Position detection and/or movement tracking via image capture and processing

Abstract

Position detection and / or movement tracking via image capture and processing. Digital cameras perform image capture of one or more objects within a particular region (e.g., a physical gaming environment). A game module or processing module processes the images captured by the digital cameras to identify a position of and / or track movement of objects (e.g., a player, a gaming object, a game controller, etc.). Various digital image processing techniques may be employed including pattern recognition of objects, color recognition / distinction, intensity recognition / distinction, relative size comparison, etc. to identify objects and / or track their movement. The coupling between the digital cameras and the game module or processing module may be wired, wireless, or a combination thereof. If wireless, any number of different signaling means may be employed including Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signaling, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) signaling, or Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) signaling.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS / PATENT APPLICATIONSProvisional Priority Claims[0001]The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to the following U.S. Provisional Patent Application which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes:[0002]1. U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 936,724, entitled “Position and motion tracking of an object,” (Attorney Docket No. BP6471), filed Jun. 22, 2007, pending.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Technical Field of the Invention[0004]The invention relates generally to position and tracking systems; and, more particularly, it relates to such systems that employ captured digital images to determine position of or track movement of an object.[0005]2. Description of Related Art[0006]Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire lined communications between wireless and / or wire lined communicati...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While the ISM frequency spectrum is unlicensed there are restrictions on power, modulation techniques, and antenna gain.

If the game controller is too far away, too close, or angled away from the IR sensor, the IR communication will fail.

While the above technologies allow video gaming to include motion sensing, it does so with limitations.

Further, the accelerometer only measures acceleration such that true one-to-one detection of motion is not achieved.

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