COMBINED BEACON AND SCENE NAVIGATION SYSTEM

• US 20080212870A1
• Filed: 03/02/2007
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Song, Willie, Tan, Meng Whui, Lye, Beng Chye, Teoh, Edward Kah Ching, Ang, Kenneth Jin Kiong
• Granted Patent: US 8,285,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/154
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/00 Photogrammetry or videogrammetry, e.g. stereogrammetry; Photographic surveying

Abstract

A controller and navigation system to implement beacon-based navigation and scene-based navigation is described. The navigation system may generate position data for the controller to compensate for a misalignment of the controller relative to the coordinate system of the navigation system. The navigation system may also distinguish between a beacon light source and a non-beacon light source.

Claims

1. A controller for navigation in a navigation system, the controller comprising:

an image sensor configured to generate an image within a field of view of the controller; and

navigation processing logic coupled to the image sensor, the navigation processing logic configured to process the image to alternatively implement beacon-based navigation and scene-based navigation depending on the processed image.

2. The controller of claim 1 wherein the navigation processing logic is further configured to determine if the processed image includes a representation of a beacon.

3. The controller of claim 2 wherein the navigation processing logic is further configured to implement the beacon-based navigation in response to a determination that the processed image includes the representation of the beacon.

4. The controller of claim 2 wherein the navigation processing logic is further configured to implement the scene-based navigation in response to a determination that the processed image excludes the representation of the beacon.

5. The controller of claim 4, wherein the navigation processing logic is further configured to compare at least a portion of the processed image to at least a portion of a previous image in order to generate position data associated with a position of the controller.

6. The controller of claim 1 further comprising:

a digital processor coupled to the image sensor, the digital processor configured to process a position data signal associated with the image; and

a transmitter coupled to the digital processor, the transmitter configured to transmit the position data signal to a console coupled to a display device.

7. The controller of claim 1 wherein the navigation processing logic is further configured to determine, from the processed image, an alignment of the controller relative to a coordinate system of the navigation system.

8. The controller of claim 7 wherein the navigation processing logic is further configure to generate position data for the controller to compensate for a misalignment of the controller relative to the coordinate system of the navigation system.

9. The controller of claim 1 wherein the navigation processing logic is further configured and determine, from the processed image, a ratio of a first beacon distance to a second beacon distance, wherein the first beacon distance comprises a first calculated distance between a first pair of beacon light sources, and the second beacon distance comprises a second calculated distance between a second pair of beacon light sources, wherein the first and second pairs of beacon light sources comprises at least three unique beacon light sources.

10. The controller of claim 9 wherein the navigation processing logic is further configured to distinguish between the beacon light sources and a non-beacon light source.

11. A method for controlling a navigation system, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of images within a field of view of an image sensor;

determining whether at least one of the plurality of images includes a representation of a beacon;

generating a first position data signal according to beacon-based navigation in association with an image which includes the representation of the beacon; and

generating a second position data signal according to scene-based navigation in association with another image which excludes the representation of the beacon.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting the first and second position data signals from a controller to a console coupled to a display device.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

comparing at least portions of consecutive images of the plurality of images; and

determining a position of the controller based on relative positioning of the compared portions of the consecutive images.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining, from at least one of the plurality of images, an alignment of a controller relative to a coordinate system of the navigation system; and

generating position data for the controller, wherein the position data compensates for a misalignment of the controller relative to the coordinate system of the navigation system.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining a ratio of a first beacon distance to a second beacon distance, wherein the first beacon distance comprises a first calculated distance between a first pair of beacon light sources and, and the second beacon distance comprises a second calculated distance between a second pair of beacon light sources; and

distinguishing between the beacon light sources a non-beacon light source.

16. A computer readable medium comprising machine readable instructions which, when processed by a digital processor of a navigation system, cause the digital processor to perform operations comprising:

receive a plurality of images within a field of view of an image sensor;

determine whether at least one of the plurality of images includes a representation of a beacon;

generate a first position data signal according to beacon-based navigation in association with an image which includes the representation of the beacon; and

generate a second position data signal according to scene-based navigation in association with another image which excludes the representation of the beacon.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the machine readable instructions, when processed by the digital processor, cause the digital processor to perform additional operations comprising:

transmit the first and second position data signals from a controller to a console coupled to a display device.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the machine readable instructions, when processed by the digital processor, cause the digital processor to perform additional operations comprising:

compare at least portions of consecutive images of the plurality of images; and

determine a position of the controller based on relative positioning of the compared portions of the consecutive images.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the machine readable instructions, when processed by the digital processor, cause the digital processor to perform additional operations comprising:

determine, from at least one of the plurality of images, an alignment of a controller relative to a coordinate system of the navigation system; and

generate position data for the controller, wherein the position data compensates for a misalignment of the controller relative to the coordinate system of the navigation system.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the machine readable instructions, when processed by the digital processor, cause the digital processor to perform additional operations comprising:

determine a ratio of a first beacon distance to a second beacon distance, wherein the first beacon distance comprises a first calculated distance between a first pair of beacon light sources and, and the second beacon distance comprises a second calculated distance between a second pair of beacon light sources; and

distinguish between the beacon light sources a non-beacon light source.