Sony Patent | Head-Mounted Apparatus

Patent: Head-Mounted Apparatus

Publication Number: 20190033589

Publication Date: 2019-01-31

Applicants: Sony

Abstract

An image captured by a camera or the like mounted to a housing to he worn on the head of a user is receded, a first image portion corresponding to a first site of the body of the user is detected from the image, and a predetermined feature amount in the detected first image portion is acquired. In addition, an area which contains the first image portion within the image and in which the predetermined feature amount is continuously changed is specified, and a second image portion corresponding to a second site of the body of the user different from the first site is detected from an image portion within the specified area.

Background

The present invention relates to a head-mounted apparatus which a user wears on his/her head to be used.

There is known an apparatus (head-mounted apparatus) called a head-mounted display, a smart glass or the like of a type which a user wears on his/her head to be used. Such a head-mounted apparatus forms an image in front of the eyes of the user, thereby presenting the image to the user.

Summary

Technical Problem

In the case where the head-mounted apparatus such as the head-mounted display is used in video display of a game, or the like, there has been a desire to detect a motion of the hand or the like of the user who wears the head-mounted apparatus on his/her head. In the past, however, the motion of the user has been able to be detected only based on an input separately made from a controller or the like.

The present invention has been made in the light of the actual situation described above, and one of objects thereof is to provide a head-mounted apparatus which is capable of detecting a motion of a user without carrying out a manipulation for a controller.

Solution to Problem

A head-mounted apparatus according to the present invention includes imaging means, first detection means, area specifying means, and second detection means. In this case, the imaging means is mounted to a housing to be worn on the head of a user. The first detection means receives an image captured by the imaging means, detects a first image portion corresponding to a first site of the body of the user from the image, and acquires a predetermined feature amount in the first image portion thus detected. The area specifying means specifies an area which contains the first image portion within the image, and in which the predetermined feature amount is continuously changed. In addition, the second detection means detects a second image portion corresponding to a second site of the body of the user different from the first site from an image portion within the specified area.