3D navigation system using complementary head-mounted and stationary infrared beam detection units
First Claim
1. A 3D navigation system comprising:
- a complementary pair of emitter/detector units, one of which is mounted on a movable input component moved by the user and the other of which is mounted in a stationary position facing toward the user, wherein each emitter/detector unit of the complementary pair has an emitter element for emitting a light beam centered on the unit'"'"'s normal axis in a direction toward the other unit, and an array of photodetectors arranged around the emitter element having their detection surfaces facing outwardly from the unit'"'"'s normal axis so as to receive the light beam from the other unit on its detection surfaces and provide an output of respective output signals representing light intensities of the beam received from the other unit on its respective detection surfaces, and a processing unit for receiving the output signals from the photodetector array of the movable unit and the output signals from the photodetector array of the stationary unit and using them as combined inputs to calculate position and angular orientation values representing the position and orientation angles of the movable unit relative to the stationary unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A 3D navigation system employs a complementary pair of emitter/detector units, one worn on a part of a user'"'"'s body (e.g., the head) and the other mounted in a stationary position on a display monitor facing the user. Each unit has an array of photovoltaic (PV) cells centered on a normal axis and an infrared diode for emitting a light beam on the normal axis. Each photodetectors array receives the infrared beam from the other unit and provides output signals representing the light intensities of the received beam on the PV cells. The PV cell response signals of the complementary units are used together to calculate the position and angular orientation of the user-worn unit relative to the stationary unit. The position and angle values are used by a software device driver installed on a computer to control 3D navigation functions of the associated application program on the computer. The system can be used for playing interactive 3D games, and also used for hands-free control in a wide range of other applications and environments, such as to control flight motions in a simulator or cockpit of an aircraft, or the command center of a naval vessel, spaceship, land vehicle, etc., for disabled persons to provide hands-free input to a computer, motorized wheelchair, prosthetic device, etc., and for controlling various functions in an industrial environment, such as guiding machine-assisted movement, or in CAD design, architectural, medical graphics, virtual reality, and other applications.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A 3D navigation system comprising:
- a complementary pair of emitter/detector units, one of which is mounted on a movable input component moved by the user and the other of which is mounted in a stationary position facing toward the user, wherein each emitter/detector unit of the complementary pair has an emitter element for emitting a light beam centered on the unit'"'"'s normal axis in a direction toward the other unit, and an array of photodetectors arranged around the emitter element having their detection surfaces facing outwardly from the unit'"'"'s normal axis so as to receive the light beam from the other unit on its detection surfaces and provide an output of respective output signals representing light intensities of the beam received from the other unit on its respective detection surfaces, and a processing unit for receiving the output signals from the photodetector array of the movable unit and the output signals from the photodetector array of the stationary unit and using them as combined inputs to calculate position and angular orientation values representing the position and orientation angles of the movable unit relative to the stationary unit.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A 3D navigation method comprising the steps of:
- providing a complementary pair of emitter/detector units, one of which is mounted on a movable input component and the other of which is mounted in a stationary position facing toward the movable input component, wherein each emitter/detector unit has an emitter element for emitting a light beam toward the other unit, and a photodetector array for receiving the light beam from the other unit on its detection surfaces and providing output signals representing the light intensities of the beam received from the other unit on its respective detection surfaces; and
processing the output signals from the photodetector array of the movable unit and the output signals from the photodetector array of the stationary unit and using them as combined inputs to calculate position and angular orientation values representing the position and orientation angles of the movable unit relative to the stationary unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- providing a complementary pair of emitter/detector units, one of which is mounted on a movable input component and the other of which is mounted in a stationary position facing toward the movable input component, wherein each emitter/detector unit has an emitter element for emitting a light beam toward the other unit, and a photodetector array for receiving the light beam from the other unit on its detection surfaces and providing output signals representing the light intensities of the beam received from the other unit on its respective detection surfaces; and
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17. A 3D navigation solution method comprising the steps of:
- providing a complementary pair of emitter/detector units, one of which is mounted on a movable input component and the other of which is mounted in a stationary position facing toward the movable input component, wherein each emitter/detector unit has an emitter element for emitting a light beam toward the other unit, and a photodetector array for receiving the light beam from the other unit on its detection surfaces and providing output signals representing the light intensities of the beam received from the other unit on its respective detection surfaces; and
processing the output signals from the photodetector array of the movable unit and the output signals from the photodetector array of the stationary unit and using them as combined inputs to calculate position and angular orientation values representing the position and orientation angles of the movable unit relative to the stationary unit. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
- providing a complementary pair of emitter/detector units, one of which is mounted on a movable input component and the other of which is mounted in a stationary position facing toward the movable input component, wherein each emitter/detector unit has an emitter element for emitting a light beam toward the other unit, and a photodetector array for receiving the light beam from the other unit on its detection surfaces and providing output signals representing the light intensities of the beam received from the other unit on its respective detection surfaces; and
Specification