초록 ▼

A system for generating position information includes a reflector, an image collection system, and a processor. The image collection system is configured to collect at least two sets of image data, where one set of image data includes a stronger indication of the reflector than the other set of imag

A system for generating position information includes a reflector, an image collection system, and a processor. The image collection system is configured to collect at least two sets of image data, where one set of image data includes a stronger indication of the reflector than the other set of image data. The two sets of image data can be collected in many different ways and may include using a retroreflector as the reflector. The two sets of image data are used to generate position information related to the reflector. In particular, position information related to the reflector is generated by taking the difference between the two set of image data. Because one set of image data includes a stronger indication of the reflector than the other set of image data, the difference between the two sets of image data gives a definitive indication of the reflector's position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for generating position information, the method comprising: illuminating a reflector using two light sources that generate light of different wavelengths;generating a first set of image data and a second set of image data using two imagers, wherein the first set of image data includes a

1. A method for generating position information, the method comprising: illuminating a reflector using two light sources that generate light of different wavelengths;generating a first set of image data and a second set of image data using two imagers, wherein the first set of image data includes a stronger indication of the reflector than the second set of image data; andgenerating, using a processor, position information related to the reflector using the first set of image data and the second set of image data, wherein generating position information comprises taking the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data, wherein taking the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data comprises taking the difference between corresponding data points of the first and second sets of image data such that most of the corresponding data points from the first and second sets of image data cancel each other out except for data points that correspond to the reflector;wherein the processor is configured to perform stereo processing; andwherein the two imagers are oriented in an epipolar geometry relative to the reflector. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of image data is generated in response to light that has a first illumination angle and the second set of image data is generated in response to light that has a second illumination, wherein the first illumination angle and the second illumination angle are similar. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the first set of image data and the second set of image data includes filtering light with a hybrid filter. 4. The method of claim 1 further including filtering the light that illuminates the reflector before generating the first set of image data and the second set of image data. 5. A system for generating position information, the system comprising: a reflector;an image collection system configured to generate a first set of image data and a second set of image data, wherein the first set of image data includes a stronger indication of the reflector than the second set of image data; anda processor configured to use the first set of image data and the second set of image data to generate position information related to the reflector, wherein the processor is configured to take the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data; andwherein taking the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data comprises taking the difference between corresponding data points of the first and second sets of image data such that most of the corresponding data points from the first and second sets of image data cancel each other out except for data points that correspond to the reflector;wherein the image collection system comprises two imagers and two light sources that generate light of different wavelengths;wherein the processor is configured to perform stereo processing; andwherein the two imagers are oriented in an epipolar geometry relative to the retroreflector. 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the reflector is a retroreflector that is integrated into a pointing device. 7. The system of claim 5 wherein taking the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data comprises comparing difference values to a difference threshold and including in difference image data only those values which exceed the difference threshold. 8. The system of claim 5 wherein the processor is configured to compare a difference image, which results from taking the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data, to known image information.