Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-22
2004-12-14
Nguyen, Cao (Kevin) (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06831664
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to remote control devices and associated systems and apparatus that enable interaction between a user and a variety of electronic equipment without requiring direct physical or electrical connection between the control device and the electronic equipment. More specifically, the invention relates to a system that relies upon visual detection of low-cost, disposable control objects, such as cards, leaflets and three-dimensional objects, to control interaction with an electronic program or programs. The disposable control objects may concurrently carry hard printed copy concerning information of interest to the user and possible benefit to others as well.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Systems are currently available for starting and stopping demonstration programs and other programs that operate various consumer electronic equipment such as televisions, videocassette reorders and the like. However, these existing systems generally have limited or no capability for permitting user interaction with the system or device being demonstrated. That is, electronic devices currently can be set up to run continuous demonstrations on an “endless loop” basis. Alternatively, operation of such programs can be initiated by mere manual operation of an electrical switch or push button, or, operation of a demonstration program can be initiated by proximity devices that sense the presence of an object such as a human body and respond by triggering the start of an cycle of electronic operation, but these existing systems do not provide for control or manipulation of the demonstration or program by the viewer/user. In the case of sales demonstrations, particularly, involvement of the viewer in the control and operating process is always desirable from the standpoint of enhancing consumer interest and creating the desire to purchase.
It is possible, using current knowledge, to involve a viewer in the control and operation of a demonstration cycle using existing remote control devices. A serious disadvantage of this approach is the cost and complexity of the remote controls and the frequency with which they are lost, damaged and misappropriated. Similarly, it is conceivable that the technology associated with radio frequency identification tags (RFID tags) might be applied to the control of electronic apparatus demonstrations, but the use of such technology would require more complex apparatus and would involve substantially greater expense than the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus of the disclosed electronic control system comprises a computerized visual detection unit having a processor and a visual sensor, of readily available and well-known type, and a simple, hand-held control object that serves as a remote controller. The visual detection unit has the capability of recognizing and locating features such as the shape and/or color and spatial orientation of the control object. That is, when the control object is held in a particular spatial orientation in front of the visual sensor, such as the lens of a video camera, the shape and/or alignment of the object is recognized to achieve a function such as program selection, and the position of the object is converted into grid coordinates to locate an actual or virtual cursor in a position corresponding to the grid coordinates. If the shape of the control object, alone, is relied upon to achieve a first function of the visual detection unit, the physical orientation of the shape of the control object, e.g. an “arrow” pointing left, can also be recognized to cause the visual detection equipment to generate different specific signals for further controlling the program and/or positioning a “cursor”.
The control object has a distinctive, and preferably orientable shape (an arrow or an airplane are just two examples of such shapes), with a different, distinctive color associated with different side surfaces of the control object. In this regard, it should be noted that the control object can be either two, or three-dimensional depending upon the requirements of the system to which the invention is applied. For example, a two-dimensional object such as a card or leaflet may be in applications where creation of simple, planar control objects is justified. In applications requiring more complex control operations, folded leaflets may be used so as to take advantage of the greater number of “side surfaces” that may be obtained in a multi-leaf leaflet or “booklet”.
The control object also may be made three-dimensional in shape, for example, an inexpensive, molded plastic “scepter” having a three- or four-sided handle portion with a “crown” shape at one end represents a readily orientable and recognizable control object having provision for different colors on the four sides of the handle portion. It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in this art, that the general form and overall shape of the control object may take many, many different configurations within the scope and meaning of this disclosure.
Holding the control object within the visual scanner field of the visual detection unit, permits a user/viewer to navigate through a demonstration program by “pointing” the object in a particular direction to change the location of a cursor and then displaying the different color of another side of the object to trigger a reaction in much the same manner as the “click” of a computer-control “mouse”.
Although cards, leaflets and a “scepter” having two to four sides have been mentioned as possible control objects, by way of illustration only, it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in this art that planar and/or three-dimensional objects having a wide variety of shapes and dimensional configurations incorporating multiple sides having different colors available on different sides, may be used if desired to expand the number of “clicks” and control options available to a user.
In accordance with this invention, the card or leaflet or other object that serves as the remote control object incorporates no active electronic components whatsoever. Accordingly, the cost of the remote control device of this invention need be no more than the ordinary low cost of a disposable leaflet or business card. The cost of the commercially available visual detection equipment, whatever it may be, is fixed for a specific application, and is incurred only once, since such equipment may be firmly secured and/or hidden to protect against damage and loss. Any number of different or identical control objects may be used to operate the demonstration unit in conjunction with a single set of visual detection equipment, without in any way degrading the quality or effectiveness of each user's control.
The system and apparatus of the present invention provides a convenient and inexpensive approach to interactive control of programmed electronic systems, while at the same time eliminating the requirement for complex and expensive remote control devices that are all too frequently lost, damaged or misappropriated. Further, the present invention offers the advantage of a remote control apparatus incorporating a control object of such low cost that it can be considered disposable. The control object of this invention also has the advantage of being usable, easily, in the manner of a disposable “flyer” or “handout” bearing printed “hard copy” that can serve as advertising and/or as a printed form for purchasing or ordering related goods and services.
Exposing a uniquely shaped and colored control object, such as a card or leaflet or a three-dimensional figure, to a visual detection unit, in a particular spatial orientation, and with one of two or more particularly-colored sides exposed, causes the detection unit to react in a particular way, that is, to produce desired, specific electronic signals, for example to select a particular program and to control the movement of a cursor on a video screen, for example. When a differently colored side surface of the control object is exposed to the v
Marmaropoulos George
Pelletier Daniel
Koninklijke Philips Electronics , N.V.
Nguyen Cao (Kevin)
Waxler Aaron
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