Patent Application
20070252832
The present invention relates to a system and method for performing operations in a virtual 3D space and a system for selecting, through a visualization system, an operation to be performed.
Personal computers currently used wide spread are equipped with a display which provide two dimensional images. However, computers of the future stay before a great challenge in terms of displaying three dimensional images. There already exist computer displays on the market, which are capable of visualizing a virtual three dimensional space. Amongst these there are displays that comprise a screen manufactured by high-end technology, which allow sensing three dimensional images without any auxiliary device, whilst there are much cheaper displays as well, which typically provide the three dimensional view by using special glasses. In respect that purpose of the application of a computer is not only visualizing information but also inputting and processing information, in relation to computers adapted to display three dimensional images, a need has been arisen for inputting and processing spatial information, that is for performing operations in the virtual three dimensional space. Although nowadays several companies offer computer systems designed for visualizing a virtual three dimensional space, said computer systems being principally available for everyday use at home, 3D technologies applied therein have either very limited capabilities or they are very expensive, and that is why such systems have not used wide spread for the time being. Hereinafter, some of the prior art devices and systems are briefly introduced that are capable of visualizing a virtual three dimensional space and allow performing operations therein.
In the foregoing and the following part of the description, the term “3D space” is used for a well defined segment of the space, that is the term “real 3D space” means a segment of the real space for locating the position of an operation to be performed by moving a positioning device, whereas the term “virtual 3D space” means a segment of a space visualized by a 3D visualizing means.
Document DE 10106850 A1 discloses a position tracking system for 3D computer applications, wherein the position tracking system comprises a spatially movable positioning device, the motion of which is mapped into the virtual three dimensional space. The positioning device is coupled by springs to linear rails arranged orthogonally to each other, said rails representing a spatial coordinate system. The spatial location of the positioning device is detected by a potentiometer system. In this position tracking system, a spatial position is detected by means of a mechanical assembly, which makes actuation of the positioning device more difficult and strongly limits the size of the space segment available for locating the position of an operation.
An even more flexible position tracking system is disclosed in document GB 2388418 A, wherein the position tracking system, the operation of which is based on optical principles, comprises a three dimensional object, for example a cube or a ball, as a positioning device, said object being adapted for moving by hands freely. The image of the object is recorded by a camera. Changes in the spatial position and the orientation of the positioning device are determined from the two dimensional images recorded by the camera. Although use of a second camera is also mentioned in this document, the function of this additional camera is merely limited to obtain supplementary information from eclipsed or awkwardly lit parts of the positioning device. A further disadvantage of this system is that the virtual space is not calibrated to the real-space, therefore the positioning device can be used only for locating relative positions.
A similar solution is introduced in document WO 03/079179 A1, which discloses a positioning device as a spatially movable embodiment of a conventional computer mouse. Such a so called space mouse is provided with a plurality of light sources and a plurality of micro-switches, wherein the light sources may have different colours, sizes or shapes so that the camera can sense displacement or rotation of the space mouse in every spatial direction. Although the above space mouse allows very flexible positioning, its manufacturing cost is rather high.
The purpose of the three dimensional visualization is to provide the capability of sensing spatial shapes as reality by human beings. The spatial effect may be achieved by conveying different images to the left eye and the right eye as the eyes themselves do sense the spatial shapes from different positions. For generating and sensing such a double or stereo image, several technologies have been developed. In the simplest case, the stereo image for the two eyes is displayed on a conventional screen simultaneously and the spatial effect can be sensed by means of special glasses. However, there are sophisticated and very expensive displays as well, which do not need the use of such glasses or any other auxiliary device, since the screen itself provides the stereoscopic view.
One of the simplest and most wide spread solution is based on the separation of two images presented on the same place. In such systems, images for the left and the right eye are displayed on the screen at the same time, and the two images are separated by special 3D glasses in such a way that only the images for the left eye are allowed to pass through the left lens, while only the images for the right eye are allowed to pass through the right lens. Now we introduce some of the systems operating on the basis of image separation.
The core idea of the 3D visualization based on colour separation is that two images of different colour are generated for the left and the right eye, and the two images of different colour are separated by coloured lens. For this purpose, a red lens and a cyan lens are generally used. Through the red lens, only red light can pass, while through the cyan lens, only cyan light can pass. The advantage of a colour separation system is its low price, however, one drawback thereof is that it may be harmful for the eyes after a use of 10-15 minutes and another drawback is that it is not available for providing a colour three dimensional view.
The core idea of the light polarizing systems is that differently polarized images are generated for the left and the right eye, and the two images of different polarity are separated by polarizing lenses. Unlike the colour separation systems, colour and entirely realistic images can be reproduced in a light polarizing system. Although manufacturing costs of such polarizing lenses are relatively low, the display device for reproducing the stereo image consisting of images polarized in two directions is very expensive, thus this solution is mostly used in 3D movies.
The systems using so called shutter glasses operate in a manner that respective images for the left and the right eye are displayed alternately, and a pair of shutter glasses do the job of alternately eclipsing one eye after the other, synchronously with the display device. Shutter glasses have lenses adapted to switch between an opaque state and a transparent state at a high frequency. Similar to a light polarizing system, a shuttering system is also available for reproducing colour and entirely realistic images. Such a system is advantageous due to its relatively low price and to the fact that unlike a light polarizing system, a conventional computer display is enough to use therein.
A common issue of the above mentioned 3D visualizing systems that they cannot detect and thus cannot follow the position of the eyes, i.e. the view point of the user. Consequently, if one moves away from the optimal position providing the three dimensional effect, the virtual objects will shift in the virtual space and they will appear with more or less distortion, which will lead to a degradation of the realistic impression of the three dimensional image. This problem may be avoided by using a head mounted display (HMD).
A HMD display is a special pair of glasses which comprises two displays of reduced size in place of the lenses, said displays directly reproducing the respective images for the two eyes. HMD displays are provided with magnetic and gravitational sensors for sensing any motion of the head, therefore they reproduce undistorted images even if the user is moving and in addition, they are adapted to work even with a 360 degree turn-around of the user. Disadvantages of the HMD displays include their high price due to the special sensors and their limited capability of displaying only a narrow angle of sight of approximately 30-40 degrees.
Systems for performing operations in the virtual three dimensional space are addressed to allow various activities in the virtual space for the user so that operations are performed at locations in the virtual space corresponding to locations selected in the real space and in addition, the operations or the result of the operations can be sensed as reality with three dimensional effect. A common purpose of such systems is to allow performing operations within the virtual tree dimensional space, in addition to visualizing it.
One of the most known virtual 3D manipulation systems currently on the market is the Reachin Core from Reachin Technologies AB, which comprises a special application level programming interface and an integrated 3D position tracking and 3D visualizing system. For the spatial operations, the Rachin Core uses a three dimensional marker developed by SensAble Inc., the position of which is tracked by the computer by means of a mechanical system. The marker is fixed to the end of mechanic arms, and the position of the marker is determined from the inclination angles of the hinge joints of the arms. There is also provided a push button on the marker, the function of which is similar to that of a mouse button. One of the advantages of this kind of marker is that any operation can be freely performed with it in three dimensions in the same manner as with a conventional computer mouse in two dimensions. Furthermore, the marker is provided with a force-feedback mechanism, thus virtual objects become tangible in fact. Such a virtual 3D manipulation system allows to bring the place of the real spatial operation and the place of its virtual three dimensional appearance into coincidence. The three dimensional image can be sensed by using a pair of shutter glasses and a mirror, wherein the three dimensional image appears behind the mirror. The marker is also used behind the mirror, thus the place of the activity and the place of the reproduced image is the same. A drawback of this system is that the real space and the virtual space is not perfectly coincident, since the position of the shutter glasses is not being tracked and therefore the reproduced image cannot be properly oriented with respect to the position of the eyes, i.e. to the view point of the user. The same problem arises in all the other virtual 3D manipulating systems existing currently on the market.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a system for performing operations in the virtual 3D space, wherein the location of the operation is selected in the real 3D space and the virtual 3D space is visualized undistorted with an orientation corresponding to the instantaneous point of view of the user.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a virtual 3D manipulation system which is substantially cheaper than any of the similar prior art solutions and which allows to use a space segment of arbitrary size for position tracking, and wherein the real three dimensional space segment for position tracking and the visualized three dimensional space segment is perfectly coincident.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method for operating the above system.
Finally, another objective of the present invention is to provide a system for selecting, through a visualizing system, an operation to be performed, wherein the principle of position tracking is used in the selection process.
These and other objectives are achieved in the present invention by a system for performing an operation in the virtual three dimensional space, wherein the system comprises a visualizing system for visualizing the virtual three dimensional space; a 3D position tracking system for marking, in the real tree dimensional space, the real space position of the operation to be performed in the virtual three dimensional space; and a means for mapping the position of the real three dimensional space into the virtual three dimensional space and performing the operation in the mapped position. The 3D position tracking system comprises a positioning means provided with at least one signal source; at least two image sensors for detecting the signals emitted by the at least one signal source of the positioning means; and a first means for determining the real space position of the positioning means relative to the image sensors, based on the signals generated by the image sensors and the spatial location of the image sensors relative to each other.
In the system according to the invention, the visualizing system for visualizing the virtual three dimensional space preferably comprises a means for reproducing three dimensional images; at least two signal sources arranged in a fixed location relative to the user's eyes; at least two image sensors for detecting the signals emitted by the signal sources; a second means for determining the real space positions of the user's eyes based on the signals generated by the image sensors; and a third means for determining the viewing point of the virtual three dimensional space based on the positions provided by the second means and generating a corresponding image for each eye.
The above objectives are further achieved in the present invention by a method for performing an operation in a virtual three dimensional space, wherein the method comprises the steps of visualizing a virtual three dimensional space; marking, by positioning in the real three dimensional space, the position of the operation to be performed in the virtual three dimensional space; mapping the position of the real three dimensional space into a position of the virtual three dimensional space; and performing the operation in the virtual three dimensional space at the mapped position. The step of positioning in the real three dimensional space comprises the steps of moving at least one signal source fixed to a positioning means into a selected position of the real three dimensional space; detecting the signals emitted by the at least one signal source being in the selected position by using at least two image sensors; and determining the real space position of the positioning means relative to the image sensors, based on the signals generated by the image sensors and the spatial location of the image sensors relative to each other.
The positioning means is preferably formed as a stick with the at least one signal source arranged at its one end. The stick may comprise a button for marking the position.
Preferably, the at least one signal source of the positioning means is a light source emitting visible or infrared light. The intensity of the light sources is preferably adjustable.
The image sensors are preferably cameras recording 2D images, wherein the cameras may be provided with a light proof unit for preventing incidence of the environmental diffuse light.
The first means may be adapted to determine both the real space position and the real space orientation of the positioning means relative to the image sensors.
It is particularly beneficial when the real space position of the operation and the virtual space position of the operation is coincident.
The means for reproducing three dimensional images preferably comprises a display reproducing different images for the left eye and the right eye of the user and a corresponding pair of glasses for image separation. The signal sources are preferably fixed to said pair of glasses. The glasses may include glasses separating the different colours of the screen, glasses separating the differently polarized images of the screen, and so called shutter glasses.
In case three signal sources are fixed to the glasses of the three dimensional visualizing system, the overall system may further comprise a fourth means for mapping the displacement of the third signal source of said pair of glasses relative to the display into an operational instruction, said displacement being detected by the image sensors. The operational instruction is preferably a motion to be performed in the virtual three dimensional space.
In the virtual 3D manipulation system, the same image sensors are used in the 3D position tracking system and in the system for visualizing the virtual three dimensional space.
The positioning means, as well as the glasses may comprise a vibrator unit that is put into operation by a sixth means when the positioning means gets into a predetermined position.
Finally, the above objectives are further achieved by a system for selecting, through a visualizing system, an operation to be performed, wherein the system comprises a position tracking system and a visualizing system for visualizing images having activable fields, said activable fields being associated with predetermined functions. The position tracking system comprises a positioning means provided with at least one signal source; at least two image sensors for detecting the signal emitted by the at least one signal source of the positioning means; and a first means for determining the real space position of the positioning means relative to the image sensors, based on the signals generated by the image sensors and the spatial location of the image sensors relative to each other. The selection system further comprises a fifth means for activating a field in the image visualized by the visualizing system, said field being associated with the marked position.
The visualizing system may be adapted for visualizing two or three dimensional images. The image may contain point-like, two dimensional and, in case of 3D images, three dimensional activable fields.
The visualizing system may be arranged remotely with respect to the positioning means and the image sensors.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will be described in more detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The functional block diagram of the virtual 3D manipulating system according to the invention is illustrated in
The position P1 and the orientation O1 of the positioning means are forwarded by the position tracking system 12 to a processing means W0, which maps the position P1 and the real space orientation O1 of the real space 10 into a position P*1 and an orientation O*1 of the virtual three dimensional space 16. If the real space 10 and the virtual space 16 are coincident, i.e. the virtual space 16 is calibrated to the real space 10, the position P1 will be identical to the position P*1, whereas the orientation O1 will identical to the orientation O*1, thus one can work in the virtual space 16 in the same way as would do it in the real space 10.
In the virtual 3D manipulating system according to the invention, the virtual space 16 is visualized in an undistorted and realistic manner by a three dimensional visualization system 18 that continuously tracks positions P2L and P2R of the user's eyes in the real three dimensional space in such a way that it determines the positions P2L and P2R of the eyes in the real three dimensional space by using a processing means W2, based on signals emitted by signal sources fixed to the head of the user and detected by image sensors, and then these computed vales are forwarded to a processing means W3. According to the positions P2L and P2R of the eyes, the processing means W3 determines the instantaneous viewing point V* of the virtual space 16 and generates a stereo image Ist of the virtual space 16. The stereo image Ist consists of two different images, each of them so showing the objects of the virtual three dimensional space 16 as they can be seen from the respective positions P2L and P2R of the two eyes. This stereo image Ist is reproduced by the visualizing system 18. If positions P2L and P2R of the eyes change, the viewing point V* of the virtual space 16 will be adjusted by the processing means W3 in such a way that the image Ist reproduced by the visualizing system 18 will always provide a realistic and undistorted three dimensional effect. It means that if the viewer moves, for example, rightwards, he can see the objects in the virtual space 16 from right, whereas if he moves, for example, upwards, he can see the objects in the virtual space 16 from above.
Since the positions P2L and P2R of the eyes relative to each other may vary in case of different users due to their different anatomical properties, the system according to the present invention preferably allows to adjust the value utilized by the system for the distance between the two eyes. Thus the virtual three dimensional space and the real three dimensional space can be made perfectly coincident for every user.
As shown in
The core idea of the virtual 3D manipulation system according to the invention is that the determination of the location of points in the three dimensional space is based on the theory of three dimensional reconstruction of the space from stereo images. It means that both of the spatial location of the operation and the viewing point of the are marked by using one or more signal source, and the signals emitted by the signal sources are detected by at least two image sensors arranged at different places. Spatial location of the signal sources are determined by processing the detected signals. By applying more than two image sensors for determining the spatial location of each signal source, reliability of the overall system may be enhanced because enough spatial information can be obtained on the signal sources getting into eclipse during use of the system, thus achieving precise positioning. It is obvious for those skilled in the art how the three dimensional space reconstruction based on one stereo image can be extended to a three dimensional positioning based on a plurality of stereo images with using more than two image sensors.
Accordingly, the virtual 3D manipulation system according to the invention comprises a 3D position tracking system for marking, in the real three dimensional space, the location of an operation to be performed in the virtual three dimensional space, a means for mapping the position selected in the real three dimensional space into the virtual space and performing the operation in the virtual three dimensional space, and a visualizing system for visualizing the virtual 3D space. The 3D position tracking system comprises a positioning means provided with at least one signal source, a plurality of image sensors for detecting the signals emitted by the at least one signal source of the positioning means, and a processing means for determining the real space location of the positioning means relative to the image sensors based on the signals generated by the image sensors and the position of the image sensors relative to each other. Spatial location of the positioning means is determined by the signals provided by the image sensors, based on the theory of three dimensional reconstruction of the space from stereo images. The type of the operation to be performed may be specified (selected) in any way, for example by selecting from a menu, activating an activable field on the screen, activating an activable field or space segment visualized in the virtual 3D space, using the keyboard, instructing by voice, etc. Selection of the operation may be carried out before or after positioning the operation. In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the type of the operation is first selected by moving the positioning means into a certain location, and only afterwards the position of the operation is marked. In another preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the type of the operation is specified by moving the positioning means in a predetermined way. In the latter case, the positioning means is fixed in the virtual space to the object subjected to an operation and the virtual object is manipulated by suitably moving, for example drawing, rotating, etc., the positioning means.
In the virtual 3D manipulation system according to the invention, light sources are preferably used as signal sources and cameras recording two dimensional images are preferably used as image sensors. In order to reduce implementation costs, the same cameras are used in the position tracking system and in the 3D visualizing system. However, it is obvious for those skilled in the art that the position tracking system and the 3D visualizing system may utilize own cameras, and instead of light sources and 2D cameras, any other kind of signal sources and corresponding sensors may be utilized which are capable of determining the exact location of spatial points. Consequently, the signals are not limited to light signals, for example visible or infrared light signals, but may include radio frequency signals, microwave signals, ultrasonic signals, etc., although generation and detection of such signals require much more expensive devices than that of the light signals.
In case a plurality of positioning means is used at the same time, signal sources with different characteristics, for example light sources with different colours, are preferably used in the positioning means. Reliability of the position tracking may be substantially improved if more than two image sensors (e.g. cameras) are used, since in such a configuration, one or more signal source hidden from one of the image sensors due to eclipse may be detected by all the other image sensors that can obtain enough spatial information on the one or more eclipsed signal source to achieve precise positioning.
A preferred and low-cost embodiment of the virtual 3D manipulating system 100 according to the invention is illustrated in
A particularly preferred embodiment of the virtual 3D manipulation system according to the invention (not shown) comprises four wide-aperture cameras arranged at four corners of the display, with preferably integrated into the frame of the screen.
In the system 100 shown in
In an alternative embodiment of the system according to the invention, the positioning means comprises a vibrator unit that vibrates the positioning means held by the user in his hand when a certain position is marked. In this embodiment, the system also comprises a processing means W6 (shown in
In order to make the virtual three dimensional space visualized by the 3D visualizing system exactly coincident with the real three dimensional space used for locating the operation, one has to calibrate the 3D visualizing system. The calibration procedure is carried out in the following way. First, the cameras 110 are adjusted so that the screen of display 120 falls into their field of view 114. Next, the light sources 140 of the glasses 145 are switched off, and only one of the light sources 130 of the positioning means 135, preferably that one arranged at the tip of the stick, is powered. In the following step, a plurality of reference points, for example the corners of the display 120, are marked one after the other in a predetermined sequence by using the positioning means 135. A calibrating computer program is then run to determine the state (position and orientation) of the cameras 110 relative to the reference points. After the calibration procedure, all of the light sources 130, 140 are powered and, based on the two images recorded by the two cameras 110 and the location of the cameras 110 relative to each other and to the display 120, the processing means W1 and W2 (shown in
In a preferred embodiment of the virtual 3D manipulation system according to the invention, the calibration procedure further comprises the steps of recording spatial arrangement of any other light sources, in particular the illuminating light sources, within the field of view of the cameras 110, and reproducing the objects in the virtual three dimensional space according to the real illumination conditions, thus further enhancing the realistic effect.
By mounting more than one light source on a device, like in the case of the glasses 145, the orientation of that device may also be determined. Accordingly, in an alternative embodiment of the system 100 according to the invention as shown in
The display 120 of system 100 is a visualizing device reproducing two different images, i.e. a stereo image, for the two eyes on its screen. For sensing the spatial effect, special glasses 145 for image separation are necessary, the type of which is basically defined by the method of image generation. In case the screen displays two images of different colour for the two eyes simultaneously, a pair of glasses 145 separating the different colours of the screen for the left eye and the right eye is to be used. However, if the screen displays two images of different polarity for the two eyes simultaneously, a pair of glasses 145 separating the differently polarized images of the screen for the left eye and the right eye is to be used. Furthermore, the display may reproduce the images alternately for the left eye and the right eye at a predetermined frequency, in which case a pair of glasses 145 alternately shutters one eye after the other, synchronously with the alternation of the images. (These are the so called shutter glasses.)
When any one of the glasses 145 mentioned above is used for 3D visualization, the two light sources 140 are preferably mounted on the glasses 145 so that they are at the same distance from a central axis 146 of the glasses 145 as shown in
As shown in
If the virtual three dimensional space and the real three dimensional space are coincident in the virtual 3D manipulation system according to the invention, it will be possible to select the desired operation through the visualizing system. In order to implement such a system, the image visualized by the visualizing system should contain activable fields, each having a predetermined function. As the visualizing system is capable of visualizing three dimensional images, the operation to be performed may be selected by marking (e.g. approaching, touching, intersecting, etc.) a point-like, a two dimensional or a three dimensional field in the visualized virtual space. Accordingly, the system for selecting an operation through the visualizing system comprises a system for visualizing images having activable fields with predetermined functions and a position tracking system comprising a positioning means provided with at least one light source, a plurality of image sensors for detecting the light signals emitted by the at least one light source of the positioning means, and a processing means W1 (shown in
When the visualizing system is adapted to display identical 2D images for the two eyes and the processing means W5 is adapted to activate a field only when the positioning means is in a position proximate to the screen, the selection system may be used as a conventional 2D touch screen without the need of making the screen itself sensible to physical touch. Such a substantially planar touch screen requires a simple hardware configuration consisting of a conventional display device, two simple low-cost web-cameras and a positioning means preferably in the form of a stick with a light source. In such a configuration there is no need of 3D glasses.
In a preferred embodiment of the 2D touch screen, the processing means W5 also monitors the distance between the positioning means and the screen. If the positioning means gets closer than a predetermined distance to the screen, the cursor on the screen will jump to the activable field corresponding to the position of the positioning means. Furthermore, if the positioning means approaches the screen even closer than the above mentioned predetermined distance, the processing means W5 will activate the respective field and perform the operation assigned to that field. In an alternative embodiment of the 2D touch screen, additional activable fields may be defined in the space outside the screen. For example, by moving the positioning means above and/or to the right side of the screen, one could exit an application, e.g. the Windows, whereas by moving the positioning means under and/or to the left side of the screen, one could invoke a menu for setting the 2D touch screen.
The above introduced virtual 3D touch screen (or 2D touch screen in a special case) allows marking of the activable filed of the displayed image by the positioning means not only in the place or in the close environment of displaying but also in a remote place. It is obvious that in such a situation, the real three dimensional space used for position tracking and the place of visualizing the 3D or 2D images are physically asunder. For remotely activating the activable fields of an image, the positioning means comprises a plurality of light sources, preferably four light sources, for the sake of reliable image sensing. The processing means W1 computes both the real space position and the real space orientation of the positioning means relative to the image sensors, and the processing means W5 activates the field of the image corresponding to that position and orientation. Such remote marking makes it possible, for example, to handle an image projected for the audience of a presentation from afar, or to handle an image displayed in a remote place via the Internet. It should be noted, that in case of remote marking, it is inevitably necessary to calibrate the visualizing system, during which selected reference points of the visualizing system are to be assigned to respective reference points of the space used for position tracking.
The virtual 3D manipulating system according to the invention is particularly advantageous due to the fact that it can be used practically in all fields where operations in the virtual space are needed or preferred, for example in the art, the science, the education, the entertainment, etc., as well as at designing, further shaping or turning around objects. In the virtual three dimensional space, any kind of planar or spatial surface can be freely shaped, the virtual material of a surface can be selected, wherein the material may include wood, stone, plasticine, clay, metal, etc. and even during the shaping process, the virtual material may be changed. Another advantage of the system according to the invention is the remarkable low cost and the easy way of its implementation and operation. The virtual 3D manipulation system according to the invention allows, for example, animation of shapes, measurement of shapes, performing tests, etc. Furthermore, a creative work may immediately start with spatially creating the desired shape without the need of preparing a planar plan and then transforming it into three dimensions. Thus the creative work requires substantially less time and cost. In general, the system according to the invention is advantageous in all fields where performing operations in the virtual space is beneficial.
It is particularly advantageous to use the virtual 3D manipulation system according to the invention together with a real 3D manipulation system like a robotic arm, an automatic apparatus, a machine tool, etc. used in a technological process, or a surgical manipulator. In these applications, an operation to be performed in the real space may be first performed in the virtual space, and if the result in the virtual space is satisfying, the actuator of the real 3D manipulation system may be instructed to perform the operation in the reality. For example, if a work-piece is to be turned to have an optimal shape, several three dimensional shapes may be prepared and tested by a simulator program in the virtual space, and when found the optimal shape, the real work-piece with the optimal shape may be immediately manufactured by a turning-machine upon sending the corresponding instructions to it.
The system for selecting an operation through a visualization system, according to the present invention, is particularly advantageous because it comprises exceptionally low-cost devices and allows to avoid the use of expensive touch-sensitive screens. Moreover, it allows to mark a field with a function even in the virtual three dimensional space. Another advantage of this system is that the place of displaying can be far from the place of position tracking and the activable fields of the remote image can be activated via the Internet as well.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| P0401034 | May 2004 | HU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/HU05/00056 | 5/24/2005 | WO | 11/21/2006 |
