Key input using an active pixel camera

Abstract

In an example embodiment, an active pixel sensor on a user device is utilized to capture graphical user interface navigation related movements by a user. Areas of low luminance can be identified and movements or alterations in the areas of low luminance can be translated into navigation commands fed to an application running on the user device.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   a memory;   an active pixel sensory monitor configured to:
 obtain a grayscale version of a first color image captured using an active pixel sensor, the active pixel sensor comprising a plurality of photosensors, each photosensor corresponding to a different pixel in a two-dimensional array of pixels; 
 obtain a grayscale version of a second color image captured using the active pixel sensor; 
 determine a direction based at least in part on movement of an object between the grayscale version of the first color image and the grayscale version of the second color image; and 
 translate the direction into an input for an application. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the active pixel sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus is a mobile device and the active pixel sensor is located on a back of the mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus is a mobile device and the active pixel sensor is located on a front of the mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a low luminance area caused by an object blocking light projected by a light source outside of a user device housing the active pixel sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the translating includes generating a navigational input in a direction opposite from the direction determined for the movement of the object. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 obtaining a grayscale version of a first color image captured using an active pixel sensor, the active pixel sensor comprising a plurality of photosensors, each photosensor corresponding to a different pixel in a two-dimensional array of pixels;   obtaining a grayscale version of a second color image captured using the active pixel sensor;   determining a direction based at least in part on movement of an object between the grayscale version of the first color image and the grayscale version of the second color image; and   translating the direction into an input for an application.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the application is a non-camera application. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the obtaining the grayscale version of the first color image, obtaining the grayscale version of the second color image, determining, and translating are performed by a non-camera application 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the non-camera application is not directly using color images captured by the active pixel sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the object is a low luminance area caused by an object blocking light projected by a light source outside of a user device housing the active pixel sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the active pixel sensor is located on a back of a user device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the translating includes generating a navigational input in a direction opposite from the direction determined for the movement of the object. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
 obtaining a grayscale version of a first color image captured using an active pixel sensor, the active pixel sensor comprising a plurality of photosensors, each photosensor corresponding to a different pixel in a two-dimensional array of pixels;   obtaining a grayscale version of a second color image captured using the active pixel sensor;   determining a direction based at least in part on movement of an object between the grayscale version of the first color image and the grayscale version of the second color image; and   translating the direction into an input for an application.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the application is a non-camera application. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the obtaining the grayscale version of the first color image, obtaining the grayscale version of the second color image, determining, and translating are performed by a non-camera application 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the non-camera application is not directly using color images captured by the active pixel sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the object is a low luminance area caused by an object blocking light projected by a light source outside of a user device housing the active pixel sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the active pixel sensor is located on a back of a user device. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the translating includes generating a navigational input in a direction opposite from the direction determined for the movement of the object.