System and method for measuring a distance to an object

• US 10,018,467 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2011
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Bendall, Clark Alexander, McClung, Daniel H J
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Christopher S
• Assistant Examiner(s): KWAN, MATTHEW K
• Application Number:
  US13/156,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20120314058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,588 Days
• Field of Search: 348135
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/00 Photogrammetry or videogrammetry, e.g. stereogrammetry; Photographic surveying
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 Use of electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/50 Depth or shape recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

A system for measuring a distance to an object includes a camera positioned at a location and a signal generated by the camera that is reflective of a camera setting. A controller operably connected to the camera receives the signal and generates an accuracy signal based on the signal. The accuracy signal is reflective of a predicted accuracy of a distance measurement. An indicator operably connected to the controller provides an indication reflective of the accuracy signal. A method for measuring a distance to an object includes positioning a camera and generating a signal reflective of a predicted accuracy of a distance measurement. The method further includes providing an indication reflective of the signal, capturing one or more images of the object at the location, and calculating a distance to the object based on the one or more captured images of the object at the location.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a camera, wherein the camera is configured to be positioned at a location, and the camera is configured to generate at least one signal when at the location based at least in part on a combination of an exposure setting of the camera and a gain setting of the camera;

a controller operably connected to the camera, wherein the controller is configured to receive the at least one signal and the controller is configured to generate an accuracy signal based on the at least one signal prior to capturing one or more images of an object by the camera, wherein the accuracy signal is reflective of a predicted accuracy of a distance measurement between a first point of the object and a second point of the object, and the distance measurement is obtained from the one or more images of the object captured by the camera at the location; and

an indicator operably connected to the controller, wherein the indicator is configured to provide an indication reflective of the accuracy signal.

2. The system as in claim 1, comprising a predetermined limit, wherein the controller compares the at least one signal to the predetermined limit.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a visual display, a sound, or any combination thereof.

4. The system as in claim 1, comprising a light operably connected to the camera.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a borescope.

6. A method, comprising:

generating a signal based upon an exposure setting and a gain setting for a camera, the signal reflective of a predicted accuracy of a distance measurement between a first point of an object and a second point of the object, and the signal reflective of the predicted accuracy is generated prior to capturing one or more images of the object by the camera positioned at a location with respect to the object;

providing an indication reflective of the predicted accuracy based at least in part on the signal;

capturing the one or more images of the object at the location after generating the signal and providing the indication; and

calculating a distance to the object based on the one or more captured images of the object at the location after generating the signal.

7. The method as in claim 6, wherein the indication comprises a visual indication.

8. The method as in claim 6, wherein the indication comprises an audio indication.

9. The method as in claim 6, further comprising determining, before capturing the one or more images of the object, one or more predetermined limits for at least one of an exposure setting or a gain setting for the camera at the location.

10. The method as in claim 9, further comprising comparing, before capturing the one or more images of the object, at least one of the exposure setting or the gain setting for the camera at the location to the one or more predetermined limits, wherein the signal reflective of the predicted accuracy is based at least in part on the comparison of at least one of the exposure setting or the gain setting to the one or more predetermined limits.

11. The method as in claim 6, further comprising generating the signal reflective of the predicted accuracy based on at least one of an exposure setting or a gain setting for the camera at the location.

12. The method as in claim 6, further comprising generating a three-dimensional image of the object, and calculating the distance measurement from the three-dimensional image of the object.

13. The method as in claim 6, further comprising illuminating the object.

14. A method, comprising:

determining an exposure setting and a gain setting for a camera, wherein the camera is positioned at a location with respect to an object;

generating a signal based on the exposure setting and the gain setting and the camera at the location, wherein the signal is reflective of a predicted accuracy of a distance measurement between a first point of the object and a second point of the object, and the signal reflective of the predicted accuracy is generated prior to capturing one or more images of the object by the camera at the location;

providing an indication reflective of the predicted accuracy based at least in part on the signal;

capturing the one or more images of the object at the location after generating the signal and providing the indication; and

calculating a distance to the object based on the one or more images of the object at the location after generating the signal.

15. The method as in claim 14, further comprising comparing at least one of the exposure setting or the gain setting to a predetermined limit.

16. The method as in claim 14, further comprising displaying a visual indication reflective of the signal.

17. The method as in claim 14, further comprising generating an audio indication reflective of the signal.

18. The method as in claim 14, further comprising generating a three-dimensional image of the object, and calculating the distance measurement from the three-dimensional image of the object.