Detecting objects by digital imaging device

• US 20030118237A1
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Laird, Edward T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,154,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/255 Detecting or recognising potential candidate objects based on visual cues, e.g. shapes

Abstract

A system for detecting objects includes a digital image device such as CCD camera to control a defined area for unauthorized intrusions. The digital imaging device views a predetermined pattern positioned across the defined area from the device. A processor periodically compares an image stored in the memory with a digital representation of the predetermined pattern, and a signal is sent to a control unit when the correlation is missing as a result of the object entering field of vision of the digital imaging device and obscuring said predetermined pattern.

Claims

1. A system for detecting an object, comprising:

a digital imaging device to observe a defined area having a memory with a stored image of a pattern, and a processor; and

a predetermined pattern positioned across the defined area from the digital imaging device;

wherein, said processor periodically compare the image stored in memory with a digital representation of said predetermined pattern viewed by said device for correlation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a signal is sent to a control unit when the correlation is missing as a result of the object entering field of vision of the digital imaging device and obscuring said predetermined pattern.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital imaging device is a CCD camera.

4. A system of detecting an object entering a movable barrier opening, comprising:

a predetermined pattern positioned on a side wall of the barrier opening;

a digital imaging device located in the vicinity of an opposite side wall of the barrier opening so as to have in its field of view said barrier opening and said pattern for generating a digital representation of said pattern viewed across the opening; and

a processor for periodically comparing the digital representation of the pattern with a stored image of the pattern to determine correlation.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a moving barrier obscures said predetermined pattern from the field of view of said device changing a visible part of said pattern, and said digital device determines a position of the barrier by correlation of digital representation of said visible part of the pattern with images of said pattern stored in said memory.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a second predetermined pattern positioned on a bottom edge of the movable barrier, and said digital imaging device determines a presence of said object by absence of correlation between digital representation of said patterns as obscured by the object and images of said patterns stored in said memory.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said digital device determines a position of the barrier by correlation of a ratio of visible parts of the predetermined patterns with a ratio stored in said memory.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the digital imaging device is a CCD camera.

9. A method of detecting an object in a defined area using a digital imaging device, comprising:

installing a digital imaging device having a memory with a stored image of a pattern to observe the defined area;

placing a predetermined pattern having a digital representation correlated with said stored image across the defined area and in view of the digital imaging device;

periodically comparing said stored image with digital representation of said predetermined pattern viewed by the device for correlation; and

sending a control signal in absence of correlation indicating intrusion of the object obscuring said predetermined pattern from the view of the digital imaging device.

10. A method of detecting an object according to claim 9, wherein the digital imaging device is a CCD camera.