OPTICAL SIX-DEGREE OF FREEDOM TRACKING APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
1. An optical tracking system for tracking movement of an object within an enclosed area, the optical tracking system comprising:
- a plurality of light sources fixedly mounted at predefined locations along an interior of the enclosed area, each light source emitting light having a uniquely identifiable modulation frequency; and
an optical sensor system fixedly mounted on the object, the optical sensor system configured to detect the light emitted from the plurality of light sources and determine an azimuth and an elevation of a line-of-sight from the optical sensor system to each light source based on the uniquely identifiable modulation frequency of each light source.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical tracking system, and method therefor, tracks the movement of an object, such as a pilot'"'"'s helmet, within an enclosed area, such as a cockpit. The system/method comprises a plurality of light sources fixedly mounted in predefined locations within the enclosed area and a light sensor mounted on the object. Each light source is modulated using a different frequency from the other light sources to make that light source uniquely identifiable. Modulated light from the various light sources is converted by the sensor into an electrical signal. This composite signal is subsequently separated into individual signals based on their unique modulations, and the light source for each signal is identified. The signals are thereafter processed to determine an azimuth and an elevation for the line-of-sight to each light source. The azimuth and elevation information may then be used to determine the position and orientation of the object.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical tracking system for tracking movement of an object within an enclosed area, the optical tracking system comprising:
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a plurality of light sources fixedly mounted at predefined locations along an interior of the enclosed area, each light source emitting light having a uniquely identifiable modulation frequency; and an optical sensor system fixedly mounted on the object, the optical sensor system configured to detect the light emitted from the plurality of light sources and determine an azimuth and an elevation of a line-of-sight from the optical sensor system to each light source based on the uniquely identifiable modulation frequency of each light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An optical sensor system for tracking movement of an object within an enclosed area, the optical sensor system comprising:
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an optical sensor fixedly mounted on the object, the optical sensor configured to transform impinging light into an electrical signal; an analog-to-digital converter connected to the optical sensor and configured to digitize the electrical signal from the optical sensor; and a signal processor connected to the analog-to-digital converter and configured to determine an azimuth and an elevation of a line-of-sight from the optical sensor to a light source within the enclosed area based on the digitized signal from the analog to digital converter. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of tracking movement of an object within an enclosed area in six degrees of freedom, the method comprising:
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receiving light at an optical sensor system fixedly mounted on the object, the light being emitted from a plurality of light sources fixedly mounted at predefined locations along an interior of the enclosed area, each light source emitting light having a uniquely identifiable modulation frequency; and determining an azimuth and an elevation of a line-of-sight from the optical sensor system to each light source based on the uniquely identifiable modulation frequency of each light source. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification