Generation of light for tracking and acquisition of three-dimensional scene geometry in computer graphics applications

• Main Authors: THOMAS GARY BISHOP, GREGORY FRANCIS WELCH, HENRY FUCHS, MARK ALAN LIVINGSTON
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.06.1999
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES; CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION ORRERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; MEASURING; PHYSICS; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION; RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; TESTING

Methods, systems and computer products are provided for tracking objects within a scene using imperceptible structured light. The imperceptible structured light may be used in environments where humans work and therefore avoids disorienting observers. The structured light patterns are generated dynamically, allowing tracking without physical landmarks. Moreover, the occlusion of the generated landmarks is overcome by determining the position of objects using a determined camera position. The imperceptible structured light may be used in systems without tracking. The tracking may be used without imperceptible structured light.