IP Library Granted Patent US 9,741,172
Granted Patent B2
US 9,741,172 · App. 14/882,667 · Granted Aug 22, 2017

Providing volume indicators based on received images of containers

Inventors: Ilse M. Breedvelt-Schouten (Manotick, CA); Jana H. Jenkins (Raleigh, NC); Jeffrey A. Kusnitz (Campbell, CA)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G06T19/006G02B27/017G06K9/00671G06K9/6215G06T7/62G02B2027/014G02B2027/0178G06K2209/03G06T2207/10004G06T2207/20212
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,741,172
App. No.
14/882,667
Granted
Aug 22, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

In order to aid a user in filling a container with a target volume of a substance, an image is received. The image includes a view of the container and a view of a reference object. The reference object has a known dimension. The view of the reference object and the view of the container are then compared with reference to the known dimension. Based on the comparison, a volume of the container is determined. Based on the volume of the container, a volume indicator is provided.

Claims (20)

1. A method comprising:

receiving an image, the image including a view of a container and a view of a reference object, the reference object having a known dimension;

comparing, with reference to the known dimension, the view of the reference object and the view of the container; determining, based on the comparing, a volume of the container; and

displaying, based on the volume of the container, a volume indicator, wherein the volume indicator is a virtual visual overlay superimposed on the container, and wherein the virtual visual overlay includes a horizontal fill-line superimposed on an inner wall of the container, the horizontal fill-line configured to indicate a height to which a substance will reach when the container has been filled with a target volume of the substance by a user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the volume indicator is configured to aid the user in filling the container with the target volume of the substance.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference object is a portion of an appendage of the user, the method further comprising:

identifying the known dimension by obtaining a measurement of the portion the appendage.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the measurement of the portion of the appendage of the user is a width of a thumbnail of the user.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the image and the displaying the volume indicator are performed by a head-mounted display, the head mounted display configured to be mounted upon a head of the user.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the determining the volume of the container is performed by a processor electrically coupled to the head-mounted display, and wherein the determining the volume of the container further comprises:

identifying, based on the image, a shape of the container; and

recognizing the reference object within the image.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a second image, the second image including a second view of the container filled with a quantity of the substance;

determining, based on the second image, a volume of the quantity of the substance; and

displaying the volume of the quantity of the substance to the user.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the image and the providing the volume indicator both occur prior to the user beginning to fill the container with the substance, the method further comprising:

receiving, subsequent to the user beginning to fill the container with the substance, a second image, the second image including a second view of the container filled with a quantity of the substance;

determining, based on the second image, that a volume of the quantity of the substance is equal to the target volume; and

displaying, in response to the determining that the volume of the quantity of the substance is equal to the target volume, a second indicator.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the volume indicator is configured to aid the user in identifying when the container has been filled with the target volume of the substance and a second target volume of a second substance.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2015
From: BREEDVELT-SCHOUTEN, ILSE M.; JENKINS, JANA H.; KUSNITZ, JEFFREY A.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036789/0581 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14592944 · Jan 9, 2015
Related Publication 20160203365A1 · Jul 14, 2016