Three-dimensional interface system and method

A method of determining virtual touch within a three-dimensional interface system, comprising the steps of:

• displaying, through the use of a three-dimensional display, an initial three-dimensional image within a three-dimensional space so that the image is displayed as if it was positioned in the three-dimensional space, wherein the image has a breadth corresponding to a size in an x-dimension, a height corresponding to a size in a y-dimension, and a depth corresponding to a size in a z-dimension, and the image has a corresponding active region defined by x, y and z coordinates in the three-dimensional space, the active region of the corresponding image being a portion of the corresponding image that is programmed to be interactive with a user object;
• detecting a presence of a user object including x, y and z axis coordinates within the three-dimensional space through the use of a three-dimensional time-of-flight sensor;
• mapping, through a computer, a position of said user object and a position of the active region within the three-dimensional space including x, y and z axis coordinates;
• and
• determining, by said computer, if a position of said user object is substantially coincident with a position of said active region of said image along each of the x, y and z axis coordinates within said three-dimensional space so that the user is able to selectively interact with, and the computer can differentiate between, said active region corresponding to said three-dimensional image displayed by the three-dimensional display;
• executing, by said computer, a function programmed for said active region when said determining actively determines that the position of said user object and the position of the active region of said three-dimensional image are substantially coincident;
• and
• updating said three-dimensional image when said executing activity executes said function.

A three-dimensional interface system comprising:

• a three-dimensional time-of-flight sensor configured to detect a position of a user object having x, y and z axis coordinates within a first three-dimensional space bound by first limits corresponding to a sensor field of view;
• a three-dimensional display configured to display one or more images within a second three-dimensional space bound by second limits corresponding to display limits, said one or more images each having at least one corresponding active region having x, y and z axis coordinates within a third three-dimensional space bound by said first and second limits, mutually within said first and second three-dimensional spaces, and unbounded in a direction away from said display so that a user interacting with the three-dimensional display is able to view the one or more images as if they were in three-dimensional space, with each of the one or more images having a breadth corresponding to a size in an x-dimension, a height corresponding to a size in a y-dimension, and a depth corresponding to a size in a z-dimension, and with each active region of a corresponding image being a portion of the corresponding image that is programmed to be interactive with one or more user objects;
• and
• a computer coupled to said sensor and said display, configured to map a position of said one or more user objects within said third three-dimensional space, configured to map a position of said one or more images within said third three-dimensional space along with said at least one corresponding active regions, and configured to determine when said positions of one or more of said one or more user objects and said at least one corresponding active regions of said one or more images are substantially coincident within said third three-dimensional space along x, y and z axis coordinates so that the computer can differentiate between two or more active regions differing only in z axis coordinates in said third three-dimensional space, the computer executing a function programmed for an active region upon determining that the position of said user object and one or more of said active regions of said image are substantially coincident.