High speed deterministic, non-contact, 3-axis free trajectory measurement device and free trajectory imaging device

Abstract

A data providing device associated with a trajectory sensing system has at least: a) a frame; b) the frame supporting at least two sensing receivers and at least one emitter for the sensing receivers, the sensors sensing movement with respect to a surface; c) the frame supporting a third sensor that senses information from the surface at least in addition to movement; d) a communication link from the two sensing receivers to a data storage device; e) a communication link from the third sensor to a data storage device; and f) a processor that determines position of the system with respect to the surface based at least in part on data from the two sensing receivers. The device may be used to scan text in segments and a processor recombines the segments into a complete text. Even complex text such as musical scores can be scanned.

1 . A data providing device associated with a trajectory sensing system comprising:
 a) a frame;   b) the frame supporting at least two sensing receivers and at least one emitter for the sensing receivers, the sensors sensing movement with respect to a surface;   c) the frame supporting a third sensor that senses information from the surface at least in addition to movement;   d) a communication link from the two sensing receivers to a data storage device;   e) a communication link from the third sensor to a data storage device; and   f) a processor that determines position of the system with respect to the surface based at least in part on data from the two sensing receivers.   
   
   
       2 . The data providing device of  claim 1  wherein the processor also determines position of each of the at least two sensing receivers with respect to time. 
   
   
       3 . The data providing device of  claim 1  wherein the sensing devices are image sensing devices. 
   
   
       4 . The data providing device of  claim 2  wherein the sensing devices are image sensing devices. 
   
   
       5 . The data providing device of  claim 3  wherein processor receives data from the sensing devices and executes code to correct received data with respect to distortions in received image data. 
   
   
       6 . The data providing device of  claim 4  wherein processor receives data from the sensing devices and executes code to correct received data with respect to distortions in received image data. 
   
   
       7 . A method for determining the location of at least two points on a scanning device with respect to a surface during obtaining of data from the surface or under the surface, the method comprising:
 while moving a device across a surface and while obtaining data, taking at least two position readings on the surface from the device from fixed locations on the device;   while taking two position readings from the device, obtaining information on or under the surface from a sensor on the device;   using readings from the at least two position readings to determine a position of the scanning device relative to the surface; and   using the position readings of the device relative to the surface to modify the information obtained from on or under the surface.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the taking of two position readings is done continuously while moving the device. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the sensor is an image sensor and the information obtained is image data. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the device is moved manually across the surface. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the device is moved manually across the surface. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the device is moved manually across the surface. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the readings from the at least two position sensors and the information obtained from on or under the surface is used to correct distortion in the obtained information and then to store corrected information. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the readings from the at least two position sensors and the information obtained from on or under the surface is used to correct distortion in the obtained information and then to store corrected information. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the readings from the at least two position sensors and the information obtained from on or under the surface is used to correct distortion in the obtained information and then to store corrected information. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the device comprises an optical navigation device capable of performing deterministic motion measurements wherein the output of the device is a measurement of two-dimensional motion on a planar surface. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16  having at least one additional subcomponent selected from the group consisting of:
 a) processing means to provide signal conversion capability between the optical navigation device and an at least 4 bit data port;   b) the at least two sensors are separated by a distance of at least 0.5 cm such that a 3 rd  motion axis of rotation about a surface normal vector (z-axis) may be derived using x-y motion data recovered from the at least two sensor;   c) the device is coupled with an external field programmable gated array (FPGA) to provide signal processing capability to determine rotation about the surface;   d) processor for deriving free trajectory motion of an arbitrary center of rotation assumed or defined on the device;   e) storage for recording free trajectory motion of the arbitrary center of rotation.   f) communication means in the device for transfer of the free trajectory motion and/or the stored motion of claim;   g) communication system enabling the free trajectory motion information to be transferred in the form of displacement in an x and y direction and rotation about a defined axis;   h) sensor selected from the group consisting of contact image sensors or CMOS sensors;   i) a processor receiving output of the CIS and which stores the output according to a storage algorithm determined in part by the device operation characteristics;   j) a processor containing executable code for an imaging storage algorithm utilizing the free trajectory path information and repeated output scans of an image sensor operated in conjunction with the trajectory sensor such that the free path trajectory is compensated for during memory storage of the CIS output;   k) a processor containing executable code for the storage algorithm to compensate for the free path trajectory by determining the storage address for free path compensation mathematically;   l) containing executable code for the storage address algorithm to be determined mathematically is calculated by a processor;   m) a field programmable gated array or ASIC for determining mathematically the storage algorithm;   n) wherein the device comprises sensors such as a mouse sensor typically used for non-deterministic motion detection as when coupled to a computer cursor.