Object identification system

• US 5,764,785 A
• Filed: 08/21/1995
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IR Imaging Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mark Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Lyman, James C., Jones, Mark F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Couso, Jose L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Do, Anh Hong
• Application Number:
  US08/517,378
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 382/106, 382/189, 382/214, 382/321, 356/3, 356/5.06, 356/11, 359/798, 364/137, 358/510, 358/509
• US Class Current: 382/106
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/50 Systems of measurement based on relative movement of target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 Housing arrangements

Abstract

A system for the remote identification of objects under varying light conditions. Objects are illuminated with a non-coherent light source for viewing by an observer. A low power laser diode and lens system which sends a laser beam out on an inclined plane determines the distance to and size of objects under observation. A significant change of position of objects under observation causes an alarm to be activated.

Claims

1. A remote object identification system comprising at least one component selected from the list of components consisting of an imaging system, a range finder, and a movement sensor, wherein:

said imaging system comprises;

a non coherent light source for generating light, said non-coherent light source having a color temperature between 2000 Kelvins and 3500 Kelvins and a color rendition index (CRI) of more than 90,

a filter means for filtering said generated light, wherein said filter means permits the passage of light in the range of from 800 nanometers to 950 nanometers,

a first imaging means for the translation of visible and infrared light reflected from said object into a first electronic signal,

a first display means for the translation of said first electronic signal into an image of said object, said image being displayed on the screen of said first display means, and

said range finder comprises;

a low power laser diode to generate a laser beam,

a lens system that fans said laser beam out as an inclined plane of light, said plane of light being reflected from said object as a line of light,

a second imaging means for the translation of the visible and infrared light in said line of light into a second electronic signal,

a second display means for the translation of said second electronic signal into a line which is displayed on the screen of said second display means; and

,

a pre-calibrated scale on the screen of said second display means for the determination of the distance to said object; and

,

said movement sensor comprises;

a display driver circuit board which outputs video electronic signals, whose voltage levels correspond to the screen positions of the lines displayed on a screen by a range finder,

a scan threshold detector which, every set time interval, processes said video electronic signals, assigning horizontal and vertical digital addresses, for each time interval, to each line displayed on a screen by a range finder, and outputting said addresses as digital address signals,

a microchip to read said digital address signals and to transmit a digital map of said digital address signals to RAM for storage,

a micro controller which, every set time interval, compares the map for the most recent time interval with the map for at least one previous time interval.

2. The remote object identification system of claim 1 wherein said imaging system further comprises a pre-calibrated scale on the screen of said first display means for the determination of the height of said object.

3. The remote object identification system of claim 1 wherein said movement sensor further comprises an alarm which is activated when the map from the most recent time interval differs from the map of at least one previous time interval.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said non-coherent light source is chosen from the group consisting of quartz halogen bulbs and xenon bulbs.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said non-coherent light source has a color temperature from about 2500 Kelvins to about 3000 Kelvins.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said non-coherent light source has a color rendition index (CRI) of more than about 95.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said filter means permits the passage of light in the range of from 825 nanometers to 925 nanometers.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said filter means permits the passage of light in the range of from about 850 nanometers to about 900 nanometers.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one imaging means is a solid state CCD image sensor with less than 1.0 lux sensitivity at F 1.4 and with capability to support, at least, 510 (H)×

492 (V) pixels.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one imaging means is a solid state CCD image sensor with less than 0.1 lux sensitivity at F 1.4 and with capability to support, at least, 510 (H)×

492 (V) pixels.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one said imaging means converts light with wavelengths from 400 nanometers to 900 nanometers into an electrical signal.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one said imaging means is sensitive to low level available light.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said movement sensor comprises a micro controller which compares the map of addresses of one or more known fixed objects and one or more observed objects, at different points of time, to determine if any object under observation has moved relative to any known fixed objects.