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 using two or more wavelengths to create at least one pattern on the monitored area;
capturing a live image of the monitored area, including at least a portion of the at least one pattern; and
detecting an object in the monitored area by comparing the live image to a reference image, wherein a change in the at least one pattern between the live and reference images indicates the presence of an object in the monitored area.
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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
21 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 using two or more wavelengths to create at least one pattern on the monitored area;
capturing a live image of the monitored area, including at least a portion of the at least one pattern; and
detecting an object in the monitored area by comparing the live image to a reference image, wherein a change in the at least one pattern between the live and reference images indicates the presence of an object in the monitored area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for monitoring a volume of space, the system comprising:
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an illumination apparatus placed to illuminate at least a portion of a monitored area with two or more wavelengths; and
an image capture apparatus placed to capture images of at least part of the monitored area, wherein the image capture apparatus is sensitive to each of the two or more wavelengths;
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 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for detecting an object in a monitored area, the method comprising the steps of:
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creating at least one pattern using two or more wavelengths;
projecting the at least one pattern onto the monitored area;
capturing one or more live images of the monitored area at the two or more wavelengths, including at least a portion of the at least one pattern; and
detecting an object in the monitored area by comparing the one or more live images to one or more reference images, wherein a change in the pattern between the one or more live and reference images indicates the presence of an object in the monitored area. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification