WO1997010540A1 - A device and a method for digitizing coordinates and/or an image - Google Patents
A device and a method for digitizing coordinates and/or an image Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1997010540A1 WO1997010540A1 PCT/FI1996/000481 FI9600481W WO9710540A1 WO 1997010540 A1 WO1997010540 A1 WO 1997010540A1 FI 9600481 W FI9600481 W FI 9600481W WO 9710540 A1 WO9710540 A1 WO 9710540A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- light
- pointer
- mouse
- coordinates
- light beam
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
- G06F3/042—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by opto-electronic means
- G06F3/0421—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by opto-electronic means by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
- G06F3/0423—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by opto-electronic means by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen using sweeping light beams, e.g. using rotating or vibrating mirror
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
- G06F3/0354—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
- G06F3/03543—Mice or pucks
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
- G06F3/042—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by opto-electronic means
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
- A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
- A61N5/10—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy
- A61N5/1048—Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
- A61N5/1049—Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam
Definitions
- This invention concerns a device and a method for digitizing coordinates and/or an image and more precisely a device and method by means of which the digitizing of an image can be performed free of the numerous drawbacks that pertain to the equipment presently in use.
- the digitizing of coordinates and images has been known for a long time, and many applications have been used for this purpose.
- an electromagnetic digitizing system in which wires are placed, for the purpose of electromagnetic determination of coordinates, across a digitizing table at certain intervals.
- the wires are and remain as physical objects which are visible under an x-ray film, for example, when the film is viewed on a digitizing table.
- the presence of the wires causes an obvious deterioration in quality.
- Attempts have been made to eliminate this drawback by using opaque covering glass and side illumination to fade out the wires.
- the problem of light directed from the side is that it does not illuminate large areas uniformly.
- the digitizer of the above-mentioned system is complicated in structure, as well as heavy and expensive.
- An additional restriction on the structure is that it should not be used, according to the recommendations of the manufacturers, near large metal objects.
- the digitizing table is just that kind of large metal object which may disturb its use.
- Another type of device used especially for the digitizing of x-ray films comprises a film transporting mechanism and a scanning device which illuminates the film from one side and scans it, on the line number principle, from the other side.
- the device in question contains a sensitive film transporting mechanism and entirely lacks the possibility to digitize the coordinates in a memory.
- the equipment is very expensive.
- the purpose of this invention is to solve all the above-mentioned problems and achieve a method and a device for digitizing coordinates and images in such a way that eliminates the use of wires or other additional parts that Iower the image quality.
- a further purpose of the invention is to achieve a device and a method which can be made simply and economically, requiring neither digitizing tablets nor a massive digitizing table, and with which the expansion of the scanning area is entirely possible.
- a further advantage that can be mentioned is that, in accordance with the invention, it is possible to achieve a very simple and new kind of structure for scanning film.
- Figure 1 shows, in simplified form, a side view of one embodiment of the invention
- Figure 2 shows the working principle of a device according to the invention, including a searching/reading light signal from a light source/to a light detector and an example of a search path, and
- Figure 3 shows the pointing device to be used in the invention and the deter ⁇ mination of coordinates with its aid.
- FIG. 1 presents a simplified overall view of the device 1 according to the invention.
- Device 1 comprises mainly the following parts.
- the light box 2 can be located on any suitable base whatsoever, such as the surface of a table. It comprises, as is normal, a transparent or translucent surface plate, under which is a light source.
- the object to be digitized, such as an x-ray film, is placed on the lightbox 2, whereupon it is illuminated from below and the light transpa ⁇ rency of its various parts is measured, as is later explained.
- a support arm 3 which can be of any type whatsoever, but conceals within it, for example, the necessary cables and accessories needed for the devices located schematically in part 4 of the diagram.
- Part 4 comprises a suitable light source, such as an infrared light source, which, by means of suitable scanner optics and moving mechanisms, produces a light beam which, according to the invention, scans the lightbox in a search for the optical detectors located in mouse pointer 5 placed on top of the lightbox.
- the positioning of the coordinates is based on the principle that the light beam emitted from the light source searches for the optical detectors of the mouse pointer 5, and that once their position has been established, the exact position of the mouse pointer can be deduced.
- the part marked by reference number 4 generally contains an optical sensor, capable of precisely measuring the light intensities coming through a film or the like placed upon a lightbox, by means of a system, for example, in which the optical detector receives the light to be measured via mirrors.
- an optical sensor capable of precisely measuring the light intensities coming through a film or the like placed upon a lightbox, by means of a system, for example, in which the optical detector receives the light to be measured via mirrors.
- an x-ray film placed on lightbox 2 may be digitized in the memory of a suitable information system, and in particular so that films scanned simultaneously from several directions are used, whence it is possible to form a three-dimensional image.
- catheters and other instruments intended for treatment may have been inserted in a person from whom such images are taken.
- the exact positions of these instruments is important to the treatment plan. Therefore, after the image is read into the memory, the position of the said instruments is entered into the same memory system by pointing the mouse pointer at the desired point and pressing the mouse user button to transfer the coordinates to the memory.
- the light beam from part 4 monitors the position of the mouse's detectors the whole time, so that the coordinates are constantly recorded.
- FIG. 2 shows, in more detail and by way of example, a certain application of the mirror system contained in part 4.
- part 4 contains a light source 6 which may, for example, be a source of infrared light such as a light-emitting diode (LED).
- Part 4 additionally contains a light detector 7 which may also be a diode in type, i.e. a light-sensitive diode.
- the light beam transmitted by the light source 6 first hits the mirror 8 which rotates under precise and high speed control around its axle 9.
- This mirror 8 carries out the scanning in one direction, the X direction.
- a second mirror 10 is located so that, while rotating around its axle 11 , it carries out scanning in the opposite direction, the Y direction.
- the search path of the light beam is presented schematically in the left margin of figure 2. Clearly, the search path is denser in practice than that shown here.
- the device used to rotate the mirror 10 is marked by the reference number 12.
- the light intensities penetrating the film on top of lightbox 2 are measured by light detector 7 after being reflected from mirrors 10, 8.
- the scanning path may be, and will preferably be, the same as is presented in the foregoing.
- Figure 3 shows one example of how locating the coordinates of the mouse pointer 5, which is placed on the lightbox to give the exact coordinates of a desired point, occurs according to one preferred method.
- the mouse pointer 5 contains, as is normal, the user buttons 13 for giving control commands to the system.
- it has a pointing part 14 equipped with suitable cross-hairs 15 to facilitate the pinpointing of an exact position at the cross point of the cross-hairs 15.
- the mouse pointer 5 also has two light detectors 16, the purpose of which is to determine the coordinates of the mouse location by detecting the searching light coming from the light source 6.
- both light detectors 16 The location of both light detectors 16 is determined in order to clarify the position of the mouse pointer 5, including those cases when it is not at right angles to the area to be scanned.
- the exact determination of the coordinates is carried out as follows. It may be seen in the Iower part of figure 3 that the light beam identifies the position of both light detectors by sweeping over them in two orthogonal orientations in both directions. As is shown at the bottom of figure 3, there is a rising signal at the point where the light beam hits the light detector 16. The light beam coming from the opposite direction fixes the location of the other edge of the detector 16. The exact coordinates are gained from the average of the rising slopes of the detector signals, and there is thus no need to define the centre points of the detectors. Nor does the measuring radius or the radius of the light detectors need to be especially small.
- All the available information is transferred by a suitable transfer system, such as standard cables, to a computer containing a suitable programme for the storing and processing of such information.
- control system is required for the operation of a system according to the invention.
- Such technical details are self-evident to profes ⁇ sionals in the field and thus need no detailed description here.
- the control system also normally needs components with which to eliminate a range of possible errors including misalignments of the optical scanner, mechanical errors and various errors related to the detectors and sensors.
- the structure of a device according to the invention is extremely simple and operationally reliable.
- the device is also economical in terms of its manufacturing costs.
- the device is totally free of those drawbacks of electromagnetic equipment that relate specifically to the use of magnetism.
- a device according to the invention may be located in the immediate vicinity of large metal objects, if the need arises. It has been proved that use of a device according to the invention allows a level of precision comparable to that of any known equipment whatsoever developed for a similar purpose, and that its speed is also in the same class as the best equipment on the market.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP96930184A EP0850443A1 (en) | 1995-09-12 | 1996-09-11 | A device and a method for digitizing coordinates and/or an image |
AU69328/96A AU6932896A (en) | 1995-09-12 | 1996-09-11 | A device and a method for digitizing coordinates and/or an image |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FI954271 | 1995-09-12 | ||
FI954271A FI102644B (en) | 1995-09-12 | 1995-09-12 | Apparatus and method for digitizing coordinates and / or images |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1997010540A1 true WO1997010540A1 (en) | 1997-03-20 |
Family
ID=8543999
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/FI1996/000481 WO1997010540A1 (en) | 1995-09-12 | 1996-09-11 | A device and a method for digitizing coordinates and/or an image |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0850443A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU6932896A (en) |
FI (1) | FI102644B (en) |
WO (1) | WO1997010540A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1115091A2 (en) * | 2000-01-06 | 2001-07-11 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Data processing system, printer, image recording system and image recording method |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3613066A (en) * | 1968-10-22 | 1971-10-12 | Cii | Computer input equipment |
GB1466471A (en) * | 1974-09-25 | 1977-03-09 | Cetec Systems Ltd | Optical digistising system |
US4550250A (en) * | 1983-11-14 | 1985-10-29 | Hei, Inc. | Cordless digital graphics input device |
US5073770A (en) * | 1985-04-19 | 1991-12-17 | Lowbner Hugh G | Brightpen/pad II |
US5287105A (en) * | 1991-08-12 | 1994-02-15 | Calcomp Inc. | Automatic tracking and scanning cursor for digitizers |
-
1995
- 1995-09-12 FI FI954271A patent/FI102644B/en active IP Right Grant
-
1996
- 1996-09-11 WO PCT/FI1996/000481 patent/WO1997010540A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1996-09-11 AU AU69328/96A patent/AU6932896A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-09-11 EP EP96930184A patent/EP0850443A1/en not_active Ceased
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3613066A (en) * | 1968-10-22 | 1971-10-12 | Cii | Computer input equipment |
GB1466471A (en) * | 1974-09-25 | 1977-03-09 | Cetec Systems Ltd | Optical digistising system |
US4550250A (en) * | 1983-11-14 | 1985-10-29 | Hei, Inc. | Cordless digital graphics input device |
US5073770A (en) * | 1985-04-19 | 1991-12-17 | Lowbner Hugh G | Brightpen/pad II |
US5287105A (en) * | 1991-08-12 | 1994-02-15 | Calcomp Inc. | Automatic tracking and scanning cursor for digitizers |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1115091A2 (en) * | 2000-01-06 | 2001-07-11 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Data processing system, printer, image recording system and image recording method |
EP1115091A3 (en) * | 2000-01-06 | 2004-04-14 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Data processing system, printer, image recording system and image recording method |
US7031017B2 (en) | 2000-01-06 | 2006-04-18 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Data processing system, printer, image recording system and image recording method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU6932896A (en) | 1997-04-01 |
FI954271A0 (en) | 1995-09-12 |
EP0850443A1 (en) | 1998-07-01 |
FI102644B1 (en) | 1999-01-15 |
FI102644B (en) | 1999-01-15 |
FI954271A (en) | 1997-05-26 |
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