Ultrasonic tracking system
First Claim
1. A system for permitting a device to point at and track the movements of a moving subject, comprising:
- a. transmitting unit to be worn by the subject to be tracked, for transmitting pulsed ultrasound signals which can be tracked;
b. control means, including sensors located in fixed positions relative to the device, for receiving the signals from the transmitting unit, means for comparing the arrival times of said signals at multiple ones of said sensors, and means responsive to the means for comparing, for generating control signals as a function of said comparison; and
c. a drive unit for moving the device about an axis in response to said control signals to maintain the device pointed at the subject.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic tracking system comprising a transmitting unit and a drive unit. The transmitting unit is carried by the subject to be tracked and produces brief, periodic ultrasonic bursts. The drive unit has an ultrasonic receiver and a motorized assembly capable of tilting and panning an attached camera in response to control signals from the receiver. This receiver employs three ultrasonic microphones located at three of the four corners of an imaginary square centered on and perpendicular to the axis of the camera lens. The receiver measures the relative arrival times of signals received by the microphones, determines the direction and degree to which the camera is not pointed directly at the subject, and supplies control signals to the motorized assembly, to drive motors to re-orient the camera (and receiver) to point toward the subject.
141 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A system for permitting a device to point at and track the movements of a moving subject, comprising:
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a. transmitting unit to be worn by the subject to be tracked, for transmitting pulsed ultrasound signals which can be tracked; b. control means, including sensors located in fixed positions relative to the device, for receiving the signals from the transmitting unit, means for comparing the arrival times of said signals at multiple ones of said sensors, and means responsive to the means for comparing, for generating control signals as a function of said comparison; and c. a drive unit for moving the device about an axis in response to said control signals to maintain the device pointed at the subject. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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2. A system for permitting a device to point at and track the movements of a moving subject, comprising:
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a. a transmitting unit to be worn by the subject to be tracked, for transmitting pulsed ultrasound signals which can be tracked; b. means including three sensors for receiving signals from the transmitting unit and for generating, in response to differences in arrival time of transmitted signals at the multiple sensors, tilt control signals and panning control signals; c. a device mounting member; d. the sensors being located in fixed relation to the device mounting member; and e. a vertical drive unit and a horizontal drive unit for respectively tilting and panning the device mounting member in response to respective tilt and panning control signals, to maintain the device pointed at the subject when the device is mounted on the mounting member. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. Apparatus for maintaining a device pointed at and tracking the movements of a moving subject who is carrying a transmitting unit which emits recognizable pulsed ultrasonic signals, comprising:
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a. a device mounting member; b. means including sensors located in fixed relation to the device mounting member for receiving the signals emitted by the transmitting unit and for generating, in response to differences in the arrival times of said signals at multiple sensors, control signals; and c. a drive unit for moving the device mounting member in response to the control signals, to maintain the device pointed at the subject when the device is mounted on the mounting member. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification