Camera based sensor for motion detection

摘要

The amount of power and processing needed to process gesture input for a computing device can be reduced by utilizing a separate gesture sensor. The gesture sensor can have a form factor similar to that of conventional camera elements, in order to reduce costs by being able to utilize readily available low cost parts, but can have a lower resolution and adjustable virtual shutter such that fast motions can be captured and/or recognized by the device. In some devices, a subset of the pixels of the gesture sensor can be used as a motion detector, enabling the gesture sensor to run in a low power state unless there is likely gesture input to process. Further, at least some of the processing and circuitry can be included with the gesture sensor such that various functionality can be performed without accessing a central processor or system bus, thus further reducing power consumption.

主权项

1. A method of enabling gesture input for a computing device, comprising:
capturing first image information at a first frame rate using a subset of a set of pixels of a gesture sensor, wherein the set of pixels includes a plurality of pairs of pixels, each pair of pixels including a first pixel to be exposed to incident light and a second pixel to be shielded from the incident light and for storing charge received from the first pixel exposed to the incident light; analyzing, using a processor of the gesture sensor, the first image information to detect motion near the computing device by determining that a difference between (a) a first ratio of (i) a first group of pixels, of a first image of the first image information, located substantially in a first region of the gesture sensor, and (ii) a second group of pixels, of the first image, located substantially in a second region of the gesture sensor, and (b) a second ratio of (i) a third group of pixels, of a second image of the first image information, located substantially in the first region, and (ii) a fourth group of pixels, of the second image, located substantially in the second region, exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the first region and the second region are opposing edges of the gesture sensor, the processor of the gesture sensor being separate from a processor of the computing device; activating a gesture input mode to capture second image information at a full resolution of the gesture sensor at a second frame rate, wherein the second frame rate is greater than the first frame rate; detecting one or more gestures in the second image information; causing a signal to be sent to an image capture element for capturing third image information of the one or more gestures, the image capture element having a similar form factor but higher resolution than the gesture sensor; and providing information corresponding to the one or more gestures as input to the processor of the computing device.