System and method for object tracking

• US 20060238549A1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Marks, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US11/448,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20060238549A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/633
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 of area, perimeter, diameter or volume
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/66 of image moments or centre of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods

Abstract

A system for tracking an object is disclosed. The exemplary tracking system comprises an input device configured to detect two-dimensional input pixel data from a prop device and a multiprocessor unit configured to calculate three-dimensional position and orientation data associated with the prop device from the two-dimensional input pixel data. An exemplary method for tracking an object is also disclosed. Through this exemplary method, pixel data is received from an input device and edges of an object are defined. Three-dimensional position and orientation data of the object are calculated, wherein the edges of the object are associated with the three-dimensional position and orientation data of the prop device.

Claims

1. An object tracking system comprising:

an input device configured to detect two-dimensional input pixel data from a prop device; and

a multiprocessor unit configured to calculate three-dimensional position and orientation data associated with the prop device from the two-dimensional input pixel data.

2. The object tracking system of claim 1, wherein the multiprocessor unit comprises a memory configured to store the three-dimensional position and orientation data associated with the prop device.

3. The object tracking system of claim 1, wherein the multiprocessor unit comprises an image processor configured to execute operations for rendering the three-dimensional position and orientation data associated with the prop device.

4. The object tracking system of claim 1, further comprising a monitor for displaying action in a game program caused by rendering the three-dimensional position and orientation data associated with the prop device.

5. The object tracking system of claim 1, wherein the prop device comprises a saturated color.

6. The object tracking system of claim 1, wherein the input device is a camera.

7. The object tracking system of claim 2, wherein the memory further comprises a display rendering region.

8. The object tracking system of claim 2, wherein the memory further comprises a texture rendering region.

9. The object tracking system of claim 1, wherein the multiprocessor unit is further configured to:

determine the color of each pixel in the two-dimensional input pixel data; and

define edges of an object by dividing an image comprising the input pixel-data into two-dimensional segments of color, wherein the defined edges are associated with the three-dimensional position and orientation data of the prop device.

10. The object tracking system of claim 9, wherein the multiprocessor unit is further configured to localize color transitions whereby distinct color transitions are defined prior to defining the edges of the object in the image.

11. The object tracking system of claim 1 further comprising a filter, wherein the filter is configured to filter the three-dimensional position and orientation data.

12. The object tracking system of claim 11, wherein the filter comprises a Kalman filter.

13. The object tracking system of claim 9, wherein the multiprocessor unit is further configured to employ an edge detection process to define the edges of the object.

14. The object tracking system of claim 9, wherein the multiprocessor unit is further configured to employ area statistics calculations to define the edges of the object.

15. The object tracking system of claim 9, wherein the definition of an edge of the object is algebraic.

16. The object tracking system of claim 9, wherein the definition of an edge of the object is geometric.

17. A method for tracking an object, comprising:

receiving pixel data from an input device;

defining edges of an object from the received pixel data; and

calculating three-dimensional position and orientation data of the object, wherein the defined edges are associated with the three-dimensional position and orientation data of the object.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising localizing color transitions whereby distinct color transitions are defined prior to defining the edges of the object.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the application of a Kalman filter to the three-dimensional position and orientation data.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein defining the edges of the object comprises employing an edge detection process.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein defining the edges of the object comprises employing area statistics calculations.

22. A machine readable medium having embodied thereon a program being executable by a machine to perform a method for tracking an object, the method comprising:

receiving pixel data from an input device;

defining edges of an object from the received pixel data; and

calculating three-dimensional position and orientation data of the object, wherein the defined edges are associated with the three-dimensional position and orientation data of the object.