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SamsungGranted patentPhones & computersInterest 6/10

Samsung patents camera-based gesture control for electronic devices

Samsung has been granted a patent for a method that uses a device's camera to track the angle of an object moving in front of it. The system compares the object's position in two consecutive video frames to detect specific movement patterns, such as a change in direction relative to a fixed axis. When the movement matches a predefined pattern, the device triggers a specific function, allowing users to control the device through physical gestures.

Why it mattersThis filing suggests a way to interact with phones or tablets using hand movements without touching the screen, which could be useful for hands-free operation or accessibility.

In the filing’s own words

An electronic device including a camera, a processor and memory storing instructions is provided. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to acquire image frames including a first image frame and a second image frame by using a camera, determine, as a first field of view (FOV), a FOV between a first axis and a first direction, in which an object related to motion is oriented, when the object is recognized in the first image frame, determine, as a second FOV, a FOV between the first axis and a second direction in which the object recognized in the second image frame following the first image frame is oriented, recognize a first motion gesture in response to the first FOV being at most a first critical FOV, the second FOV being at least a second critical FOV, and perform a first function corresponding to the first motion gesture in response to the recognition of the first motion gesture.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An electronic device comprising: a camera; memory comprising one or more storage media storing instructions; and at least one processor comprising processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the camera and the memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to: acquire image frames comprising a first image frame and a second image frame by using the camera, when an object related to motion is recognized in the first image frame, detect a first position of the object relative to a first axis, and identify a first direction in which the object is oriented, determine whether the first direction corresponds to a first state where an angular value between the first direction and the first axis is within a first critical range, identify a second direction in which the object recognized in the second image frame following the first image frame is oriented, determine whether the first direction and the second direction are different and whether the second direction corresponds to a second date where an angular value between the second direction and the first axis is within a second critical range, recognize a first motion gesture, in response to the first direction corresponding to the first state, the first direction and the second direction being different, and the second direction corresponding to the second state, and perform a first function corresponding to the first motion gesture in response to recognizing the first motion gesture.

Facts

Company
Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Official title
Electronic apparatus for detecting motion gesture, and operation method therefor
Patent number
US12769401B2
Application number
18441425
Filed
Feb 14, 2024
Granted
Oct 20, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
20

Classified under

G06F 3/017 Physics & computingG06V 40/28 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.