Cargo sensing system

• US 20050199782A1
• Filed: 03/12/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asset Intelligence LLC (PowerFleet, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Calver, Andrew J., Cobello, Rick, McKenney, Kurtis G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,421,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging

Abstract

A cargo sensing system is configured to determine if cargo is present within a container. In one implementation, the cargo sensing system senses lines within an image of a cargo space. The lines may be straight, curved or otherwise configured, and are evaluated for indications of the presence of cargo within the cargo space. In a first implementation of the cargo sensing system, the lines within the cargo space are formed by a laser tracing over a predetermined projection pattern. In a second implementation of the cargo sensing system, the lines sensed are formed by intersection of planes defining the cargo space.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a camera to obtain an image of a cargo space; and

an image evaluator to recognize lines within the image, and to evaluate the lines for indications of cargo.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises an infrared (IR) imaging device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the lines include straight lines or curves.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the indications are selected from a group consisting of:

slope of at least one of the recognized lines;

change in brightness along at least one of the recognized lines; and

discontinuity in at least one of the recognized lines.

5. The system of claim 1, additionally comprising:

a projection pattern generator to trace a laser over a projection pattern within the cargo space, wherein the projection pattern comprises the lines within the image.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the laser and the camera are separately located to enhance the camera'"'"'s perspective to view of slope of at least one of the recognized lines.

7. The system of claim 1, additionally comprising:

an edge detection module to detect edges of surfaces defining the cargo space, wherein the edges comprise the lines within the image.

8. The system of claim 1, additionally comprising:

a projection pattern image library comprising a projection pattern image; and

wherein the image evaluator is configured to compare the image to the projection pattern image.

9. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions for:

sensing lines within an image of a cargo space;

evaluating the lines; and

basing an indication of presence of cargo on the evaluation.

10. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the lines are formed by instructions for tracing a laser over a pattern within the cargo space.

11. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the lines are formed by instructions for intersection of planes defining the cargo space.

12. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the evaluating comprises instructions for:

measuring distances between lines within a projection pattern; and

determining if the measured distances indicate the presence of cargo.

13. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the evaluating comprises instructions for measuring slope of lines within a projection pattern.

14. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the evaluating comprises instructions for reviewing lines within a projection pattern for breaks in continuity.

15. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the evaluating comprises instructions for measuring uniformity of brightness of lines within a projection pattern.

16. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions for:

forming a pattern within a cargo space using a laser;

obtaining an image of the pattern;

analyzing the image; and

basing an indication of cargo presence on the analysis.

17. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the forming comprises instructions for comparing the image to images within a projection pattern image library.

18. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the obtaining comprises instructions for operating a camera to capture the image.

19. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the analyzing comprises instructions for:

measuring distances between lines within the pattern; and

determining if the measured distances indicate cargo presence.

20. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the analyzing comprises instructions for recognizing a slope change, in a line within the pattern, indicating cargo presence.

21. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the analyzing comprises instructions for recognizing brightness change, in a line within the pattern, indicating cargo presence.

22. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the analyzing comprises instructions for recognizing discontinuities, in a line within the pattern, indicating cargo presence.

23. A cargo sensing device, comprising:

means for defining a projection pattern within a cargo space;

means for obtaining an image of the projection pattern;

means for measuring distortion of the projection pattern within the image; and

means for comparing the distortion to a threshold value.

24. The cargo sensing device of claim 23, wherein the means for comparing is a means selected from a group consisting of:

means for recognizing slope of at least one of the recognized lines indicating cargo presence;

means for recognizing change in brightness along at least one of the recognized lines indicating cargo presence; and

means for recognizing discontinuity in at least one of the recognized lines indicating cargo presence.

25. The cargo sensing device of claim 23, wherein the projection pattern is defined by lines resulting from intersection of planes defining the cargo space.

26. The cargo sensing device of claim 23, wherein the means for measuring distortion measures distances between lines within the projection pattern.

27. The cargo sensing device of claim 23, wherein the means for measuring distortion to the projection pattern recognizes discontinuities in lines within the projection pattern.

28. The cargo sensing device of claim 23, wherein the means for measuring distortion compares the image of the projection pattern to images within projection pattern image library.

29. A method of determining cargo presence, comprising:

defining a projection pattern within a cargo space;

capturing an image of the projection pattern with a camera;

evaluating lines within the projection pattern for evidence of cargo; and

basing an indication of cargo presence on the evaluation.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the projection pattern is defined by tracing over a pattern repeatedly with a laser.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the projection pattern is defined by intersection of planes defining the cargo space.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the evaluating comprises evaluating lines in the projection pattern for discontinuities.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the evaluating comprises evaluating lines in the projection pattern for changes in brightness.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the evaluating comprises evaluating lines in the projection pattern for changes in slope.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the evaluating comprises:

measuring distance between the lines within the projection pattern; and

determining if the measured distance is within a threshold of an appropriate value.

36. A method, comprising:

projecting an optical pattern within a cargo space; and

analyzing the optical pattern to determine whether cargo is present within the cargo space.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the optical pattern is defined by tracing with a laser.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the analyzing comprises detecting differences in brightness between parts of the optical pattern.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the analyzing comprises evaluating lines in the optical pattern for unexpected slopes.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the analyzing comprises:

measuring distances between lines within the optical pattern; and

comparing the distances to an expected distance.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the analyzing comprises:

detecting laser lines within the image; and

comparing the laser lines detected to a projection pattern image library.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein the analyzing comprises comparing the optical pattern to images within a projection pattern image library.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein the analyzing comprises comparing the optical pattern to a projection pattern image library comprising images of empty cargo areas and cargo-containing cargo areas.