Wireless position sensing in three dimensions using ultrasound
First Claim
1. A method for determining a position of a mobile controller relative to a fixed unit, wherein the mobile controller comprises an infrared (IR) light source and an ultrasonic transducer, and wherein the fixed unit comprises a camera and a first ultrasonic transducer, the method comprising the steps of:
- using the camera to determine an angular location of the IR light source relative to the fixed unit;
determining a distance between the mobile controller and the fixed unit by measuring a time of flight of an ultrasonic transmission between the mobile controller and the fixed unit;
determining a three dimensional position of the mobile controller, relative to the fixed unit, by combining the angular location with the distance;
using the camera to track a path of the IR light source detected over time; and
using the tracked path to distinguish the IR light source from a background light source, when the IR light source and the background light source are detected close to each other, by comparing the tracked path with a extrapolated path of the IR light source.
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Abstract
According to various embodiments, the invention provides a method for establishing communication between a computer program in a computing system and a controller held in a hand of a user, comprising: capturing image data in a capture area in front of a display, the capturing configured to identify a two-dimensional location of the controller in the capture area; and capturing one-way sound communication between a location proximate to the display and a location at the controller, the sound communication being used to compute a third-dimensional location of the controller in the capture area.
12 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for determining a position of a mobile controller relative to a fixed unit, wherein the mobile controller comprises an infrared (IR) light source and an ultrasonic transducer, and wherein the fixed unit comprises a camera and a first ultrasonic transducer, the method comprising the steps of:
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using the camera to determine an angular location of the IR light source relative to the fixed unit; determining a distance between the mobile controller and the fixed unit by measuring a time of flight of an ultrasonic transmission between the mobile controller and the fixed unit; determining a three dimensional position of the mobile controller, relative to the fixed unit, by combining the angular location with the distance; using the camera to track a path of the IR light source detected over time; and using the tracked path to distinguish the IR light source from a background light source, when the IR light source and the background light source are detected close to each other, by comparing the tracked path with a extrapolated path of the IR light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A position sensing apparatus comprising:
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an ultrasonic transmitter; an ultrasonic receiver; an infrared transmitter; a two-dimensional (2D) infrared receiver; an image processing means for processing an image received by the 2D infrared receiver; a timer; a control means for coordinating functions of the 2D infrared receiver, the ultrasonic transmitter, and the timer; and a trigger means for activating the timer, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile and a fixed component separate from one another, wherein ultrasonic and infrared components are located adjacent to one another in a heterogeneous pair on each of the mobile and the fixed components, wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit an ultrasonic pulse between the ultrasonic transmitter and ultrasonic receiver, and is configured to measure a time of flight of the ultrasonic pulse between the ultrasonic transmitter and receiver by; starting the timer substantially simultaneously to transmission of the ultrasonic pulse, stopping the timer when the ultrasonic pulse has been received by the ultrasonic receiver, wherein in use the apparatus is further configured to determine a two-dimensional (2D) angular position of the infrared transmitter in relation to the 2D infrared receiver by processing the image received by the 2D infrared receiver, whereby an ultrasonic distance measurement from the time of flight of the ultrasonic pulse and an infrared angular measurement provide a three-dimensional (3D) position fix of the mobile component relative to the fixed component; and wherein in use the apparatus is further configured to use the 2D infrared receiver to track, over time, a course of an infrared light source transmitted by the infrared transmitter to distinguish the infrared light source from a background light source, when the infrared light source and the background light source are detected close to each other, by comparing the tracked course with a extrapolated course of the IR light source. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification