Abstract: A method and system determines object orientation using a light source to create a shadow line extending from the light source. A camera captures an image including the shadow line on an object surface. An orientation module determines the surface orientation from the shadow line. In some examples a transparency imperfection in a window through which a camera receives light can be detected and a message sent to a user as to the presence of a light-blocking or light-distorting substance or particle. A system can control illumination while imaging an object in space using a light source mounted to a support structure so a camera captures an image of the illuminated object. Direct illumination of the camera by light from the light source can be prevented such as by blocking the light or using a light-transmissive window adjacent the camera to reject light transmitted directly from the light source.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing input from an image-capture device for gesture-recognition. The method further includes computationally interpreting user gestures in accordance with a first mode of operation; analyzing the path of movement of an object to determine an intent of a user to change modes of operation; and, upon determining an intent of the user to change modes of operation, subsequently interpreting user gestures in accordance with the second mode of operation.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to user interfaces for controlling augmented reality environments. Real and virtual objects can be seamlessly integrated to form an augmented reality by tracking motion of one or more real objects within view of a wearable sensor system using a combination a RGB (red, green, and blue) and IR (infrared) pixels of one or more cameras. It also relates to enabling multi-user collaboration and interaction in an immersive virtual environment. In particular, it relates to capturing different sceneries of a shared real world space from the perspective of multiple users. The technology disclosed further relates to sharing content between wearable sensor systems. In particular, it relates to capturing images and video streams from the perspective of a first user of a wearable sensor system and sending an augmented version of the captured images and video stream to a second user of the wearable sensor system.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to simplifying updating of a predictive model using clustering observed points. In particular, it relates to observing a set of points in 3D sensory space, determining surface normal directions from the points, clustering the points by their surface normal directions and adjacency, accessing a predictive model of a hand, refining positions of segments of the predictive model, matching the clusters of the points to the segments, and using the matched clusters to refine the positions of the matched segments. It also relates to distinguishing between alternative motions between two observed locations of a control object in a 3D sensory space by accessing first and second positions of a segment of a predictive model of a control object such that motion between the first position and the second position was at least partially occluded from observation in a 3D sensory space.

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.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to adjusting the monitored field of view of a camera and/or a view of a virtual scene from a point of view of a virtual camera based on the distance between tracked objects. For example, if the user's hand is being tracked for gestures, the closer the hand gets to another object, the tighter the frame can become—i.e., the more the camera can zoom in so that the hand and the other object occupy most of the frame. The camera can also be reoriented so that the hand and the other object remain in the center of the field of view. The distance between two objects in a camera's field of view can be determined and a parameter of a motion-capture system adjusted based thereon. In particular, the pan and/or zoom levels of the camera may be adjusted in accordance with the distance.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to a motion sensory and imaging device capable of acquiring imaging information of the scene and providing at least a near real time pass-through of imaging information to a user. The sensory and imaging device can be used stand-alone or coupled to a wearable or portable device to create a wearable sensory system capable of presenting to the wearer the imaging information augmented with virtualized or created presentations of information.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to automatically (e.g., programmatically) initializing predictive information for tracking a complex control object (e.g., hand, hand and tool combination, robot end effector) based upon information about characteristics of the object determined from sets of collected observed information. Automated initialization techniques obviate the need for special and often bizarre start-up rituals (place your hands on the screen at the places indicated during a full moon, and so forth) required by conventional techniques. In implementations, systems can refine initial predictive information to reflect an observed condition based on comparison of the observed with an analysis of sets of collected observed information.

Abstract: During control of a user interface via free-space motions of a hand or other suitable control object, switching between control modes can be facilitated by tracking the control object's movements relative to, and its contact with a “virtual touch plane or surface” (i.e., a plane, portion of a plane, and/or surface computationally defined in space, or corresponding to any physical surface).

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to a method of realistic simulation of real world interactions as virtual interactions between a control object sensed acting in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space and the virtual object in a virtual space that the control object interacts with. In particular, it relates to detecting free-form gestures of a control object in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space and generating for display a 3D solid control object model for the control object during the free-form gestures, including sub-components of the control object and in response to detecting a free-form gesture of the control object in the 3D sensory space in virtual contact with the virtual object, depicting, in the generated display, the virtual contact and resulting motions of the virtual object by the 3D solid control object model.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to enhancing the fields of view of one or more cameras of a gesture recognition system for augmenting the three-dimensional (3D) sensory space of the gesture recognition system. The augmented 3D sensory space allows for inclusion of previously uncaptured of regions and points for which gestures can be interpreted i.e. blind spots of the cameras of the gesture recognition system. Some examples of such blind spots include areas underneath the cameras and/or within 20-85 degrees of a tangential axis of the cameras. In particular, the technology disclosed uses a Fresnel prismatic element and/or a triangular prism element to redirect the optical axis of the cameras, giving the cameras fields of view that cover at least 45 to 80 degrees from tangential to the vertical axis of a display screen on which the cameras are mounted.

Abstract: Aspects of the systems and methods are described providing for modifying a presented interactive element or object, such as a cursor, based on user-input gestures, the presented environment of the cursor, or any combination thereof. The color, size, shape, transparency, and/or responsiveness of the cursor may change based on the gesture velocity, acceleration, or path. In one implementation, the cursor “stretches” to graphically indicate the velocity and/or acceleration of the gesture. The display properties of the cursor may also change if, for example, the area of the screen occupied by the cursor is dark, bright, textured, or is otherwise complicated. In another implementation, the cursor is drawn using sub-pixel smoothing to improve its visual quality.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to a method of realistic displacement of a virtual object for an interaction between a control object in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space and the virtual object in a virtual space that the control object interacts with. In particular, it relates to detecting free-form gestures of a control object in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space and generating for display a 3D solid control object model for the control object during the free-form gestures, including sub-components of the control object and in response to detecting a 2D sub-component free-form gesture of the control object in the 3D sensory space in virtual contact with the virtual object, depicting, in the generated display, the virtual contact and resulting rotation of the virtual object by the 3D solid control object model.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to relates to providing command input to a machine under control. It further relates to gesturally interacting with the machine. The technology disclosed also relates to providing monitoring information about a process under control. The technology disclosed further relates to providing biometric information about an individual. The technology disclosed yet further relates to providing abstract features information (pose, grab strength, pinch strength, confidence, and so forth) about an individual.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to user interfaces for controlling augmented reality environments. Real and virtual objects can be seamlessly integrated to form an augmented reality by tracking motion of one or more real objects within view of a wearable sensor system using a combination a RGB (red, green, and blue) and IR (infrared) pixels of one or more cameras. It also relates to enabling multi-user collaboration and interaction in an immersive virtual environment. In particular, it relates to capturing different sceneries of a shared real world space from the perspective of multiple users. The technology disclosed further relates to sharing content between wearable sensor systems. In particular, it relates to capturing images and video streams from the perspective of a first user of a wearable sensor system and sending an augmented version of the captured images and video stream to a second user of the wearable sensor system.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to distinguishing meaningful gestures from proximate non-meaningful gestures in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space. In particular, it relates to calculating spatial trajectories of different gestures and determining a dominant gesture based on magnitudes of the spatial trajectories. The technology disclosed also relates to uniformly responding to gestural inputs from a user irrespective of a position of the user. In particular, it relates to automatically adapting a responsiveness scale between gestures in a physical space and resulting responses in a gestural interface by automatically proportioning on-screen responsiveness to scaled movement distances of gestures in the physical space, user spacing with the 3D sensory space, or virtual object density in the gestural interface.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing input from an image-capture device for gesture-recognition. The method further includes computationally interpreting user gestures in accordance with a first mode of operation; analyzing the path of movement of an object to determine an intent of a user to change modes of operation; and, upon determining an intent of the user to change modes of operation, subsequently interpreting user gestures in accordance with the second mode of operation.

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.

Abstract: Free space machine interface and control can be facilitated by predictive entities useful in interpreting a control object's position and/or motion (including objects having one or more articulating members, i.e., humans and/or animals and/or machines). Predictive entities can be driven using motion information captured using image information or the equivalents. Predictive information can be improved applying techniques for correlating with information from observations.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to identifying an object in a field of view of a camera. In particular, it relates to identifying a display in the field of view of the camera. This is achieved by monitoring a space including acquiring a series of image frames of the space using the camera and detecting one or more light sources in the series of image frames. Further, one or more frequencies of periodic intensity or brightness variations, also referred to as ‘refresh rate’, of light emitted from the light sources is measured. Based on the one or more frequencies of periodic intensity variations of light emitted from the light sources, at least one display that includes the light sources is identified.