Object and movement detection

Abstract

Motions, positions or configurations off, for example a human hand can be recognised by transmitting a plurality of transmit signals in respective time frames; receiving a plurality of receive signals; determining a plurality of channel impulse responses using the transmit and receive signals; defining a matrix of impulse responses, with impulse responses for adjacent time frames adjacent each other; and analysing the matrix for patterns corresponding to the motion position or configuration.

1 . A touchless control system comprising:
 a transmission portion arranged to transmit energy into an imaging field;   a receiving portion arranged to receive reflected energy from the imaging field; and   a processing portion arranged to detect a movement and a configuration of a hand in the imaging field from the transmitted and received energy, wherein the system is configured to be responsive to said movement if the configuration is a first configuration; but to ignore said movement if the configuration is a second configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  configured to detect rotation of the hand. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  configured to detect a movement of a thumb. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 3  arranged to emulate the click of a computer mouse button on detecting said movement of a thumb. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for controlling a device, the apparatus comprising a first detecting portion arranged to detect movement of a first digit for controlling a first action of the device and a second detecting portion arranged to detect movement of a second digit relative to the first digit for controlling a second action of the device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said first action comprises moving a selector between a plurality of alternative positions. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said second action comprises an action corresponding to the position of said selector. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the first digit is an index finger. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the second digit is a thumb. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said second action is only carried out if it is determined that the first digit is static. 
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling a device including a touchless control system, the method comprising:
 transmitting energy into an imaging field;   receiving reflected energy from the imaging field;   detecting a movement and a configuration of a hand in the imaging field from the transmitted and received energy; and   responding to said movement if the configuration is a first configuration; but ignoring said movement if the configuration is a second configuration.