Image Processing Sensor Systems

• US 20100214409A1
• 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 9,293,017 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. A system comprising:

means for constructing a results key at a first processing station;

an image capture and processing device,

means for making the results key available to the image capture and processing device at a location remote from the first processing station, the image capture and processing device being operable to capture an image presented to a field of view of the image capture and processing device;

the image capture and processing device including self-contained means for analyzing the field of view image in cooperation with the results key, and for providing an output signal based on the results of said analysis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for making the results key available includes a portable memory component.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for making the results key available includes circuitry configured to receive a wireless transmission.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for making the results key available includes a cable interconnect.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the image capture and processing device further includes one or more property sensors.

6. The system claim 1, wherein the image capture and processing device further includes a real time clock function.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the image capture and processing device further includes GPS.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the image capture and processing device includes an artificial electromagnetic energy source that improves the capability to capture an image in the field of view.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism that is selectively actuable through use of a control output signal conditioned upon a result of said analysis.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for providing one or more output signals conditioned upon a result of said analysis, and for using a plurality of results keys sequentially during a course of said analysis.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for preventing spoofing of the system.

12. The 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.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the image processing and capture device contains a lens that has a field of view equal to or greater than 180°

.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the lens has a 360°

field of view.

15. The system of claim 1, including an integrally housed electromagnetic radiation source configured for selective activation based upon a threshold analysis that improves selectivity of said analysis.

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

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for increasing a system sampling rate based upon a detected event.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for making an improved results key available to the image capture and processing device at a future time, where the improved results key provides a higher degree of specificity of the object of interest.