Method for control of a device
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a device, the method comprising acts of:
- arranging a plurality of retro-reflective marker elements having a plurality of shapes in unique positions relative to each other in a target area of an object to uniquely identify a device associated with the object;
aiming a pointing device comprising a camera and a source of invisible light in the direction of at least one target area on an object associated with the device to be controlled, the plurality of retro-reflective marker elements reflecting at least a part of the invisible light emitted by the light source back to the pointing device;
generating a first image of a target area aimed at by the pointing device when the light source is inactive;
generating a second image of the target area aimed at by the pointing device whereby, at least during part of an exposure time for generating the second image, invisible light is emitted by the light source in the direction of pointing;
extracting image data from at least one of the first target area image and the second target area image;
processing the extracted image data to determine the presence of the retro-reflective marker elements;
using information pertaining to the retro-reflective marker elements to identify the device to be controlled and/or to determine a control signal for the identified device, the extracted image data is extracted by means of a filter rule which is defined according to the device to be controlled.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Control of a device including aiming a pointing device comprising a camera and a source of invisible light in the direction of an object associated with the device to be controlled, upon which object a number of retroreflective marker elements are positioned, which reflect at least a part of the invisible light emitted by the light source back to the pointing device; generating a first image of a target area aimed at by the pointing device whereby the light source is inactive; generating a second image of the target area aimed at by the pointing device whereby, invisible light is emitted by the light source in the direction of pointing; processing the target area images to determine the presence of retroreflective marker elements; using information pertaining to the retroreflective marker elements to identify the device to be controlled and/or to determine a control signal for the identified device.
27 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a device, the method comprising acts of:
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arranging a plurality of retro-reflective marker elements having a plurality of shapes in unique positions relative to each other in a target area of an object to uniquely identify a device associated with the object; aiming a pointing device comprising a camera and a source of invisible light in the direction of at least one target area on an object associated with the device to be controlled, the plurality of retro-reflective marker elements reflecting at least a part of the invisible light emitted by the light source back to the pointing device; generating a first image of a target area aimed at by the pointing device when the light source is inactive; generating a second image of the target area aimed at by the pointing device whereby, at least during part of an exposure time for generating the second image, invisible light is emitted by the light source in the direction of pointing; extracting image data from at least one of the first target area image and the second target area image; processing the extracted image data to determine the presence of the retro-reflective marker elements; using information pertaining to the retro-reflective marker elements to identify the device to be controlled and/or to determine a control signal for the identified device, the extracted image data is extracted by means of a filter rule which is defined according to the device to be controlled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10)
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4. A method of controlling a device, the method comprising acts of:
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arranging a plurality of retro-reflective marker elements having a plurality of shapes in unique positions relative to each other in a target area of an object to uniquely identify a device associated with the object; aiming a pointing device comprising a camera and a source of invisible light in the direction of at least one target area on an object associated with the device to be controlled, the plurality of retro-reflective marker elements reflecting at least a part of the invisible light emitted by the light source back to the pointing device; generating a first image of a target area aimed at by the pointing device when the light source is inactive; generating a second image of the target area aimed at by the pointing device whereby, at least during part of an exposure time for generating the second image, invisible light is emitted by the light source in the direction of pointing; processing the target area images to determine the presence of the retro-reflective marker elements; using information pertaining to the retro-reflective marker elements to identify the device to be controlled and/or to determine a control signal for the identified device wherein the act of determining the presence of the retro-reflective marker elements comprises an act of subtracting the first target area image from the second target area image to generate a target area marker image and when the presence of the retro-reflective marker elements is determined, extracting image data selected from at least one of the first target area image, the second target area image, and the target area marker image depending on the located retro-reflective marker elements, and processing the extracted image data for the identification of the device to be controlled and/or for determination of the control signal for the identified device, the extracted image data is extracted by means of a filter rule which is defined according to the device to be controlled.
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6. A method of controlling a device, the method comprising acts of:
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arranging a plurality of retro-reflective marker elements having a plurality of shapes in unique positions relative to each other in a target area of an object to uniquely identify a device associated with the object; aiming a pointing device comprising a camera and a source of invisible light in the direction of at least one target area on an object associated with the device to be controlled, the plurality of retro-reflective marker elements reflecting at least a part of the invisible light emitted by the light source back to the pointing device; generating a first image of a target area aimed at by the pointing device when the light source is inactive; generating a second image of the target area aimed at by the pointing device whereby, at least during part of an exposure time for generating the second image, invisible light is emitted by the light source in the direction of pointing; processing the target area images to determine the presence of the retro-reflective marker elements; using information pertaining to the retro-reflective marker elements to identify the device to be controlled and/or to determine a control signal for the identified device, wherein the act of determining the presence of the retro-reflective marker elements comprises an act of subtracting the first target area image from the second target area image to generate a target area marker image and when the presence of the retro-reflective marker elements is determined, extracting image data selected from at least one of the first target area image, the second target area image, and the target area marker image depending on the located retro-reflective marker elements, and processing the extracted image data for the identification of the device to be controlled and/or for determination of the control signal for the identified device, the extracted image data is transmitted for further processing to a control unit associated with the device to be controlled; and the pointing device transmitting the extracted image data, extracted according to a specific filter rule, together with an information signal for identifying the associated filter rule and/or the device associated with this filter rule. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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11. A system for controlling a device, the system comprising:
- a pointing device comprising;
a source of invisible light for emitting invisible light in the direction of at least one target area at which the pointing device is aimed, a camera for generating images of the target area, wherein the camera is sensitive to the frequency range of the invisible light emitted by the light source, a synchronization unit for synchronizing the light source and the camera so that a first image of the target area is generated when the light source is inactive, and a second image of the target area is generated, when, at least during part of an exposure time for generating the second image, invisible light is emitted by the light source in the direction of pointing; one or more retro-reflective marker elements having a plurality of shapes are arranged in unique positions relative to each other in the target area of an object to uniquely identify a device separated from and associated with the object; an image processing unit for processing the target area images to determine the presence of the one or more retro-reflective marker elements on the object separated from and associated with the device to be controlled, the one or more retro-reflective marker elements reflect at least part of the invisible light emitted by the light source back to the pointing device; and control means for extracting image data from at least one of the processed target area images, identifying the device to be controlled and/or for determining a control signal for the identified device, the extracted image data is extracted by means of a filter rule which is defined according to the device to be controlled.
- a pointing device comprising;
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12. A pointing device comprising:
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a camera; a source of invisible light enabled to be pointed in the direction of an object associated with a device to be controlled; and a plurality of retro-reflective marker elements having a plurality of shapes are arranged on the object in unique positions relative to each other in a target area of an object to uniquely identify the device separated from and associated with the object, the retro-reflective marker elements can reflect at least part of the invisible light emitted by the light source back to the pointing device, wherein the camera is enabled to generate a first image of a target area aimed at by the pointing device when the light source is inactive, and a second image of the target area aimed at by the pointing device when, at least during part of an exposure time for generating the second image, invisible light is emitted by the light source in the direction of pointing, and extract image data from at least one of the first and second images, the extracted image data is extracted by means of a filter rule which is defined according to the device to be controlled. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A system for controlling a device, the system comprising:
- a pointing unit comprising;
a source configured to emit invisible light in a direction of at least one target area of an object associated with the device at which the pointing unit is aimed; one or more retro-reflective marker elements having a plurality of shapes are arranged in unique positions relative to each other in a target area on the object to uniquely identify the device separated from and associated with the object; a camera configured to generate images of the target area, wherein the camera is sensitive to the frequency range of the invisible light emitted by the light source; a synchronization unit configured to synchronize the light source and the camera so that a first image of the target area is generated when the light source is inactive, and a second image of the target area is generated when at least during part of an exposure time for generating the second image, invisible light is emitted by the light source in the direction of pointing; a processor configured to process the images of the target area to determine a presence of the one or more retro-reflective marker elements on an object, the retro-reflective marker elements reflect at least part of the invisible light emitted by the light source back to the pointing device associated with the device to be controlled; and a controller configured to extract image data from at least one of the processed target area images, identify the device to be controlled and determine a control signal for the identified device using information pertaining to the retro-reflective marker elements, the extracted image data is extracted by means of a filter rule which is defined according to the device to be controlled.
- a pointing unit comprising;
Specification