436 results about "Optical tracking" patented technology

A method and system for determining the position and orientation of an object is disclosed. A set of markers attached or associated with the object is optically tracked and geometric translation is performed to use the coordinates of the set of markers to determine the location and orientation of their associated object.

An object position and orientation detection system and in particular one which is capable of describing observed movement in 3 dimensions. In one example, a spherical patterned marker with concentric rings is imaged using one or more digital cameras, and the resulting images are processed to determine the position and orientation of an object to which the patterned marker is attached. The method of optical tracking employed by the system allows motion to be determined in six degrees of freedom. In conjunction with a suitable display, such as a projector, an interactive white board or similar application can be realised.

Image capture devices attached to a computer processor are located in a retail store. Items of merchandise for sale are tracked from their display position to a shopping container using optical tracking software. The software is capable of identifying the items and containers optically. A list of items in each container is maintained in a database. A customer may request a listing of items in a cart at any time via a query. At checkout time, there is no need to scan the items.

Described are a system and a method for optical tracking of assets. The system includes a sensor having a plurality of pixels. Each pixel is adapted to produce an electrical signal responsive to an incident optical data signal emitted by an optical tag attached to an asset. The system also includes a sensor processor in communication with the sensor and configured to generate an electrical data signal based on optical data signals incident on the pixels. The sensor processor also generates asset data in response to the electrical data signals from the pixels. The sensor and sensor processor can be implemented as an optical communications imager in which each pixel generates a communication data signal based on incident light. Alternatively, the sensor can include a digital video camera or an analog video camera for lower bandwidth communications.

Image capture devices attached to a computer processor are located in a retail store. Items of merchandise for sale are tracked from their display position to a shopping container using optical tracking software. The software is capable of identifying the items and containers optically. A list of items in each container is maintained in a database. A customer may request a listing of items in a cart at any time via a query. At checkout time, there is no need to scan the items.

A method for manufacturing a registration template for use in medical navigation system-guided surgery, comprising: producing a registration template having a surface, which precisely surface-bonds to a surface of a bone at a surgical target site of a patient, and having three or more registration points, from stereoscopic surface data ensuring precise surface bonding to the surface of the bone at the surgical target site of the patient, based on stereoscopic surface data created from tomography information on the bone of the surgical target site of the patient; and providing a pedestal (4) for mounting optical tracking balls (7), which are used for three-dimensional position detection for a medical navigation system, at the center of the registration points. By using the template having curves surfaces which three-dimensionally precisely and intimately contact the bone surface of the patient, high-precision registration can be performed, and an operator's man-hours immediately before surgery in an operating room can be reduced to shorten the surgery time.

A surgical simulation device includes a support structure and animal tissue carried in a tray. A simulated human skeleton is carried by the support structure above the animal tissue and includes simulated human skin. A camera images the animal tissue and an image processor receives images of markers positioned on the ribs and animal tissue and forms a three-dimensional wireframe image. An operating table is adjacent a local robotic surgery station as part of a robotic surgery station and includes at least one patient support configured to support the patient during robotic surgery. At least one patient force / torque sensor is coupled to the at least one patient support and configured to sense at least one of force and torque experienced by the patient during robotic surgery.

This invention discloses an optical object tracking method and system with to up to six degrees of freedom: three translational and three angular coordinates. In the preferred embodiment, the system includes two near-infra-red light sources (e.g., light emitting diode), two cameras, and a digital signal processor. The system performs to tasks: object locking and tracking. For object locking and tracking, a single camera and two off-axis light sources are engaged. For more precise object tracking, two spatially-separate cameras and a single diode are used. In another embodiment, a third camera may be used to separate the locking and tracking tasks. The light sources may have different light wavelengths and may operate in a sequential mode. The cameras may be sensitive over different spectral ranges and may also differ in terms of field-of-view and resolution. The invention describes a method based on capturing images of light reflections at the camera focal plane and analyzing them, through mathematical mapping, for known locations of light sources and cameras. Invention can be adopted for the tracking of an eyeball. The related method determines an object location and orientation or a gaze vector and a point-of-regard.

A surgical simulation device includes a support structure and animal tissue carried in a tray. A simulated human skeleton is carried by the support structure above the animal tissue and includes simulated human skin. A camera images the animal tissue and an image processor receives images of markers positioned on the ribs and animal tissue and forms a three-dimensional wireframe image. An operating table is adjacent a local robotic surgery station as part of a robotic surgery station and includes at least one patient support configured to support the patient during robotic surgery. At least one patient force / torque sensor is coupled to the at least one patient support and configured to sense at least one of force and torque experienced by the patient during robotic surgery.

The cerebral operating robot system based on optical tracking and closed-loop control for receiving medical image information, detecting and determining disease focus position, assisting operation plan and performing operation guidance is one closed-loop pose measuring and real-time feedback controlling robot system comprising one computer, one five-freedom robot, one optical tracking device and one passive marker. The passive marker is mounted in the end of the five-freedom robot, and the five-freedom robot includes one mechanical arm and one mechanical arm controller. The operation plan assisting and operation guiding software includes a digital image inputting and pre-treating module, a disease focus extracting and 3D reconstructing module, an operation planning module, and an operation executing module. The present invention has the advantages of raised precision, low cost, simplified calibration process, etc.

The optical tracking device of this invention comprises a lens unit, a control circuitry communicatively coupled to the lens unit, and an imaging unit optically coupled to the lens unit. The lens unit comprises at least one Micromirror Array Lens, wherein the Micromirror Array Lens comprises a plurality of micromirrors and is configured to have a plurality of optical surface profiles by controlling rotations or translations of the micromirrors. The optical tracking device of the invention further comprises an image processing unit, communicatively coupled to the imaging unit, configured to process the image information from the imaging unit and generates a control signal for the control circuit to control the lens unit. The optical tracking device of the present invention provides capability of tracking a target moving in a high speed, providing three-dimensional image information of the object, and compensating the aberration of the optical tracking device.

A vehicle control system having a controller and a spatial database adapted to provide spatial data to the controller at control speed. The spatial data provided from the spatial database to the controller includes images collected from an optical sensor subsystem in addition to other data collected by a variety of sensor types, including a GNSS or inertial measurement system. The spatial data received by the controller from the database forms at least part of the control inputs that the controller operates on to control the vehicle. The advantage provided by the present invention allows control system to “think” directly in terms of spatial location. A vehicle control system in accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention comprises a task path generator, a spatial database, at least one external spatial data receiver, a vehicle attitude compensation module, a position error generator, a controller, and actuators to control the vehicle.

This disclosure presents methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for optically tracking the location of one or more objects. The techniques may involve accumulation of initial image data, establishment of a dataset library containing image features, and tracking using a plurality of modules or trackers, for example an optical flow module, decision forest module, and color tracking module. Tracking outputs from the optical flow, decision forest and / or color tracking modules are synthesized to provide a final tracking output. The dataset library may be updated in the process.

A method for interfacing with a computer through a projected display of the computer using a laser pointer includes processing an image of the projected display captured by a camera, determining position of a laser pointer spot on the projected display, generating commands to position a computer mouse pointer at a screen position corresponding to the projected display, and generating a mouse click for the computer when a programmable laser pointer event occurs. Commands may be used to emulate control of the computer typically provided by a pointing device such as a mouse or track ball.

A computer input device controller dynamically adjusts the rate at which an illumination source is activated, and may also adjust the rate at which other optical tracking system components are activated. As the velocity of optical tracking system movement relative to a tracked surface increases, the controller increases the activation rate(s). As the velocity of relative movement decreases, the controller decreases the activation rate(s). Future displacements of a tracking system relative to a tracked surface are also estimated. In particular, relative tracking system / tracked surface velocity is calculated based on a series of images. Relative displacement is then estimated based on the calculated velocity.

The invention provides a physical education teaching auxiliary system based on a motion identification technology and an implementation method of the physical education teaching auxiliary system. The system is applicable to a personal computer (PC) or an embedded host. The system comprises a movement data collection module, a movement data acquisition module, an identification and training module and a virtual teaching environment module. The device is characterized in that: a micro-inertia measurement unit and an inertia parameter extraction unit are arranged in the movement data collection module; and a movement information resolving unit transmits data which is output by the inertia parameter extraction unit to a multi-sensor data fusion unit for resolving. The movement situation of a target is reflected comprehensively in an inertia tracking mode and an optical tracking mode, so a tracking range is effectively expanded, measurement accuracy is improved, and the problems that the integral information of the target cannot be acquired in the inertia tracking mode, complicated movement identification cannot be performed and sensitivity is poor are solved. A brand new teaching mode is provided for physical education teaching, and a physical education teaching method is digitalized, multi-media and scientifically standardized.

A positional marker system is disclosed. The positional marker system includes at least one light-emitting or light-reflecting marker that can be positionally detected by an optical tracking system, such as a medical tracking system, wherein the emitting and / or reflecting portion of the marker or markers is formed as a point light source and / or point light reflector.

An optical position-tracking system comprises a first light beam steering device for sweeping a first light beam through a first angular range to cause a reflection of the first light beam by a target. Additionally, the optical position-tracking system further comprises a second light beam steering device for sweeping a second light beam through a second angular range to cause a reflection of the second light beam by the target. Moreover, the optical position-tracking system enables determination of a position of the target using a triangulation technique utilizing a first angular value of the first light beam and a second angular value of the second light beam. The first angular value and the second angular value depend on the existence of the respective reflection.

An electronic system that produces an enhanced spatial television-like audio-visual experience is disclosed. Unlike normal television, the system enables the viewer to control both the viewing direction and relative position of the viewpoint with respect to the movie action. In addition to a specific hardware configuration, this patent also relates to a new video format which makes possible this virtual reality like experience including a system by which multi-channel audio can be recorded in addition to visual information onto a single data channel which is compatible with existing television and audio-visual standards and an optical tracking system to provide both angular and spatial position information to control the display of said imagery and spatial audio.

A system and method for tracking an airborne target including an illumination source (e.g., a diode laser array) is used to enhance a target signature and a detector (e.g., a passive high-speed camera) is used to detect to electromagnetic radiation (e.g., infrared radiation) reflected off the target. The received electromagnetic radiation may be processed by a digital computer and passed through a spatial filter that implements a band limited edge detection operation in the frequency domain. The filter may remove low spatial frequencies that attenuate soft edged clutter such as clouds and smoke as well as filter out artifacts and attenuated medium to high spatial frequencies to inhibit speckle noise from the detector as well as speckle from the laser return off the target.

An optical tracking vehicle control system includes a controller adapted for computing vehicle guidance signals and a guidance subsystem adapted for receiving the guidance signals from the controller and for guiding the vehicle. An optical movement sensor is mounted on the vehicle in optical contact with a travel surface being traversed by the vehicle. The optical movement sensor is connected to the controller and provides vehicle movement signals thereto for use by the controller in computing vehicle position. The optical movement sensor can be either mounted on a gimbal for movement independent of the vehicle, or, alternatively, multiple optical movement sensors can be provided for detecting yaw movements. GNSS and inertial vehicle position tracking subsystems are also provided. Still further, a method of tracking a vehicle with an optical movement sensor is provided.

Various systems and methods are employed for lift-detection. Beam triangulation can be used, and in one embodiment, an optical lift detection module is separate from the optical tracking module. In one embodiment, a capacitive lift detection technique is used. A capacitor is built into the bottom case of the mouse. When the mouse is resting on a surface, the surface material serves as a dielectric for the capacitor, while air serves as the dielectric when the mouse is lifted. This dielectric change leads to a change in the capacitance value, leading to detection of lift. In one embodiment, a capacitor with an easily compressable material inserted between the two electrodes is used. In another embodiment, a mechanical plunger with an elastic membrane is used for lift detection. Lift detection can be tunable and / or customizable. The actual height of the life can be detected, rather than simple on-off notifications.

An electronic system that produces an enhanced spatial television-like audio-visual experience is disclosed. Unlike normal television, the system enables the viewer to control both the viewing direction and relative position of the viewpoint with respect to the movie action. In addition to a specific hardware configuration, this patent also relates to a new video format which makes possible this virtual reality like experience including a system by which multi-channel audio can be recorded in addition to visual information onto a single data channel which is compatible with existing television and audio-visual standards and an optical tracking system to provide both angular and spatial position information to control the display of said imagery and spatial audio.

An ambiguity-free optical tracking system (100) includes a position sensor unit (104), a control box (106), a computer (110) and software. The position sensor unit includes two cameras (121 and 122) that track a plurality of individual infra-red reflecting markers (160) affixed on a patient's skin. Coordinates of the cameras in a coordinate system of the cameras are determined as part of a system calibration process by intentionally creating ambiguous markers with two true markers. Using this information, an ambiguity elimination algorithm automatically identifies and eliminates ambiguous markers. A recursive backtracking algorithm builds a one-to-one correspondence between reference markers and markers optically observed during treatment. By utilizing a concept of null markers, the backtracking algorithm deals with missing, misplaced and occluded markers.

The invention provides a multi-line array laser three-dimensional scanning system and method. Accurate synchronism and logic control of the multi-line array laser three-dimensional scanning system can be achieved through an FPGA, a line laser unit array serves as a projection pattern light source, trigger signals are sent to a stereoscopic vision image sensor and the line laser unit array through the FPGA, an upper computer receives image pairs shot by the stereoscopic vision image sensor, laser line array patterns in the image pairs are subjected to encoding, decoding and three-dimensional reconstruction, three-dimensional reconstruction and matching alignment of three-dimensional feature points between different moments are conducted on surface feature points of an object to be measured, and matching calculation is subjected to prediction and error correction through an optical tracking technology. The system and method are used for registration and connection of time domain laser three-dimensional scanning data, meanwhile, measuring error grades are evaluated in real time and fed back to an error feedback controller for adjusting indication, and therefore laser three-dimensional scanning with low cost and high efficiency, reliability and accuracy is completed accordingly.

The present invention discloses a camera positioning correction calibration method and a system for realizing the method, belonging to the technical field of image virtual production. Through the intrinsic relationship among a lens parameter, an imaging surface and an optical tracking device, by using the world coordinate and image point coordinate of N mark points on a background screen and the internal parameter and lens distortion parameter of a camera lens, the rotation matrix between a camera coordinate system and a world coordinate system and the translation vector of a camera perspective center in the world coordinate system are obtained, combined with the current position information given by a camera posture external tracking device in a current state, camera correction calibration information and viewing angle are obtained, the lookup table with a focusing distance and a focus length relationship is established, thus when a camera position, a lens focal distance and a focusing distance change, the position of the virtual camera of the virtual production system is fully automatically positioned and corrected, and thus a real video frame picture and a virtual frame image generated by a computer can be matched perfectly.