Bone¶

Methods:

The Bone class represents a tracked bone.

All fingers contain 4 bones that make up the anatomy of the finger. Get valid Bone objects from a Finger object.

Bones are ordered from base to tip, indexed from 0 to 3. Additionally, the bone’s Type enum may be used to index a specific bone anatomically.

Leap::FingerList fingers = frame.hands()[0].fingers();
for(Leap::FingerList::const_iterator fl = fingers.begin(); fl != fingers.end(); fl++){
    Leap::Bone bone;
    Leap::Bone::Type boneType;
    for(int b = 0; b < 4; b++)
    {
        boneType = static_cast<Leap::Bone::Type>(b);
        bone = (*fl).bone(boneType);
        std::cout << "Finger index: " << (*fl).type() << " " << bone << std::endl;
    }
}

The thumb does not have a base metacarpal bone and therefore contains a valid, zero length bone at that location.

Note that Bone objects can be invalid, which means that they do not contain valid tracking data and do not correspond to a physical bone. Invalid Bone objects can be the result of asking for a Bone object from an invalid finger, indexing a bone out of range, or constructing a new bone. Test for validity with the Bone::isValid() function.

Since

2.0

Public Type

Type enum

Enumerates the names of the bones.

Members of this enumeration are returned by Bone::type() to identify a Bone object.

Since

2.0

Values:

• TYPE_METACARPAL = = 0 -

  Bone connected to the wrist inside the palm.

• TYPE_PROXIMAL = = 1 -

  Bone connecting to the palm.

• TYPE_INTERMEDIATE = = 2 -

  Bone between the tip and the base.

• TYPE_DISTAL = = 3 -

  Bone at the tip of the finger.

Public Functions

Matrix basis()

The orthonormal basis vectors for this Bone as a Matrix.

Basis vectors specify the orientation of a bone.

xBasis Perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bone; exits the sides of the finger.

yBasis or up vector Perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bone; exits the top and bottom of the finger. More positive in the upward direction.

zBasis Aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bone. More positive toward the base of the finger.

The bases provided for the right hand use the right-hand rule; those for the left hand use the left-hand rule. Thus, the positive direction of the x-basis is to the right for the right hand and to the left for the left hand. You can change from right-hand to left-hand rule by multiplying the z basis vector by -1.

You can use the basis vectors for such purposes as measuring complex finger poses and skeletal animation.

Note that converting the basis vectors directly into a quaternion representation is not mathematically valid. If you use quaternions, create them from the derived rotation matrix not directly from the bases.

Leap::Matrix basis = bone.basis();
Leap::Vector xBasis = basis.xBasis;
Leap::Vector yBasis = basis.yBasis;
Leap::Vector zBasis = basis.zBasis;

Return

The basis of the bone as a matrix.

Since

2.0

Bone()

Constructs an invalid Bone object.

Leap::Bone bone = Leap::Bone::invalid();

Get valid Bone objects from a Finger object.

Since

2.0

Vector center()

The midpoint of the bone.

Leap::Vector middle = bone.center();

Return

The midpoint in the center of the bone.

Since

2.0

Vector direction()

The normalized direction of the bone from base to tip.

Leap::Bone bone = finger.bone(Leap::Bone::TYPE_DISTAL);
Leap::Vector distalDirection = bone.basis().yBasis;

Return

The normalized direction of the bone from base to tip.

Since

2.0

bool isValid()

Reports whether this is a valid Bone object.

Leap::Bone bone = finger.bone(Leap::Bone::TYPE_PROXIMAL);
if(bone.isValid())
{
    // ... Use the bone data
}

Return

True, if this Bone object contains valid tracking data.

Since

2.0

float length()

The estimated length of the bone in millimeters.

float length = bone.length();

Return

The length of the bone in millimeters.

Since

2.0

Vector nextJoint()

The end of the bone, closest to the finger tip.

In anatomical terms, this is the distal end of the bone.

Leap::Vector boneEnd = bone.nextJoint();

Return

The Vector containing the coordinates of the next joint position.

Since

2.0

bool operator!=(const Bone &)

Compare Bone object inequality.

Two Bone objects are equal if and only if both Bone objects represent the exact same physical bone in the same frame and both Bone objects are valid.

Since

2.0

bool operator==(const Bone &)

Compare Bone object equality.

Two Bone objects are equal if and only if both Bone objects represent the exact same physical bone in the same frame and both Bone objects are valid.

Since

2.0

Vector prevJoint()

The base of the bone, closest to the wrist.

In anatomical terms, this is the proximal end of the bone.

Leap::Vector boneStart = bone.prevJoint();

Return

The Vector containing the coordinates of the previous joint position.

Since

2.0

std::string toString()

A string containing a brief, human readable description of the Bone object.

std::string description = bone.toString();

Return

A description of the Bone object as a string.

Since

2.0

Type type()

The name of this bone.

Leap::Bone::Type type = bone.type();

Return

The anatomical type of this bone as a member of the Bone::Type enumeration.

Since

2.0

float width()

The average width of the flesh around the bone in millimeters.

float width = bone.width();

Return

The width of the flesh around the bone in millimeters.

Since

2.0

Public Static Functions

const Bone & invalid()

Returns an invalid Bone object.

You can use the instance returned by this function in comparisons testing whether a given Bone instance is valid or invalid. (You can also use the Bone::isValid() function.)

Leap::Bone bone = Leap::Bone::invalid();

Return

The invalid Bone instance.

Since

2.0