POSITION LOCATION SYSTEM USING MULTIPLE POSITION LOCATION TECHNIQUES

• US 20080318595A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Application Number:
  US12/142,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20080318595A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/003 Bistatic radar systems; Multistatic radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/426 Scanning radar, e.g. 3D radar G01S13/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/723 by using numerical data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/412 based on a comparison between measured values and known or stored values
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• 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 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A position location system includes a first position location sub-system, a second position location sub-system, and processing circuitry. The first position location sub-system determines first position location information regarding an object using a first position location technique. The second position location sub-system determines second position location information regarding the object, the second position location sub-system using a second position location technique that differs from the first position location technique. The processing circuitry processes the first position location information and the second position location information to determine position of the object within a coordinate system.

Claims

1. A position location system comprising:

a first position location sub-system operable to determine first position location information regarding an object using a first position location technique;

a second position location sub-system operable to determine second position location information regarding the object, the second position location sub-system using a second position location technique that differs from the first position location technique; and

processing circuitry coupled to the first position location sub-system and to the second position location sub-system and operable to process the first position location information and the second position location information to determine position of the object within a coordinate system.

2. The position location system of claim 1, wherein:

the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of receivers for orientation about a physical area; and

the second position location sub-system includes a plurality of receivers for orientation about the physical area.

3. The position location system of claim 2, wherein the first position location sub-system includes at least one transmitter.

4. The position location system of claim 2, wherein the at least one transmitter and at least one receiver of the plurality of receivers of the first position location sub-system are substantially co-located.

5. The position location system of claim 1, wherein processing circuitry is operable to:

process the first position location information as primary information to locate the object; and

process the second position location information as secondary information to locate the object.

6. The position location system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to process the second position location information to calibrate the first position location information.

7. The position location system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to process the second position location information to augment the first position location information.

8. The position location system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to:

process the first position location information to determine a position of at least one first reference point on the object; and

process the second position location information to determine a position of at least one second reference point on the object.

9. The position location system of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to determine a position and orientation of the object based upon the first position location information and the second position location information.

10. The position location system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to:

process the first position location information to determine the position of the object within the coordinate system; and

process the second position location information to determine motion of the object within the coordinate system.

11. The position location system of claim 1, wherein the first position location technique and the second position location technique are selected from the group consisting of:

acoustic wave detection, wherein the object includes at least one sound energy source and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of sound energy receivers;

Radio Frequency (RF) signal detection, wherein the object includes at least one RF transmitter and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of RF receivers;

RF signal detection, wherein the object includes at least one RF receiver and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of RF transmitters;

RF signal detection, wherein the first position location sub-system includes at least one RF transmitter and a plurality of RF receivers;

digital imaging, wherein the object includes a plurality of digital cameras;

digital imaging, wherein the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of digital cameras;

Infrared (IR) detection wherein the object includes an IR source and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of IR receivers;

IR detection, wherein the first position location sub-system includes at least one IR source and a plurality of IR receivers;

laser distance measurement;

thermal imaging; and

multiple axis accelerometer sensing.

12. A method for locating an object within a physical area comprising:

capturing first position location information regarding the object using a first position location sub-system using a first position location technique;

capturing second position location information regarding the object using a second position location sub-system using a second position location technique that differs from the first position location technique; and

processing the first position location information and the second position location information to determine a position of the object within a coordinate system.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

processing the first position location information as primary information to locate the object; and

processing the second position location information as secondary information to locate the object.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising processing the second position location information to calibrate the first position location information.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising processing the second position location information to augment the first position location information.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

processing the first position location information to determine a location of at least one first reference point on the object; and

processing the second position location information to determine a location of at least one second reference point on the object.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining a position and orientation of the object based upon the first position location information and the second position location information.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

processing the first position location information to determine the position of the object within the coordinate system; and

processing the second position location information to determine motion of the object within the coordinate system.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the first position location technique and the second position location technique are selected from the group consisting of:

acoustic wave detection, wherein the object includes at least one sound energy source and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of sound energy receivers;

Radio Frequency (RF) signal detection, wherein the object includes at least one RF transmitter and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of RF receivers;

RF signal detection, wherein the object includes at least one RF receiver and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of RF transmitters;

RF signal detection, wherein the first position location sub-system includes at least one RF transmitter and a plurality of RF receivers;

digital imaging, wherein the object includes a plurality of digital cameras;

digital imaging, wherein the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of digital cameras;

Infrared (IR) detection wherein the object includes an IR source and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of IR receivers;

IR detection, wherein the first position location sub-system includes at least one IR source and a plurality of IR receivers;

laser distance measurement;

thermal imaging; and

multiple axis accelerometer sensing.

20. A video gaming system comprising:

a first position location sub-system to determine first position location information regarding a gaming object using a first position location technique;

a second position location sub-system to determine second position location information regarding the gaming object, the second position location sub-system using a second position location technique that differs from the first position location technique; and

a gaming console coupled to the first position location sub-system and to the second position location sub-system and operable to;

process the first position location information and the second position location information to determine a position of the object within a coordinate system; and

integrate the position of the object within the coordinate system within a video game function.

21. The video gaming system of claim 20, wherein the coordinate system comprises at least one of:

a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system; and

a spherical coordinate system.

22. The video gaming system of claim 20, wherein the gaming console is further operable to process the first position location information and the second position location information to determine motion of the object within the coordinate system.

23. The video gaming system of claim 20, wherein:

the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of receivers for orientation about a physical area;

the second position location sub-system includes a plurality of receivers for orientation about the physical area.

24. The video gaming system of claim 20, wherein the gaming console is operable to:

process the first position location information as primary information to locate the object; and

process the second position location information as secondary information to locate the object.

25. The video gaming system of claim 20, wherein the gaming console is operable to process the second position location information to calibrate the first position location information.

26. The video gaming system of claim 20, wherein the gaming console is operable to:

process the first position location information to determine the position of the object within the coordinate system; and

process the second position location information to determine motion of the object within the coordinate system.

27. The video gaming system of claim 20, wherein the first position location technique and the second position location technique are selected from the group consisting of:

acoustic wave detection, wherein the object includes at least one sound energy source and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of sound energy receivers;

Radio Frequency (RF) signal detection, wherein the object includes at least one RF transmitter and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of RF receivers;

RF signal detection, wherein the object includes at least one RF receiver and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of RF transmitters;

RF signal detection, wherein the first position location sub-system includes at least one RF transmitter and a plurality of RF receivers;

digital imaging, wherein the object includes a plurality of digital cameras;

digital imaging, wherein the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of digital cameras;

Infrared (IR) detection wherein the object includes an IR source and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of IR receivers;

IR detection, wherein the first position location sub-system includes at least one IR source and a plurality of IR receivers;

laser distance measurement;

thermal imaging; and

multiple axis accelerometer sensing.