Distributed-processing motion tracking system for tracking individually modulated light points
Patent 6324296 Issued on November 27, 2001. Estimated Expiration Date: 
December 4, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
December 4, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References Re35816 3564257 3918814 Position indicating system Electro-optical gaging system System for visually determining position in space and/or orientation in space and apparatus employing same Arrangement for locating radiaring sources Arrangement for locating radiating sources Method of sensing the position and orientation of elements in space Digital signal transmission InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 985354 filed on 12/04/1997US Classes:382/107, Motion or velocity measuring250/203.3, Self-luminous target250/559.32, Measuring rate of motion or flow (change of position)356/620, Special mark or target on object356/623, Triangulation382/103, Target tracking or detecting382/106, Range or distance measuring382/154, 3-D or stereo imaging analysis382/291, Determining the position of an object382/304, Parallel processing702/1523D positionExaminersPrimary: Boudreau, Leo H.Assistant: Werner, Frank E. International ClassesG06T 007/20G06T 007/60 G06K 009/00 G01C 003/00 AbstractDisclosed is a distributed-processing motion capture system (and inherent method) comprising: plural light point devices, e.g., infrared LEDs, in a motion capture environment, each providing a unique sequence of light pulses representing a unique identity (ID) of a light point device; a first imaging device for imaging light along a first and second axis; and a second imaging device for imaging light along a third and fourth axis. Both of the imaging devices filter out information not corresponding to the light point devices, and output one-dimensional information that includes the ID of a light point device and a position of the light point device along one of the respective axes. The system also includes a processing device for triangulating three-dimensional positions of the light point devices based upon the one-dimensional information. The system is very fast because the necessary processing is distributed to be maximally parallel. The motion capture system uses a cylindrical collimating (CC) optics sub-system superimposed on a cylindrical telecentric (CT) optics sub-system. The outputs of the plural light point devices are modulated to provide a unique sequence of light pulses representing a unique identifier (ID) for each of the light point devices according to a predetermined cycle of modulation intervals based upon synchronization signals provided via RF communication. At least two of the light point devices concurrently provide light during the cycle.Other References
Field of SearchTarget tracking or detectingRange or distance measuring Motion or velocity measuring Using a facial characteristic Robotics 3-D or stereo imaging analysis Determining center of gravity or moment Determining the position of an object Parallel processing Single line Using at least a pair of viewing axes With one viewing axis fixed Relative attitude indication along 3 axes with photodetection With photodetection remote from measured angle Special mark or target on object Triangulation Target illuminated by artificial light source Self-luminous target Measuring rate of motion or flow (change of position) Centroid Detection of positional information in two or more planes (e.g., azimuth and elevation; hour angle and declination) With moving reticle in optical path Optical Human body observation Program control (e.g., path guidance, etc.) Multiple cameras on baseline (e.g., range finder, etc.) OBJECT TRACKING Centroidal tracking To or from multi-level codes Speed 3D position 3D orientation By radiant energy (e.g., X-ray, light) | |
