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US 8,897,496 B2Granted
Hover detection
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorEvan Robert Hildreth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hover detection technology, in which an image is captured from a camera while an illumination source is illuminating an area in front of a display surface and the image captured by the camera is analyzed to detect an object within an anticipated input region based on illumination of the illumination source. User input is determined based on the object detected within the anticipated input region and an application is controlled based on the determined user input.
Claims30
An electronic system comprising:
- an image sensor;
- an illumination source configured to illuminate a first area in front of a surface;
- and
- a processing unit configured to perform operations comprising:
- receiving information captured by the image sensor while the illumination source is illuminating the first area in front of the surface;
- and
- analyzing the information received from the image sensor to determine user input, wherein analyzing the information comprises:
- detecting one or more illuminated objects illuminated by the illumination source;
- based on detecting the illuminated objects illuminated by the illumination source, determining that the illuminated objects are within a predetermined distance from the surface;
- and
- determining user input based on the objects determined to be within the predetermined distance from the surface.
8 more elements
A method for determining user input, the method comprising:
- receiving an image from a camera while an illumination source is illuminating a first area in front of a surface of a display device;
- and
- analyzing the image received from the camera to determine whether an object within an anticipated input region is substantially in contact with the surface using illumination of the illumination source, wherein analyzing the image comprises:
- distinguishing illuminated objects illuminated by the illumination source from unilluminated objects unilluminated by the illumination source;
- based on distinguishing the illuminated objects illuminated by the illumination source, determining that the illuminated objects are within a predetermined distance from the surface of the display device;
- detecting an object within the anticipated input region based on determining that the illuminated objects are within a predetermined distance from the surface of the display device;
- and
- determining user input based on the object detected within the anticipated input region.
5 more elements
A non-transitory processor-readable medium for determining user input, comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors to:
- receive an image from a camera while an illumination source is illuminating an area in front of a surface of a display device;
- and
- analyzing the image received from the camera to determine whether an object within an anticipated input region is substantially in contact with the surface using illumination of the illumination source, wherein the processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to analyze the image comprise processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to:
- distinguish illuminated objects illuminated by the illumination source from unilluminated objects unilluminated by the illumination source;
- based on distinguishing the illuminated objects illuminated by the illumination source, determine that the illuminated objects are within a predetermined distance from the surface of the display device;
- detect an object within the anticipated input region based on determining that the illuminated objects are within a predetermined distance from the surface of the display device;
- and
- determine user input based on the object detected within the anticipated input region.
5 more elements
An apparatus for determining user input, the apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving an image from a camera while an illumination source is illuminating a first area in front of a surface of a display device;
- and
- means for analyzing the image received from the camera to determine whether an object within an anticipated input region is substantially in contact with the surface using illumination of the illumination source, wherein the means for analyzing the image comprises:
- means for distinguishing illuminated objects illuminated by the illumination source from unilluminated objects unilluminated by the illumination source;
- based on distinguishing the illuminated objects illuminated by the illumination source, means for determining that the illuminated objects are within a predetermined distance from the surface of the display device;
- means for detecting an object within the anticipated input region based on determining that the illuminated objects are within a predetermined distance from the surface of the display device;
- and
- means for determining user input based on the object detected within the anticipated input region.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.