×

System for precise rotational and positional tracking

  • US 6,980,229 B1
  • Filed: 07/18/2002
  • Issued: 12/27/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A system for tracking a movable structure, comprising:

  • at least one actively emissive fiducial;

    at least one video camera;

    wherein either the camera or the fiducial is mounted on the movable structure, so that the camera can capture an image of the fiducial as the structure moves;

    means for capturing the image from the video camera;

    means for determining the location of the fiducial in the captured image, comprising means for resolving the energy received from the active fiducial separately in a plurality of separate areas of a captured video frame, means for comparing the resolved energy to a predetermined energy threshold to find areas with energies above the threshold, and means for resolving the centroid of a larger area of the captured video frame comprised of a separate area with an energy above the threshold and a plurality of contiguous separate areas; and

    means, responsive to the means for determining, for resolving the heading of the movable structure.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×