Image Processing Sensor Systems

• US 20100214408A1
• Filed: 06/09/2009
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tko Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tko Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Wieland, Ralph David, McClure, Neil L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,780,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/255 Detecting or recognising potential candidate objects based on visual cues, e.g. shapes
• 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: G08B 13/1961 Movement detection not involving frame subtraction, e.g. motion detection on the basis of luminance changes in the image
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19615 wherein said pattern is defined by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera

Abstract

An image processing sensor system functions as a standalone unit to capture images and process the resulting signals to detect objects or events of interest. The processing significantly improves selectivity and specificity of detection objects and events.

Claims

1. An image processing control system, comprising:

an image capture device including a lens operably positioned relative to a detector array such that the detector array is capable of providing a signal representative of an image captured by the lens;

memory that contains a results key representative of an object of interest;

circuitry configured with control logic to analyze the signal with the results key to ascertain a condition and generate a control output signal when the output of the analysis meets pre-defined conditions as given in the results key; and

a housing that mounts the image capture device, the memory, and the circuitry as a single unit.

2. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry provides means for changing image processing techniques based upon at least one trigger event selected from the group consisting of detected motion, change in ambient light, geographic location, a mixing of fluids, a change from constant background, a shadow analysis result, a first specified analysis outcome condition, a detected sound, a detected proximity, a detected temperature, a detected pressure, a time, a change in color, a gas flow rate, and a liquid flow rate.

3. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the results key represents an object of interest as an intruding animal selected from the group consisting of a birds, mammals and rodents;

and

the system further comprises an actuable mechanism for dealing a suitable response to the intruding animal.

4. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the results key is a first results key, conditioned upon first specified analysis outcome of the first results key, for using a second results key to detect sequentially a second object of interest.

5. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the results key represents a body as an object of interest and the system further comprises means for actuating a lock, light or other mechanical system that is actuable by the control output signal remotely from the housing.

6. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the results key represents a physical inanimate object of interest and the system further comprises means for actuating a lock, light or other mechanical system that is actuable by the control output signal remotely from the housing.

7. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the memory contains a plurality of results keys each allocated to a corresponding control output signal.

8. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the control logic operates based on a combination of algorithms selected from the group consisting of grey-scale processing, infrared, near infrared processing, and visible light processing.

9. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the control logic uses shadow analysis to prevent spoofing of the system with a false image.

10. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the image processing and capture device contains a lens that has a total field of view and the step of using the image processing and capture device includes performing the analysis using a selected portion less than the total field of view.

11. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the lens has a field of view equal to or greater than 180°

.

12. The image processing control system of claim 1, including an integrally housed artificial light source configured for activation by the control output signal based upon a threshold analysis that improves selectivity of the pre-defined analysis outcome condition.

13. The image processing control system of claim 1, further comprising means for providing the output control signal based upon observed interaction over time between a plurality discrete objects of interests.

14. The image processing control system of claim 1, further comprising means for increasing a system sampling rate based upon a detected event.

15. The image processing control system of claim 1, further comprising means for placing the system in a sleep mode for conservation of energy until detection of a trigger event.

16. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry provides the control output signal as a wireless control output signal.

17. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the image processing device is mounted on a printed circuit board in the housing.

18. An image processing control system, comprising:

means for providing a signal representative of an image captured by the lens;

means for storing a results key representative of an object of interest;

means for analyzing a signal produced by the image captured by the lens means for in cooperation with the stored results key means to ascertain whether the output of the analysis meets a pre-defined condition, and for generating a control output signal when the pre-defined condition is met; and

means for mounting the image capture device, the memory, and the circuitry as a single unit.