Optical tracking system and tracking method using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025345129-A1
Application number	US-202519278485-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 23, 2025
Priority date	Apr 30, 2013
Publication date	Nov 13, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An optical tracking system and a method using the same capable of detecting an exact spatial position and a direction of a target regardless of the distance from the target to be calculated is disclosed. The optical tracking system and a method using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention has an effect of expanding an available area by detecting an exact spatial position and a direction of a target regardless of the distance from the target to be calculated, as well as, a system downsizing is also achieved by significantly reducing size of the marker unit compared with conventional system.

First claim

1 . An optical tracking system comprising:
at least one marker configured to be attached to a target, the at least one marker including therein: at least one pattern portion formed by a plurality of patterns and arranged to receive light irradiated by at least one external light source, the received light passing the at least one pattern portion or being reflected by the at least one pattern portion; and a first lens arranged to receive the light, which has passed the at least one pattern portion or has been reflected by the at least one pattern portion, and configured to release a plurality of portions of the light, each released portion of the light having passed a specific point of the at least one pattern portion; at least one camera including:
a second lens configured to receive and focus the light released from the first lens; and
an image sensor configured to form an image of the at least one pattern portion based on the focused light; and
a processor configured to:
measure a position of patterns for each area of the image of the at least one pattern portion;
compare the position of the patterns for each area of the image of the at least one pattern portion with a pre-stored reference position of the patterns for each area of the at least one pattern portion;
calculate a rotated angle of the at least one marker based on a result of the comparison; and
calculate a direction of the at least one marker based on the rotated angle of the at least one marker,
wherein the patterns in each area of the at least one pattern portion have different characteristics from patterns in other areas.

2 . The optical tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the first lens comprises a fish-eye lens.

3 . The optical tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one marker further comprises a prism arranged to receive the light released from the first lens and configured to release the light to have a different angle of view.

4 . A tracking method comprising:
by at least one pattern portion included in at least one marker of an optical tracking system, receiving light irradiated by at least one external light source, the at least one pattern portion formed by a plurality of patterns and arranged to receive the light irradiated by the at least one external light source, the received light passing the at least one pattern portion or being reflected by the at least one pattern portion; by a first lens included in the at least one marker, the first lens arranged to receive the light, which has passed the at least one pattern portion or has been reflected by the at least one pattern portion, releasing a plurality of portions of the light, each released portion of the light having passed a specific point of the at least one pattern portion; by a second lens included in at least one camera of the optical tracking system, receiving and focusing the light released from the first lens; by an image sensor included in the at least one camera, forming an image of the at least one pattern portion based on the focused light; by a processor of the optical tracking system, measuring a position of patterns for each area of the enlarged image of the at least one pattern portion; by the processor, calculating a rotated angle of the at least one marker by comparing the position of patterns for each area of the enlarged image of the at least one pattern portion with a pre-stored reference position of the patterns for each area of the at least one pattern portion; and by the processor, calculating a direction of the at least one marker based on the rotated angle of the at least one marker, wherein the patterns in each area of the at least one pattern portion have different characteristics from patterns in other areas.

5 . The tracking method of claim 4 , wherein the first lens comprises a fish-eye lens.

6 . The tracking method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one marker further comprises a prism arranged to receive the light released from the first lens and configured to release the light to have a different angle of view.

Assignees

• Koh Young Tech Inc
• Kyungpook Nat Univ Ind Academic Coop Found

Inventors

• Hong Jong-Kyu
• Lee Hyun-Ki
• Kim Min-Young
• Chae You-Seong

Classifications

• A61B2034/2065

  Tracking using image or pattern recognition · CPC title

• A61B2034/2055

  Optical tracking systems · CPC title

• A61B2090/3945

  Active visible markers, e.g. light emitting diodes · CPC title

• A61B90/39

  Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers · CPC title

• A61B2090/3983

  Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery · CPC title