3d Orientation Patents (Class 702/153)
  • Patent number: 7508974
    Abstract: A calibration and part inspection method for the inspection of ball grid array, BGA, devices. Two cameras image a precision pattern mask with dot patterns deposited on a transparent reticle. The precision pattern mask is used for calibration of the system. A light source and overhead light reflective diffuser provide illumination. A first camera images the reticle precision pattern mask from directly below. An additional mirror or prism located below the bottom plane of the reticle reflects the reticle pattern mask from a side view, through prisms or reflective surfaces, into a second camera and a second additional mirror or prism located below the bottom plane of the reticle reflects the opposite side view of the reticle pattern mask through prisms or mirrors into a second camera. By imaging more than one dot pattern the missing state values of the system can be resolved using a trigonometric solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Scanner Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Elwin M. Beaty, David P. Mork
  • Patent number: 7493224
    Abstract: An improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions for generating trace data. In response to detecting a trace event, a determination is made as to whether identifiers for the trace event match recorded identifiers for a record in a set of previously recorded trace events. Location information for the record is placed in the trace data if a match between identifiers for the trace event and recorded identifiers for the record in the set of previously recorded trace events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Eliot Levine, Milena Milenkovic, Robert J. Urquhart
  • Patent number: 7487063
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for creating three-dimensional models of objects from sets of arbitrary three-dimensional entities obtained from target surfaces. It also provides an efficient method for individually refining the alignment of curves to improve the accuracy of the surface model with a linear complexity with respect to the number of curves. The principle behind the invention is that a set of three-dimensional entities, at their approximate positions, creates a field from which the surface can be extracted. The field is constructed in a manner such that the three-dimensional entities are attracted toward the extracted surface. This attraction is used to accurately register each three-dimensional entity with respect to extracted surface. Through iterations, both the field and the entity positions are refined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Université Laval
    Inventors: Dragan Tubic, Patrick Hébert, Denis Laurendeau
  • Publication number: 20090024353
    Abstract: A method of measuring pose of mobile robot, and method and apparatus for measuring for measuring position of mobile robot using the same are provided. The apparatus for measuring the pose of a mobile robot includes an accelerometer measuring acceleration of the mobile robot in a forward direction, a uniform-motion-determining unit determining whether the mobile robot belongs to a uniform motion section, an acceleration section, or a deceleration section, and a pose-calculating unit calculating a pitch and a roll of the mobile robot in the uniform motion section, using the relationship between the measured acceleration in the forward direction and the acceleration due to gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyoung-Ki Lee, Ki-Wan Choi, Seok-Won Bang, Woo-Yeon Jeong, Ji-Young Park
  • Patent number: 7469197
    Abstract: A data collection unit (37) collects measurement data which satisfies a data collection condition designated by an application (33) and stores the measurement data in a temporary storage area (24). The data report unit (38) reports, to the application (33), measurement data which is stored in the temporary storage area (24) and satisfies a data report condition designated by the application (33). As a result, the load on the application 33 using a measurement result by a sensor in measurement data acquisition is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Vodafone K.K.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tsujino, Yasuhiro Nishide, Jun Yamazaki, Hirohisa Kusuda
  • Publication number: 20080306708
    Abstract: A system and method employing position measurement sensors and point sources of light to determine the location and orientation of video cameras in a simulation arena environment. In an embodiment, one or more accelerometers, gyroscopes, and/or magnetometers associated with each video camera may be used to determine the angular orientation of the video camera. The location of a camera is determined by measuring the distance from the camera to at least two known points, where the known points may be point sources of light, other cameras, or a combination thereof. Camera angular orientation information and camera location information may be combined to provide a complete set of data defining the position of each video camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Raydon Corporation
    Inventors: Edward M. GERMAIN, IV, David Page
  • Patent number: 7456977
    Abstract: A wireless substrate-like sensor is provided to facilitate alignment and calibration of semiconductor processing systems. The wireless substrate-like sensor includes an optical image acquisition system that acquires one or more images of targets placed within the semiconductor processing system. Analysis of images of the targets obtained by the wireless substrate-like sensor provides position and/or orientation information in at least three degrees of freedom. An additional target is affixed to a known location within the semiconductor processing system such that imaging the reference position with the wireless substrate-like sensor allows the measurement and compensation for pick-up errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: CyberOptics Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig C. Ramsey, Jeffrey K. Lassahn, Greg Huntzinger, DelRae H. Gardner
  • Patent number: 7454313
    Abstract: A system and method of hierarchical monitoring for subordinate assessment is described. Generally, the system receives remotely sensed data about a user's physiology and contextual state, and extracts features that are related to the workload currently being experienced by a single subordinate and/or group of subordinates. The system builds workload indices based on levels of these features. The system uses statistical process control techniques in conjunction with the workload indices to identify suboptimal user states. Information regarding a particular subordinate or the group of subordinates may be presented in a variety of different ways. As a result, a superior can easily determine the condition of the one or more subordinates and make task adjustments to influence workload levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Whitlow, Santosh Mathan, Michael C. Dorneich, Patricia M. Ververs
  • Publication number: 20080281555
    Abstract: A method for detecting a substantially invariant rotation axis of a motion of a mobile body equipped with at least one inertial or magnetic sensor with three sensitive axes that includes acquiring physical measurements with respect to the three sensitive axes of the sensor, the physical measurements including at least three samples at different times, estimating a substantially invariant rotation axis in the physical measurements space, and identifying the estimated axis as the substantially invariant rotation axis of the motion. In one aspect, the method is applicable for estimating the motion of a mobile body rotating about a substantially invariant axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Christelle Godin, Stephane Bonnet, Alain Barraud, Suzanne Lesecq
  • Patent number: 7451059
    Abstract: A method and a system are recited for obtaining a true azimuth heading for correcting a coarse azimuth heading measured from an observation position to a specific selected target by operating a data acquisition system disposed at the observation position. In principle, data is acquired and measurements are taken to allow calculation of a calculated target, including error area limits. The calculated target surrounded by error area limits is presented as a search zone to an operator for searching, finding and indicating on a display, on which is superimposed at least one map, of the specific selected target. Once found, calculations of the true azimuth are performed, allowing the derivation of the true North. The method and a system are operative with a variety of maps, including digital terrain models and stellar maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Inventors: Tomer Malchi, Yaniv Malchi
  • Publication number: 20080270068
    Abstract: The method estimates movement of a solid mobile in a medium capable of generating disturbances defined by a three-variable vector, wherein the movement is defined by a six-variable vector and the solid is equipped with at least one sensor sensitive to acceleration having at least three sensitive axes and at least one sensor sensitive to the magnetic field having at least three sensitive axes. The method for estimating the movement of a solid includes a step of calculating a nine-variable vector consisting of the six-variable movement vector and of the three-variable disturbance vector and a step of weighting the nine-variable vector capable of transforming the nine-variable vector into a vector with not more than five variables to be estimated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Yanis Caritu, Christelle Godin, Alain Barraud, Suzanne Lesecq
  • Patent number: 7433798
    Abstract: A solid state inclinometer sensor system includes a digital network of devices. Each device of the network includes a solid state inclinometer attached to a mounting structure. The inclinometer includes gravity sensors and a processor. The gravity sensors are mounted to provide components of earth's gravity. The processor uses data derived from the gravity sensors to calculate inclination of the mounting structure and provide a digital output for transmission on the digital network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: MicroStrain, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher P. Townsend, Steven W. Arms
  • Publication number: 20080223131
    Abstract: A system captures motion data in natural environments. A set of sources and a set of sensors are arranged on an object such as a human body. Each source emits ultrasonic signals detected by the sensors. A driver module is also arranged on the body. The driver module generates the ultrasonic signals for the set of sources and timing signals for the set of sensors. Distances between the set of sources and the set of sensors are measured based on a time of flight of the ultrasonic signals. Three dimensional locations of the set of sources and the set of sensors are determined from the distances. The distance measurements are refined using inertial components that provide rotation rates and accelerations. All these measurements together yield poses or configurations of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Giovanni Vannucci, Wojciech Matusik, Daniel Vlasic
  • Patent number: 7426451
    Abstract: A surface coordinate measuring device (1) includes a computing unit (8) arranged in a handheld housing (9), a positioning device (2) for positioning the coordinate measuring device at a surface point (P) on a wall surface (3), a display device (6) for displaying a measurement calculated by the computing unit (8), an electronic distance measuring system (7) for determining a longitudinal distance along a longitudinal measurement direction, and a transverse measuring device for additional determination of a transverse distance along a transverse measurement direction oriented transverse to the longitudinal measurement direction, with the computing unit (8) having a program-controlled algorithm for carrying out the necessary measurements and calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Albert Binder
  • Patent number: 7424388
    Abstract: Acceleration data which is output from an acceleration sensor is obtained. A rotation motion of an input device around a predetermined direction as a rotation axis is determined by comparing a start point in a two-dimensional coordinate system which is represented by the first acceleration data obtained in a predetermined period, and an end point in the two-dimensional coordinate system which is represented by the last acceleration data obtained in the predetermined period. Coordinate axes of the two-dimensional coordinate system are defined based on components of the two axial directions of the acceleration data, and an origin of the two-dimensional coordinate system represents a value of the acceleration data in the state where no acceleration including the acceleration of gravity acts upon the acceleration sensor. Motion data including at least the determined rotation motion is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenta Sato
  • Publication number: 20080215287
    Abstract: A magnetic data processing device sequentially receives magnetic data samples each of which is three-dimensional vector data represented by a linear combination of fundamental vectors and which are outputted from a three-dimensional magnetic sensor. The magnetic data processing device defines a statistical population which includes a plurality of the magnetic data samples sequentially inputted and which signifies a rotation of the three-dimensional magnetic sensor of a predetermined range, and operates when a distribution of the magnetic data samples of the statistical population is flat, for deducing a direction perpendicular to a plane which approximates the flat distribution of the statistical population, as vertical-direction data representing a vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ibuki Handa
  • Patent number: 7421369
    Abstract: There is provided an activity recognition apparatus for detecting an activity of a subject. The apparatus includes: a sensor unit including a plurality of linear motion sensors configured to detect linear motions and a plurality of rotational motion sensors, the linear motions being orthogonal to each other, the rotational motions being orthogonal to each other; and a computational unit configured to receive and process signals from the sensors included in the sensor unit so as to detect an activity of the subject. The sensor unit is directly or indirectly supported by the subject with an arbitrary orientation with respect to the subject. The computational unit performs a calculation that uses the signals from both linear motion sensors and rotational motion sensors to determine the activity of the subject independent of the orientation of the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Clarkson
  • Publication number: 20080208501
    Abstract: An inertial measurement unit (IMU) contains three linear acceleration sensors and three rotational speed sensors. For the sensors there are desired installation directions parallel to the co-ordinate axes of a Cartesian co-ordinate system which is fixed to the vehicle. The actual installation directions of the sensors may differ from the desired installation directions owing to incorrect orientations. By comparing accelerations which are measured by the linear acceleration sensors for different attitudes of the vehicle with acceleration values which are known for these different attitudes in the Cartesian co-ordinate system which is fixed to the vehicle, the actual installation directions of the linear acceleration sensors are determined. By using a co-ordinate transformation it is then possible to convert the measured accelerations into the actual accelerations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Jens Fiedler, Andreas Mayer, Thomas Schweiger, Martin Stratesteffen
  • Patent number: 7418364
    Abstract: A method and system senses the attitude of an accelerating object by measuring acceleration with accelerometers in three orthogonal axes and measuring angular rate with angular rate sensors disposed about each such axis to compute attitude of the object accurately relative to a vertical axis. A processor updates a quaternion representation of attitude based upon the angular rate of the object, and a corrective rate signal is determined from level frame acceleration as a reference for a Kalman filter in calculating the attitude of the object. When velocity or airspeed is available from an external source, an aiding algorithm is employed to provide accurate attitude representations throughout all flight regimes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Horton, Jose Rios
  • Patent number: 7411512
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for tracking the geographic location. In one aspect, a method includes receiving timed magnetic field information descriptive of a magnetic field to which a magnetometer was subject, the magnetic field information having been collected while the magnetometer was associated with an animal, receiving timed longitude information descriptive of a longitude position of the animal, the longitude information having been collected while the magnetometer was associated with the animal, and matching the longitude information that is relevant to a first time to the magnetic field information that is relevant to the first time to determine a geographic location of the animal at the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Inventor: Michael L. Domeier
  • Patent number: 7412348
    Abstract: A game system includes a game apparatus and a controller. The controller is furnished with an acceleration sensor for detecting accelerations in at least two axis directions. Game processing corresponding to the kind of an acceleration input by means of the controller is executed. For determining the kind, reference timing when acceleration in a first-axis direction is below a threshold value to take on a minimum value is detected. Then, it is determined whether or not an angle between acceleration change vectors before and after the reference timing is equal to or more than a predetermined angle. When the angle is not equal to or more than the predetermined angle, it is determined that the acceleration input is an acceleration input in any one of the two-axis directions, and when the angle is equal to or more than the predetermined angle, it is determined that the acceleration input is an acceleration input in a direction including the two-axis directions as components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichiro Okamura
  • Publication number: 20080109184
    Abstract: An index detection unit (2030) detects indices allocated or set on an object from a sensed image. An evaluation amount calculation unit (2060) calculates evaluation amounts of the indices using two-dimensional geometric features of the indices on the image and/or three-dimensional geometric features that represent relationships between an image sensing device (2010) and the indices on a three-dimensional space. A reliability calculation unit (2070) calculates reliabilities of the indices according to the calculated evaluation amounts of the indices. A position and orientation calculation unit (2080) calculates the position and orientation of the object or the image sensing device (2010) using at least the calculated reliabilities of the indices and information associated with the image coordinates of the detected indices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Aratani, Shinji Uchiyama, Kiyohide Satoh, Takaaki Endo
  • Patent number: 7353135
    Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and process for obtaining values for one or more alignment quantities using one or more transportable devices. The process consists of establishing and maintaining a transportable device in a reference position and a reference orientation, then establishing and maintaining the transportable device in a fixed position and orientation with respect to a target object, then determining the transportable object's position and orientation with respect to the target object from measurements of acceleration and angular velocity of the transportable device as it moves from the reference position and orientation to the fixed position and orientation with respect to the target object, determining the position and orientation of the target object from the position and orientation of the transportable device, repeating the preceding steps as required to obtain position and orientation data for other target objects, and finally determining the values of the alignment quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventor: Robert Malm
  • Patent number: 7349820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the position (x, y) of at least one point of reflection (R1-2) on an obstacle. According to traditional methods of this kind a first distance (r1) between the point of reflection (R1-2) and a first position (x1) of a distance measuring device is calculated by evaluating a time period between the emission of a transmission signal and reception of a reflection signal. In order to state the unsharp position of the point of reflection thereby obtained even more precisely, in addition to the first distance (r1), a second distance (r2) of the point of reflection is calculated with respect to a second position (x2) of the distance measuring device in analogy to the calculation of the first distance (r1) and then a defined position (x, y) is calculated from the pair of variates (x1, r1) (x2, r2) so obtained using the triangulation method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Shalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich Gotzig, Oliver Eckstein, Marion Henry, Thomas Jung, Nicolas Jecker
  • Patent number: 7312862
    Abstract: A measurement system for determining six degrees of freedom (?, ?, d, ?, ?, ?) of a reflector (2) or of an object (3) on which the reflector is arranged, comprises an angle- and distance measurement apparatus (1), e.g. a laser tracker, operating with a laser beam as a measurement beam (4). The reflector (2) is designed for a parallel reflection of the measurement beam (4) and has an apical opening or surface (6), in a manner such that a part of the measurement beam (4) directed onto the reflector (2), passes through the apical opening or surface (6), and is incident on a light-sensitive surface (7) arranged behind the reflector apex. Five degrees of freedom (?, ?, d, ?, ?) of the reflector (2) or the object (3) are computed from measurement data produced by the angle- and distance measurement apparatus (1) and by the light-sensitive surface (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Roland Zumbrunn, Albert Markendorf, Raimund Loser, Jürgen Dold
  • Patent number: 7310577
    Abstract: An inertia control system includes an integrated inertial measurement unit coupled to an inertial platform. The integrated inertial measurement unit includes three accelerometer gimbals/axes (first, second, and third) respectively, each including a pair of flexure plate accelerometers. First and second accelerometers are coupled to the first gimbal, third and fourth accelerometers are coupled to the second gimbal, and fifth and sixth accelerometers are coupled to the third gimbal. The system further includes a processor utilizing outputs from the inertial measurement unit in three processor modes, including a leveling mode, a compass mode, and an operational mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ray F. Campbell, Joan D. Wada, John P. Raab
  • Patent number: 7298890
    Abstract: A method of detecting the 3D shape of an object by photogrammetry, in which a plurality of photogrammetric point markers and a plurality of connecting markers are provided on the surface of the object, each connecting marker connecting a subset of the plurality of point markers with each other, with at least two different types of point markers existing that differ from each other in their optical configuration, and some of the point markers provided along a connecting marker are formed in such a way that the sequence of their optical configurations results in a predetermined code that characterizes the respective connecting marker, a plurality of photogrammetric images of the object are taken from different views, an image processing of the images is performed, in which first the connecting markers mutually corresponding to each other in the images are associated with one another using their respective code, and then the point markers connected with each other by the respective connecting marker are associat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: corpus.e AG
    Inventor: Robert Massen
  • Patent number: 7295943
    Abstract: A geomagnetic sensor capable of calibrating an accurate azimuth even if the geomagnetic sensor is in a tilting state. The geomagnetic sensor includes a geomagnetism measuring unit, having a drive pulse generating unit for generating a pulse signal and two-axis flux gates provided in X-axis and Y-axis directions which are orthogonal to each other, for outputting voltage values of the two-axis flux gates corresponding to geomagnetism produced by the drive signal, an acceleration sensor for measuring a pitch angle and a roll angle which indicate a tilting degree of the geomagnetic sensor based on X axis and Y axis, and a control unit for calibrating the azimuth by extracting normalization factors by compensating the voltage values outputted from the geomagnetism measuring unit using the pitch angle and the roll angle measured by the acceleration sensor and normalizing the compensated voltage values using the normalization factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo-jong Cho, Sang-on Choi, Sung-mun Cho
  • Patent number: 7289035
    Abstract: A seat folding apparatus is provided with a passive Rf frequency link that requires that a person be within a certain limited distance from the vehicle to operate the seat folding mechanism. A foreign object detection system, such as a plurality of weight sensors, is provided in the seat to detect foreign objects on the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Nathan, Tom Q. Tang, Riad Ghabra
  • Patent number: 7289898
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the speed of a moving object is provided. A first acceleration along the moving direction of the moving object and a second acceleration along the lateral direction of the moving object are measured. A first angular speed along the lateral direction of the moving object and a second angular speed along the lower direction of the moving object are measured. The roll angle of the moving object using the second acceleration, the second angular speed, and a previous speed of the moving object in the moving direction of the moving object, and a previous road inclination angle with respect to the moving direction of the moving object are calculated. A road inclination angle is calculated using the calculated roll angle, the first angular speed, and the second angular speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Su Hong, Jae-Myeon Lee
  • Publication number: 20070233425
    Abstract: A calculator apparatus for calculating an angle of inclination includes a sensor apparatus and a calculator. The sensor apparatus has a three-axis acceleration sensor, which is used for resolving and sensing acceleration into a first acceleration component in a first axis direction, a second acceleration component in a second axis direction perpendicular to the first axis direction, and a third acceleration component in a third axis direction perpendicular to a plane formed by the first and second axes. The calculator compares absolute values of the first, second, and third acceleration components to calculate a first angle of inclination from one of the three acceleration components that is largest in absolute value and one of the remaining two acceleration components, and calculate a second angle of inclination from the one acceleration component that is largest in absolute value and the other of the two acceleration components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventor: Kazunori Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7272404
    Abstract: A first transceiver (4, 30) can position itself by forming an ad hoc network (20) of transceivers which assist the first transceiver in acquiring its position. A dedicated infrastructure such as GPS satellites is not required. The first transceiver (4, 30), once it has acquired its position, can be involved in a network (20) by another transceiver (32, 34, 36, 38, 40) to assist in the positioning of that transceiver. The acquisition of the position may involve factors such as the trustworthiness of the transceivers in the network and/or the positions of transceivers with which the first transceiver cannot directly communicate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Overy, Natividade Lobo
  • Publication number: 20070198209
    Abstract: A magnetic-sensor controller includes an input section, a perpendicular-bisector calculation section, a storage section, and a setting section. The input section successively inputs a plurality of magnetic data sets successively output from a three-dimensional magnetic sensor. Each magnetic data includes three components. The perpendicular-bisector calculation section calculates, for each pair of two of the magnetic data sets, a perpendicular bisector of two points corresponding to the two magnetic data sets. The storage section stores a plurality of perpendicular bisectors. The setting section statistically approximates, by a single point, a region where the plurality of perpendicular bisectors stored in the storage section meet, and sets an offset of the magnetic data set on the basis of the single point. The magnetic-sensor controller enables accurate setting of an offset even when the magnetic field strength changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideki Sato
  • Patent number: 7257248
    Abstract: A system and method for non-contact measurement of a complex part is provided. The method comprises acquiring an image of the complex part including imposed laser lines on the complex part using at least one imaging device, determining a span of interest of the complex part being representative of at least a portion of the complex part and which comprises information related to a plurality of dimensions of a surface of the complex part, extracting information corresponding to the laser lines from the span of interest to reduce computation and further extracting a plurality of unique points from the information corresponding to the laser lines, the plurality of unique points representing the plurality of dimensions of the surface. The plurality of unique points is used for reconstructing a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the surface of the complex part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raghu Kokku, Glen William Brooksby, Peter Henry Tu
  • Patent number: 7246033
    Abstract: An exercise monitoring pedometer for pets is directed toward measuring a pet's exercise over some, period of time, such as a day or week or month. The pet pedometer includes a solid state three-axis accelerometer, a signal processing unit, a CPU, a memory chip and a display with settable controls, and may include a voice recorder/player; or these functions may reside mainly on an application specific integrated circuit. The settable controls are directed toward providing a setting for pet stride size for conversion for walking and running, and for manual resetting. The pet pedometer auto-selects automatically for a pet's stride both a walking stride and a running stride. The present invention may also contain a recorder, typically a solid state recorder, which provide for a recording of the pet “owner's” voice, or selected music, so that the owner may record encouragement, etc., to his/her pet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Susan Leeds Kudo
  • Patent number: 7239975
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for an innovative design of the automatic stabilization and pointing control of a device based on the MEMS technology, which is small enough and has acceptable accuracy to be integrated into many application systems, such as, laser pointing systems, telescopic systems, imaging systems, and optical communication systems. The stabilization mechanism configuration design is based on utilization of AGNC commercial products, the coremicro IMU and the coremicro AHRS/INS/GPS Integration Unit. The coremicro AHRS/INS/GPS Integration Unit is used as the processing platform core for the design of the MEMS coremicro IMU based stabilization mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: American GNC Corporation
    Inventors: Norman Coleman, George Papanagopoulos, Ken Lam, Ching-Fang Lin
  • Patent number: 7239976
    Abstract: A platform residing viewing sensor and a pointing system/weapon. An operator system is remotely monitoring the scene on a display as viewed by the viewing sensor such that an operator system can gaze, acquire and track targets by scanning the scene with eyes and locking the eyesight onto a selected target and track the target with the eyes. The system further includes a dual camera sensor that follows and monitors the operator system's eyes motion so that the operator system can simultaneously monitor the external viewing sensor's scene, locking and tracking some selected target. The display coordinates of the selected target are utilized to point the pointing system/weapon on the external platform so that the operator system can fire at the target as desired. The problem is thus summarized as one of controlling the weapon pointing, movement and firing on a target that has been selected and is tracked by the eyes of an operator system viewing a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: American GNC Corporation
    Inventors: Norman Coleman, Ken Lam, Ching-Fang Lin
  • Patent number: 7233872
    Abstract: The error of a sensor in motion capture system is corrected. An acceleration sensor determines the direction of gravity (G1) in a still initial state. The direction G1 will never change always if a drift dose not occur. However, actually if an object to which an acceleration sensor is attached moves along a coordinate axis, the direction gradually changes due to a drift with time. According to the invention, after a given time has passed, the acceleration sensor is stopped to determine the direction of gravity. Referring to the data on this determination, the true direction of gravity to be judged is compared with the direction of gravity G1 influenced by the drift. The difference between them is assumed to be an error due to a drift, and the error is subtracted from the determined value to correct the error of the measurement value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Shibasaki, Yusuke Konishi, Hiroshi Kanasugi, Nobuyuki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7219032
    Abstract: Robust methods are developed to provide bounds and probability distributions for the locations of objects as well as for associated variables that affect the accuracy of the location such as the positions of stations, the measurements, and errors in the speed of signal propagation. Realistic prior probability distributions of pertinent variables are permitted for the locations of stations, the speed of signal propagation, and errors in measurements. Bounds and probability distributions can be obtained without making any assumption of linearity. The sequential methods used for location are applicable in other applications in which a function of the probability distribution is desired for variables that are related to measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Inventor: John Louis Spiesberger
  • Patent number: 7216055
    Abstract: A method and system senses the attitude of an accelerating object by measuring acceleration with accelerometers in three orthogonal axes and measuring angular rate with angular rate sensors disposed about each such axis to compute attitude of the object accurately relative to a vertical axis. A processor updates a quaternion representation of attitude based upon the angular rate of the object, and a corrective rate signal is determined from level frame acceleration as a reference for a Kalman filter in calculating the attitude of the object. When velocity or airspeed is available from an external source, an aiding algorithm is employed to provide accurate attitude representations throughout all flight regimes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Horton, Jose Rios
  • Patent number: 7212201
    Abstract: A method is disclosed to automatically segment 3D and higher-dimensional images into two subsets without user intervention, with no topological restriction on the solution, and in such a way that the solution is an optimal in a precisely defined optimization criterion, including an exactly defined degree of smoothness. A minimum-cut algorithm is used on a graph devised so that the optimization criterion translates into the minimization of the graph cut. The minimum cut thus found is interpreted as the segmentation with desired property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Davi Geiger, Hiroshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7209586
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting the 3D shape of objects, in which the object is pressed into a plastically deformable mass provided with markers adapted to be evaluated photogrammetrically. After removal of the object from the marked mass, a plurality of photogrammetric images are taken from different views, and the images are evaluated photogrammetrically, the 3D shape of the object being calculated using an association of the markers corresponding in the images. The invention further relates to a corresponding arrangement for carrying out the method and is particularly suited for the detection of the 3D shape of objects whose 3D shape changes under load. One example of this would be the measurement of human feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: corpus.e AG
    Inventor: Robert Massen
  • Patent number: 7184926
    Abstract: A method for estimating the orientation of the machine which provides a motive power unit and a working tool, in which the working tool is pivoted to the motive power unit and carries a 3D sensor and a rotational angle sensor; the method includes collecting a buffer of positional data points from the 3D sensor and fitting these points to a circle; the method also may be used to provide computer control of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Nancy Chi-Ling Jarrott
  • Patent number: 7174202
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for locating the position, preferably in three dimensions, of a sensor by generating magnetic fields which are detected at the sensor. The magnetic fields are generated from a plurality of locations and, in one embodiment of the invention, enable both the orientation and location of a single coil sensor to be determined. The present invention thus finds application in many areas where the use of prior art sensors comprising two or more mutually perpendicular coils is inappropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: British Telecommunications
    Inventors: John Stuart Bladen, Alan Patrick Anderson
  • Patent number: 7143004
    Abstract: The device is a miniature, self-contained solid state orientation sensor. The unit utilizes three magnetometers and three accelerometers to calculate pitch, roll, and yaw (compass heading) angles relative to the earth's magnetic and gravitational fields. The three orientation angles are output in digital RS232 or optional multi-drop RS485. The device can also be programmed to provide raw accelerometer and magnetometer data in true physical units. The device is capable of measuring angles from 0 to 360 degrees on the yaw axis, 0 to 360 degrees on the pitch axis, and ?70 to +70 degrees on the roll axis. The yaw output is compensated for errors due to pitch and roll using embedded algorithms. Applications include fast solid state compassing, robotics, virtual reality, down-hole well drilling, and body position tracking for biomedical and multimedia applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Microstrain, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher P. Townsend, Steven W. Arms
  • Patent number: 7130754
    Abstract: A calibration information calculation unit 340 calculates the first coordinate positions of feature points included in images obtained by an image sensing apparatus at timings from an instruction unit 350 using position data, on world coordinate system, of a plurality of feature points held by a world coordinate holding unit 310 and the measured values of a position/posture sensor 130 input to a data management unit 330 at the timings. The unit 340 receives the second coordinate positions, which are acquired by an image coordinate acquisition unit 320, of the feature points included in the images obtained by the image sensing device at the timings. The unit 340 calculates calibration information using the first and second coordinate positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyohide Satoh, Shinji Uchiyama, Toshihiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7130759
    Abstract: A telemetric contextually based spatial audio system is integrated into a mobile terminal including a headset and antenna. The headset includes an electronic compass which determines head orientation data for the user. The terminal's geographical position can either be determined locally (e.g. onboard GPS) or by network triangulation. The orientation and position data are sent to a server which overlays the position and head orientation data onto a locally stored “floor plan”, describing an object(s) of interest. The floor plan relates the user's viewpoint to a database of contextual audio clips. A regionally significant portion of the database and respective triggers are sent to the terminal. The terminal using the database information recalculates which audio clip(s) to play. The terminal then convolves the respective audio clip(s) via an impulse response function so as to be perceived by the user as emanating from the exact spatial position of the object specified by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Willins, Richard M. Vollkommer, Joseph Katz
  • Patent number: 7117116
    Abstract: A system for cutting point cloud automatically includes an application server (1), client computers (3), and a database (5). The application server includes: a point cloud inputting module (10) for obtaining point cloud data and constructing an electronic figure according to the point cloud data; a figure changing module (11) for changing positions or views of the figure in the three-dimensional space; a point cloud cutting module (12) for cutting the point cloud automatically by executing a preestablished program; and a storing module (13) for storing the preestablished program and the point cloud after having been cut. A related method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Kuang Chang, Xin-Yuan Wu, Jie-Rong Chen, Xiao-Dan Tang
  • Patent number: 7103499
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide a user the ability to select three-dimensional virtual objects in a three-dimensional modeling environment using two-dimensional representations of the objects. In broad overview, the invention involves a multidimensional degree of freedom haptic interface that controls a three-dimensional cursor. A user employs the cursor to select an arbitrary point on a three-dimensional virtual object of interest. Through the application of a mathematical transformation, the system displays the cursor at the location of the selected point on the object. The user can manipulate the object by operating the haptic interface. The systems and methods provide the user with the possibility of editing the selected virtual object. In one embodiment, editing includes sculpting the object. When the user releases the object after manipulation is completed, the cursor is relocated to the position the cursor would have had had the manipulations been applied to the cursor directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: SensAble Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Alexander Goodwin, Joshua Eric Handley, Philip Brown Winston
  • Patent number: 7092109
    Abstract: A first error coordinate between the image coordinate of a first indicator, which is arranged on the real space and detected on a first image captured by a first image sensing unit, and the estimated image coordinate of the first indicator, which is estimated to be located on the first image in accordance with the position/orientation relationship between the first image sensing unit (with the position and orientation according to a previously calculated position/orientation parameter) and the first indicator, is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyohide Satoh, Shinji Uchiyama, Mahoro Anabuki