Apple Receives New Patent For Gesture-based Manipulation of 3D Objects On Touchscreen Devices

Apple Receives New Patent For Gesture-based Manipulation of 3D Objects On Touchscreen Devices

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted Apple a patent for a method to create and manipulate 3D objects using gestures made above a touchscreen’s surface.

The patent titled ”Working with 3D objects” describes a way for users to both generate and manipulate 3D objects. The function would work on a touch-sensitive surface, such as an iPad, and would allow the device to detect fingers based on their location and proximity to the screen. A simplified claim from the patent says:

"Detecting a gesture input that comprises a movement of a finger in proximity to a surface of the display, measuring a distance between the finger and the surface of the display; modifying the 3D object according to the gesture input; and displaying the updated representation of the 3D object on the touchscreen."

Rather than pinching on an image, which is a gesture familiar for 2D imagery, Apple’s new patent might allow users to pull or lift objects away from a device’s surface, letting the user make gestures in 3D space.

“A user can hover for a predetermined amount of time to trigger the extrusion, which will generate a triangular prism with a cross section corresponding to the 2D triangle and a height proportional to how far a users “pulled” their fingers from the screen,” AppleInsider explains.

Apple also details how a touch sensor and proximity sensor could be used in combination to identify 3D gestures.

"An apparatus for generating or modifying 3D objects can include a sensor to detect touch inputs, 2D gesture inputs that are associated with a surface, and 3D gesture inputs that include a movement perpendicular to the surface. A data processor is provided to receive signals output from the sensor, the signals representing detected 3D gesture inputs and at least one of detected touch inputs or detected 2D gesture inputs. The data processor generates or modifies a 3D object in a user interface according to the detected 3D gesture inputs and at least one of detected touch inputs or detected 2D gesture inputs."

Apple Receives New Patent For Gesture-based Manipulation of 3D Objects On Touchscreen Devices

Apple Receives New Patent For Gesture-based Manipulation of 3D Objects On Touchscreen Devices

The idea of controlling a device using gestures is not new, however. The Samsung Galaxy S4 currently features a technology known as "Air Gesture", which allows the user to control their device using a number of simple gestures. But Apple's patent covers different technology -- whereas Samsung uses a light sensor to detect the user's gestures, Apple's technology would instead be embedded into the device's screen.

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Write by: RC - Wednesday, August 21, 2013