Multi-axis control of a fixed or moving device based on a wireless tracking location of one or many target devices
First Claim
1. A method for aiming a controlled device at a selected subject, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first TAG having a wireless communication section and a first location device for determining a location of the first TAG;
further providing a tracking and control unit having a wireless receiver for receiving location information of the first TAG, the tracking and control unit having a second location device for determining a second location, for the controlled device;
determining the first location of the first TAG with the first location device;
transmitting first location information to the receiver of the tracking and control unit;
determining the second location for the controlled device with the second location device;
processing the location information in comparison to the second location for the controlled device to determine the relative position of the first TAG from the controlled device;
determining control values for moving the controlled device to aim at the first TAG; and
moving the controlled device to aim at the first TAG in response to the determined relative position of the first TAG relative to the controlled device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless tracking and control system (122) is provided for aiming a device (124) toward TAGs (134) which are mounted to subjects for tracking. The TAGS (134) preferably include locating devices for determining TAG locations and wireless transmitters for transmitting location information to a tracking and control unit (122). The tracking and control unit (122) also includes a locating device, and determines the location of a selected TAG (134) relative to the device (124). A position control unit (130) is then moved to aim the device (124) toward the selected TAG (134). In a second embodiment, a sonic tracking and control system (190) includes a sonic TAG (192), which in response to a wireless command, emits a sonic burst which is received by spaced apart transducers of a tracking and control unit (194), for determining the location the sonic TAG (192) relative to the tracking and control unit (194).
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for aiming a controlled device at a selected subject, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first TAG having a wireless communication section and a first location device for determining a location of the first TAG;
further providing a tracking and control unit having a wireless receiver for receiving location information of the first TAG, the tracking and control unit having a second location device for determining a second location, for the controlled device;
determining the first location of the first TAG with the first location device;
transmitting first location information to the receiver of the tracking and control unit;
determining the second location for the controlled device with the second location device;
processing the location information in comparison to the second location for the controlled device to determine the relative position of the first TAG from the controlled device;
determining control values for moving the controlled device to aim at the first TAG; and
moving the controlled device to aim at the first TAG in response to the determined relative position of the first TAG relative to the controlled device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for aiming a video camera at a selected subject, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first TAG having a wireless communication section and a first location device for determining a location of the first TAG;
further providing a tracking and control unit having a wireless receiver for receiving location information of the first TAG, the tracking and control unit having a second location device for determining a second location, for the video camera;
determining the first location of the first TAG with the first location device;
transmitting first location information to the receiver of the tracking and control unit;
determining the second location for the video camera with the second location device;
processing the location information in comparison to the second location for the video camera to determine the relative position of the first TAG from the video camera;
determining control values for moving the video camera to aim at the first TAG; and
moving the video camera to aim at the first TAG in response to the determined relative position of the first TAG relative to the video camera;
recording video of the selected subject;
determining the position of the selected subject relative to a view frame of the video camera, in which the view frame includes an inner focal region and an outer focal region;
determining the position of the selected subject according to the first location of the first TAG; and
automatically moving the video camera to dispose the selected subject within the inner focal frame in response to determining the selected subject is disposed within outside of the inner focal region. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for aiming a controlled device at a selected subject, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a TAG having a wireless receiver and a sonic transducer, and a tracking and control unit having a wireless transmitter and at least two, spaced apart sonic transducers;
emitting a wireless command signal from the wireless transmitter of the tracking and control unit;
receiving the wireless command signal with the wireless receiver of the TAG;
emitting a sonic burst with the sonic transducer of the TAG in response to receiving the wireless command signal;
receiving the sonic burst with the two, spaced apart sonic transducers of the tracking and control unit, and emitting transducer signals in response thereto;
processing the transducer signals to determine the relative position of the TAG from the device being aimed;
determining control values for moving the device to aim at the TAG; and
moving the device to aim at the TAG in response to the determined relative position of the TAG relative to the device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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17. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:
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determining the position of the selected subject relative to a view frame defined for the controlled device, in which the view frame includes an inner focal region and an outer focal region;
determining the position of the selected subject according to the first location of the first TAG; and
automatically moving the controlled device to disposed the selected subject within the inner focal frame in response to determining the selected subject is disposed within the outer focal region.
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Specification