Orientation detector arrangement

• US 6,239,874 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prosurgics Limited (Or Productivity Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Armstrong Healthcare Limited (Or Productivity Ltd.)
• Inventors: Harwood, Adrian Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Sang H.
• Application Number:
  US09/308,093
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 356/375, 356/385, 356/152.1, 356/152.2, 356/152.3, 356/141.1, 356/141.2, 356/141.3, 356/153, 356/154, 340/825.7, 250/216, 250/203.3, 250/203.5
• US Class Current: 356/614
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00039 provided with input arrangements for the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/363 Use of fiducial points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3945 Active visible markers, e.g. light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3979 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/502 Headgear, e.g. helmet, spectacles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/163 Determination of attitude using inertial means G01C9/00; control of attitude G05D1/49
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0198 System for aligning or maintaining alignment of an image in a predetermined direction
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes

Abstract

An orientation detector arrangement is adapted to detect the orientation of a first component relative to a second component, preferably during endoscopic surgery. The first component is a transmitter which may be worn on a surgeon'"'"'s head. The transmitter is adapted to transmit a plurality of unique identifiable signals along mutually diverging beams. The second component is a detector which is adapted to distinguish between the individual signals transmitted by the transmitter. The detector is connected by a control circuit to an endoscopic camera which is, in turn, connected to provide an image on a display screen. The detector and the associated control circuit are able to control movement of the endoscopic camera in response to movement of the surgeon'"'"'s head.

Claims

1. An orientation detector apparatus comprising:

a movable component having a transmitter means affixed thereto, said transmitter means for transmitting a plurality of diverging beams, each of said diverging beams having a distinguishing identity from the other diverging beams of said plurality of diverging beams;

a fixed component having a detector means thereon, said detector means for detecting and distinguishing said plurality of diverging beams transmitted by said transmitter means; and

a control circuit means interactive with said detector means, said control circuit means for generating a control signal in dependence upon an individual identity of the beam detected by said detector means, said movable component being orientable relative to said fixed component.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each beam of said plurality of diverging beams is a light signal which carries a signal generated by an oscillator, said light signal oscillating at a frequency different than a frequency of the respective signal of the other diverging beams.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said detector means is connected to a plurality of tuned circuits, each of said plurality of tuned circuits being tuned to a frequency of a respective oscillator.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the movable component is affixed to a support means, said support means for enabling said movable component to be worn on a head of person.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the detector means is connected to a visual display unit, the apparatus further comprising:

a camera connected to said control circuit means, said control circuit means for controlling said camera such that an image from said camera is displayed on the visual display unit.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a visual display unit connected to said control circuit means, said detector means is connected to said visual display unit, said control circuit means for controlling an operation of a component which is visible in an image shown on said display unit.

7. A control apparatus comprising;

a first component having means for wearing said first component on a head of an operator, said first component having means for emitting a plurality of diverging beams, each of said diverging beams having a distinguishing identity from the other diverging beams of said plurality of diverging beams;

detector means for determining an orientation of said first component, said detector means being in a fixed position relative to said first component; and

control means for generating a control signal relative to an orientation of said first component with respect to said detector means, said detector means for detecting and identifying a beam being received from said plurality of diverging beams, said detector means being connected to said control means, said control means for generating a control signal relative to an individual identity of the beam detected by said detector means, said control means for controlling a movement or function of an external device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said external device is a camera, said detector means being located on or adjacent to a visual display unit, said control means for displaying an image of a scene viewed by said camera.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said detector means are located on or adjacent to a visual display unit, said control means for displaying an image of a scene viewed by a camera, the external device comprising a component which is visible within said scene.

10. A control apparatus for controlling an image on a visual display unit, the control apparatus comprising:

a first component having means for enabling said first component to be secured to a head of a person, said first component having four transmitters each of which emits a beam of light which diverges from the other beams of light from said four transmitters, each beam of light having an identity distinguishable from the other beams of light;

a fixed visual display means for displaying an image from a camera;

a detector means interactive with said fixed visual display means, said detector means for detecting and distinguishing the beams of light; and

a control means interactive with said detector means for generating a control signal relative to the identity of an individual beam being detected, said control means for controlling said camera so that a movement in one direction of the head of the person wearing said first component causes said camera to move in a corresponding direction.