POINTING POSITION DETERMINATION

A glasses may include a glasses frame configured to detect a touch input to the glasses frame, and a processor configured to determine a pointing position within an image displayed by a display based, at least in part, on the touch input.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, some embodiments will be described in detail. It is to be understood that the following description is given only for the purpose of illustration and is not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited by the embodiments described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, but is intended to be limited only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

It is also to be understood that in the following description of embodiments any direct connection or coupling between functional blocks, devices, components, circuit elements or other physical or functional units shown in the drawings or described herein could also be implemented by an indirect connection or coupling, i.e. a connection or coupling comprising one or more intervening elements. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that functional blocks or units shown in the drawings may be implemented as separate circuits in some embodiments, but may also be fully or partially implemented in a common circuit in other embodiments. In other words, the provision of functional blocks in the drawings is intended to give a clear understanding of the various functions performed, but is not to be construed as indicating that the corresponding functions are necessarily implemented in physically separate entities.

It is further to be understood that any connection which is described as being wire-based in the following specification may also be implemented as a wireless communication connection unless noted to the contrary.

The features of the various embodiments described herein may be combined with each other unless specifically noted otherwise. On the other hand, describing an embodiment with a plurality of features is not to be construed as indicating that all those features are necessary for practicing the present invention, as other embodiments may comprise less features and/or alternative features.

In some examples, a display may be mounted or formed on a lens of glasses and an image may be displayed by the display. The displayed image may be captured by a camera which is installed on a glasses frame of the glasses, or the image may be transmitted to the glasses via a network from an outside of the glasses. While wearing the glasses and viewing the image, a wearer of the glasses may touch the glasses frame of the glasses and the glasses may detect or sense the touch input from the wearer. The glasses may determine a pointing position based, at least in part, on the detected touch input and the determined pointing position may be shown on the image.

FIG. 1schematically shows an illustrative example of glasses in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. As depicted inFIG. 1, glasses100may include a glasses frame110, a lens120, a processor130and a camera140.

Glasses frame110may detect a touch input to glasses frame110. The touch input to glasses frame110may be made by a wearer of glasses100. By way of examples, the touch input may be detected by using any of well-known touch sensitivity technologies, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other technologies using proximity sensor arrays or elements for sensing one or more contact points with glasses frame110.

Further, glasses frame110may include a first glasses frame111, a second glasses frame112and a third glasses frame113. First glasses frame111may detect a first direction touch input to first glasses frame111, and second glasses frame112may detect a second direction touch input to second glasses frame112, and third glasses frame113may detect a third direction touch input to third glasses frame113. In some embodiments, the first direction touch input may be associated with an x-axis direction on a display150, and the second direction touch input may be associated with a y-axis direction on display150, and the third direction touch input may be associated with a z-axis direction on display150.

By way of example, as depicted inFIG. 1, if an image160is a two-dimensional image, there is no need for detecting the third direction touch input to third glasses frame113. Therefore, in such a case, it is sufficient to detect only the first direction touch input to first glasses frame111, and the second direction touch input to second glasses frame112.

Lens120may be coupled with glasses frame110, and the wearer of glasses100may view something outside of glasses100such as a landscape, a monitor or a screen through lens120. In some embodiments, display150may be mounted or formed on lens120.

Processor130may determine a pointing position170, which will be shown on image160, based, at least in part, on the touch input that was made to glasses frame110by the wearer of glasses100.

Further, processor130may transmit determined pointing position170to display150. Processor130may determine an x-coordinate of pointing position170which will be displayed within display150based on the detected first direction touch input, a y-coordinate of pointing position170which will be displayed within display150based on the detected second direction touch input, and a z-coordinate of pointing position170which will be displayed within display150based on the detected third direction touch input.

Camera140may be mounted on or coupled with glasses frame110of glasses100. Camera140may capture image160around glasses100. In this case, image160may be a part of view that the wearer sees through lens120. By way of examples, camera140may include various camera lenses such as a wide-angle lens, a telephoto lens, a zoom lens, a fish-eye lens and a lens for infrared optics. For example, camera140may capture a bright image at night by using the lens for infrared optics. Camera140may further include a filter installed on the camera lens. Although glasses100is illustrated to have a single camera140inFIG. 1, the number of cameras coupled with glasses100can be increased. By way of example, glasses100may have multiple cameras coupled with glasses100to capture a wide image, a non-wobbly image or a three-dimensional image outside of glasses100.

Display150may be mounted or formed on lens120coupled with glasses frame110. For example, display150may be any kind of heads-up displays (HUDs) or head-mounted displays (HMDs). By way of example, display150may be positioned on an upper part of lens120, but the position of display150can be any position on lens120. Further, the illustrated size or shape of display150can also be modified. By way of example, display150may include a glass panel, a transparent film, a transparent sheet and so forth.

Image160may be displayed by display150mounted or formed on lens120. Image160may be one of a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image. In some embodiments, glasses100may previously store contents such as a movie, a television broadcasting program, a music video and so forth, and then image160included in the contents may be displayed by display150. The wearer may operate glasses100to reproduce the stored contents on display150.

In some embodiments, image160may be captured by camera140installed on glasses frame110, and then captured image160may be displayed on display150. Further, glasses100may receive additional information on at least one object within captured image160, and the received additional information may be displayed with captured image160. For example, while viewing the additional information, the wearer may find a particular spot such as a restaurant where the wearer wants to visit from a crowded street. Further, since display150may display captured image160which is an outside view around glasses100, glasses100may be useful to the wearer who has poor eye sight.

In some other embodiments, image160may be transmitted from outside of glasses100to a communication module of glasses100via a network, and then transmitted image160may be displayed by display150. By way of example, transmitted image160may include a real time broadcasting contents such as an IPTV contents.

A network is an interconnected structure of nodes, such as terminals and servers, and allows sharing of information among the nodes. By way of example, but not limited to, the network may include a wired network such as LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), VAN (Value Added Network) or the like, and all kinds of wireless network such as a mobile radio communication network, a satellite network, a Bluetooth, Wibro (Wireless Broadband Internet), Mobile WiMAX, HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) or the like.

Pointing position170may be transmitted to display150, and then transmitted pointing position170may be shown on image160displayed by display150.

By way of example, if the wearer touches glasses frame110with his/her finger and then moves the touch point on glasses frame110, glasses frame110may detect a movement trace of the touch input on glasses frame110, and then processor130may determine a movement trace of pointing position170based on the movement trace of the touch input on glasses frame110. Further, processor130may transmit the movement trace of pointing position170to display150, and then pointing position170shown on image160may be moved continuously in response to the received movement trace.

Further, a projector may be installed on a certain position of glasses100to shoot beams to a transparent display area on lens120of glasses100to display something on the transparent display area.

FIG. 2schematically shows another illustrative example of glasses in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. As depicted inFIG. 2, glasses200may include a glasses frame210, a lens220, a processor230and a non-transparent member240. As compared to glasses100ofFIG. 1, glasses200may further include non-transparent member240, and a display250which displays an image260is mounted or formed on non-transparent member240not on lens220. In this embodiment, lens220is optional and may be omitted from glasses200.

Since the function and operation of glasses frame210, lens220and processor230are similar to those of glasses frame110, lens120and processor130discussed above in conjunction withFIG. 1, redundant description thereof will be omitted herein.

Non-transparent member240may be coupled with glasses frame210. By way of example, but not limited to, non-transparent member240may be fixed to glasses frame210, or configured to be moved up and down by a hinge provided to glasses frame210. Display250may be mounted or formed on non-transparent member240. If a wearer does not want to watch display250, the wearer can move up non-transparent member240or remove non-transparent member240.

Although, glasses200are illustrated to have a single display250inFIG. 2, in some embodiments, two displays may be mounted or formed on non-transparent member240. By way of example, a first display may be mounted or formed on a right portion of non-transparent member240, and a second display may be mounted or formed on a left portion of non-transparent member240. By using these two displays, glasses200may provide the wearer with a 3-dimensional image.

Because glasses200maintain the wearer's peripheral vision free from obstruction, the wearer can view confidential information in a crowded environment without disclosing the displayed information to others. By way of example, in such a case, glasses200can allow the user to watch displayed image260on a private display250. In some embodiments, glasses200may further include speakers or earphones to allow the wearer to listen sounds or voices.

FIG. 3schematically shows an illustrative example of an image displaying environment in which glasses and a separate display communicate with each other via a network in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. As depicted inFIG. 3, the image displaying environment may include glasses300, a network340and a separate display350. Here, glasses300may include a glasses frame310, a lens320and a processor330. As compared to glasses100ofFIG. 1, separate display350ofFIG. 3which displays an image360is distanced away from glasses300. Further, in this embodiment, lens320is optional and may be omitted from glasses300.

Since the function and operation of glasses frame310and lens320are similar to those of glasses frame110and lens120discussed above in conjunction withFIG. 1, redundant description thereof will be omitted herein.

Processor330may determine a pointing position370which will be shown on image360based, at least in part, on a touch input made to glasses frame310by a wearer of glasses300. Processor330may transmit determined pointing position370to separate display350via network340and then, transmitted pointing position370may be shown on image360displayed by separate display350.

Separate display350may be connected with glasses300via network340. By way of example, but not limited to, separate display350may include a monitor, a television, or a screen which is associated with various electronic devices such as a computer, a mobile device, or a beam projector. While wearing glasses300, the wearer can adjust pointing position370shown on image360displayed on separated display350.

By way of example, the computer may include a notebook provided with a WEB Browser, a desktop, a laptop, and others. The mobile device is, for example, a wireless communication device assuring portability and mobility and may include any types of handheld-based wireless communication devices such as a personal communication system (PCS), global system for mobile communications (GSM), personal digital cellular (PDC), personal handy phone system (PHS), personal digital assistant (PDA), international mobile telecommunication (IMT)-2000, code division multiple access (CDMA)-2000, W-code division multiple access (W-CDMA), a wireless broadband Internet (Wibro) device, and a smart phone.

FIG. 4shows a schematic block diagram illustrating an architecture of glasses in accordance with example embodiments described herein. As depicted inFIG. 4, glasses400may include a glasses frame410, a lens420, a processor430and a memory440. As compared to glasses100ofFIG. 1, processor430may include a receiving unit432, a determination unit434and a transmitting unit436, and glasses400may further include memory440. Although illustrated as discrete components, various components may be divided into additional components, combined into fewer components, or eliminated altogether while being contemplated within the scope of the disclosed subject matter.

Since the function and operation of glasses frame410, lens420and processor430are similar to those of glasses frame110, lens120and processor130discussed above in conjunction withFIG. 1, redundant description thereof will be omitted herein. In some embodiments, processor430and memory440may be installed inside of glasses frame410.

Glasses frame410may detect at least one touch input to glasses frame410, and then transmit the at least one detected touch input to receiving unit432. Receiving unit432may receive the detected touch input from glasses frame410. Determination unit434may determine a pointing position470which will be shown on an image460displayed by a display450based, at least in part, on the received touch input. Transmitting unit436may transmit determined pointing position470to display450and then, transmitted pointing position470may be shown on image460displayed by display450.

Memory440may previously store at least one image including image460, and the at least one stored image may be displayed by display450. By way of example, but not limited to, memory440may include high speed random access memory, non-volatile memory such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state memory devices, network attached storage accessed via a network, or any suitable combination thereof.

FIG. 5schematically shows another illustrative example of glasses in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. As depicted inFIG. 5, glasses500may include a glasses frame510, a lens520, a processor530, an on/off switch532, a zoom in/out button535, an auxiliary input unit540and a click unit545. In comparison with glasses100ofFIG. 1, glasses500may further include on/off switch532, zoom in/out button535, auxiliary input unit540and click unit545. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that at least one of on/off switch532, zoom in/out button535, auxiliary input unit540and click unit545may be further installed on one of glasses100to300ofFIGS. 1 to 3.

The function and operation of glasses frame510, lens520and processor530are similar to those of glasses frame110, lens120and processor130discussed above in conjunction withFIG. 1.

On/off switch532may stop or start an operation of glasses500. By way of example, if a wearer of glasses500wants to use a function of glasses500such as displaying image560and/or determining a pointing position570on display550, the wearer may turn on on/off switch532and then the operation of glasses500may be started. Further, the wearer wants to stop to the operation of glasses500, the wearer may turn off on/off switch532and then the operation of glasses500may be stopped. By way of example, but not limited to, on/off switch532may be a single button or two buttons including an “on” button and an “off” button. By way of example, if there is no operation of glasses500for a predetermined time, glasses500may be automatically switched to an “off” mode.

By using zoom in/out button535, image560displayed by display550may be zoomed in or zoomed out. When a certain object on image560is too small or large, zoom in/out button535can be used. By way of example, when the wearer push a “+” button of zoom in/out button535, image560may be zoomed in, and when the wearer push a “−” button of zoom in/out button535, image560may be zoomed out. According to the number of pushing the “+” or “−” button, the degree of zoom in/out with respect to image560may be determined. By way of example, when the wearer drags her/his finger from “−” button to “+” button of zoom in/out button535, image560may be zoomed in, and when the wearer drags her/his finger from “+” button to “−” button of zoom in/out button535, image560may be zoomed out.

In some embodiments, zoom in/out button535may be omitted from glasses500. In such a case, image560may be zoomed in or out by making a predefined gesture on glasses frame510. By way of example, image560may be zoomed in by increasing a distance between two fingers on glasses frame510. Similarly, image560may be zoomed out by decreasing a distance between two fingers on glasses frame510.

Auxiliary input unit540may receive an auxiliary input for moving pointing position570from the wearer. In some embodiments, auxiliary input unit540may include at least one of a scroll and a ball. By way of example, if the wearer wants to slightly move pointing position570, the wearer may use auxiliary input unit540for fine adjustment instead of touching glasses frame510. By manipulating auxiliary input unit540, the wearer of glasses500can adjust pointing position570more accurately.

Click unit545may receive from the wearer an instruction to select an object corresponding to pointing position570within image560. While pointing position570is being shown on image560, if the wearer pushes click unit545, the object within image560corresponding to pointing position570may be selected. In some examples, if the wearer double clicks click unit545with respect to the selected object, glasses500may receive information associated with the selected object from an external information providing server, and then glasses500may display the received information on display550.

The positions of on/off switch532, zoom in/out button535, auxiliary input unit540and click unit545can be modified in various ways. Further, although glasses500inFIG. 5are illustrated to include all of on/off switch532, zoom in/out button535, auxiliary input unit540and click unit545, in some embodiments, at least one of on/off switch532, zoom in/out button535, auxiliary input unit540and click unit545can be omitted from glasses500.

FIG. 6shows a schematic block diagram illustrating an architecture of a pointing device associated with glasses in accordance with example embodiments described herein. As depicted inFIG. 6, pointing device610may be installed on glasses600and pointing device610may include a touch sensor612and a processor614. Although illustrated as discrete components, various components may be divided into additional components, combined into fewer components, or eliminated altogether while being contemplated within the scope of the disclosed subject matter.

Touch sensor612may detect a touch input to a glasses frame620of glasses600by using any one of well-known touch input detecting schemes. Alternatively, touch sensor612may detect the touch input by calculating a contact position on glasses frame620with at least one camera included in touch sensor612.

Processor614may determine a pointing position670which will be shown on an image660displayed by a display650based, at least in part, on the detected touch input. Then, processor614may transmit determined pointing position670to display650.

By installing pointing device610on glasses600, typical glasses600may perform functions including detecting a touch input and determining pointing position670as done by glasses100ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 7shows an example processing flow for determining a pointing position within an image. The processing flow inFIG. 7may be implemented by at least one glasses illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 6. Although illustrated as discrete blocks, various blocks may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, or eliminated, depending on the desired implementation. Processing may begin at block710.

At block710(Receive Touch Input), glasses may receive a touch input to a glasses frame. In the above description regardingFIGS. 1 to 6, the glasses may include the glasses frame, and a wearer of the glasses may make the touch input to the glasses frame. Processing may proceed from block710to block720.

At block720(Detect Touch Input), the glasses frame may detect the touch input received at block710by using any one of well-known touch input detecting schemes. By way of example, but not limited to, the touch input may be detected by using any of well-known touch sensitivity technologies, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other technologies using proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more contact points with the glasses frame. Processing may proceed from block720to block730.

At block730(Determine Pointing Position), the glasses may determine a pointing position within an image displayed by a display based, at least in part, on the touch input detected at block720. In some embodiments, the glasses may determine (x, y) or (x, y, z) coordinates of the pointing position on the display based on the detected touch input. Processing may proceed from block730to block740.

At block740(Transmit Pointing Position to Display), the glasses may transmit the pointing position determined at block730to the display. By way of example, but not limited to, as the above description regardingFIGS. 1 to 6, the display may be mounted on a lens coupled with the glasses frame, or the display may be mounted on a non-transparent member coupled with glasses frame, or the display may be separated from the glasses. The image may be displayed by the display, and the transmitted pointing position may be shown on the image.

The examples described above, with regard toFIGS. 1-7, may be implemented in a computing environment having components that include, but are not limited to, one or more processors, system memory, and a system bus that couples various system components. Further, the computing environment may include a variety of computer readable media that are accessible by any of the various components, and includes both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

An implementation of these modules and techniques may be stored on or transmitted across some form of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, but not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communications media.

Reference has been made throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “an example embodiment” meaning that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, usage of such phrases may refer to more than just one embodiment. Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

While example embodiments and applications of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise configuration and resources described above. Various modifications, changes, and variations apparent to those skilled in the art may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the methods and systems of the present invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the claimed invention.

One skilled in the relevant art may recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, resources, materials, etc. In other instances, well known structures, resources, or operations have not been shown or described in detail merely to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.