IP Library Granted Patent US 9,740,296
Granted Patent B2
US 9,740,296 · App. 14/572,668 · Granted Aug 22, 2017

User-defined virtual interaction space and manipulation of virtual cameras in the interaction space

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,740,296
App. No.
14/572,668
Granted
Aug 22, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

The technology disclosed relates to creating user-defined interaction spaces and modalities in a three dimensional (3D) sensor space in response to control gestures. It also relates to controlling virtual cameras in the 3D sensor space using control gestures and manipulating controls of the virtual cameras through the control gestures. In particular, it relates to defining one or more spatial attributes of the interaction spaces and modalities in response to one or more gesture parameters of the control gesture. It also particularly relates to defining one or more visual parameters of a virtual camera in response to one or more gesture parameters of the control gesture.

Claims (50)

1. A computer implemented method of defining interface modalities in a three dimensional (3D) sensor space, the method including:

detecting a control gesture of a control object in a three dimensional (3D) sensor space, wherein the control gesture is a circular sweep that defines a collection of points within a radial distance to a fixed point;

calculating gesture parameters of the control gesture that was detected; and

defining spatial attributes for an interaction modality in the 3D sensor space responsive to the gesture parameters of the control gesture.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gesture parameters include at least length and width of the control gesture.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gesture parameters include at least structure, scale, orientation, or density of the control object.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein spatial attributes include at least height and width of an interaction space.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein spatial attributes include at least numerosity of elements in the interaction modality.

6. The method of claim 1 , further including detecting a context-setting control gesture that identifies a context for interpreting a subsequent control gesture that defines spatial attributes of the interaction modality.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the context-setting control gesture is a voice, visual, or device command.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the subsequent control gesture applies to an interaction space.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the subsequent control gesture applies to an element of an interaction space.

10. The method of claim 6 , further including creating context-aware elements of the interaction modality that automatically interpret the context-setting control gesture and subsequent control gesture to define spatial attributes of the interaction modality.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control gesture is a stroke of a user appendage.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control object is a detectable object and the control gesture defines a collection of continuous points that have at least one parameter in common within a threshold deviation.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein a threshold deviation is determined by a variation in angle along velocity vectors that are continuous in time.

14. The method of claim 1 , further including:

defining a vertical extent of a virtual interaction space in proportion to length of vertical portion of the circular sweep of the control object;

defining a horizontal extent of the virtual interaction space in proportion to width of horizontal portion of the circular sweep of the control object; and

manipulating controls in a physical interaction space by superimposing the virtual interaction space on the physical interaction space responsive to the vertical extent and horizontal extent.

15. The method of claim 1 , further including:

defining a vertical extent of a virtual interaction space in proportion to length of vertical portion of the circular sweep of the control object;

defining a horizontal extent of the virtual interaction space in proportion to width of horizontal portion of the circular sweep of the control object; and

manipulating controls in a synthetic interaction space by linking the virtual interaction space to an image responsive to the vertical extent and horizontal extent.

16. The method of claim 1 , further including:

identifying a pair of starting points for two control objects that are detected in a three dimensional (3D) sensor space, wherein the pair of starting points are fixed distance apart;

detecting an outward expanding movement of the control objects in the 3D sensor space;

identifying a pair of resting points for the two control objects when the control objects come to rest;

defining a horizontal extent of a virtual interaction space in proportion to distance between the pair of starting points and the pair of resting points;

defining a vertical extent of the virtual interaction space in proportion to width of the control objects; and

presenting the virtual interaction space responsive to the vertical extent and horizontal extent.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the two control objects are two user appendages.

18. The method of claim 1 , further including:

identifying a pair of starting points for control points of the control object that are detected in a three dimensional (3D) sensor space, wherein starting points are a fixed distance apart;

detecting an outward expanding movement of the control points of the control object in the 3D sensor space;

identifying a pair of resting points for the control points of the control object when the control points of the control object come to rest;

defining a horizontal extent of a virtual interaction space in proportion to distance between starting points identified and resting points identified;

defining a vertical extent of the virtual interaction space in proportion to width of the control object; and

presenting the virtual interaction space responsive to the vertical extent and horizontal extent.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the control object includes a hand and control points are defined at one or more finger tips.

20. A computer implemented method of creating a user-defined virtual interaction modality in a three dimensional (3D) sensor space, the method including:

detecting a circular sweep of a control object responsive to a control gesture in a three dimensional (3D) sensor space;

calculating a radius of the circular sweep based on a found point that is equidistant to a plurality of points defined on contour of the control gesture;

constructing a radial-based virtual interaction modality in the 3D sensor space that is in proportion to the radius of the circular sweep; and

manipulating controls in a physical interaction space by superimposing the radial-based virtual interaction modality on the physical interaction space responsive to the circular sweep.

21. A computer implemented method of creating a user-defined virtual interaction modality in a three dimensional (3D) sensor space, the method including:

detecting a circular sweep of a control object responsive to a control gesture in a three dimensional (3D) sensor space;

calculating a radius of the circular sweep based on a found point that is equidistant to a plurality of points defined on contour of the control gesture;

constructing a radial-based virtual interaction modality in the 3D sensor space that is in proportion to the radius of the circular sweep; and

manipulating controls in a synthetic interaction space by linking the radial-based virtual interaction modality to an image responsive to a vertical extent and a horizontal extent.

Assignments (16)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2026
From: SIM IP HXR LLC
To: UNITY MASTER LLC SERIES XIX
Reel/Frame 075365/0907 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2026
From: TRIPLEPOINT CAPITAL LLC
To: ULTRAHAPTICS IP TWO LIMITED
Reel/Frame 075295/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2026
From: ULTRAHAPTICS IP TWO LIMITED
To: SIM IP HXR LLC
Reel/Frame 075127/0488 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2026
From: ULTRAHAPTICS LIMITED; ULTRAHAPTICS IP LIMITED; ULTRAHAPTICS IP TWO LIMITED; ULTRALEAP LIMITED
To: SIM IP HXR LLC
Reel/Frame 074403/0664 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2020
From: LMI LIQUIDATING CO., LLC
To: TRIPLEPOINT CAPITAL LLC
Reel/Frame 052902/0571 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: ULTRAHAPTICS IP TWO LIMITED
To: LMI LIQUIDATING CO., LLC
Reel/Frame 052848/0240 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2020
From: LEAP MOTION, INC.
To: LMI LIQUIDATING CO., LLC.
Reel/Frame 052914/0871 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2020
From: LMI LIQUIDATING CO., LLC.
To: ULTRAHAPTICS IP TWO LIMITED
Reel/Frame 051580/0165 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2019
From: HAYNES BEFFEL WOLFELD LLP
To: LEAP MOTION, INC.
Reel/Frame 049926/0631 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2019
From: TRIPLEPOINT CAPITAL LLC
To: LEAP MOTION, INC.
Reel/Frame 049337/0130 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2019
From: LEAP MOTION, INC.
To: HAYNES BEFFEL WOLFELD LLP
Reel/Frame 048919/0109 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035268 FRAME 0923. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Recorded Mar 4, 2019
From: COHEN, ISAAC; SILLS, MAXWELL
To: LEAP MOTION, INC.
Reel/Frame 048504/0354 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 7, 2018
From: THE FOUNDERS FUND IV, LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: LEAP MOTION, INC.
Reel/Frame 047444/0567 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2015
From: LEAP MOTION, INC.
To: THE FOUNDERS FUND IV, LP
Reel/Frame 036796/0151 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2015
From: LEAP MOTION, INC.
To: TRIPLEPOINT CAPITAL LLC
Reel/Frame 036644/0314 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2015
From: COHEN, ISAAC; SILLS, MAXWELL
To: LEAP MOTION, INC.
Reel/Frame 035268/0923 →