SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SUBMERGED ORGANISM DETECTION BY ROTATIONAL LASER LIGHT

• US 20120140082A1
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: National Institute of Biology
• Original Assignee: National Institute of Biology
• Inventors: Makovec, Tihomir, Salvi, Edvin
• Application Number:
  US12/961,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20120140082A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

A submerged organism detection system. Particularly, a system and method for detection of organisms and includes a rotational mirror and laser light. The system has a camera with a visible field and detects a flash; a laser device produces a laser beam; a mirror rotates about an axis and reflects the laser beam throughout a plane, the plane being substantially horizontal, the visible field being a portion of the plane, wherein, when an object obstructs the laser beam, the flash is produced; and a counter that has a count, wherein, when the flash is produced, the counter increases the count. Further, the system may be submerged underwater.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a. a laser device that produces a laser beam;

b. a mirror that rotates about an axis and reflects said laser beam throughout a plane, said plane being substantially horizontal, said visible field being a portion of said plane, wherein, when an object obstructs said laser beam, a flash is produced;

c. a camera that has a visible field and detects said flash; and

d. a counter that records a count when said flash is produced and detected by said camera.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is underwater submersible.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a database in communication with said counter, wherein said database stores said count.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said camera detects said flash and records an image of said visible field.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

an access device in communication with said database, wherein said access device displays said recorded image and said stored count.

6. The access device of claim 4, wherein the access device is a display panel.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said camera is disposed perpendicularly to said laser beam.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said laser device is affixed to a bottom portion of said camera.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said mirror rotates by a motor.

10. The motor of claim 9, wherein said motor is an electromotor.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said motor and said laser device are powered by an autonomous power supply.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said motor is powered by a first power supply and said laser device is powered by a second power supply.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said laser device and said mirror are situated below said camera.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said laser and said mirror are situated below said camera by a placement device.

15. A system comprising:

a. a laser device that produces a laser beam;

b. a mirror that rotates about an axis and reflects said laser beam throughout a plane, said plane being substantially horizontal;

c. a camera, wherein said camera records an image of a portion of said plane; and

d. a microprocessor in communication with a database and said camera, wherein said microprocessor transfers said recorded image from said camera to said database and said database stores said recorded image.

16. A method comprising:

a. producing a light throughout a plane using a laser beam and a rotational mirror, said plane being substantially horizontal,

b. detecting a flash within a portion of said plane with a camera;

wherein, an object obstructs said laser beam and wherein said flash is produced,

c. recording objects as an image with said camera when said flash is produced;

said camera being in communication with a database,

d. storing said image in a database.

17. The method of claim 16, being performed underwater.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of recording a count total with a counter, wherein said counter increases said count total when said flash is produced.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said objects being recorded a video with said camera, said video being stored in said database.