IMAGE CAPTURE SYSTEM AND METHOD
An example of an image capture system includes a support structure and a sensor arrangement, mounted to the support structure, including an image sensor, a lens, and a drive device. The image sensor has a sensor surface with a sensor surface area. The lens forms a focused image generally on the sensor surface. The area of the focused image is larger than the sensor surface area. The drive device is operably coupled to a chosen one of the lens and the image sensor for movement of the chosen one along a path parallel to the focused image. A portion of the viewing area including the object can be imaged onto the sensor surface and image data of the object, useful to determine information about the object, can be created by the image sensor to determine information regarding the object.
1 . An image capture system comprising:
a support structure;
a sensor arrangement, mounted to the support structure, comprising an image sensor, a lens, and a drive device;
the image sensor having a sensor surface, the sensor surface having a sensor surface area;
the lens forming a focused image generally on the sensor surface, the focused image having an focused image area;
the focused image area being larger than the sensor surface area; and
the drive device operably coupled to a chosen one of the lens and the image sensor for movement of the chosen one along a path parallel to the focused image.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a computer display.
3 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises an edge of a computer display.
4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the lens is mounted to the support structure through the drive device.
5 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein the drive device comprises a lens mount, to which the lens is secured, and guide structure on which the lens mount is slideably mounted.
6 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein the guide structure comprises at least one of parallel rails and an elongate bearing element, the elongate bearing element comprising a guide channel.
7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the chosen one of the lens and the image sensor is mounted to the support structure through the drive device.
8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the focused image area is much larger than the sensor surface area.
9 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the focused image fully covers the sensor surface during movement of the chosen one along the path.
10 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising an illumination source associated with the image sensor and mounted to the support structure.
11 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the illumination source is an infrared light source.
12 . The system according to claim 10 , further comprising first and second of said image sensors and first and second of said illumination sources.
13 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein said path is a generally vertical path.
14 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the drive device comprises a chosen one of a drive motor, a piezoelectric driver, and an electromagnetic driver.
15 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the drive device is operably coupled to the lens.
16 . A method for capturing an image of an object at a portion of a field of view comprising:
directing a sensor arrangement, mounted to a support structure, towards a viewing area containing an object, the sensor arrangement, comprising an image sensor and a lens, the image sensor having a sensor surface, the sensor surface having a sensor surface area, the lens forming a focused image generally on the sensor surface, the focused image having an focused image area, the focused image area being larger area than the sensor surface area;
moving a chosen one of the lens and the image sensor along a path parallel to the focused image, the path extending between a first position and a second position;
imaging a portion of the viewing area including the object onto the sensor surface;
creating image data of the object by the image sensor;
using the image data to determine information regarding the object.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a drive device, drive device comprising a lens mount, to which the lens is secured, and guide structure on which the lens mount is slideably mounted, and wherein the moving step comprises moving the lens mount with the lens secured thereto along the guide structure.
18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the portion of the viewing area imaging step comprises imaging at least a portion of a user's hand as the object.
19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the image data using step comprises matching a hand gesture to a model hand gesture corresponding to an instruction.
20 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the image data using step is carried out using a processor.
21 . A system for displaying content responsive to movement of an object in three-dimensional (3D) space, the system comprising:
a display having an edge;
an image sensor, oriented toward a field of view in front of the display, within the edge;
an assembly within the top edge for establishing a variable optical path between the field of view and the image sensor; and
an image analyzer coupled to the image sensor and configured to:
capture images of the object within the field of view;
reconstruct, in real time, a changing position and shape of at least a portion of the object in 3D space based on the images; and
cause the display to show content dynamically responsive to the changing position and shape of the object.
22 . The system of claim 21 , further comprising at least one light source within the edge for illuminating the field of view.
23 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the lens has an image circle focused on the image sensor, the image circle having an area larger than an area of the image sensor.
24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the optical assembly comprises a guide, a lens and a mount therefor, the mount being slideable along the guide for movement relative to the image sensor.
25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the mount is bidirectionally slideable along the guide through a slide pitch defined by a pair of end points, a portion of the image circle fully covering the image sensor throughout the slide pitch.
26 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the mount and the guide each comprise one of a groove or a ridge.
27 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the guide comprises a rail and the mount comprises a channel for slideably receiving the rail therethrough for movement therealong.
28 . The system of claim 24 , further comprising an activatable forcing device for bidirectionally translating the mount along the guide.
29 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the forcing device is a motor for translating the mount along the guide and fixedly retaining the mount at a selected position therealong.
30 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the mount is configured for frictional movement along the guide, the mount frictionally retaining its position along the guide when the forcing device is inactive.
31 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the forcing device comprises a piezo element.
32 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the forcing device comprises (i) at least one electromagnet and (ii) at least one permanent magnet on the mount.
33 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the image analyzer is configured to (i) detect an edge within the field of view and (ii) responsively cause the forcing device to position the mount relative to the detected edge.
34 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the image analyzer is configured to (i) cause the forcing device to translate the mount along the guide until movement of an object is detected, (ii) compute a centroid of the object and (iii) cause deactivation of the forcing device when the centroid is centered within the field of view.
35 . A method of displaying content on a display having an edge, the content being responsive to movement of an object in three-dimensional (3D) space, the method comprising the steps of:
varying an optical path between an image sensor, disposed within the edge, and a field of view in front of the display,
operating the image sensor to capture images of the object within the field of view;
reconstructing, in real time, a changing position and shape of at least a portion of the object in 3D space based on the images; and
causing the display to show content dynamically responsive to the changing position and shape of the object.
36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the optical path is varied by moving a lens relative to the image sensor.
37 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the optical path is varied by moving the image sensor relative to a lens.
38 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising the steps of (i) detecting an edge within the field of view and (ii) responsively positioning the optical path relative to the detected edge.
39 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising the steps of (i) varying the optical path until movement of an object is detected, (ii) computing a centroid of the object and (iii) centering the centroid within the field of view.