System and method for preforming simultaneous bilateral measurements on a subject in motion

• US 5,235,416 A
• Filed: 07/30/1991
• Issued: 08/10/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Department Of Health And Human Services (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Inventors: Stanhope, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Application Number:
  US07/737,872
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 358/101, 358/107, 358/108, 358/106, 358/113, 362/231, 356/375
• US Class Current: 348/77
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/875 for determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/163 Determination of attitude using inertial means G01C9/00; control of attitude G05D1/49

Abstract

A system is provided for performing simultaneous bilateral measurements on a subject in motion at a test location. The system employs a plurality of observed targets attached to the moving subject, the targets being viewed simultaneously by each of two cameras disposed on opposite sides of the subject. Each of the cameras has associated therewith a light source emitting a light of a selected wavelength, the wavelengths for the two cameras being deliberately selected to be different enough to enable each camera to image the light source of the other without corruption of the observed data. The simultaneously operating two camera units may be computer controlled in preprogrammed manner or may be controlled by the operation of a manual control panel. In either case, the overall intensity of the two light sources providing illumination at the two selected different wavelengths facilitates the provision of illumination which avoids confusion by reflectance from the subject at other than the selected targets.

Claims

1. A system for performing simultaneous bilateral measurements on a subject in motion at a test location, comprising:

a plurality of observable targets disposed at selected positions on the moving subject;

wavelength-specific first and second target observing means, disposed on opposite sides of said test location and facing the same, for imaging each other while observing those of said targets as are respectively observable; and

first and second lighting means, respectively cooperating with said first and second target observing means to enable selected observation thereby, for providing lighting at respective first and second wavelengths such that said first observing means observes only at substantially said first wavelength and said second observing means observes only at substantially said second wavelength.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first and second target observing means comprise respective first and second cameras and corresponding first and second filters coacting therewith to enable observation thereby only at substantially said first and second wavelengths respectively.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein:

said first and second cameras are positioned diametrally opposite each other with respect to said test location.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein:

said first and second lighting means each comprise a respective plurality of controlled-intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs) arrayed between the respective first and second cameras and the corresponding first and second filters coacting therewith.

5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising:

control means for selectively controlling said first and second lighting means.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein:

said control means comprises means for strobing said first and second lighting means.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein:

said control means comprises means for adjusting an intensity of the lighting provided by the respective first and second lighting means.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein:

said control means comprises individual first and second driving boards for respectively controlling said first and second lighting means; and

said first and second lighting means and the corresponding first and second driving boards are assembled as respective lighting units fittable to said first and second cameras to provide corresponding controlled lighting therefor.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein:

said control means comprises a control panel with individual manually operable means for controlling said first and second lighting means for control of said strobing and intensity of lighting provided thereby.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein:

said control panel further comprises manually operable means for controlling said first and second cameras.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:

means for visually displaying and selectively recording observations by said first and second cameras.

12. The system according to claim 4, further comprising:

computer controlled means for selectively controlling said lighting means and said cameras.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:

computer controlled means for visually displaying and selectively recording observations by said first and second cameras.

23. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of targets may have respective reflectance properties.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein:

said respective reflectance properties are such as to reflect at one or the other of said first and second wavelengths.

14. A method for performing simultaneous bilateral measurements on a subject in motion at a test location, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of observable targets disposed at selected positions on the moving subject;

disposing wavelength-specific first and second target observing means on opposite sides of said test location and facing the test location, for imaging each other while observing those of said targets as are respectively observable; and

providing lighting at respective first and second wavelengths such that said first observing means observes only at substantially said first wavelength and said second observing means observes only at substantially said second wavelength.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein:

the step of providing said lighting at respective first and second wavelengths comprises the steps of controllably operating lighting sources and providing respective filters selected to pass light at corresponding first and second wavelengths, to facilitate respective observations by said first and second target observing means,

whereby said first and second target observing means are enabled to each observe only at substantially the corresponding selected wavelength respectively.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein:

said first and second target observing means are positioned diametrally opposite each other with respect to said test location.

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising the further step of:

controlling said first and second lighting means to adjust an intensity of the lighting provided thereby.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein:

said steps of controlling said first and second lighting means and observing by said first and second target observing means are effected by manual operation of corresponding controls disposed on a manual control panel.

19. The method according to claim 17, comprising the further step of:

operating a computer for controlling said steps of providing said lighting at said first and second wavelengths and observing said target by said first and second target observing means thereby.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein:

the intensities of lighting provided by said first and second lighting means are controlled to ensure that corresponding light reflected from garments and/or skin of a human subject is received by corresponding observation units at less than respective selected thresholds therefor.

25. The method according to claim 14, wherein:

said step of providing observable targets includes the step of selecting individual targets to have respective reflectance properties.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein:

said respective reflectance properties are selected to reflect at one or the other of said first and second wavelengths.

20. A system for bilateral, variable intensity, wavelength-discriminated, illumination for simultaneous bilateral observation of targets mounted to a moving subject, comprising:

first and second lighting means for providing first and second lighting at respective controlled intensities; and

means for filtering light provided by said first and second lighting means at respective first and second wavelengths, to illuminate selected ones of said targets with said filtered lighting at one or the other of said first and second wavelengths to thereby enable wavelength-specific observations of light reflected from the targets.

22. The system according to claim 20, further comprising:

means for controlling the intensities of lighting provided by said first and second lighting means to ensure that corresponding light reflected from garments and/or skin of a human subject is received by corresponding observation units at less than respective selected thresholds therefor.