US 7,466,308 B2Granted

Disposing identifying codes on a user's hand to provide input to an interactive display application

AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation

InventorJoel P. Dehlin

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Abstract

Input for controlling an application is provided to a computer system having an interactive display surface with an optical vision system for sensing objects. An optical code selected to be detectable by the interactive display surface when positioned adjacent to the interactive display surface is associated with a control function. The optical code is provided on an article configured to be removably affixed to at least a portion of a user's hand. When the portion of the user's hand is moved to a position adjacent to the interactive display surface, the optical vision system detects the optical code and invokes the control function associated with the optical code. Thus, a user can provide input to the interactive display surface with movements of the user's hand. A different optical code may be affixed to each digit of the user's hand, enabling the user to selectively invoke a plurality of control functions.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A method for providing an input to an application executing on a computer system having an interactive display surface, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a digital video camera mounted behind the display surface, the display surface being translucent, the digital video camera being responsive to infrared (IR) light and the digital video camera being responsive only to IR light reflected from an article in contact with or a short distance above the display surface;
(b) providing an infrared (IR) light source comprising a plurality of IR light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted such that the IR light produced by the LEDs is directed toward the underside of the display surface;
(c) disposing a baffle between the IR light source and the digital video camera to prevent IR light that is directly emitted from the IR light source from entering the digital video camera;
(d) associating a set of orthogonal X and Y axes with the display surface;
(e) determining an identifying code selected to be detectable by the interactive display surface when the identifying code is positioned adjacent to the interactive display surface by a user engaging the interactive display surface;
(f) selecting an article, the article being configured to be removably affixed to at least a portion of a user's hand so that the article need not be grasped by the user when engaging the interactive display surface;
and
(g) providing the identifying code on the article, such that when the article is positioned adjacent to the interactive display surface by the user appropriately moving the at least the portion of the user's hand, the interactive display surface detects the identifying code.

5 more elements

A method for providing an input to an application executing on a computer system coupled with an interactive display surface, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a digital video camera mounted behind the display surface, the display surface being translucent, the digital video camera being responsive to infrared (IR) light and the digital video camera being responsive only to IR light reflected from an article in contact with or a short distance above the display surface;
(b) providing an infrared (IR) light source comprising a plurality of IR light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted such that the IR light produced by the LEDs is directed toward the underside of the display surface;
(c) disposing a baffle between the IR light source and the digital video camera to prevent IR light that is directly emitted from the IR light source from entering the digital video camera;
(d) associating a set of orthogonal X and Y axes with the display surface;
(e) determining an optical code selected to be identifiable by the interactive display surface when the optical code is positioned adjacent to the interactive display surface;
(f) disposing the optical code on a portion of a user's hand;
(g) configuring the application to invoke a particular response upon detection of the optical code adjacent to the interactive display surface;
(h) detecting the optical code when the optical code is positioned adjacent to the interactive display surface as a result of a movement of the user's hand;
and
(i) invoking the response upon detection of the optical code.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/879,905Filed 28 Jun 2004
Published: US 2006/0007124 A112 Jan 2006
Granted: 16 Dec 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G06F 3/014
Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality: hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
G06F 3/0425
By opto-electronic means: using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of…
G06F 2203/0331
Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/033: finger worn pointing device
G06F
Computing and data processing

Family

US 2006/0007124 A1Pre-grant publication · published 12 Jan 2006
US 7,466,308 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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