Method and apparatus for detecting, monitoring, and quantifying changes in a visual image over time
First Claim
1. A method of quantifying measurements associated with a subject using a visual image of the subject, the method comprising the steps of:
- acquiring a digital representation of a first image of the subject, the first image being acquired at a first time, the digital representation of the first image including visual information associated with the first image;
acquiring a digital representation of a second image of the subject, the second image being acquired at a second time, the digital representation of the second image including visual information associated with the second image;
determining difference information, the difference information representing a change in at least one visual parameter between the digital representation of the first image and the digital representation of the second image; and
converting the difference information into subject information, the subject information representing at least one of a physical change, chemical change, electrical change, and electrochemical change associated with the subject.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of quantifying measurements associated with a subject using a visual image of the subject includes acquiring digital representations of first and second images of the subject, determining difference information between the first and second images, and converting this information into physical, chemical, electrical, or electrochemical information concerning the subject. An apparatus for quantifying measurements associated with a subject using a visual image of the subject includes a digital camera and a computer. The camera acquires digital representations of first and second images of the subject. The computer is responsive to the digital representations and determines difference information between the first and second images. The difference information represents a change in a visual parameter between the first and second images. The computer converts the difference information into physical, chemical, electrical, or electrochemical information associated with the subject.
51 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of quantifying measurements associated with a subject using a visual image of the subject, the method comprising the steps of:
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acquiring a digital representation of a first image of the subject, the first image being acquired at a first time, the digital representation of the first image including visual information associated with the first image;
acquiring a digital representation of a second image of the subject, the second image being acquired at a second time, the digital representation of the second image including visual information associated with the second image;
determining difference information, the difference information representing a change in at least one visual parameter between the digital representation of the first image and the digital representation of the second image; and
converting the difference information into subject information, the subject information representing at least one of a physical change, chemical change, electrical change, and electrochemical change associated with the subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for quantifying measurements associated with a subject using a visual image of the subject, the apparatus comprising:
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a digital camera, the digital camera acquiring a digital representation of a first image of a subject, the first image being acquired at a first time, the digital representation of the first image including visual information associated with the first image, the digital camera acquiring a digital representation of a second image of the subject, the second image being acquired at a second time, the digital representation of the second image including visual information associated with the second image; and
a computer, the computer being responsive to the digital representations of the first image and the second image, the computer determining difference information representing a change in the at least one visual parameter between the digital representation of the first image and the digital representation of the second image, the computer converting the difference information into subject information representing at least one of a physical change, chemical change, electrical change, and electrochemical change associated with the subject. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of quantifying measurements associated with a subject using a visual image of the subject, the method comprising the steps of:
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adding a visual indicator to a subject, the indicator changing at least one visual parameter in response to at least one of a physical change, chemical change, electrical change, and electrochemical change associated with the subject;
acquiring a digital representation of a first image of the subject, the first image being acquired at a first time, the digital representation of the first image including visual information associated with the first image;
acquiring a digital representation of a second image of the subject, the second image being acquired at a second time, the digital representation of the second image including visual information associated with the second image;
determining difference information, the difference information representing a change in the at least one visual parameter between the digital representation of the first image and the digital representation of and the second image;
converting the difference information into physical information, the subject information representing the at least one of the physical change, chemical change, electrical change, and electrochemical change associated with the subject;
adding an offset selectively to at least a portion of the difference information;
multiplying at least a portion of the difference information selectively by a gain; and
displaying a processed image, the processed image including at least a portion of the difference information.
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37. An apparatus for quantifying measurements associated with a subject using a visual image of the subject, the apparatus comprising:
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a digital camera, the digital camera acquiring a digital representation of a first image of a subject, the first image being acquired at a first time, the digital representation of the first image including visual information associated with the first image, the digital camera acquiring a digital representation of a second image of the subject, the second image being acquired at a second time, the digital representation of the second image including visual information associated with the second image; and
a computer, the computer being responsive to the digital representation of the first image and the second image, the computer determining difference information representing a change in the at least one visual parameter between the digital representation of the first image and the digital representation of the second image, the computer selectively adding an offset to at least a portion of the difference information, the computer selectively multiplying at least a portion of the difference information by a gain, the computer converting the difference information into subject information representing at least one of a physical change, chemical change, electrical change, and electrochemical change associated with the subject.
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Specification