SACCADIC DUAL-RESOLUTION VIDEO ANALYTICS CAMERA

• US 20110063446A1
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Viion Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Viion Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Kelly, Michael F., McMordie, David
• Application Number:
  US12/881,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20110063446A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/159
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Objects of interest are detected and identified using multiple cameras having varying resolution and imaging parameters. An object is first located using a low resolution camera. A second camera (or lens) is then directed at the object'"'"'s location using a steerable mirror assembly to capture a high-resolution image at a location where the object is thought to be based on image acquired by the wide-angle camera. Various image processing algorithms may be applied to confirm the presence of the object in the telephoto image. If an object is detected and the image is of sufficiently high quality, detailed facial, alpha-numeric, or other pattern recognition techniques may be applied to the image.

Claims

1. A device for detecting objects of interest within a scene, the device comprising:

a wide-angle camera configured to acquire an image of the scene and to detect an object of interest within the scene;

a telephoto camera configured to acquire a high-resolution image of the object of interest;

a moving mirror assembly for adjusting an aim of the telephoto camera;

an image processor configured to identify a location of the object of interest within the scene and control movement of the mirror assembly such that the telephoto camera is aimed at the object of interest.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a processor for executing a computer executable program to identify the object of interest based on the high-resolution image.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a collimated infrared flash for targeted illumination of the object of interest.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the mirror assembly positions the collimated infrared flash.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the collimated infrared flash comprises a pulsed infrared laser

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the collimated infrared flash comprises one or more infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs).

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the moving mirror assembly comprises angular magnetic ring encoders.

8. The device of claim 7 further comprising two voice coil motors connected by a five-link planar closed kinematic chain which, when activated, permit the mirror assembly to move about two rotational degrees of freedom.

9. The device of claim 8 further comprising a slide bearing that constrains a central point on the mirror assembly in a sagittal plane.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the moving mirror assembly comprises two mirrors that are each controlled by separate motors.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the moving mirror assembly comprises a deformable reflective surface, the shape of which is controlled by a set of actuators.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the moving mirror assembly further comprises a tube, a pin joint and a push rod for controlling positioning of the mirror assembly about a first and second axis.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a targeted sensor configured to uniquely identify the object of interest.

15. The device of claim 1 further comprising a video compression module.

16. The device of claim 1 further comprising one or more network interfaces for transmitting video, images and data to external devices.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein the image processor is further configured to adjust video gain and exposure parameters of the captured images.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the image processor is further configured to detect human anatomical features within the wide-angle camera'"'"'s field-of-view in order to direct the telephoto camera'"'"'s field-of-view.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the anatomical features comprise human faces, thus facilitating facial recognition.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein the anatomical features comprise human eyes, thus facilitating iris recognition.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein the image processor is further configured to detect characters on a license plate within the wide-angle camera'"'"'s field-of-view in order to direct the telephoto camera'"'"'s field-of-view.

14. The device of claim 14 wherein the targeted sensor detects and identifies one or more of cellular telephone electronic serial numbers (ESNs), International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) codes, and 802.15 (Bluetooth) MAC addresses.

22. A method for identifying an object within a scene, the method comprising:

acquiring an image of the scene using a first image sensor, wherein the first image sensor comprises a wide-angle camera aimed at the scene;

detecting a location of an object in the image;

mechanically adjusting a mirror assembly such that the detected location is presented to a second image sensor;

acquiring an image of the object using the second image sensor, wherein the image of the object is substantially higher in resolution than the image of the scene; and

identifying the object.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising calculating angular coordinates of the location of the object in the image.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising adjusting conformation of the mirror assembly as to direct the field-of-view of the second image sensor towards the object.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising calculating an image brightness at the location of the object in the image.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the adjustments to the mirror assembly comprise adjusting angular positions of the mirror assembly within two degrees of freedom.

27. The method of claim 22 further comprising firing a flash at the location of the object in the image.