Spatial tracking system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for spatially tracking an object and determining the translations and rotations of said object, comprising:
- a radiation source;
at least three sensor sets;
wherein each sensor set comprises at least two sensors with overlapping, but distinguishable sensing ranges;
wherein said sensors detect said radiation source;
receiving means coupled to said sensor sets for receiving signals from said sensors;
translation calculation means for determining the translations of said radiation source from the relative signals for said sensors within each of said sensor sets;
rotational calculations means for determining rotations of said radiation source from the relative signals between said sensor sets; and
wherein individual sensors are included to provide additional information on rotational changes and increase the range for rotational measurements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A spatial tracking system tracks movements of sources of radiated energy. In the one embodiment of the invention, three sensor sets are included each containing a pair of sensors. Movements of a single radiation source with a radially symmetric emission pattern is tracked in up to six dimensions; X, Y, Z, yaw, pitch and radiation intensity. Sources with different radiation ranges or types are tracked at the same time using sensors tuned to the different radiation ranges or types. The sensor sets may include more than two sensors which increases the spatial range monitored and increases tracking accuracy and optionally include sensors tuned to different radiation sources, such as light of different wavelengths. Individual sensors can be included with the sensor sets which increase the rotational range of the system beyond the range for translation tracking.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An apparatus for spatially tracking an object and determining the translations and rotations of said object, comprising:
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a radiation source;
at least three sensor sets;
wherein each sensor set comprises at least two sensors with overlapping, but distinguishable sensing ranges;
wherein said sensors detect said radiation source;
receiving means coupled to said sensor sets for receiving signals from said sensors;
translation calculation means for determining the translations of said radiation source from the relative signals for said sensors within each of said sensor sets;
rotational calculations means for determining rotations of said radiation source from the relative signals between said sensor sets; and
wherein individual sensors are included to provide additional information on rotational changes and increase the range for rotational measurements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
movement recording means for recording said movements.
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12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said recorded movements are used for analysis of specific components of said recorded movements.
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13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said recorded movements are used in animation.
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14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said recorded movements are used to affect the sequencing or timing of media.
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15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radiation source is located in a remote control;
- wherein said sensor sets are located in a set-top box; and
wherein said translations and said rotations are used to manipulate menus and/or objects in a television environment.
- wherein said sensor sets are located in a set-top box; and
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16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radiation source is aimed away from said sensor sets;
- wherein reflectors are affixed to an object; and
wherein said sensors detect the reflections of said radiation source from said reflectors.
- wherein reflectors are affixed to an object; and
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17. An apparatus for spatially tracking an object and determining the translations and rotations of said object, comprising:
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a radiation source;
at least three sensor sets;
wherein each sensor set comprises at least two sensors with overlapping, but distinguishable sensing ranges;
wherein said sensors detect said radiation source;
receiving means coupled to said sensor sets for receiving signals from said sensors;
translation calculation means for determining the translations of said radiation source from the relative signals for said sensors within each of said sensor sets; and
rotational calculations means for determining rotations of said radiation source from the relative signals between said sensor sets. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
movement recording means for recording said movements.
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28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said recorded movements are used for analysis of specific components of said recorded movements.
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29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said recorded movements are used in animation.
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30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said recorded movements are used to affect the sequencing or timing of media.
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31. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said radiation source is located in a remote control;
- wherein said sensor sets are located in a set-top box; and
wherein said translations and said rotations are used to manipulate menus and/or objects in a television environment.
- wherein said sensor sets are located in a set-top box; and
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32. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said radiation source is aimed away from said sensor sets;
- wherein reflectors are affixed to an object; and
wherein said sensors detect the reflections of said radiation source from said reflectors.
- wherein reflectors are affixed to an object; and
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33. An apparatus for spatially tracking an object and determining the translations and rotations of said object, comprising:
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at least two radiation sources;
wherein said radiation sources are activated one at a time and/or individually activated at unique frequencies allowing for the discrimination of individual sources;
at least three sensor sets;
wherein each sensor set comprises at least two sensors with overlapping, but distinguishable sensing ranges;
wherein said sensors detect said radiation sources;
receiving means coupled to said sensor sets for receiving signals from said sensors;
translation calculation means for determining the translations of said radiation source from the relative signals for said sensors within each of said sensor sets; and
rotational calculations means for determining rotations of said radiation source from the relative signals between said sensor sets. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
movement recording means for recording said movements.
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41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein said recorded movements are used for analysis of specific components of said recorded movements.
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42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein said recorded movements are used in animation.
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43. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein said recorded movements are used to affect the sequencing or timing of media.
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44. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said radiation sources are located in a remote control;
- wherein said sensor sets are located in a set-top box; and
wherein said translations and said rotations are used to manipulate menus and/or objects in a television environment.
- wherein said sensor sets are located in a set-top box; and
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45. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said radiation sources are aimed away from said sensor sets;
- wherein reflectors are affixed to an object; and
wherein said sensors detect the reflections of said radiation sources from said reflectors.
- wherein reflectors are affixed to an object; and
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46. An apparatus for dynamically adjusting a multi-media entertainment center by spatially tracking an object and determining the translations and rotations of said object in a computer environment, comprising:
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a radiation source located in a remote control;
at least two sensor sets;
wherein each sensor set comprises at least two sensors with overlapping, but distinguishable sensing ranges;
wherein said sensors detect said radiation source;
receiving means coupled to said sensor sets for receiving signals from said sensors;
translation calculation means for determining the translations of said radiation source from the relative signals for said sensors within each of said sensor sets;
rotational calculations means for determining rotations of said radiation source from the relative signals between said sensor sets;
adjusting means connected to said entertainment center for adjusting the audio acoustics to the location of said radiation source using said translations and rotations. - View Dependent Claims (47)
gesture interpretation means connected to said entertainment center for interpreting said translations and rotations as gestures indicating specific commands; and
command execution means connected to said entertainment center for executing said specific commands.
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Specification