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  Capturing hand motionUSPTO Application #: 20070182725Title: Capturing hand motion Abstract: A portable electronic device, a digital camera associated with the portable electronic device, and software configured to run on the portable electronic device and to derive handwriting and control information from hand motion of a writing instrument in the vicinity of the digital camera. (end of abstract) Agent: Fish & Richardson PC - Minneapolis, MN, US Inventor: Arkady Pittel USPTO Applicaton #: 20070182725 - Class: 345179000 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070182725. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] This invention relates to capturing hand motion. [0002] Because hand motion is an instinctive and natural mode of human expression, electronic devices are often designed to capture hand motion as an indicator of information or commands that a user wishes to express. Handwriting motion, for example, can be captured on some personal digital assistants (PDAs) by writing on a touch sensitive display surface. Handwriting recognition software analyzes the motion to infer what has been written. A wide range of other input devices have been used to capture hand motion including track balls, mice, light pens, digitizing tablets, and electronic pens. SUMMARY [0003] In general, in one aspect, the invention features, apparatus that includes (a) a portable electronic device, (b) a digital camera associated with the portable electronic device, and (c) software configured to run on the portable electronic device and to derive handwriting and control information from hand motion of a writing instrument in the vicinity of the digital camera. [0004] Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The portable electronic device includes a mobile telephone or a personal digital assistant. The digital camera is attached to the portable electronic device. The digital camera is incorporated in the portable electronic device. An infrared filter is arranged to filter light being received from the writing instrument. A lens is arranged to alter the focal length and/or depth of field of the digital camera. A mechanism is configured to enable the digital camera to be attached to a writing surface. The mechanism comprises a suction device configured for attachment to a white board or a clip configured to grasp paper. The portable electronic device includes a writing surface. The writing surface is on a protective cover. The software is configured to define a mapping between a sensor surface in the digital camera and a space in which the hand motion is occurring. The software is configured to define the mapping in response to calibration steps that include a user marking three locations in the space in which the hand motion is occurring. The software is configured to derive the location and trajectory of the hand motion. The apparatus of claim in which the software is configured to generate the handwriting and control information based on processing cycles each associated with one location of the writing instrument. The software is configured to discriminate light received from the writing instrument by locking onto a carrier frequency at which light from the writing instrument is modulated. The software is configured to determine a tilt of the writing instrument relative to a direction normal to a writing surface. The portable electronic device includes a display and the trajectory of the hand motion is shown on the display in real-time. The display is not touch-sensitive. The portable electronic device includes a digital signal processing chip and a general purpose microprocessor, and the software is run in part on the chip and in part on the microprocessor. The portable electronic device includes a wireless communication facility and the software is configured to communicate the handwriting and control information to a remote location. The digital camera is configured to receive light that has been reflected from the writing instrument. The digital camera comprises a still camera. The digital camera comprises a video-capable camera. an infra-red beacon configured to be directed at the writing instrument. The software is configured to apply pattern recognition to signals from the digital camera. [0005] In general, in another aspect, the invention features a method that includes (a) exposing a sensor of a digital camera to a writing instrument that is being subjected to hand motion, and (b) in a device associated with the digital camera, processing the data to infer handwriting and/or control information based on the hand motion. [0006] Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The exposing of the sensor includes receiving light that originates from light sources on the writing instrument. The exposing of the sensor includes exposing the sensor to a trace or other marking left by the writing instrument. [0007] Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The trace or other marking includes ink selected to increase a signal-to-noise ratio of light received by the sensor. The exposing of the sensor includes processing of an image of a tip of a writing instrument. The tip of the writing instrument is characterized by being of high contrast with the environment in which it is used. The sensor is exposed to hand motion occurring with respect to any arbitrary surface at any arbitrary angle. The digital camera is calibrated in a manner to permit correctly inferring linear hand motions. The processing of data is calibrated using information derived when the writing instrument is touched to at least two points on a writing surface. The digital camera is automatically switched from one format to another by coupling the camera, or a device to which it is connected, to another mechanism. A tilt and/or swivel position of the camera is adjustable for better coverage of a writing surface. [0008] Other advantages and features will become apparent from the following description and from the claims. DESCRIPTION [0009] FIG. 1 shows a hand motion capture system. [0010] FIG. 2 shows the hand motion capture facility. [0011] FIG. 3 shows a lights source. [0012] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate tilt and distance computations. [0013] FIG. 6 is a timing diagram. [0014] FIG. 7 shows a writing instrument. [0015] FIG. 8 shows a mobile telephone. [0016] FIG. 9 shows hand motion capture. [0017] FIG. 10 shows a white board. [0018] FIG. 11 shows a cellular phone. [0019] FIG. 12 shows a circuit for a writing instrument. [0020] Many portable devices, including cellular phones, PDAs, pen computers, and tablets, include small digital cameras that can capture still images or video sequences of images, enabling, for example, streaming video applications. A typical digital camera produces a focused image of a field of view on a sensor that captures the image and produces digital data representing the image. [0021] A digital camera, including digital cameras that are incorporated into such portable devices, can be used to track the position of the tip of a writing instrument on a writing surface and process the tracked motion for storage and for further processing and communication of the hand motion or other handwriting. (When we use the word handwriting in this discussion, we mean to include any kind of meaningful hand motion, whether or not it can be considered handwriting. The hand motion can be associated with drawing or sketching or with cursor control, for example.) Continue reading... Full patent description for Capturing hand motion Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Capturing hand motion patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Capturing hand motion or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: System and method for interacting with a display through a display window Next Patent Application: Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus Industry Class: Computer graphics processing, operator interface processing, and selective visual display systems ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Capturing hand motion patent info. 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