Position Detection System

• US 20080165342A1
• Filed: 01/28/2008
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: WATANABE, Masakatsu, UEDA, Satoshi, YOSHIDA, Satoru, ITO, Tetsuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,453,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/51
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0043 Systems for locating the point of impact on a specific surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/04 for aiming at specific areas on the displays, e.g. with photodetecting means
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8023 the game being played by multiple players at a common site, e.g. in an arena, theatre, shopping mall using a large public display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/02 Shooting or hurling games throwing-implements for sports or recreational use A63B65/00; throwing or projecting toys per se A63H33/18; gun simulators F41A33/00, e.g. light- or radiation-emitting guns F41A33/02; practice apparatus for gun-aiming F41G3/26, e.g. using a light-emitting device F41G3/2616; targets, target ranges, bullet catchers F41J, photo-electric hit-detector systems F41J5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0291 with a simulated projectile, e.g. an image on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/08 Infrared hit-indicating systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0308 comprising a plurality of distinctive and separately oriented light emitters or reflectors associated to the pointing device, e.g. remote cursor controller with distinct and separately oriented LEDs at the tip whose radiations are captured by a photo-detector associated to the screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• 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

Positions of a plurality of objects in a space are detected. A position of reflected light of an object passing through an infrared screen is specified by analyzing an image obtained by selectively imaging the infrared rays. When the infrared screen is formed in front the display, reflected light is only caused just in front of the display. When the infrared rays are selectively imaged, a picture displayed with visible light is separated from reflected light in the infrared region, and only the reflected light can be imaged. A position of the reflected light on the display can be specified by a publicly known image analysis technique.

Claims

1. A position detection system, comprising:

an infrared screen generation unit for generating a planar infrared screen;

a reflected light detection unit for selectively detecting a reflection of infrared rays on the infrared screen caused by a given object to be detected that passes through the infrared screen; and

a position specifying unit for specifying a reflection position of the infrared rays that is detected by the reflected light detection unit.

2. The position detection system according to claim 1, further comprising a real screen provided near and along the infrared screen, and opposite the reflected light detection unit with the infrared screen therebetween.

3. The position detection system according to claim 2, wherein a distance between the infrared screen and the real screen is adjusted such that the distance does not exceed a maximum length of the object to be detected.

4. The position detection system according to any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the infrared screen generation unit is arranged at least on a part of a periphery of a given rectangular-shaped plane in a space, and includes a plurality of infrared rays irradiation unit for irradiating the infrared rays having a light axis on the plane.

5. The position detection system according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of infrared rays irradiation unit are arranged along at least two sides of four sides that form the rectangular-shaped plane.

6. The position detection system according to any of claim 1, further comprising a game execution unit for executing a given game;

wherein the real screen is connected to the game execution unit and is a display for outputting an image from the game execution unit.

7. The position detection system according to any of claims 1, wherein

the reflected light detection unit includes

a first imaging unit for repeatedly imaging at a predetermined time interval, the first imaging unit being set such that at least the whole real screen comes within its angle of view, and

an infrared filter for selecting light inputted into the first imaging unit, the infrared filter being attached to the first imaging unit, and

the position specifying unit specifies the reflection position of the infrared rays on the infrared screen caused by the object to be detected by analyzing each image imaged by the first imaging unit.

8. The position detection system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a second imaging unit for repeatedly imaging at a predetermined time interval, the second imaging unit being set such that at least the whole real screen comes within its angle of view; and

a color specifying unit for specifying a color of the object to be detected by analyzing each image imaged by the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit.

9. The position detection system according to any of claim 1, further comprising a timing detection unit for detecting timing that reflected light detected by the reflected light detection unit is caused.

10. A position detection method comprising the steps of:

generating a planar infrared screen;

detecting selectively a reflection of infrared rays on the infrared screen caused by a given object to be detected that passes through the infrared screen; and

specifying a reflection position of the infrared rays on the infrared ray screen that is detected in the reflected light detection step.