Apparatus and method for visualizing periodic motions in mechanical components
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for visualizing physical movements comprising:
- a processor and a memory for storage;
a device for acquiring video image files, each video file having a sequence of video images comprising at least two individual still image frames, which are stored in memory and divided into pixels defined by two or more spatial coordinates within the frame, wherein pixel intensity is determined by brightness of light reflected or thermal energy emitted at that pixel with such intensity values expressed as amplitude;
a computer program operating in said processor to;
compare the amplitude of at least one set of corresponding pixels in a first image frame to that in a second image frame;
determine an amplitude that corresponds with movement in an object in an area of the frame defined by one or more pixels that includes the at least one corresponding pixel;
create motion amplification by the steps of;
identifying one of the image frames as a reference frame;
combining frames by identifying another of said image frames as a difference frame and overlaying the difference frame over the reference frame;
wherein the combining step comprises increasing the amplitude of the difference frame by an amplification factor that increases the intensity value of the corresponding pixel in the difference frame as representation of motion;
and compute a new image sequence in which said motions are visually amplified which the apparatus is configured to display via a user interface that displays a motion-amplified video image of said object.
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Abstract
An apparatus for visualizing physical movements includes:
- a device for acquiring video image files;
- a data analysis system including processor and memory;
- a computer program operating in the processor to identify an area in the images where periodic motions associated with physical movement of an object may be detected and quantified, and compute a new image sequence in which the motions are visually amplified; and,
- a user interface that displays the motion-amplified video image of the mechanical component.
An associated method for using the apparatus is also disclosed.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for visualizing physical movements comprising:
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a processor and a memory for storage; a device for acquiring video image files, each video file having a sequence of video images comprising at least two individual still image frames, which are stored in memory and divided into pixels defined by two or more spatial coordinates within the frame, wherein pixel intensity is determined by brightness of light reflected or thermal energy emitted at that pixel with such intensity values expressed as amplitude; a computer program operating in said processor to; compare the amplitude of at least one set of corresponding pixels in a first image frame to that in a second image frame; determine an amplitude that corresponds with movement in an object in an area of the frame defined by one or more pixels that includes the at least one corresponding pixel; create motion amplification by the steps of; identifying one of the image frames as a reference frame; combining frames by identifying another of said image frames as a difference frame and overlaying the difference frame over the reference frame; wherein the combining step comprises increasing the amplitude of the difference frame by an amplification factor that increases the intensity value of the corresponding pixel in the difference frame as representation of motion; and compute a new image sequence in which said motions are visually amplified which the apparatus is configured to display via a user interface that displays a motion-amplified video image of said object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for visualizing physical movements comprising the steps of:
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acquiring video image files, each video file having a sequence of video images comprising at least two individual still image frames, which are stored in memory and divided into pixels defined by two or more spatial coordinates within the frame, wherein pixel intensity is determined by brightness of light reflected or thermal energy emitted at that pixel with such intensity values expressed as amplitude; configuring a memory to store two or more image frames; in the operation of a computer program, comparing the amplitude of at least one set of corresponding pixels in a first image frame to that in a second image frame; determining an amplitude that corresponds with movement in an object in an area of the frame defined by one or more pixels that includes the at least one corresponding pixel; creating motion amplification by the steps of; identifying one of the image frames as a reference frame; combining frames by identifying another of said image frames as a difference frame and overlaying the difference frame over the reference frame; wherein the combining step comprises increasing the amplitude of the difference frame by an amplification factor that increases the intensity value of the corresponding pixel in the difference frame as representation of motion; and
,computing a new image sequence file in which said motions are visually amplified; and displaying a motion-amplified video image of said object. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for visualizing physical movements in an object, comprising:
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a device for acquiring video image files, each video file having a sequence of video images comprising at least two individual still image frames, which are stored in memory and divided into pixels defined by two or more spatial coordinates within the frame, wherein pixel intensity is determined by brightness of light reflected or thermal energy emitted at that pixel with such intensity values expressed as amplitude; a data analysis system including processor and memory for storage; a computer program operating in said processor to; compare the amplitude of at least one set of corresponding pixels in a first image frame to that in a second image frame; determine an amplitude that corresponds with movement in an object in an area of the frame defined by one or more pixels that includes the at least one corresponding pixel; create motion amplification by the steps of;
identifying one of the image frames as a reference frame;
combining frames by identifying another of said image frames as a difference frame and overlaying the difference frame over the reference frame;
wherein the combining step comprises increasing the amplitude of the difference frame by an amplification factor that increases the intensity value of the corresponding pixel in the difference frame as representation of motion; and
,compute a new image sequence in which said motions are visually amplified; and further comprising a user interface configured to allow display of a motion-amplified video file or an image frame of said object. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification