Abstract: Sports objects, such as players and their equipment, are tracked by receiving signals transmitted by tags attached to the sports objects, and triangulating the signals to estimate the locations of the sports objects. One feature that promotes good signal reception is the use of different groups of three or more receivers. Another such feature is the use of two or more transmitter tags attached to different portions of the sports object. Still another such feature is the use of Ultra-Wideband signals.

Abstract: Sports objects, such as players and their equipment, are tracked by receiving signals transmitted by tags attached to the sports objects, and triangulating the signals to estimate the locations of the sports objects. One feature that promotes good signal reception is the use of different groups of three or more receivers. Another such feature is the use of two or more transmitter tags attached to different portions of the sports object. Still another such feature is the use of Ultra-Wideband signals.

Abstract: A method for video insertion including presenting a user with an image; allowing the user to define one or more inclusion regions of interest by selecting one or more portions in the image; allowing the user to define one or more exclusion regions of interest by selecting one or more portions in the image; expanding inclusion color values in a color space to define an inclusion color region, the inclusion color values corresponding to colors in the inclusion region of interest; expanding exclusion color values in a color space to define an exclusion color region, the exclusion color values corresponding to colors in the exclusion region of interest; assigning each color in the color space a key value in response to the inclusion color region and the exclusion color region; receiving background video and foreground; merging the background video and the foreground in response to the key value corresponding to the background video color.

Abstract: A method and apparatus used with a printed circuit board (PCB) defect detection system generates a reference database image of the PCB having tolerances for each individual PCB feature, The invention is characterized by a tolerance database of at least three states in which each color is weighted and adjacent pixels are grouped into arrays or "bins". An error signal is generated when the sum of the pixel weights in a bin exceeds a preselected threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus used with a printed circuit board (PCB) defect detection system generates a reference database image of the PCB having tolerances for each individual PCB feature wherein a tolerance database of at least three states in which each color is weighted and adjacent pixels are grouped into arrays or "bins". An error signal is generated when the sum of the pixel weights in a bin exceeds a preselected threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating substrate distortion in automatic optical inspection (AOI) systems eliminates false error signals during printed circuit boards (PCB) defect detection. The present invention is used in feature edge transition AOI systems that employ pixel to pixel comparison between CAD and scanned PCB feature databases. The present invention divides the substrate into a plurality of regions or "tiles". A distortion vector for each tile is calculated and is used to generate a shift of pixels within each tile which removes any variation between the preferred pixel location and the actual pixel location, thereby enabling the AOI system to avoid generating error signals when features are only misplaced on the substrate.

Abstract: Machine operations are performed by a robot at a plurality of locations on a workpiece based on off-line data. The off-line data is corrected based on two levels of workpiece/robot alignment. First the robot determines the orientation of a fixture to which the workpiece is mounted by "touching-off" on known reference points (touchblocks) on the fixture. Coordinate data for the location of local features on the workpiece is corrected based on the first level of alignment and the positions of the local features are then sensed to provide a coordinate transformation for subsequent application to nominal machine operation location coordinates. The local features may be preassembly rivets and provide for individualized robot response on a workpiece-by-workpiece basis.

Abstract: A robot "touches off" on the orthagonal touchblock faces of a workpiece holding fixture and the coordinate of the touches along axes nominally normal to the faces provide significant data from which a coordinate transformation indicative of the orientation and location of the touchblocks in the robot frame of reference can be determined. The coordinate transformation is subsequently applied to workpiece coordinates indicative of the location and orientation of the workpiece and/or points thereon.