Method and apparatus for detecting objects using structured light patterns
First Claim
1. A method for detecting an object in a monitored area, the method comprising the steps of:
- illuminating the monitored area with a pattern;
capturing a live image of the monitored area, including at least a portion of the pattern; and
detecting an object in the monitored area when a change is detected in the pattern in the live image, the change being noted by comparing a reference image showing at least a portion of the pattern to the live image to determine whether any part of the pattern has moved, been removed, or undergone some deformation.
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Abstract
An object detection system is provided that projects one or more patterns onto a monitored area, captures one or more live images of the monitored area, and detects objects that enter the monitored area by detecting changes in the one or more patterns in the live images. Such an object detection system may be less susceptible to dynamic lighting conditions, and more sensitive to object intrusions. One illustrative example projects a pattern of dots onto an area to be monitored, and captures images corresponding to the monitored area, comparing live images to reference images to determine whether an object has intruded a defined area. The area to be monitored does not consist solely of the area captured in the images and may include a volume illuminated by the pattern as well as a volume corresponding to the captured image area. Objects not in the field of view may be detected by the disclosed systems and methods. Several illustrative analytical methods are disclosed as well.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for detecting an object in a monitored area, the method comprising the steps of:
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illuminating the monitored area with a pattern;
capturing a live image of the monitored area, including at least a portion of the pattern; and
detecting an object in the monitored area when a change is detected in the pattern in the live image, the change being noted by comparing a reference image showing at least a portion of the pattern to the live image to determine whether any part of the pattern has moved, been removed, or undergone some deformation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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9. The method according to claim 9 wherein the predefined action is different depending on the mask window in which an object is detected.
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14. A method for detecting an object in a monitored area, the method comprising the steps of:
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capturing a live image of the monitored area using an image capture apparatus having a field of view; and
detecting an object in the monitored area by comparing the live image to a reference image, wherein the object need not lie within the field of view of the image capture apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for monitoring a volume of space, the system comprising:
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an image capture apparatus placed to capture images of a monitored area; and
an illumination apparatus placed to illuminate the monitored area;
wherein the volume of space monitored includes a volume corresponding to the space defined between the illumination apparatus and the monitored area; and
wherein the volume of space monitored includes a volume corresponding to the space defined between the monitored area and the image capture apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for detecting an object in a monitored area, the system comprising:
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an illumination device adapted to illuminate the monitored area with a pattern;
an image capture device adapted to capture a live image of the monitored area, including at least a portion of the pattern; and
detection electronics adapted to detect an object in the monitored area when a change is detected in the pattern in the live image, the change being noted by comparing a reference image showing at least a portion of the pattern to the live image to determine whether any part of the pattern has moved or been removed.
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Specification