KR20070070295A - Optical digitizer and method for object-recognition thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical digitizer and an object recognition method thereof are provided to determine size, color, and height of an object as well as central coordinates of the object by installing an imaging device to an X/Y axis. A brightness/saturation reference part(206) reflects light at the X/Y axis. Each imaging device(202,204) captures the light reflected from the brightness/saturation reference part and an input tool(200), and converts the captured light into an electric signal by being placed to the X/Y axis. A controller(208) extracts object information of the input tool by using the electric signal and transmits the extracted object information to an external device. The imaging device includes a polarized film receiving the light in a normal direction, a collection lens, and a punched panel recognizing the light received from the collection lens from each area, converting the recognized light into the electric signal, and transmitting the electric signal to the controller.

Description

Optical digitizer and method for object-recognition

1 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional digitizer using a pen;

2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention using a pen.

Figure 3a is a block diagram showing the coordinates of the center of the image pickup device portion of the X axis of the pen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3B is a block diagram illustrating the center coordinates of the image pickup device portion of the Y axis of the pen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram showing in detail the imaging device portion of the present invention.

5 is a block diagram of an embodiment in which the optical digitizer of the present invention is applied to a remote controller.

6 is a flowchart of an optical digitizer and an object recognition method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

 * Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

200: pen 202: X-axis imaging device portion

204: Y-axis imaging element 206: Brightness reference part

208: control unit

The present invention relates to an optical digitizer and its object recognition, by placing an image pickup device on a horizontal axis (X axis) and a vertical axis (Y axis) to determine the size, color and height of the object as well as the center coordinates of the object. An optical digitizer and an object recognition method thereof.

Portable pen input computers such as note books and PDAs are becoming popular. Most of them are provided with a touch panel of a pressure sensitive resistance system disposed above the liquid crystal display (LCD).

This allows the user to use the computer as if the user were using a computer with pens and notes by touching or drawing or typing fingers or pens to operate the computer.

In addition, there is an optical digitizer as an input means other than the above-described touch panel.

Digitizers currently in use include a method of recognizing the type of the input tool by a color and a form of the input tool through a camera equipped with an imaging device, and a sensing pad or an infrared method for recognizing a location using electromagnetic waves.

1 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional digitizer using a pen.

As shown in FIG. 1, the digitizer using the pen 102 including the light emitting device 124 captures the coordinate plane 101 having the coordinate information and the light emitted by the light emitting device 124. Coordinate calculation unit 107 and the coordinate calculation unit (100), which calculate the position coordinates (X, Y) of the pen 102 from the detection unit unit 100, using the triangulation principle. A personal computer unit 105 for determining the position of the pen 102 from the calculated data of 107, and a display unit 106 for outputting a screen according to the position of the pen 102 determined by the personal computer 105. It is configured to include.

In addition, the detection unit unit 100 is a hyperbolic mirror device 126 for reflecting the infrared light emitted by the light emitting device 124, the lens device 109 for collecting the infrared light reflected by the hyperbolic mirror device 126 And a linear image sensor device 113 for detecting the position coordinates of the pen 102 by imaging the infrared light collected by the lens device 109.

Hereinafter, the operation of the optical digitizer and the object recognition device of the prior art of FIG. 1 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the light emitting device 124 included at the end of the pen 102 may be configured as an LED lamp that emits light so that the digitizer knows the position of the pen 102.

The hyperbolic mirror device 126 of the detection unit unit 100 reflects the light to the pen 102, and the lens device 109 collects the reflected light.

The light collected by the linear image sensor device 113 is photographed, converted into an electrical signal, and then transmitted to the coordinate calculation unit 107.

The coordinate calculation unit 107 calculates the received signal from the linear image sensor device 113 as the position coordinates of the pen 102 using the principle of triangulation, and transfers the calculated position coordinates to the personal computer 105. do.

The personal computer 105 includes a function of determining where to display the pen 102 on the screen by using the position coordinates of the pen 102 transmitted by the coordinate calculation unit 107, and the pen When the position of the 102 is determined, the position of the pen 102 is displayed on the screen of the display unit 106.

In the digitizer which performs the above-described configuration and function, when the LED of the light emitting device 124 emits light at the end of the pen 102, the hyperbolic mirror device 126 of the detection unit unit 100 of the digitizer reflects the LED light. When the reflected light is collected by the lens device 109, the linear image sensor 113 captures the collected light.

The captured light is converted into an electrical signal by the linear image sensor device 113 and transmitted to the coordinate calculating unit 107, and the coordinate calculating unit 107 calculates the position coordinates of the pen 102 using the received electrical signal. do.

 The position coordinates of the pen 102 calculated by the coordinate calculation unit 107 are transmitted to the personal computer unit 105, and the personal computer 105 uses the position coordinates of the received pen 102 to display the display unit 106. ) Determines the position of the pen 102 to be displayed on the screen and outputs it to the screen through the display unit 106.

In this case hand-touch on the panel is permitted as long as it does not cross the path between the hand or pen 102 tip and the imaging means.

Therefore, as described above, since the digitizer needs to secure a wide viewing angle for the detection unit 100 to capture the entire input tool, it is difficult to accurately recognize and miniaturize the type of the input tool, and also use a sensing pad for recognizing a location using electromagnetic waves. Infra-red, however, is difficult to detect the color and exact size of the input tool.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention arranges the image pickup device on the horizontal axis (X axis) and the vertical axis (Y axis), so that it is possible to determine the size, color and height of the object as well as the center coordinates of the object, An optical digitizer and its object recognition method are provided.

In addition, another object of the present invention, the polarizing film device, the condenser lens device, the perforated plate device of the image pickup device portion is formed in a straight line, the optical device to enable the digitizer to be used in a small device such as a PDA or a remote controller as well as a large device A digitizer and its object recognition method are provided.

In order to achieve the above object, it is provided on the horizontal axis (X axis) and the vertical axis (Y axis) is provided with a light chromaticity reference portion for reflecting light, and a horizontal axis and a vertical axis to face the brightness chromaticity reference portion, An imaging device unit for capturing light reflected by the reference unit and converting light information into an electrical signal, and a controller for extracting object information of an input tool using an electrical signal converted by the imaging device unit and transmitting the extracted object information to an external device; Characterized in that.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for performing an optical digitizer, the step of determining the existence of the object at a predetermined time, if the object exists, if the object exists, calculating the object information, the calculation And delivering the object information to an external device.

A preferred embodiment of an optical digitizer and an object recognition method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention using a pen 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the optical digitizer using the pen 200 includes image pickup device portions 202 and 204 provided for recognizing respective areas of a horizontal axis (X axis) and a vertical axis (Y axis), and the horizontal axis. The object information connected to the brightness chromaticity reference unit 206 and the image pickup device unit 202 and 204 provided at positions of other horizontal and vertical axes so as to face the (X-axis) and the vertical axis (Y-axis). It is configured to include a control unit 208 for transmitting to the device.

The operation of the device of the present invention using the pen 200 of FIG. 2 of the present invention will be described below.

In the optical digitizer according to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of image pickup device portions 202 and 204 are arranged at regular intervals between the X and Y axes of a rectangular input panel, and the image pickup device portions 202 and 204 are arranged. They are composed of a brightness chromaticity reference unit 206 for reflecting the input tool.

The brightness reference unit 206 reflects the light incident on the panel of the optical digitizer in the illumination to be input to the image pickup device unit 202, 204. In this case, the brightness chromaticity reference unit 206 may be configured in accordance with the refractive index of the light required, it may be composed of white plastic or paper.

The control unit 208 uses information sent by the image pickup device units 202 and 204 to capture the light reflected by the light chromaticity reference unit 206, and whether or not there is an input tool on the panel of the optical digitizer. It determines the type, size, color, and the like, converts it to an electrical signal and transfers it to the controller 208.

In the above-described optical digitizer according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the input tool is placed on the panel, the light input device receives the light incident on the panel and the incident light on the panel. ), And the image pickup device units 202 and 204 collect the received light, convert information about the intensity of the light into an electrical signal, and transmit it to the control unit 208.

If the brightness or saturation difference is greater than a certain threshold value using the brightness and saturation information of the light, which is an electrical signal transmitted by the image pickup devices 202 and 204, the controller 208 recognizes the location as a boundary and positions the input tool. To judge the type and color of the input tool.

At this time, in order for the control unit 208 to determine the type or color of the input tool, the digitizer should have information about the saturation and brightness that the image pickup device unit 202 or 204 recognizes in a specific color. The threshold for the difference in brightness saturation to determine whether or not should also be set in advance.

The color information and the threshold value information about the brightness and saturation may be stored in a separate storage unit (not shown) for the operation of the optical digitizer, and by using values stored in the storage unit (not shown) of the external device. It is possible to make judgments.

3A is a block diagram illustrating the center coordinates of the imaging device unit 202 of the X-axis of the pen 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is an image of the Y-axis of the pen 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing the center coordinates of the element portion 204.

3A and 3B illustrate an image pickup device unit 202 sequentially comparing two or more saturation and brightness values of light reflected and incident by the brightness saturation reference unit 206 according to the position of the pen 200. 204).

In the above configuration, the brightness chromaticity reference unit 206 reflects the light reflected by the refractive index of the light to the image pickup device unit 202 and 204 according to the position of the pen 200.

The imaging device unit 202 and 204 sequentially compares the saturation, brightness, and values of the light reflected by the brightness chromaticity reference unit 206 according to the position of the pen 200 in order of two or more. This is converted into an electrical signal and transmitted to an external output device (not shown).

Hereinafter, an operation of recognizing an object existence by the plurality of imaging device units 202 and 204 of the present invention of FIGS. 3A and 3B will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 3A, a portion and light rays reflected from the light chromaticity reference unit 206 based on the position of the pen 200 and incident on the image pickup device unit 202 on the X-axis are generated by the pen 200. The brightness saturation value different from the brightness saturation reference part is incident, resulting in different boundaries.

The object existence judgment is to sequentially compare the brightness saturation values between the image pickup devices included in the image pickup device section 202 along the X axis in the direction of the axis, and determine the boundary between the basic background and the object if the difference between the two values is greater than or equal to a certain threshold value. .

When there are two or more boundaries, it is determined that the object exists, and two edges of the X-axis boundary are recognized and called Ex1 and Ex2, and the value Lx (Lx = Ex2-Ex1) between the boundary of the object is stored.

In addition, as shown in 3b, a portion and light rays reflected from the brightness chromaticity reference unit 206 based on the position of the pen 200 and incident on the image pickup device unit 204 on the Y axis are reflected by the pen 200. The saturation value that is different from the reference portion is incident to create a different boundary.

The object existence determination sequentially compares the brightness saturation values of the image pickup device units 204 along the Y-axis adjacent to each other in the direction of the axis.

When there are two or more boundaries, it is determined that an object exists, and the two edges of the boundary are recognized as light incident on the Y axis, and are called Ey1 and Ey2, and the value Ly (Ly = Ey2-Ey1) between the boundaries of the object. Will be saved.

In this case, the imaging device unit 204 for capturing the light reflected by the brightness chroma reference unit 206 will be described in more detail as follows.

4 is a block diagram showing in detail the image pickup device portion of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the imaging device units 202 and 204 collect light lens devices that collect light 406 received from the polarizing film device 404 and the polarizing film device 404. In 402, the light 406 received from the condenser lens device 402 is shot at a predetermined interval, and includes a perforated plate device 400 that converts an electric signal to recognize each area.

At this time, the polarizing film device 404, the condenser lens device 402, the perforated plate device 400 is configured in a straight shape.

The imaging device units 202 and 204 sequentially compare the brightness and saturation values of the light reflected by the brightness saturation reference unit 206 and, if the difference between the two values is greater than or equal to a certain threshold, the boundary between the basic background and the object. Determine and transmit to external output device.

The polarizing film device 404 receives the light 406 reflected by the brightness chromaticity reference unit 206 in the forward direction and transmits the light 406 to the condensing lens device 402.

The condenser lens device 402 transmits the light received by the polarizing film 404 in the forward direction to the punching plate device 400 at a predetermined interval.

The punching plate device 400 sequentially captures the brightness and saturation values of the light 406 transmitted by the condensing lens device 402 to each area, and photographs them, which are converted into electrical signals and transmitted to a controller (not shown). do.

The operation of the imaging device portion of the present invention of FIG. 4 will be described below.

The polarization film 404 receiving the light 406 reflected according to the position of the object in the brightness chromaticity reference unit 206 in the forward direction is sent to the condenser lens device 402 so that the condenser lens device 402 is lighted. Collecting 406 and shooting at a predetermined interval with the punching plate device 400, the punching plate device 400 sequentially recognizes the brightness and saturation of the incident light, converts it into an electrical signal, and transmits it to the control unit (not shown).

The control unit (not shown) that receives the electrical signal transmits the size center coordinates and chroma intensity information of the object to an external device.

5 is a block diagram of an embodiment in which the optical digitizer of the present invention is applied to a remote controller.

5 is a pen 500 indicating an optical digitizer position point indicating position information, and a digitizer using the pen 500 is configured to recognize each region of a horizontal axis (X axis) and a vertical axis (Y output). The object unit 502 is connected to the brightness chromaticity reference unit 504 and the brightness chromaticity reference unit 504 provided at positions of other horizontal and vertical axes so as to face the horizontal axis (X axis) and the vertical axis (Y axis). An optical digitizer including a control unit (not shown) for transmitting information to an external device, and a TV 506 that operates based on the position of the pen 500 of the optical digitizer.

When the pen 500 indicates the point where the position information of the optical digitizer is located, the optical digitizer operates the TV 506 using an external output device based on the position information indicated by the pen 500.

The TV 506 is operated by predetermined position information on the optical digitizer.

Hereinafter, an operation of the remote controller using the optical digitizer of FIG. 5 will be described.

By providing the optical digitizer, it is possible to recognize the different input tools, it is possible to separate the operation by the remote control of each device of the composite device such as VCR + DVDP + TV with one remote control.

In addition, the input unit of the remote control having the optical digitizer is provided with a surface or an image display device that prints the position of the button for invoking each function, and the end of the finger or other input tool on the panel of the digitizer to each button When it is located at the corresponding position, when the input device detects the input of the linear imaging device 502, the position, size, and color of each X-axis and Y-axis are detected and transmitted to the remote controller.

Then, the remote controller uses the size and color information of the input tool transmitted from the optical digitizer to determine which device is input, and then transmits a signal to a function corresponding to the coordinates of the optical digitizer to operate the TV 506. .

6 is a flowchart illustrating an object recognition method of an optical digitizer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, the optical digitizer and the object recognition method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention determine whether an object exists by checking whether an object exists every predetermined time period, for example, every 100 msec (S600). It is determined whether is recognized (S602).

At this time, the object existence judgment of the input tool compares the brightness (Y) and the saturation (C) values sequentially between the imaging device units 202 and 204 adjacent in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, and the difference between the two values is determined by a specific threshold value ( TH) or more, it is determined that the boundary between the basic background and the object (S602), and if there are two or more boundaries, it is determined that the object exists.

When the object existence is not recognized as a result of the determination in step S602, the brightness (Sy) of the light reflected from the previously stored white light (100lux) to the brightness chromaticity reference unit 206 and input to the image pickup device unit 202, 204. , The value of the saturation Sc is stored in a storage unit (not shown).

In addition, when the input tool is not input on the panel of the optical digitizer, the light digitizer is reflected from the current light to the brightness chromaticity reference unit 206 and the brightness of light input to the image pickup device unit 202 and 204 ( Ay) and the current illuminance value of which the saturation (Ac) value is variable, and stores the difference value of brightness (Dy = Sy-Ay) and saturation (Dc = Sc-Ac), respectively (S603).

If it is determined in step S602 that the object exists, the two objects of the edge of the boundary with respect to the X and Y axes are Ex1 and Ex2 for the X axis and Ey1 and Ey2 for the Y axis. Calculate and store the values Lx (Lx = Ex2-Ex1) and Ly (Ey2-Ey1) between the boundaries of (S606).

In this case, Lx and Ly represent the size of the object.

In addition, the calculated coordinates Cx (Cx = (Ex1 + Ex2) / 2) and Cy (Cy = (Ey1 + Ey2) / 2) are calculated and stored using the calculated Lx and Ly. (S608)

If the color of the input tool is black, the brightness (Y) and saturation (C) of the input tool are not reflected well when the current light is blue or strong red light.

Therefore, it is determined whether the color of the input tool is equal to or less than the predetermined brightness value Y_TH.

If the input tool that calculates the center coordinates of the object in step S608 is not black, the brightness of the object at standard illuminance (Oy = Y + Dy) is added by adding Dy and Dc to the brightness (Y) and the saturation (C) of the current object, respectively. , Saturation (Oc = C + Dc) is stored and output. (S612)

If the input tool is black, the input tool is stored as brightness (Oy = Y) and saturation (Oc = C) without correcting the brightness (Y) and saturation (C) values.

Finally, the object sizes Lx, Ly, and X-axis center coordinates (Cx), Y-axis center coordinates (Cy), object name saturation (Oy), and object saturation (Oc) calculated in steps S606, S608, S611, and S612 are external devices. Output to (S614).

The external device can know the size, color, type and location of the input tool 200 using the output object information.

For this purpose, the external device must store the information to know the object information in a separate storage.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments, which are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains do not depart from the essential characteristics of the present invention. It will be appreciated that various modifications and applications are not possible that are not illustrated above.

For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiment of the present invention can be modified. And differences relating to such modifications and applications will have to be construed as being included in the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

According to the present invention, an image pickup device may be disposed on a horizontal axis (X axis) and a vertical axis (Y axis) to determine an accurate input by determining not only the center coordinates of the object but also the size, color, and height of the object.

In addition, the present invention can enable the digitizer to be used in a large device as well as a small device such as a PDA or a remote controller.

Claims (8)

A brightness chromaticity reference unit provided on a horizontal axis (X axis) and a vertical axis (Y axis) to reflect light; An imaging device unit configured on a horizontal axis and a vertical axis to face the brightness chromaticity reference unit, for photographing light reflected by the brightness chromaticity reference unit and the input tool, and converting light information into an electrical signal; And And a control unit which extracts object information of an input tool and transmits the object information to an external device using the electrical signal converted by the imaging device unit. The optical digitizer according to claim 1, wherein the brightness chromaticity reference part is made of white plastic, paper, or the like for clearly distinguishing the boundary of the input tool placed on the panel. The method of claim 1, The imaging device unit, and a polarizing film device for receiving light in the forward direction; A condenser lens device collecting light received from the polarizing film device; And And a perforated plate device for recognizing the light received from the condensing lens as each area at a predetermined interval, converting light information for each area into an electrical signal, and transmitting the electrical signal to the control unit. The method of claim 3, wherein The light information is an optical digitizer, characterized in that the light intensity and saturation value of the incident light. The optical digitizer according to claim 3, wherein the polarizing film device, the condenser lens device, and the perforated plate device of the imaging device portion are straight. The optical digitizer of claim 1, wherein the object information is an object size, a coordinate, a saturation, or a brightness calculated using a boundary. Determining whether an object exists at a predetermined time; If the object exists, calculating the object information according to whether the object exists; Transmitting the calculated object information to an external device; object recognition method of an optical digitizer comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein the object presence determination of the input tool is performed by sequentially comparing brightness (Y) and saturation (C) values of light incident on the X and Y axes of each axis, where the difference between the two values is greater than or equal to a certain threshold. Determining whether there is; As a result of the determination, if there is a place where the difference between the two values is equal to or greater than a certain threshold, recognizing it as a boundary, and determining that an object exists when there are two or more recognized boundaries; object recognition method of an optical digitizer .

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