INTEGRATED STILL IMAGE, MOTION VIDEO AND SPEED MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

• US 20110187854A1
• Filed: 02/18/2011
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kama-Tech (HK) Limited, Laser Technology Incorporated (Laser Technology)
• Original Assignee: Kama-Tech (HK) Limited, Laser Technology Incorporated (Laser Technology)
• Inventors: Chung, Jiyoon
• Granted Patent: US 9,691,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/135
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/58 Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/054 photographing overspeeding vehicles

Abstract

Devices capable of capturing still and motion imagery are integrated with an accurate distance and speed measuring apparatus. By measuring the changing distance of the target over that time, a target'"'"'s speed can be determined. At substantially the same time as the target'"'"'s speed is determined, imagery of the target is captured in both a still and moving format. Using a queuing mechanism for both distance and imagery data along with time stamps associated with each, a target'"'"'s image, both in motion and still, can be integrated with its speed. In situations in which a still image is unavailable, a target'"'"'s speed can be associated with a portion of a continuous stream of motion imagery to a point where a positive identification can be captured with a still image.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a speed measurement device for determining a speed of a moving object at a first distance; and

an image capture mechanism integrated with said speed measurement device for storing a sequence of images of said moving object from said first distance to a second lesser distance, said apparatus associating an instantaneous speed with at least a subset of said sequence of images and wherein said moving object is probabilistically uniquely identifiable in at least one of said images at said second distance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said speed measurement device comprises a laser rangefinder.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said image capture mechanism comprises a video camera.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said image capture mechanism comprises a discreet image sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

a display device providing a visual indication of said moving object and said speed.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

a battery pack for powering said speed measurement device, said image capture mechanism and said display device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

a handheld housing substantially encompassing said speed measurement device, said image capture mechanism, said display device and said battery pack, said housing enabling manual aiming of said apparatus at said moving object.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said image capture mechanism is activated upon said moving object exceeding a settable threshold velocity.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said image capture mechanism is activated prior to said moving object exceeding a settable threshold velocity.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises a vehicular traffic enforcement device.

11. A method comprising:

determining a speed of a moving object utilizing a laser rangefinder;

sampling a plurality of received laser pulses returned from said moving object over a period of time; and

determining said speed of said moving object utilizing a sliding sample window of a set of said received laser pulses.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

incrementally moving said sliding sample window along said received laser pulses; and

determining said speed of said moving object once a qualifying sample of said received laser pulses is identified.