Information input apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9229584-B2
Application number	US-201214125613-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2012
Priority date	Jun 13, 2011
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

The present invention is directed to the provision of an information input apparatus that can change the projection position of an input image by tracking a target object and can detect an information input to the input image. More specifically, the invention provides an information input apparatus includes a projection unit which projects an input image, a projection position changing unit which changes the projection position of the input image, a detection sensor which detects the position of a detection target, and an information detection unit which causes the projection position changing unit to change the projection position of the input image by tracking the position of the detection target detected by the detection sensor, and which detects an information input to the input image based on data supplied from the detection sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information input apparatus comprising:
a projection unit having a laser emitting part in order to project an input image;
a projection position changing unit which changes the projection position of said input image by moving said projection unit;
a unit for emitting infrared radiation:
a detection sensor which detects depth of data by using said infrared radiation and color data; and
an information detection unit which causes said projection position changing unit to change the projection position of said input image by moving said projection unit so as to track a position of a palm region detected by said detection sensor based on said depth data and said color data supplied from said detection sensor,
wherein said information detection unit which obtains first depth data of a reference region and second depth data detected by said detection sensor, and which compares the first depth data and the second depth data each other, and which recognizes a region where a difference between the first depth data and the second depth data lies within a predetermined range as said palm region, and
wherein said information detection unit detects the information input to said input image by identifying a position of a fingertip on said input image based on said second depth data and said color data supplied from said detection sensor.

2. The information input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said information detection unit performs control so that the input image is projected on said palm region by controlling said projection position changing unit.

3. The information input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said projection unit emits a beam by using said laser emitting part and a Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) mirror.

4. The information input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said laser emitting part emits a beam by using a micro-display.

5. The information input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said projection position changing unit includes a first rotation axis for panning said projection unit and a second rotation axis for tilting said projection unit.

Assignees

• Ide Masafumi
• Suzuki Masaya
• Abe Yosuke
• Nozaki Takaaki
• Yoshinaga Akio
• Noda Yuji
• Citizen Holdings Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ide Masafumi
• Suzuki Masaya
• Abe Yosuke
• Nozaki Takaaki
• Yoshinaga Akio
• Noda Yuji

Classifications

• G06F3/017

  Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883) · CPC title

• H04N9/3179

  Video signal processing therefor · CPC title

• H04N9/3194

  including sensor feedback · CPC title

• G06F3/0425 Primary

  using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected (tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386) · CPC title

• G06F3/0426

  tracking fingers with respect to a virtual keyboard projected or printed on the surface (virtual keyboards on touch screens G06F3/04886) · CPC title