IP Library Granted Patent US 12,105,891
Granted Patent B2
US 12,105,891 · App. 18/357,607 · Granted Oct 1, 2024

Steerable camera for AR hand tracking

Inventors: Daniel Colascione (Melbourne Beach, FL); Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons (Downey, CA); Weston Welge (Boulder, CO); Ramzi Zahreddine (Denver, CO)
Assignee: Snap Inc.
G06F3/017G02B27/017G06F3/011G06T19/006G02B2027/0138G02B2027/0178
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,105,891
App. No.
18/357,607
Granted
Oct 1, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for hand tracking for an Augmented Reality (AR) system. The AR system uses a camera of the AR system to capture tracking video frame data of a hand of a user of the AR system. The AR system generates a skeletal model based on the tracking video frame data and determines a location of the hand of the user based on the skeletal model. The AR system causes a steerable camera of the AR system to focus on the hand of the user.

Claims (46)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

capturing, by one or more processors, using a first camera of an Augmented Reality (AR) system, tracking video frame data of a hand of a user of the AR system;

determining, by the one or more processors, a location of the hand of the user using the tracking video frame data; and

focusing, by the one or more processors, a steerable camera of the AR system on the hand of the user using the location;

wherein the first camera is the steerable camera, the method further comprising:

scanning, by the one or more processors, using the steerable camera, an AR Field Of View (FOV) of the AR system to initially locate the hand of the user;

using, by the one or more processors, a look-ahead process to predict a next location of the hand of the user based on a current location of the hand; and

focusing, by the one or more processors, the steerable camera on the next location.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first camera comprises a non-steerable camera having a camera FOV equal to an AR FOV of the AR system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the next location is predicted further based on a language model.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the language model is for American Sign Language.

5. The method of claim 1 , further wherein the steerable camera comprises:

a camera having sensor and a lens assembly; and

one or more actuators linked to the camera.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the AR system comprises a head-worn device.

7. A computing apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the computing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

capturing, by one or more processors, using a first camera of an Augmented Reality (AR) system, tracking video frame data of a hand of a user of the AR system;

determining, by the one or more processors, a location of the hand of the user using the tracking video frame data; and

focusing, by the one or more processors, a steerable camera of the AR system on the hand of the user using the locations;

wherein the first camera is the steerable camera, and

wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

scanning, using the steerable camera, an AR FOV of the AR system to initially locate the hand of the user;

using a look-ahead process to predict a next location of the hand of the user based on a current location of the hand; and

focusing the steerable camera on the next location.

8. The computing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first camera comprises a non-steerable camera having a camera FOV equal to an AR FOV of the AR system.

9. The computing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the next location is predicted further based on a language model.

10. The computing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the language model is for American Sign Language.

11. The computing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the steerable camera comprises:

a camera having sensor and a lens assembly; and

one or more actuators linked to the camera.

12. The computing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the AR system comprises a head-worn device.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a computing apparatus, cause the computing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

capturing, by one or more processors, using a first camera of an Augmented Reality (AR) system, tracking video frame data of a hand of a user of the AR system;

determining, by the one or more processors, a location of the hand of the user using the tracking video frame data; and

focusing, by the one or more processors, a steerable camera of the AR system on the hand of the user using the location;

wherein the first camera is the steerable camera, and

wherein the instructions, when executed by the computing apparatus, further cause the computing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

scanning, using the steerable camera, an AR FOV of the AR system to initially locate the hand of the user;

using a look-ahead process to predict a next location of the hand of the user based on a current location of the hand; and

focusing the steerable camera on the next location.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first camera comprises a non-steerable camera having a camera FOV equal to an AR FOV of the AR system.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the next location is predicted further based on a language model.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the language model is for American Sign Language.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the AR system comprises a head-worn device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2023
From: COLASCIONE, DANIEL; SIMONS, PATRICK TIMOTHY MCSWEENEY; WELGE, WESTON; ZAHREDDINE, RAMZI
To: SNAP INC.
Reel/Frame 064360/0503 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17950825 · Sep 22, 2022
Related Publication 20240103631A1 · Mar 28, 2024
Cited By (1)
US 12,710,828