KR20020092393A - Multi user retro reflector data input - Google Patents

Abstract

The device according to the invention has a fixed component 41 and a variable component 37 which is varied by the user and uses the retroreflected light emitted from the retroreflector 31 connected to the user to output the data 37A to the information system 13. ), And perform the same operation for each of a plurality of users in the same time interval.

Description

MULTI USER RETRO REFLECTOR DATA INPUT}

The limitations of data entry through retroreflective light as disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,912,700 to Honey and US Pat. No. 4,998,441 to Stuart are overcome by the present invention.

The present invention has a fixed component and a variable component changed by a user, and inputs data to an information system using retroreflected light generated from a retroreflector connected to a user, and performs the above operation for each of a plurality of users in the same time interval. A data input device to perform.

1 is a diagram illustrating two users who are inputting data into an information system.

FIG. 2 shows light reflected back from the retroreflector of FIG. 1; FIG.

3 shows light retroreflected from the sequential retroreflector of FIG.

4 shows a retroreflector on a card.

FIG. 5 shows a retroreflective portion on a finger and a cylinder acting as a retroreflector;

Light that is retroreflected by a retroreflector connected to a user has a fixed component and a variable component, and is detected by an imager that inputs data into an information system.

Other forms and objects of the present invention will be understood from the following detailed description and drawings, and equivalent forms and objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art through the following description.

The data input device is used with the information system shown by the display device 13 of FIG. The data input device comprises an imager shown as a lens 11, a light source as shown as a ring light 12 and a reflector as shown as a retroreflective disk 31 on a part of the user's hand.

While the retroreflector is in contact with a part of the user's body in the embodiment of FIG. Can be connected to the user. In the present specification, the term 'connected to the user' is different from the connection by a signal.

While entering data, the retroreflector remains connected to the user. This is different from the case where retroreflectors are attached to a moving object separate from a person, such as a thrown ball.

An ideal retroreflector reflects all incident light coaxially along the path of the incident light. Thus, the imager adjacent to the light source has a high signal-to-noise ratio between the retroreflected light and other light detected by the imager-light from the light source retroreflected by the retroreflector to the imager. -To detect. The signal-to-noise ratio becomes larger or smaller depending on the ideal degree of the retroreflector.

As used herein, “adjacent” means that the retroreflected light is within the field of view of the imager. The light beam from the light source and the retroreflected light incident on the imager can be made to have exactly coaxiality using a beam splitting device, which is also included herein to mean "adjacent".

"Detection" herein means that the imager locates the retroreflective light appropriate for the imager's field of view, such as exposing a particular pixel of the charge coupled device.

Retroreflected light has a fixed component such as that shown by reference numeral 41 in FIG. 2 showing the retroreflected light seen by the imager. Retroreflected light also has a variable component that is varied by the user.

An example of the variable component is shown a path 37 through which the user moves the retroreflector. Another example of a variable component is shown a second retroreflector 35 that is initially positioned 45 to be viewed by the imager and later to be invisible to the imager.

The complexity of the different changes of the variable components, including the data, can be caused by the user changing the position of the retroreflector and the placement of one or more retroreflectors. This is different from when the user moves an object with a barcode so that the imager can read a fixed barcode.

When the imager detects the variable component in a predetermined time interval, the imager inputs a signal into the information system.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the variable component corresponds to a series of positions forming a path 37, and subsequent signals comprise data recognizing the series of positions along the path 37 in a predetermined time interval. .

In addition, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the variable component is the initial arrangement of the retroreflector 31 and the second retroreflector 35 at the beginning of the path, and the stop of the second retroreflector hidden at the end of the path. Placement of states.

The initial placement may be mapped by the imager as an initiation signal for the information system to initiate a trace 37A corresponding to that path (51), with the placement of the stationary state being routed by the imager to the information system. It can be mapped as a stop signal to stop (52) a trace corresponding to.

In addition, start and stop signals for starting and stopping traces may be input by other means, such as key strokes, mouse clicks, and voice.

If the trace is data used or stored in the information system, the information system does not need to visually display the trace. The traces may be three-dimensional in shape and, in some cases, may be data used or stored by the information system. In addition, a second imager comprising a light source can be used to help generate three-dimensional data. In addition, rod-shaped retroreflectors with two end points spaced by a known distance may be used to facilitate three-dimensional data generation.

For example, when the imager detects the fixed component 41 in a predetermined time interval, the imager inputs an identification signal to the information system.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, there is a subsequent retroreflector 61 connected to the subsequent user and there is a subsequent retroreflective light with the subsequent fixation component 71 shown in FIG. 3.

In the case where the imager detects the subsequent stationary component 71 in a predetermined time interval, the imager inputs the subsequent identification signal into the information system. The fixed components 41 and 71 are different, and the subsequent identification signal is also different from the previous identification signal.

Subsequent retroreflected light also has subsequent variable components that are varied by subsequent users. One example of a subsequent variable component is shown a path 67 where a subsequent user moves the subsequent retroreflector 61. Another example of a subsequent variable component is shown a subsequent second retroreflector 65 that is initially positioned 75 to be viewed by the imager and later to be invisible to the imager.

If the imager detects subsequent variable components in a given time interval, the imager inputs the subsequent signal into the information system.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the subsequent variable component corresponds to a series of positions forming a subsequent path 67, and the subsequent signal is data identifying a series of positions along the subsequent path 67 in a predetermined time interval. It includes. The subsequent signal causes the information to trace path 67A.

Retroreflectors and subsequent retroreflectors have compatible functionality. The contents of the fixation component and subsequent fixation components are different. The content of the variable component and subsequent variable components may be varied by different users.

The imager can distinguish retroreflected light (eg, 45 and 41) retroreflected by a previous user from retroreflected light (eg, 75 and 71). This is because the fixed components are different and the distance between retroreflected light (eg, 45 and 41) that has been retroreflected by the previous user is smaller than the distance between retroreflected light that is not retroreflected from the previous user.

In addition, where subsequent fixation components 71 are marked to have a barcode form, other properties, such as shape and color, may be used alone or in combination to make up the fixation components.

In FIG. 1, the retroreflector is shown as a retroreflective disc attached to the fingertip. Retroreflectors may be attached to other hand parts, such as finger joints, and to other parts of the body, in addition to each finger. For example, various commercial retroreflectors using microspheres and embossments provide very high signal-to-noise ratios and are part of the hand in a variety of ways (eg using adhesives, rings and thimble devices). It can be attached to.

4 shows a retroreflector attached on a card 87 that a user can remove. In the case where the user covers one or more retroreflective portions 81 to 83 with a finger or the like, a variable component is provided. The stationary component includes a series of retroreflective portions 85.

The retroreflector may be attached to a user's clothing, such as a hat, such that the user's location is displayed therefrom to identify the user and trace the location. The information system may attach the identification label to the displayed image of the user. If multiple users are imaged as above, only selected traces may be displayed and color coded. The athlete's path can also be traced in sporting events.

The retroreflector can be attached to a first aircraft carrying a person so that the light source and image generator of the second aircraft can detect the presence and movement of the first aircraft.

Since the fingertip reflects light from the light source back into the imager with a signal-to-noise ratio greater than one, the fingertip (eg, 31A in FIG. Can be used instead. It would be more burdensome for the imager if the characteristics of the fingertips, such as color, could provide a fixed component. A stationary component, such as a stripe 85A around the cylinder shown in FIG. 5, will be less burdensome on the imager.

The signal-to-noise ratio provided by the retroreflector can be increased. For example, the retroreflector may reflect the first electromagnetic radiation spectrum portion larger than the other electromagnetic radiation spectrum portions, and the imager may be more sensitive to the first electromagnetic radiation spectrum portion than the other electromagnetic radiation spectrum portions.

In addition, the light source may be modulated at the first frequency and the imager may be more sensitive to light modulated at the first frequency than light modulated at other frequencies. For modulated light sources, the distance between the retroreflector and the imager can be determined by flight measurement time.

A scanner can be added. The scanner can be an imager scanner that scans an image with an illuminated light source, a light source scanner that scans the light source at a solid angle viewed by the imager, and a combined scanner that scans both the imager and the light source at a solid angle. May be Any combination of a plurality of methods for improving the signal-to-noise ratio can be used.

The information processing capacity required to detect retroreflectors and generate the input data is included in the imager itself so that the imager can enter the data into the information system in a format similar to that provided by key strokes and mouse movements. The information processing capacity of the information system can be used to detect retroreflectors or generate input data. In this case, the information system becomes part of the imager while contributing to the generation of the input data.

In order to perform some of the signal component rosters, similar to defining a combination of key strokes, the relative placement and movement of variable components such as retroreflectors, variations in movement range and speed can be defined.

The data input device can be used to interact. For example, in response to an inquiry sent from an information system, a plurality of users may enter the response. In addition, for each of a plurality of users flying over a large area, the information system can convey to each user the user's own route from their location to the desired area.

The data processor can locate the retroreflector that is appropriate for the target. The target position can be determined by another retroreflector data input device. The target can be a prey animal, which allows for a realistic bloodless hunting. The target can be another user, allowing bloodless combat training and sports.

Now, uniform formats for imagers, light sources, retroreflectors, fixed components, variable components, identification signals, and other signals, and other equivalent methods of inputting data into information systems using retroreflectors, will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Will be. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein.

Claims (10)

A data input device used with an information system, With the Imager, A light source adjacent to the imager, The retroreflector connected to the user, Light from the light source that is retroreflected by the retroreflector to the imager, the retroreflected light comprising a fixed component and a variable component varied by the user, An identification signal input by the imager to the information system when the fixed component is detected by the imager in a predetermined time interval, A signal input to the information system by the imager when the variable component is detected by the imager in the predetermined time interval Data input device comprising a. The method of claim 1, Subsequent retroreflectors connected to subsequent users, Light from the light source retroreflected by the subsequent retroreflector to the imager, the subsequent retroreflected light comprising a subsequent fixed component and a subsequent variable component varied by the subsequent user, A subsequent identification signal input by the imager to the information system when the subsequent fixed component is detected by the imager in the predetermined time interval, Subsequent signal input by the imager to the information system when the subsequent variable component is detected by the imager in the predetermined time interval Data input device comprising a. The method of claim 1, The retroreflector reflects the first electromagnetic radiation spectrum portion greater than the other electromagnetic radiation spectrum portions, And the imager is more sensitive to the first electromagnetic radiation spectrum than to the other electromagnetic radiation spectrum. The method of claim 1, The light source is modulated at a first frequency, And the imager is more sensitive to light modulated at the first frequency than light modulated at another frequency. The method of claim 1, An imager scanner for scanning the imager at a solid angle illuminated by a light source, An optical scanner scanning the light source at a solid angle observed by an imager, Combined scanner scanning both the imager and the light source in solid angle Data input device having a scanner selected from the group comprising a. The data input device of claim 1, wherein the retroreflector is present in a part of the user's hand. The data input device of claim 1, wherein the retroreflector is on an object held by the user. The data input device of claim 1, wherein the retroreflector is on a garment worn by the user. The data input device of claim 1, wherein the retroreflector is on a vehicle that carries the user. A data input device used with an information system, With the Imager, A light source adjacent to the image, The retroreflector connected to the user, Light from the light source that is retroreflected by the retroreflector to the imager, the retroreflected light comprising a fixed component and a variable component varied by the user; An identification signal input by the imager to the information system when the fixed component is detected by the imager in a predetermined time interval, A signal input by the imager to the information system when the variable component is detected by the imager in the predetermined time interval, Subsequent retroreflectors connected to subsequent users, Light from the light source retroreflected by the subsequent retroreflector to the imager, the subsequent retroreflected light comprising a subsequent fixed component and a subsequent variable component varied by the subsequent user, A subsequent identification signal input by the imager to the information system when the subsequent fixed component is detected by the user in the predetermined time interval, Subsequent signal input by the imager to the information system when the subsequent variable component is detected by the user in the predetermined time period Data input device comprising a.