Automatic target detection system

• US 3,947,833 A
• Filed: 11/20/1974
• Issued: 03/30/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Eckstein, Royal W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilbur, Maynard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buczinski, S. C.
• Application Number:
  US05/526,570
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 178/DIG. 38, 250/221, 250/567, 340/5 MP, 340/146.3 Q, 340/146.3 S, 340/146.3 AC, 340/258 R, 340/149 R, 343/5 SA, 356/168, 356/156
• US Class Current: 340/555
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/00 Image analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/10 Image acquisition document image scanning and transmission H04N1/00; control of digital cameras H04N23/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/255 Detecting or recognising potential candidate objects based on visual cues, e.g. shapes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/75 Organisation of the matching processes, e.g. simultaneous or sequential comparisons of image or video features; Coarse-fine approaches, e.g. multi-scale approaches; using context analysis; Selection of dictionaries

Abstract

An automatic target detector for determining the probability that an objectn water is a swimmer. An electro-optical sensor is provided for viewing a target in water and contrast and width of the target are measured to assign probabilities that a target is a swimmer. A target which shows acceptable contrast and width is encoded and the encoded information is compared with stored reference scenes to make a final determination of whether or not a target is a swimmer.

Claims

1. A device for recognizing a swimmer in water comprising,

an electro-optical sensor providing a video display for viewing a target in water,

first means for measuring the contrast of said target and assigning a first probability factor that said target is not a swimmer and measuring the width of said target and assigning a second probability factor that said target is not a swimmer,

second means for encoding an area containing a target when said first means determines that said target has a probability of being a swimmer, said encoded target area being a portion of said video display,

memory means for retaining said encoded target area,

means providing reference scenes characteristic of a swimmer, and

classification means for comparing said encoded target area with said reference scenes for determining whether said target is a swimmer.

2. A device for recognizing a swimmer as set forth in claim 1 having means for multiplying said first and second probability factors to provide a joint probability factor that a target is not a swimmer.

3. A device recognizing a swimmer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said encoded target area is converted to digital form and stored in said memory means and wherein said reference scenes are provided in digital form.

4. A device for recognizing a swimmer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said classification means is a digital comparator.

5. A device for recognizing a swimmer as set forth in claim 4 wherein an identification device is energized when said digital comparator correlates said encoded target area and said reference scenes.