputting apparatuses, each of the information inputting apparatuses including:
image displaying means for displaying images on a displaying surface thereof,
means for inputting images of the vicinity of the displaying surface of the image displaying means,
object extracting means for extracting coordinates and motions of a predetermined object located within a predetermined distance from the displaying surface of the image displaying means,
means for recognizing a shape of the predetermined object and determining whether the predetermined object is a coordinate input member,
information transmitting and receiving means for transmitting information on the coordinates and motions of the predetermined object extracted by the object extracting means to other information inputting apparatuses via the networking means, and for receiving the information on the coordinates and motions of the predetermined object from the other information inputting apparatuses via the networking means,
display control means for controlling images displayed on the displaying surface of the image displaying means according to the coordinates and motions of the predetermined object extracted by the object extracting means and information received by the information transmitting and receiving means that is transmitted from the other information inputting apparatuses and received by the information transmitting and receiving means via the networking means, and
downloading means for downloading at least one of the programs served by the program serving means into at least one of the object extracting means, the information transmitting and receiving means, and the display control means via the networking means.

8 more elements

Method and apparatus for inputting information including coordinate data

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims48

Method and apparatus for inputting information including coordinate data

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims48