CAMERA PROTECTIVE SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20120081537A1
• Filed: 10/04/2010
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Arcand, Sebastien, Hebert, Marc-Andre
• Application Number:
  US12/897,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20120081537A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/86
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/142 using image capturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/144 using light grids

Abstract

A user protection system, a machine including a user protection system, and a method of protecting a user of a machine are disclosed. In an embodiment, a user protection system is provided including at least one camera directed to a protected area of the machine; a computing device operably coupled to the at least one camera, a program product stored in a memory of the computing device which when executed, analyzes at least one image of the protected area captured by the camera and transmitted in real time to the computing device, and a relay coupling operably connecting the computing device with a shut-off control on the machine, wherein, in a case in which at least a part of a user is detected at least partially within the protected area, the computing device transmits a command causing the machine to stop.

Claims

1. A protection system for a machine, the protection system comprising:

at least one camera directed to a protected area of the machine;

a computing device operably coupled to the at least one camera, the computing device including

a memory,

a processing unit, and

a program product stored in the memory which when executed by the processing unit, analyzes at least one image of the protected area captured by the at least one camera and transmitted in real time to the computing device, and

a relay coupling operably connecting the computing device with a shut-off control on the machine,

wherein, in a case in which an object is detected at least partially within the protected area of the machine in the at least one image, the computing device transmits a command to the machine using the relay coupling, the command causing the machine to stop.

2. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one camera further comprises a first camera, a second camera, and a third camera.

3. The protection system of claim 2, wherein the first camera and the second camera are spaced about 180°

apart, the first and second cameras each directed to the protected area, the protected area being located between the first and second cameras, and

wherein the third camera is spaced about 90°

from each of the first and second cameras, and is directed toward the protected area.

4. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one camera further comprises four or more cameras.

5. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one camera is movably affixed to the machine.

6. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one image captured by the camera further comprises a live video feed.

7. The protection system of claim 5, wherein the analyzing includes identifying a movement within the protected area.

8. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the analyzing includes identifying a presence of a specified color within the protected area.

9. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the analyzing includes identifying a presence of a specified feature shape within the protected area.

10. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the analyzing includes identifying a presence of an object having a specified temperature within the protected area.

11. The protection system of claim 1, wherein the machine comprises one of the following:

a press brake or a shear press.

12. A machine having a working zone, the machine comprising:

a protection system for the working zone, the protection system including;

at least one camera directed to a protected area of the machine;

a computing device operably coupled to the at least one camera, the computing device including

a memory,

a processing unit, and

a program product stored in the memory which when executed by the processing unit,

analyzes at least one image of the protected area captured by the at least one camera and transmitted in real time to the computing device, and

a relay coupling operably connecting the computing device with a shut-off control on the machine,

wherein, in a case in which an object is detected at least partially within the protected area of the machine in the at least one image, the computing device transmits a command to the machine using the relay coupling, the command causing the machine to stop.

13. The machine of claim 12, wherein the at least one camera further comprises at least three cameras.

14. The machine of claim 12, wherein the at least one camera is movably affixed to the machine.

15. The machine of claim 12, wherein the analyzing includes identifying a presence of one or more of:

a movement within the protected area,

a specified color within the protected area,

an object having a specified temperature within the protected area, or

an object having a specified temperature within the protected area.

16. The machine of claim 12, wherein the machine comprises one of a press brake or a shear press.

17. The machine of claim 12, wherein the at least one image captured by the camera further comprises a live video feed.

18. A method of providing protection from a machine, the method comprising:

providing at least one camera directed to a protected area of the machine;

operably coupling a computing device to the at least one camera, the computing device including

a memory,

a processing unit, and

a program product loaded in the memory which when executed by the processing unit, analyzes at least one image of the protected area captured by the at least one camera;

providing a relay coupling operably connecting the computing device to a shut-off control for the machine;

capturing on the camera and transmitting at least one image of the protected area from the camera to the computing device;

on the computing device, analyzing the at least one image of the protected area;

in a case in which an object is detected at least partially within the protected area, transmitting a command using the relay coupling from the computing device to the machine shut-off control to halt the machine.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the analyzing includes identifying a presence of one or more of:

a movement within the protected area,

a specified color within the protected area,

an object having a specified temperature within the protected area, or

an object having a specified temperature within the protected area.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising movably positioning the at least one camera on the machine, wherein the position is adjustable.