Methods and apparatus for using illumination marks for spatial pointing
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- an infrared light emitting bar configured to transmit infrared light, the infrared light emitting bar comprising;
an elongated linear-shaped housing having first and second ends, at least a portion of said housing being infrared-light transmissive;
a first plurality of infrared light emitters disposed within the housing substantially at the housing first end;
a second plurality of infrared light emitters disposed within the housing substantially at the housing second end and spaced apart from the first plurality of infrared light emitters, the first and second pluralities of infrared light emitters being arranged to transmit infrared light through the infrared-light transmissive housing portion; and
an electrically-conductive wire entering the housing and connected to commonly activate the first and second pluralities of the infrared light emitters;
a handheld controller comprising;
an optical detector configured to detect infrared light emitted by the first and second pluralities of infrared light emitters; and
a wireless transmitter operatively coupled to the optical detector and configured to wirelessly transmit indications based on the infrared light detected by the optical detector; and
an information processing device comprising;
at least one wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive the transmitted indications from the wireless transmitter;
at least one memory configured to store computer executable instructions; and
at least one processor, which upon executing the instructions, is configured to (i) ascertain real-time continuous aspects of at least a position and a pointing orientation of the optical detector relative to the light emitting bar based on the transmitted indications, and (ii) based on the real-time continuous aspects of at least the position and the pointing orientation, operate at least one object being displayed on a display device operatively coupled to the information processing device;
wherein the housing is configured so that the optical detector can sense infrared light emitted by the first and second pluralities of infrared light emitters when the optical detector is substantially off axis with respect to a direction perpendicular to the housing light-transmissive portion.
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Abstract
An elongated member such as a bar includes spaced-apart infrared light illumination ports at opposite ends thereof. Exemplary spacing between the two spaced-apart light ports may be 20 centimeters or more. Each light port comprises an array of plural light sources. The plural light sources in each array may be directionally aimed to as to provide different illumination directions. The plural light sources in each array may emit different colors or frequencies of light. Example applications include targeting or marking capabilities for a video game or other system handheld pointing device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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an infrared light emitting bar configured to transmit infrared light, the infrared light emitting bar comprising; an elongated linear-shaped housing having first and second ends, at least a portion of said housing being infrared-light transmissive; a first plurality of infrared light emitters disposed within the housing substantially at the housing first end; a second plurality of infrared light emitters disposed within the housing substantially at the housing second end and spaced apart from the first plurality of infrared light emitters, the first and second pluralities of infrared light emitters being arranged to transmit infrared light through the infrared-light transmissive housing portion; and an electrically-conductive wire entering the housing and connected to commonly activate the first and second pluralities of the infrared light emitters; a handheld controller comprising; an optical detector configured to detect infrared light emitted by the first and second pluralities of infrared light emitters; and a wireless transmitter operatively coupled to the optical detector and configured to wirelessly transmit indications based on the infrared light detected by the optical detector; and an information processing device comprising; at least one wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive the transmitted indications from the wireless transmitter; at least one memory configured to store computer executable instructions; and at least one processor, which upon executing the instructions, is configured to (i) ascertain real-time continuous aspects of at least a position and a pointing orientation of the optical detector relative to the light emitting bar based on the transmitted indications, and (ii) based on the real-time continuous aspects of at least the position and the pointing orientation, operate at least one object being displayed on a display device operatively coupled to the information processing device; wherein the housing is configured so that the optical detector can sense infrared light emitted by the first and second pluralities of infrared light emitters when the optical detector is substantially off axis with respect to a direction perpendicular to the housing light-transmissive portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system, comprising:
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an infrared light emitting bar configured to transmit infrared light, the infrared light emitting bar comprising; an elongated linear-shaped housing having first and second ends, at least a portion of said housing being infrared-light transmissive; a first plurality of infrared light emitters disposed within the housing substantially at the housing first end; a second plurality of infrared light emitters disposed within the housing substantially at the housing second end and spaced apart from the first plurality of infrared light emitters, the first and second pluralities of infrared light emitters being arranged to transmit infrared light through the infrared-light transmissive housing portion; and an electrical control connection connected to simultaneously power the first and second point source arrays; a handheld portable device, comprising; an optical detector configured to detect infrared light emitted by the first and second pluralities of infrared light emitters; and a wireless transmitter operatively coupled to the optical detector and configured to wirelessly transmit indications based on the infrared light detected by the optical detector; and an information processing device comprising; at least one wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive the transmitted indications from the wireless transmitter; at least one memory configured to store computer executable instructions; and at least one processor, which upon executing the instructions, is configured to (i) ascertain real-time continuous aspects of at least an orientation of the optical detector relative to the light emitting bar based on the transmitted indications, and (ii) based on the real-time continuous aspects of the orientation, manipulate a virtual object; wherein the housing is configured so that the optical detector can sense infrared light emitted by the first and second pluralities of infrared light emitters when the optical detector is substantially off axis with respect to a forward direction of the housing.
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20. An infrared light emitting bar configured to transmit infrared light receivable by an optical detector, the infrared light emitting bar comprising:
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an elongated linear-shaped housing having first and second ends, at least a portion of said housing being infrared-light transmissive; a first plurality of infrared light emitters disposed within the housing substantially at the housing first end; a second plurality of infrared light emitters disposed within the housing substantially at the housing second end and spaced apart from the first plurality of infrared light emitters, the first and second pluralities of infrared light emitters being arranged to transmit infrared light through the infrared-light transmissive housing portion; and an electrical control connection connected to simultaneously power the first and second plurality of infrared light emitters, wherein the infrared light emitting bar being structurally configured to (i) enable a processor in an information processing device to ascertain real-time continuous aspects of at least a position and a pointing orientation of the optical detector relative to the infrared light emitting bar based on the light emitted, and (ii) enable the processor to operate an object being displayed on a display device operatively coupled to the information processing device based on the realtime continuous aspects of at least the position and the pointing orientation of the optical detector, and wherein the housing is configured to permit the optical detector to sense the infrared light emitted by the first and second pluralities of the infrared light emitters when the optical detector is off axis with respect to a direction perpendicular to the housing light-transmissive portion.
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Specification