Multi-Zone Passageway Monitoring System and Method

• US 20080100438A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cognex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cognex Corporation
• Inventors: Marrion, Cyril C., Nichani, Sanjay, Fix, Raymond A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/555
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30232 Surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30241 Trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/248 involving reference images or patches
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and machine vision system for monitoring an activity area proximate an actuated passageway for the occurrence of an object-related event. The activity area includes a first activity zone and at least a second activity zone. The first and the at least a second activity zones are essentially parallel to the activity area. The actuated passageway is actuatable with a control signal. The occurrence of an object-related event is detected within the activity area. If the object-related event occurs within the first activity zone, a first algorithm is executed to generate the control signal. If the object-related event occurs within the at least a second activity zone, a second algorithm is executed to generate the control signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring an activity area proximate an actuated passageway for the occurrence of an object-related event, wherein;

the activity area includes a first activity zone and at least a second activity zone,

the first and the at least a second activity zones are essentially parallel to the activity area, and

the actuated passageway is actuatable with a control signal;

detecting the occurrence of an object-related event within the activity area;

if the object-related event occurs within the first activity zone, executing a first algorithm to generate the control signal; and

if the object-related event occurs within the at least a second activity zone, executing a second algorithm to generate the control signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least a second activity zone includes a second activity zone and a third activity zone.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the first activity zone is a presence activity zone;

the second activity zone is a movement activity zone; and

the third activity zone is a direction activity zone.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the object-related event is chosen from the group consisting of a presence-related event;

a movement-related event; and

a direction-related event.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

if the object-related event is a presence-related event that occurs in the presence activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway;

if the object-related event is a movement-related event that occurs in the movement activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway; and

if the object-related event is a direction-related event that occurs in the direction activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the activity area includes a ground level activity zone, the method further comprising:

if the object-related event occurs within the ground level activity zone, executing a third algorithm to generate the control signal.

6. (canceled)

8. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

monitoring an activity area proximate an actuated passageway for the occurrence of an object-related event, wherein;

the activity area includes a first activity zone and at least a second activity zone,

the first and the at least a second activity zones are essentially parallel to the activity area, and

the actuated passageway is actuatable with a control signal;

detecting the occurrence of an object-related event within the activity area;

if the object-related event occurs within the first activity zone, executing a first algorithm to generate the control signal; and

if the object-related event occurs within the at least a second activity zone, executing a second algorithm to generate the control signal.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the at least a second activity zone includes a second activity zone and a third activity zone.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein:

the first activity zone is a presence activity zone;

the second activity zone is a movement activity zone; and

the third activity zone is a direction activity zone.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the object-related event is chosen from the group consisting of a presence-related event;

a movement-related event; and

a direction-related event.

12. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising instructions for:

if the object-related event is a presence-related event that occurs in the presence activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway;

if the object-related event is a movement-related event that occurs in the movement activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway; and

if the object-related event is a direction-related event that occurs in the direction activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway.

14. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein

the activity area includes a ground level activity zone, the computer program product further comprising instructions for:

if the object-related event occurs within the ground level activity zone, executing a third algorithm to generate the control signal.

13. (canceled)

15. A machine vision system comprising:

a plurality of cameras; and

logic circuitry responsive to the plurality of cameras, the logic circuitry configured for;

monitoring an activity area proximate an actuated passageway for the occurrence of an object-related event, wherein;

the activity area includes a first activity zone and at least a second activity zone,

the first and the at least a second activity zones are essentially parallel to the activity area, and

the actuated passageway is actuatable with a control signal;

detecting the occurrence of an object-related event within the activity area;

if the object-related event occurs within the first activity zone, executing a first algorithm to generate the control signal; and

if the object-related event occurs within the at least a second activity zone, executing a second algorithm to generate the control signal.

16. The machine vision system of claim 15 wherein

the at least a second activity zone includes a second activity zone and a third activity zone.

17. The machine vision system of claim 16 wherein:

the first activity zone is a presence activity zone;

the second activity zone is a movement activity zone; and

the third activity zone is a direction activity zone.

18. The machine vision system of claim 17 wherein

the object-related event is chosen from the group consisting of a presence-related event;

a movement-related event; and

a direction-related event.

19. The machine vision system of claim 17 wherein

the logic circuitry is further configured for:

if the object-related event is a presence-related event that occurs in the presence activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway;

if the object-related event is a movement-related event that occurs in the movement activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway; and

if the object-related event is a direction-related event that occurs in the direction activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway.

21. The machine vision system of claim 15 wherein

the activity area includes a ground level activity zone, the logic circuitry being further configured for:

if the object-related event occurs within the ground level activity zone, executing a third algorithm to generate the control signal.

20. (canceled)