Remote sensing system and electronic apparatus having same

• US 8,217,354 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2009
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chang, Jen-Tsorng
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bryant, Casey
• Application Number:
  US12/485,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20100072372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 250/339.01, 250/339.06, 463/37, 463/39, 463/43
• US Class Current: 250/339.06
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

A remote sensing system includes a first light source, a second light source, two image capturing devices and a processing unit. The first light source is configured for emitting infrared light of a first central wavelength. The second light source is configured for emitting infrared light of a second central wavelength. The two image capturing devices is configured for capturing images of the first and second light sources. The image capturing devices each includes an infrared sensitive image sensor and an infrared pass filter having two passbands for respectively allowing the infrared light of the first and second central wavelengths to pass therethrough. The processing unit is configured for analyzing the images captured by the image capturing devices thereby determining positions of the light sources relative to the image capturing devices.

Claims

1. A remote sensing system, comprising:

a first light source for emitting infrared light of a first central wavelength;

a second light source for emitting infrared light of a second central wavelength band different from the first central wavelength;

a first image capturing device capturing two different images of the first and second light sources, a second image capturing device capturing two different images of the first and second light sources, the image capturing devices each comprising an infrared sensitive image sensor and an infrared pass filter having two passbands for respectively allowing the infrared light of the first and second central wavelengths to pass therethrough;

a processing unit for analyzing the images captured by the first and second image capturing devices thereby determining positions of the light sources relative to the image capturing devices.

2. The remote sensing system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second light sources comprises an infrared LED.

3. The remote sensing system of claim 1, wherein the first and second central wavelengths are in the range from 700 nm to 1000 nm.

4. The remote sensing system of claim 1, wherein each of the image capturing devices comprises an optical lens for focusing light incident on the respective infrared sensitive image sensor.

5. The remote sensing system of claim 1, wherein the first image capturing device includes a first lens barrel, a first optical lens, a first infrared pass filter and a first image sensor, the first optical lens and the first infrared pass filter are mounted in the first lens barrel and aligned with each other, the first image sensor is positioned at one end of the first lens barrel and aligned with the first optical lens and the first infrared pass filter, the first optical lens focuses light emitted from the first and second light sources and on the first image sensor.

6. The remote sensing system of claim 5, wherein the second image capturing device is identical with the first image capturing device, and includes a second lens barrel, a second optical lens, a second infrared pass filter and a second image sensor, the second optical lens and the second infrared pass filter are mounted in the second lens barrel and aligned with each other, the second image sensor is positioned at one end of the second lens barrel and aligned with the second optical lens and the second infrared pass filter, the second optical lens focuses light emitted from the first and second light sources and on the second image sensor.

7. The remote sensing system of claim 6, wherein the processing unit is electrically connected with the first and second image sensors, the processing unit receives the image signals from the first and second image sensors and processing the image signals to calculate the position of the first and second light sources.

8. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a remote control unit comprising a housing and two light sources installed in/on the housing, the two light sources comprising;

a first light source for emitting infrared light of a first central wavelength;

a second light source for emitting infrared light of a second central wavelength;

a first image capturing device capturing two different images of the first and second light sources, a second image capturing device capturing two different images of the first and second light sources, the image capturing devices each comprising an infrared sensitive image sensor and an infrared pass filter having two passbands for respectively allowing the infrared light of the first and second central wavelengths to pass therethrough;

a processing unit for analyzing the images captured by the image capturing devices thereby determining positions of the light sources relative to the image capturing devices.

9. The electronic apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the first and second light sources includes an infrared LED.

10. The electronic apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the image capturing devices comprises an optical lens for focusing light on the respective infrared sensitive image sensor.

11. The electronic apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a display device having a display screen, the plurality of image capturing device being positioned adjacent to the display screen.

12. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a first light source for emitting infrared light of a first central wavelength;

a second light source for emitting infrared light of a second central wavelength;

a remote control unit comprising a housing and two image capturing devices, a first image capturing device capturing two different images of the first and second light sources, a second image capturing device capturing two different images of the first and second light sources, the image capturing devices each comprising an infrared sensitive image sensor and an infrared pass filter having two passbands for respectively allowing the infrared light of the first and second central wavelengths to pass therethrough; and

a processing unit for analyzing the images captured by the image capturing devices thereby determining positions of the light sources relative to the image capturing devices.

13. The electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second light sources includes an infrared LED.

14. The electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the light capturing devices comprises an optical lens for focusing light on the respective infrared sensitive image sensor.

15. The electronic apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a display device having a display screen, the plurality of light sources being positioned adjacent to the display screen.

16. The electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processing unit is installed in/on the housing.