Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-03
2004-03-23
Mengistu, Amare (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
C345S157000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06710765
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on patent application No. 11-283670 (1999) filed Oct. 5, 1999 in Japan, the content of which is incorporated hereinto by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input device of 3-D translation and rotation and its method used for inputting 3-D translation and rotation to a data processing system such as a computer or to an amusement system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, with an increase in processing speed of computers and development in computer graphics (CG) technique, 3-D input technique has been finding wide application in various fields rapidly. In particular, demand for 3-D input devices sharply increases in applications in the Internet typified by consumer entertainment systems or VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language). In computer graphic design or CAD systems, a mouse or tablet is very popular as an input device. In addition, to carry out manipulation, observation and modification of object models from an arbitrary direction, demand for inexpensive devices for viscerally inputting 3-D translation and rotation is escalating.
Today, there are various types of 3-D input devices such as those based on measurement of magnetic field, photometric stereo and acoustic time-of-flight, and a joystick. The devices based on the measurement of magnetic field and photometric stereo carry out desired measurement of translation and rotation using a transmitter and receiver. The joystick includes a precision mechanical link to convert its movement to 3-D position information. The photometric stereo obtains 3-D position information from information of parallax using multiple TV cameras.
In addition, a device is proposed which employs four photo detectors and a display unit to obtain translation and rotation of the photo detectors (see, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 9-325007 (1997), for example). The device utilizes the calculation method disclosed in 20 Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 7-270124 (1995), enabling 3-D measurement with an inexpensive lens and a small number of photo devices. Since this method carries out 3-D measurement optically, it can achieve stable 3-D input without any effect of magnetic field or temperature.
Since the conventionally available 3-D input device based on the measurement of magnetic field measures variations in spatial magnetic field, it is vulnerable to metallic parts, electronic devices and geomagnetism. On the other hand, since the acoustic time-of-flight device measures the phase or time-of-flight of sonic waves, it is vulnerable to atmospheric pressure or temperature. In addition, both of them require a transmitter and receiver, thereby increasing the device size. Furthermore, since the joystick must carry out translation and rotation independently, it is inappropriate as a visceral 3-D input device.
Finally, since the 3-D input device employing the four photo detectors and display unit (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 9-325007 (1997)), for example)has a minimum number of photo detectors necessary, even omission of a single detection point on the display disables the 3-D measurement. Furthermore, since the calculation method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 7-270124 (1995) markedly reduces its sensitivity when the display surface directly faces the photo detectors, or when a line connecting parallel two of the four photo detectors is parallel to the display surface at the photo receiving side, the device is limited in its application. Moreover, since the 3-D measurement cannot be carried out until the detection of all the four photo detectors has been completed, the 3-D measurement interval is limited to within the interval between the scanning time of the display unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an input device of 3-D translation and rotation and its method that can carry out stable visceral 3-D input over a wide range at arbitrary measuring time intervals without the effect of electric field or temperature with requiring small installation space.
To accomplish the foregoing object, according to a 1st aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device of 3-D translation and rotation for measuring 3-D translation and rotation of a photo device with respect to a display emitting a bright spot, the input device of 3-D translation and rotation comprising: a display with a display surface on which a bright spot is movable: a photo device including a condense unit for condensing a bright spot on the display to be projected onto a projection plane on which multiple photo detectors are disposed for detecting a projection position of the spot light on the projection plane; correspondence means for bringing a bright spot display position on the display into correspondence with a projection position of the spot light on the photo detectors; and an extrinsic parameter calculator for calculating the 3-D translation and rotation of the photo device with respect to the bright spot moving surface of the display from a set of multiple bright spot display positions and their projection positions which are brought into correspondence by the correspondence means.
According to a 2nd aspect of the present invention, the photo detectors for detecting the projection position of the spot light may consist of a set of photo detectors, each of which includes a spot-like photo window.
According to a 3rd aspect of the present invention, the photo detectors with spot-like photo windows may consist of three photo detectors, and the bright spot display positions and the projection positions, which are brought into correspondence by the correspondence means, may have three positions, each.
According to a 4th aspect of the present invention, the photo detectors with spot-like photo windows may consist of at least five photo detectors, and the bright spot display positions and the projection positions, which are brought into correspondence by the correspondence means, may have at least five positions, each.
According to a 5th aspect of the present invention, the correspondence means may comprise: means for bringing a projection image position on the photo detectors into correspondence with projection time, the projection image position being a position formed by projecting the bright spot on the display onto the projection plane of the photo device; means for recording the projection position and projection time; and a correspondence detector for bringing bright spot display positions at multiple times into correspondence with their projection positions in accordance with the recorded projection time.
According to a 6th aspect of the present invention, the display may carry out scanning and display of the bright spot.
According to a 7th aspect of the present invention, the display may employ a CRT display for carrying out scanning and display of the bright spot.
According to an 8th aspect of the present invention, the display may employ a ray projection device and projection board for carrying out scanning and display of the bright spot.
According to a 9th aspect of the present invention, the photo device may comprise multiple sets of condense units and projection planes, the multiple sets having different optical axes.
According to a 10th aspect of the present invention, the photo device may comprise means for mounting it on a mobile unit such as a robot and vehicle, or for wearing it on part of a body, or for holding it by part of the body.
According to an 11th aspect of the present invention, the photo device may be combined with a device for converting 2-D movement into digital 2-D information.
According to a 12th aspect of the present invention, the device for converting may consist of one of a trackball, a mouse and a laser range finder.
According to a 13th aspect of the present invention, the photo device may be made freely movable by utilizing one of wired and wireless transmission of its output signal.
According to a 14th aspect of the present invention, the
Kato Koichi
Meguro Shinichi
Mochizuki Kenji
Mengistu Amare
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
Workman Nydegger
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