Position determination with reference

• US 20070242034A1
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Haven, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,796,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386

Abstract

A system for generating position information includes a first set of image data, a second set of image data, and a processor. The first set of image data is generated to indicate the position of a surface plane marker. The second set of image data is generated to indicate the position of a retroreflector. The processor is configured to receive the first and second sets of image data and to generate position information indicative of the relative position of the surface plane marker relative to the retroreflector.

Claims

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

means for generating a first set of image data indicative of the position of a surface plane marker;

means for generating a second set of image data indicative of the position of a retroreflector;

a processor configured to receive the first and second sets of image data and to generate position information indicative of the relative position of the surface plane marker relative to the retroreflector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the retroreflector is coupled to a pointing device, wherein surface plane marker is located on a surface plane, and wherein the pointing device and retroreflector are movable on the surface plane and relative to the surface plane marker.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising an image collection system configured to generate the first set of image data and the second set of image data.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the image collection system further comprises light sources and an imager for collecting images of the surface plane, including the surface plane marker and retroreflector.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the system further includes a computer into which the image collection system is integrated.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the position information is used to emulate certain commands such as conventional mouse functions of clicking, dragging, scrolling, and lift detection.

7. A system for generating position information, the system comprising:

a reflector coupled to a pointing device;

a marker located on a surface plane;

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 an indication of the reflector position and the second set of image data includes an indication of the marker position; and

a processor configured to use the first set of image data and the second set of image data to generate position information indicative of the relative position of the marker relative to the reflector.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the marker is a second reflector.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the marker is a unique pattern on the surface plane.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the reflector and the second reflector are each retroreflectors.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the pointing device and reflector are configured to move over the surface plane and relative to the marker and such that the processor is configured to use the first set of image data and the second set of image data to track the relative movement of the reflector relative to the marker.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the system further includes a computer into which the image collection system is integrated.

13. A method for generating position information, the method comprising:

generating a first set of image data indicative of the position of a surface plane marker;

generating a second set of image data indicative of the position of a retroreflector;

generating position information indicative of the relative position of the surface plane marker relative to the retroreflector.

14. The method of claim 13, further including coupling the retroreflector to a pointing device, and moving the pointing device and retroreflector on the surface plane and relative to the surface plane marker, wherein surface plane marker is located on a surface plane.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising generate the first set of image data and the second set of image data with an image collection system.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising collecting images of the surface plane, including the surface plane marker and retroreflector, with the image collection system, the image collection system comprising light sources and an imager.

17. The method of claim 17, further comprising integrating the image collection system into a computer.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising using the position information to emulate certain commands such as conventional mouse functions of clicking, dragging, scrolling, and lift detection.

19. A method for generating position information for a system, the method comprising:

generating a first set of image data indicative of the position of a reflector that is coupled to a pointing device;

generating a second set of image data indicative of the position of a marker located on a surface plane;

processing the first set of image data and the second set of image data to generate position information indicative of the position of the marker relative to the reflector as the pointing device is moved relative to the surface plane.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating position information within a computer system.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising using the position information to emulate certain commands such as conventional mouse functions of clicking, dragging, scrolling, and lift detection.