Monitoring device and self-propelled cleaner

• US 20070029962A1
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Saeki, Ryo
• Application Number:
  US11/497,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20070029962A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/587
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/027 comprising intertial navigation means, e.g. azimuth detector inertial navigation G01C21/16; inertial navigation combined with non-inertial navigation instruments G01C21/165

Abstract

Disclosed is a monitoring device and a self-propelled cleaner including the monitoring device, that track a moving body securely and stably. Within the monitoring device 9, presence of the moving body is detected by a moving body detecting section according to image data imaged by an imaging device 52 as an imaging section. When it is detected, its position is identified by a moving body position identification section, and an area in which the moving body is positioned is determined by an area determining section, within dividing an imaging region concerning the obtained image data into three areas of area A, area B, area C. The imaging device 52 is rotated so that a center line (one among Ca, Cb, Cc) overlaps with position of the moving body. Here, the center line is orthogonal to horizontal direction of the area, where moving body is positioned.

Claims

1. A self-propelled cleaner provided with a monitoring device to monitor a moving body that moves in a monitoring region, the monitoring device comprising:

an infrared ray irradiating section to irradiate infrared ray to the monitoring region;

an imaging section to obtain image data by imaging a reflected light of an infrared ray irradiated from the infrared ray irradiating section;

a moving body detecting section to detect a region that has a difference in brightness larger than a predetermined difference in brightness, as the moving body, concerning a difference image of first image data and second image data obtained continuously by the imaging section;

a moving body position identification section to identify a gravity center of the moving body as a position of the moving body according to the image data obtained by the imaging section, wherein the moving body is detected by the moving body detecting section;

an area determining section to determine an area in which the moving body is positioned, according to the position of the moving body identified by the moving body position identification section, by dividing an imaging region concerning the image data obtained by the imaging section; and

a tracking section to conduct tracking of the moving body by moving the imaging section so that a predetermined center region of the area in which it is determined that the moving body is positioned overlaps with the position of the moving body identified by the moving body position identification section.

2. A monitoring device to monitor a moving body that moves in a monitoring region comprising;

an imaging section to obtain image data by imaging the monitoring region;

a moving body detecting section to detect whether the moving body exists or not, according to the image data obtained by the imaging section;

a moving body position identification section to identify a position of the moving body according to the image data obtained by the imaging section, wherein the moving body is detected by the moving body detecting section;

an area determining section to determine an area in which the moving body is positioned, according to the position of the moving body identified by the moving body position identification section, by dividing an imaging region concerning the image data obtained by the imaging section; and

a tracking section to conduct tracking of the moving body by moving the imaging section so that a predetermined center region of the area in which it is determined that the moving body is positioned overlaps with the position of the moving body identified by the moving body position identification section.

3. The monitoring device according to claim 2, further comprising an infrared ray irradiating section to irradiate infrared ray to the monitoring region, wherein the imaging section images a reflected light of an infrared ray irradiated from the infrared ray irradiating section.

4. The monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein:

the moving body detecting section detects a region in which a difference in brightness larger than a predetermined difference in brightness is measured, as the moving body, concerning a difference image of first image data and second image data imaged continuously by the imaging section; and

the moving body position identification section identifies a gravity center of the moving body as a position of the moving body detected by the moving body detecting section.

5. A self-propelled cleaner provided with the monitoring device according to claim 2.