Object detection system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An object detection system, comprising:
- A structured light source capable of projecting a first pattern of structured light from a small aperture, said first pattern of structured light falling within a thin planar volume of space;
A first electronic imager not co-planar with said first pattern of structured light, said imager arranged in a pre-determined spatial relationship to said aperture, and said imager imaging a region of space in which objects could intersect said first projected pattern of structured light;
Means for storing at least one electronic images; and
Means calculating object positions from the positions in which structured light appears in a plurality of images.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An object detection system utilizing one or more thin, planar structured light patterns projected into a volume of interest, along with digital processing hardware and one or more electronic imagers looking into the volume of interest. Triangulation is used to determine the intersection of the structured light pattern with objects in the volume of interest. Applications include navigation and obstacle avoidance systems for autonomous vehicles (including agricultural vehicles and domestic robots), security systems, and pet training systems.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. An object detection system, comprising:
-
A structured light source capable of projecting a first pattern of structured light from a small aperture, said first pattern of structured light falling within a thin planar volume of space;
A first electronic imager not co-planar with said first pattern of structured light, said imager arranged in a pre-determined spatial relationship to said aperture, and said imager imaging a region of space in which objects could intersect said first projected pattern of structured light;
Means for storing at least one electronic images; and
Means calculating object positions from the positions in which structured light appears in a plurality of images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. An object detection method, comprising:
-
Projecting through a first small aperture a first structured light pattern within a first thin planar volume of space in which it is desired to measure the position of objects;
Capturing and storing at least one image from a first electronic imager positioned in a predetermined spatial relationship to said first small aperture;
Digitally processing at least one captured image to determine positions of objects intersecting said first structured light pattern. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification