Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for finding the relative position and orientation of an imaging device in relation to an imaged object, wherein said imaging device produces a video signal representing a two-dimensional projection of said imaged object onto an image frame, the method comprising the steps of: recognizing a plurality of features from the video signal; associating with each recognized feature a two-dimensional position in the image frame; computing a disparity between the positions of the features and corresponding positions of features in a calculated projection of a stored, three-dimensional object model, said calculated projection calculated according to a virtual camera model; and varying parameters of the virtual camera model, consistent with a projective geometric model, to reduce said disparity; wherein said disparity is reduced by computing and applying a transformation matrix including translation sub-matrix and rotation sub-matrix, and wherein said sub-matrices are calculated from translation and rotation sub-vectors of a vector obtained by multiplying a constant with a product of an error function and a pseudo-inverse of an interaction matrix L; wherein said interaction matrix L represents two dimensional coordinates xp, yp and a depth Z for a plurality of pre-defined points in a calculated three dimensional object model, and said two dimensional coordinates xp, yp are calculated projected positions of said pre-defined points onto a hypothetical plane of projection which corresponds to an image plane of said virtual camera model.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for finding the relative position and orientation of an imaging device in relation to an imaged object, wherein said imaging device produces a video signal representing a two-dimensional projection of said imaged object onto an image frame, the method comprising the steps of: recognizing a plurality of features from the video signal; associating with each recognized feature a two-dimensional position in the image frame; computing a disparity between the positions of the features and corresponding positions of features in a calculated projection of a stored, three-dimensional object model, said calculated projection calculated according to a virtual camera model; and varying parameters of the virtual camera model, consistent with a projective geometric model, to reduce said disparity; wherein said disparity is reduced by computing and applying a transformation matrix including translation sub-matrix and rotation sub-matrix, and wherein said sub-matrices are calculated from translation and rotation sub-vectors of a vector obtained by multiplying a constant with a product of an error function and a pseudo-inverse of an interaction matrix L; wherein said interaction matrix L represents two dimensional coordinates xp, yp and a depth Z for a plurality of pre-defined points in a calculated three dimensional object model, and said two dimensional coordinates xp, yp are calculated projected positions of said pre-defined points onto a hypothetical plane of projection which corresponds to an image plane of said virtual camera model.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said parameters are varied by rotating said virtual camera model relative to a pre-defined coordinate system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said parameters are varied by translating said virtual camera model relative to a predefined coordinate system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of: reiteratively repeating said previously recited steps in a loop, to further reduce said disparity.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
209 words
A method of registering a two-dimensional object image of a three-dimensional object with a stored, three-dimensional model having a predetermined spatial relationship to the three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of: identifying the positions of a plurality of features in said object image; rendering a virtual image by projecting at least portions of said three-dimensional model onto a virtual image plane; calculating an error function which measures a difference between positions of said plurality of features in said object image and corresponding positions of previously associated features in said virtual image; finding a position and/or orientation of said virtual image plane which reduces said error function, wherein said position and/or orientation are found by computing and applying a transformation matrix including a translation sub-matrix and a rotation sub-matrix, and wherein said sub-matrices are calculated from translation and rotation sub-vectors of a vector obtained by multiplying a constant with a product of an error function and a pseudo-inverse of an interaction matrix L; wherein said interaction matrix L represents two dimensional coordinates xp, yp and a depth Z for a plurality of pre-defined points in a calculated three dimensional object model, and said two dimensional coordinates xp, yp are calculated projected positions of said pre-defined points onto the virtual image plane.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
209 words
A method of registering a two-dimensional object image of a three-dimensional object with a stored, three-dimensional model having a predetermined spatial relationship to the three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of: identifying the positions of a plurality of features in said object image; rendering a virtual image by projecting at least portions of said three-dimensional model onto a virtual image plane; calculating an error function which measures a difference between positions of said plurality of features in said object image and corresponding positions of previously associated features in said virtual image; finding a position and/or orientation of said virtual image plane which reduces said error function, wherein said position and/or orientation are found by computing and applying a transformation matrix including a translation sub-matrix and a rotation sub-matrix, and wherein said sub-matrices are calculated from translation and rotation sub-vectors of a vector obtained by multiplying a constant with a product of an error function and a pseudo-inverse of an interaction matrix L; wherein said interaction matrix L represents two dimensional coordinates xp, yp and a depth Z for a plurality of pre-defined points in a calculated three dimensional object model, and said two dimensional coordinates xp, yp are calculated projected positions of said pre-defined points onto the virtual image plane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein an orientation of said virtual image plane is found by iteratively rotating said virtual image plane relative to a pre-defined coordinate system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein said position of said virtual image plane is found by reiteratively translating said virtual image plane relative to a pre-defined coordinate system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein said error function is represented by a vector having plural distance components, each said distance component being a distance between a feature position in the object image and a corresponding virtual feature position in said virtual image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein said feature positions in said object image are determined by recognizing ring-shaped markers on said three dimensional object.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein said ring shaped markers are coded to identify specific markers with an associated identifier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein said ring-shaped markers are coded according to a binary code.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein said markers are recognized by searching an image for projected bands of contrast having a predetermined ratio between their width and their diameter.