Video image processing system
First Claim
1. In a programmable controller having a rack with a backplane for electrically interconnecting a plurality of modules received in the rack, and a program processor for executing a program which operates a machine coupled to the programmable controller;
- the improvement comprising a video image processor including;
a microprocessor which executes a program that controls the operation of the video image processor;
means responsive to a trigger signal for acquiring a video image, said video image formed by a plurality of pixels each having a luminance;
means for determining the position of an object within the video image;
means for counting pixels in said video image which have predetermined characteristics, and having an output indicating the result of the counting, said means for counting including;
(a) means for comparing the luminance of pixels in the video image to a threshold value,(b) a memory for storing data defining a region within the video image,(c) a counter,(d) means for shifting the region with respect to the video image in response to said means for determining, and(e) means responsive to said means for comparing and responsive to the shifted region for controlling the counter; and
means, responsive to the microprocessor, for signaling the program processor that the video image processor has completed processing the image and for transmitting the output of the means for counting to the program processor via the rack backplane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A module for a programmable controller is adapted to process a video image to evaluate characteristics of an object within the image. A processor converts an analog video signal into four binary images. A memory stores data defining a separate sensor region for each binary image. A set of four counters is provided to tabulate the pixels of one color in each binary image that lie within the associated sensor region. A video signal sensor measures variation of the luminance of the video signal. The processor uses the luminance variation measurement to adjust the binarization of the video signal to produce normalized binary images under varying lighting conditions.
83 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a programmable controller having a rack with a backplane for electrically interconnecting a plurality of modules received in the rack, and a program processor for executing a program which operates a machine coupled to the programmable controller;
- the improvement comprising a video image processor including;
a microprocessor which executes a program that controls the operation of the video image processor; means responsive to a trigger signal for acquiring a video image, said video image formed by a plurality of pixels each having a luminance; means for determining the position of an object within the video image; means for counting pixels in said video image which have predetermined characteristics, and having an output indicating the result of the counting, said means for counting including; (a) means for comparing the luminance of pixels in the video image to a threshold value, (b) a memory for storing data defining a region within the video image, (c) a counter, (d) means for shifting the region with respect to the video image in response to said means for determining, and (e) means responsive to said means for comparing and responsive to the shifted region for controlling the counter; and means, responsive to the microprocessor, for signaling the program processor that the video image processor has completed processing the image and for transmitting the output of the means for counting to the program processor via the rack backplane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- the improvement comprising a video image processor including;
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9. An apparatus for processing a video image comprising:
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means for simultaneously converting a video signal into a plurality of binary images; means for defining a region in each of said binary images; and means for separately counting pixels within the defined regions which have a given binary value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A vision input module for a programmable controller comprising:
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means for receiving a video image; means for defining at last one sensing region within said video image and its sensing parameters, said means for defining including a memory for storing a definition of the sensing area and its parameters; means for determining the position of an object in said video image; and means for changing the definition of said sensing area in response to the position of the object. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. In a programmable controller having a rack with a backplane for electrically interconnecting a plurality of modules received in the rack, and a program processor executing a program which operates a machine coupled to the programmable controller;
- the improvement comprising a video image processor including;
a microprocessor which executes a program that controls the operation of the video image processor; means responsive to a trigger signal for acquiring a video image to process, said video image formed by a plurality of pixels each having a luminance; means for counting pixels in said video image which have predetermined characteristics, and having an output indicating the result of the counting; means, responsive to the microprocessor, for signaling the program processor that the video image processor has completed processing the image and for transmitting the output of the means for counting to the program processor via the rack backplane; and means for defining the predetermined characteristics including a video monitor, means for displaying on said monitor a menu consisting of a series of icons depicting characteristics defining functions, and means for an operator to select an icon. - View Dependent Claims (20)
- the improvement comprising a video image processor including;
Specification