Optical Tracking for Virtual Space Navigation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing computer-supported interface systems for displaying items are limited in their versatility and stability, particularly in public presentations, where the manually guidable object may be lost or difficult to calibrate, leading to suboptimal displays and increased complexity.

Innovation Solution

A computer-supported interface system that uses an optical registration system to track a manually guidable object's position and orientation on a navigation plane, allowing for easy calibration and reliable display, even when the system is displaced, and enabling simple and cost-effective design of the object, with optional additional features like transparent navigation planes and multiple virtual spaces for enhanced functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a manually guidable object is used to navigate the virtual space, then the functionality and interactivity of the system is improved, but the risk of losing the object and the complexity of calibration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidrisk of loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an optical marking (calibration pattern) as a visual copy/reference of the manually guidable object's position and orientation. This optical marking is detected by the camera to determine coordinates without requiring physical attachment or complex tracking hardware on the object itself, reducing loss risk while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calibration by detecting the optical marking at known positions before actual use. This pre-establishes the coordinate system transformation, so that during operation, only simple optical detection is needed rather than continuous complex calibration, improving reliability while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If calibration is performed to ensure accurate display, then the display precision is improved, but the time required for setup and recalibration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay precisionVSAvoidcalibration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical calibration procedures with optical detection of a calibration pattern. The camera captures the optical marking and automatically computes coordinates through image processing, eliminating manual measurement and calculation steps, thus achieving high precision with minimal calibration time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical marking is designed to be automatically detected and processed by the control unit without requiring manual intervention. The system self-calibrates by detecting the known pattern positions and automatically establishing the coordinate transformation, reducing both calibration time and operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the manually guidable object is designed with complex features to increase functionality, then the system capabilities are improved, but the cost and complexity of the object increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capabilitiesVSAvoidobject complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the calibration and tracking functionality from the manually guidable object itself and places it in the environment through the optical marking on the navigation plane. The object only needs to be visible to the camera, not equipped with complex tracking hardware, thereby reducing object complexity while maintaining system capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical marking serves multiple functions: it acts as a calibration reference, a position indicator, and a coordinate system definition. This single element provides multiple system capabilities without requiring the manually guidable object to incorporate complex features, reducing object complexity while enhancing system versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution ensures stable and efficient display of items by allowing easy calibration and increased functionality without requiring changes to the manually guidable object, reducing the risk of loss and enabling cost-effective, high-quality presentations.

Implementation Method 1

A manually guidable object is situated in the navigation area, which has an optical marking by means of which the coordinates, including position and orientation, of the manually guidable object can be determined easily and reliably

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical detection: Light

Data Source

PatentEP2643812B1Method for displaying an item on a display unit
Publication Date: 2014.08.20 KIENZL THOMAS
  • EP2643812B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

By a method for displaying an item on a display unit (5), the following steps will be suggested: - arranging a first plan (22) of a first virtual space in a navigation area (21) of a navigation plane, - imaging the navigation area (21) by means of an optical registration system (3) of a computer-supported interface system (1), - determining the position of a calibration arrangement of the first plan (22), and calibrating the plan coordinate system of the image of the first plan (22) in the computer-supported interface system (1) on the basis of the calibration arrangement, - assigning the first virtual space to the navigation area (21) in consideration of the plan coordinate system, - determining the coordinates, including position and orientation, of a manually guidable object (23) in the first plane (22) by means of the computer-supported interface system (1), the manually guidable object (23) having at least one optical marking, - assigning the coordinates of the manually guidable object (23) in the first plan (22) to coordinates of a virtual observer in the first virtual space, and - displaying the field of vision of the observer in the virtual space on the display unit (5).