Image Processing Sensor Systems

• US 20100214410A1
• 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 9,299,231 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 method of image processing, comprising the steps of:

constructing a results key at a first processing station;

making the results key available to an image capture and processing device remote from the first processing station, where the image capture and processing device is operable to capture an image presented to a field of view of the image capture and processing device;

using the image capture and processing device remotely from the first processing station to analyze the field of view image in cooperation with the results key, and to provide an output signal based on the results of the analysis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of making available is performed by using a portable memory component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of making available is performed by using a wireless transmission.

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

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises using data from one or more property sensors to facilitate said analysis.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the image capture and processing device further includes one or more property sensors configured to provide property sensor output and the step of using the image capture and processing device includes use of the property sensor output to facilitate the analysis.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the image capture and processing device further includes a real time clock function configured to provide a time output signal and the step of using the image capture and processing device includes use of the time function output signal to facilitate the analysis.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the image capture and processing device further includes GPS circuitry configured to provide a GPS output signal and the step of using the image capture and processing device includes use of the GPS output signal to facilitate the analysis.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the image capture and processing device includes an artificial electromagnetic energy source and the step of using the image capture and processing device includes using the artificial electromagnetic energy source to facilitate image capture.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively actuating a device through use of the control output signal conditioned upon a result of the analysis.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of providing one or more output signals conditioned upon a result of the analysis, and using a plurality of results keys sequentially during a course of the analysis.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of providing the results key with means for preventing spoofing of the system.

13. The method 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.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the lens has a 360°

total field of view.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the Results Key accommodates lens distortion in the total field of view.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein step of using the image capture and processing device includes providing the output control signal based upon observed interaction over time between a plurality of discrete objects of interests.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein step of using the image capture and processing device includes increasing a system sampling rate based upon a detected event.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of making the results key available includes the method of 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.