Image analysis system and method
First Claim
1. A method of analyzing changing events comprising:
- scanning a first image field during a first interval of time with a sensing means and generating a first video signal on the output of said first sensing means,computer processing and analyzing said first video signal and generating first code signals indicative of characteristics of the image content of at least a portion of said image field scanned,recording said first code signals in a first memory,scanning said first image field a second time with said sensing means and during an interval which occurs after the completion of said first scanning operation and after a change has taken place in the contents of the image field scanned, and generating a second video signal on an output of said sensing means,computer processing and analyzing said second video signal and generating a second code signal,recording said second code signal in a second memory,reproducing said first and second recordings of said first and second code signals from said first and second memories,computer analyzing said first and second code signals and automatically detecting differences therein, andgenerating a third code signal defining information about said change in said image field,recording said third code signal,thereafter repeatedly scanning said image field a number of times and repeating the procedure of computer analyzing each video signal generated, andgenerating further code signals defining further changes in the content of the image field occurring between each of said scannings, recording said latter code signals as they are generated and further computer analyzing same in a manner to detect changes in the content of the image field over an extended period of time and determining a trend in the change in image content of said image field.
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Abstract
A scanning and monitoring system employing automatic image analysis of an image field, object or group of objects over a period of time together with the detection and analysis of one or more other variables, such as generated by sensors sensing changes in or degrees of magnetism, magnetic spin, self radiation, induced radiation, color, temperature, internal structure such as grain or crystalline structure, flow and/or other variables relating to selected objects in an image field under analysis and/or selected portions of such image field. Image information derived from the analysis of reflected light, X-ray, sonic, magnetic spin or nuclear magnetic resonance or other variable or a combination of such variables, is sensed, converted to signals such as analog video signals which are digitized and automatically computer analyzed with time wherein the time variable is recorded by means of codes and used in the automatic analysis. Information is computed defining such variables as changes in position attitude, size, shape, number, distribution, velocity, direction of travel, spin or rotation, color, surface structure, etc. of a selected object or objects in an image field or fields under study or surveillance and such information is recorded and/or used to drive or operate a display, alarm or speech generator, printer or other device such as a control for a motor or operating device which is operable to control or change one or more variables associated with the field being scanned and analyzed.
87 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of analyzing changing events comprising:
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scanning a first image field during a first interval of time with a sensing means and generating a first video signal on the output of said first sensing means, computer processing and analyzing said first video signal and generating first code signals indicative of characteristics of the image content of at least a portion of said image field scanned, recording said first code signals in a first memory, scanning said first image field a second time with said sensing means and during an interval which occurs after the completion of said first scanning operation and after a change has taken place in the contents of the image field scanned, and generating a second video signal on an output of said sensing means, computer processing and analyzing said second video signal and generating a second code signal, recording said second code signal in a second memory, reproducing said first and second recordings of said first and second code signals from said first and second memories, computer analyzing said first and second code signals and automatically detecting differences therein, and generating a third code signal defining information about said change in said image field, recording said third code signal, thereafter repeatedly scanning said image field a number of times and repeating the procedure of computer analyzing each video signal generated, and generating further code signals defining further changes in the content of the image field occurring between each of said scannings, recording said latter code signals as they are generated and further computer analyzing same in a manner to detect changes in the content of the image field over an extended period of time and determining a trend in the change in image content of said image field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of analyzing a changing condition comprising generating electrical analog signals which are indicative of a changing condition,
processing said electrical analog signals by digitizing same and generating digital signals thereof, computer analyzing the digital signals so generated and generating, as a result of such computer analysis, code signals which are indicative of at least one rate of change of said changing condition, and applying said latter code signals to an indicating means so as to indicate the rate of change of said changing condition.
- 36. A method of analyzing image information comprising scanning an image field, which changes with time, with an electro-optical scanning means which is operated continuously over the span of time it takes for a detectable change to take place in said image field, and generating on an output of said scanning means an analog signal which varies in amplitude over such time-span and wherein the variations of said analog signal define the varying characteristics of the image field scanned, processing and analyzing the signals generated on the output of said scanning means over said period of time and generating computed information signals which are indicative of quantitative variations in at least certain of the variables which occur in said image field over said period of time.
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40. A system for analyzing changing events comprising:
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first means for scanning an image field which changes in content with time, wherein said scanning is caused to occur a plurality of times and wherein each scanning results in generating scanning signals which vary in accordance with variations in physical characteristics of the image field scanned, second means for receiving, processing and analyzing said scanning signals and generating first code signals which are indicative of respective instant values of said physical characteristics of said image field, each time said image field is scanned by said first means, thrid means for generating second code signals at fixed times with respect to each scanning, each of which second code signals is indicative of the time a scanning takes place by said first means, fourth means including a computer for receiving said first and second signals, analyzing same and generating information signals which define select changes which occurred in the image field between the plurality of scannings effected by said first means. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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Specification