Abstract: A computing system for direct three-dimensional pointing includes at least one computing device, and a pointing/input device including at least one light source and a motion sensor module for determining absolute and relative displacement of the pointing/input device. At least one imaging device is configured for capturing a plurality of image frames each including a view of the light source as the pointing/input device is held and/or moved in a three-dimensional space. Two or more imaging devices may be provided. A computer program product calculates at least a position and/or a motion of the light source in three-dimensional space from the plurality of sequential image frames and from the pointing/input device absolute and relative displacement information, and renders on the graphical user interface a visual indicator corresponding to the calculated position and/or the motion of the light source. Methods for direct three-dimensional pointing and command input are described also.

Abstract: A stereo imaging system having convergence angle and disparity control includes a pair of pivoting folded-parallel-light-channel (FPLC) units arranged to provide a virtual left side view and a virtual right side view of a scene. Each FPLC unit includes a fixed lens unit adapted to focus reflected light including an image of a scene to an image sensor and a laterally translatable light-redirecting unit including a reflector adapted to define a parallel image reflection path to the fixed lens unit via a collimated light beam defined by substantially parallel light beams. The stereo imaging system further includes a disparity-adjusting mechanism adapted to alter a distance between the pair of pivoting FPLC units and a convergence-angle-adjusting mechanism adapted to pivot the pivoting FPLC units.