Orientation determination utilizing a cordless device

• US 20060237633A1
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1 (IP Bridge, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fouquet, Julie E., Wenstrand, John Stewart, Haven, Richard Earl, Usikov, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,473,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/46 Indirect determination of position data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/66 Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/875 for determining attitude

Abstract

A system for generating orientation information includes a reflector, an image collection system, and a processor. The image collection system is configured to collect at least two sets of image data, where one set of image data includes a stronger indication of the reflector than the other set of image data. The two sets of image data are collected using at least one reflector with some orientation-specific characteristic or a reflector integrated into a device that includes some orientation-specific structural feature. Once collected, the two sets of image data are used to generate orientation information related to the reflector. In particular, orientation information related to the reflector is generated by taking the difference between the two sets of image data.

Claims

1. A system for generating orientation information, the system comprising:

a reflector;

an image collection system configured to generate a first set of image data and a second set of image data, wherein the first set of image data includes a stronger indication of the reflector than the second set of image data; and

a processor configured to use the first set of image data and the second set of image data to generate orientation information related to the reflector.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the reflector has an orientation-specific characteristic.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising multiple reflectors in an orientation-specific arrangement.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the reflector is integrated into a device comprising an orientation-specific structural feature.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the orientation-specific structural feature is a cavity within which the reflector is located.

6. The system of claim 1 further including multiple reflectors located within cavities of a device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to take the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the processor is configured to compare a difference image to known image information.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to use the first set of image data and the second set of image data to generate position information related to the reflector.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the reflector is a retroreflector.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the first set of image data is on-axis image data and the second set of image data is off-axis image data.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the image collection system comprises a light source and an imager.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein a hybrid filter is located over the imager.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the image collection system comprises an imager and first and second light sources that generate light of different wavelengths, the first light source and the second light source having similar illumination angles and wherein a wavelength-selective filter is located between the light sources and the imager, the first set of image data being generated in response to a reflected portion of light from the first light source and the second set of image data being generated in response to a reflected portion of light from the second light source.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the reflector is covered with a wavelength-selective filter.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a wavelength-selective filter located between the reflector and the image collection system.

17. A method for generating orientation information, the method comprising:

illuminating a reflector;

generating a first set of image data and a second set of image data, wherein the first set of image data includes a stronger indication of the reflector than the second set of image data; and

generating orientation information related to the reflector using the first set of image data and the second set of image data.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the reflector has an orientation-specific characteristic.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising multiple reflectors in an orientation-specific arrangement.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the reflector is integrated into a device comprising an orientation-specific structural feature.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein generating orientation information comprises taking the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein generating orientation information comprises comparing a difference image to known image information.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising generating position information related to the reflectors using the first set of image data and the second set of image data.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the first set of image data is generated in response to light that has a first illumination angle and the second set of image data is generated in response to light that has a second illumination, wherein the first illumination angle and the second illumination angle are similar.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein generating the first set of image data and the second set of image data includes filtering light with a hybrid filter.

26. The method of claim 17 further including filtering the light that illuminates the reflector before generating the first set of image data and the second set of image data.

27. A system for generating position and orientation information, the system comprising:

a pointing device comprising a retroreflector;

means for generating on-axis image data and off-axis image data; and

a processor configured to use the on-axis image data and the off-axis image data to generate position information and orientation information related to the pointing device.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the retroreflector has an orientation-specific characteristic.

29. The system of claim 27 further comprising multiple retroreflectors in an orientation-specific arrangement.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein the retroreflector is integrated with an orientation-specific feature of the pointing device.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein the processor is configured to take the difference between the on-axis image data and off-axis image data.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor is configured to compare a difference image to known image information.

33. A system for generating position information and orientation information, the system comprising:

a pointing device comprising a retroreflector;

an image collection system configured to generate a first set of image data and a second set of image data, the image collection system comprising a light source and an imager, wherein the retroreflector, the light source, and the imager are oriented with respect to each other such that a portion of light generated by the light source is reflected by the retroreflector and detected by the imager; and

a processor configured to use the first set of image data and the second set of image data to generate position information and orientation information related to the pointing device.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the retroreflector has an orientation-specific characteristic.

35. The system of claim 33 further comprising multiple retroreflectors in an orientation-specific arrangement.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein the retroreflector is integrated with an orientation-specific feature of the pointing device.

37. The system of claim 33 wherein the processor is configured to find the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data.

38. The system of claim 33 wherein the processor is configured to compare the difference image to known image information.

39. A method for generating position information and orientation information, the method comprising:

illuminating a pointing device that includes a retroreflector;

generating a first set of image data in response to the illumination;

generating a second set of image data in response to the illumination, wherein the first set of image data includes a stronger indication of the retroreflector than the second set of image data; and

generating position information and orientation information related to the retroreflector using the first set of image data and the second set of image data.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the retroreflector has an orientation-specific characteristic.

41. The method of claim 39 further comprising multiple retroreflectors in an orientation-specific arrangement.

42. The method of claim 39 wherein the retroreflector is integrated into an orientation-specific structural feature of the pointing device.

43. The method of claim 39 wherein generating position and orientation information comprises taking the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data.

44. The method of claim 44 wherein generating orientation information comprises comparing a difference image to known image information.