Gradient calculating camera board
First Claim
1. An imaging module for use in a system implementing a machine vision application, the imaging module comprising:
- an image sensor, for imaging a field of view encompassing a target subject of the machine vision application and generating representative image data;
a processor, coupled to receive the image data from the image sensor configured for calculating gradient information from the image data; and
a data communication interface configured for transmitting the gradient information from the processor to a host implementing the machine vision application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a machine vision system utilizing computer processing of image data, an imaging module incorporates the image sensor as well as pre-processing circuitry, for example, for performing a background subtraction and/or a gradient calculation. The pre-processing circuitry may also compress the image information. The host computer receives the pre-processed image data and performs all other calculations necessary to complete the machine vision application, for example, to determine one or more wheel alignment parameters of a subject vehicle. In a disclosed example useful for wheel alignment, the module also includes illumination elements, and the module circuitry provides associated camera control. The background subtraction, gradient calculation and associated compression require simpler, less expensive circuitry than for typical image pre-processing boards. Yet, the pre-processing at the imaging module substantially reduces the processing burden on the host computer when compared to machine vision implementations using direct streaming of image data to the host computer.
77 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An imaging module for use in a system implementing a machine vision application, the imaging module comprising:
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an image sensor, for imaging a field of view encompassing a target subject of the machine vision application and generating representative image data;
a processor, coupled to receive the image data from the image sensor configured for calculating gradient information from the image data; and
a data communication interface configured for transmitting the gradient information from the processor to a host implementing the machine vision application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An imaging module for use in a system implementing a machine vision application, the imaging module comprising:
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an image sensor, for imaging a field of view encompassing a target subject of the machine vision application and generating representative image data;
a processor, coupled to receive the image data from the image sensor, and configured for performing at least one of a background subtraction and a gradient calculation on the image data from the image sensor, to form pre-processed image information and for compressing the pre-processed image information; and
a data communication interface configured for transmitting the compressed pre-processed image information from the processor to a host implementing the machine vision application. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A wheel alignment system, comprising:
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at least one imaging module, comprising;
1) an image sensor, for imaging a field of view encompassing at least one target mounted on a wheel of a subject vehicle and generating image data representing the imaged field of view;
2) a processor, coupled to receive the image data from the image sensor, and configured for performing at least one of a background subtraction and a gradient calculation on information from the image data from the image sensor, to form pre-processed image information; and
3) a data communication interface configured for transmitting the pre-processed image information from the processor; and
a host computer coupled to receive the pre-processed image information transmitted from the at least one imaging module, configured for processing the pre-processed image information to determine at least one wheel alignment parameter of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A wheel alignment system, comprising:
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at least one imaging module, comprising;
1) an image sensor, for imaging a field of view encompassing least one target mounted on a wheel of a subject vehicle and generating image data representing the imaged field of view;
2) a processor, coupled to receive the image data from the image sensor, and configured for performing a background subtraction on the image data from the image sensor and a gradient calculation based on a result of the background subtraction, to form pre-processed image information; and
3) a data communication interface configured for transmitting the pre-processed image information from the processor;
a strobe for selectively illuminating the at least one optical target when mounted on a vehicle; and
a host computer coupled to receive the pre-processed image information transmitted from the at least one imaging module, and configured for processing the pre-processed image information to determine at least one wheel alignment parameter of the vehicle, wherein;
the image sensor selectively images the field of view encompassing the at least one target and generates data representing a background image without illumination from the strobe and generates data representing a foreground image containing the at least one target illuminated by the strobe; and
the processor performs the background subtraction by subtracting the data representing the background image without illumination from the data representing the illuminated foreground image.
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21. A method of image processing, for a machine vision application, comprising:
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capturing an image of a field of view encompassing a target subject of the machine vision application;
generating image data representing the captured image;
calculating gradient information from the image data; and
transmitting the gradient information to a host processor implementing the machine vision application. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of image processing, for a machine vision application, comprising:
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capturing an image of a field of view encompassing a target subject of the machine vision application, the step of capturing the image comprising;
capturing a background image without illumination;
illuminating the field of view encompassing the target subject of the machine vision application; and
forming a foreground image of the illuminated field of view;
generating image data representing the captured image, the step of generating image data comprising;
generating image data representing the background image without illumination;
generating image data representing the illuminated foreground image of the target subject; and
subtracting the data representing the background image without illumination from the data representing the illuminated foreground image of the target subject;
calculating gradient information responsive to a result of the subtracting step; and
transmitting the gradient information to a host processor implementing the machine vision application. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method of image processing, for a machine vision application, comprising:
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capturing a background image without illumination;
generating image data representing the background image;
illuminating a field of view including a target subject of the machine vision application;
forming a foreground image of the illuminated field of view;
generating image data representing the illuminated foreground image; and
subtracting data representing the background image from the data representing the foreground image; and
compressing a result of the subtracting step to form compressed image information; and
transmitting the compressed image information to a host processor implementing the machine vision application. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of determining a wheel alignment parameter of a vehicle, comprising:
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attaching a plurality of targets on respective wheels of the vehicle, each attached target comprising at least one visually perceptible target element;
using a camera to capture a background image;
illuminating the targets;
using the camera to view the illuminated targets, to form a foreground image thereof and to generate foreground image data from the foreground image;
subtracting data regarding the background image from the foreground image data;
in response to the subtracting step, calculating gradient information;
compressing the gradient information;
transmitting the compressed gradient information to a host processing system;
in the host processing system, processing the compressed gradient information to derive positional data regarding positions of the at least one target element of the attached targets; and
in the host processing system, processing the positional data to determine the wheel alignment parameter of the vehicle.
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32. In a wheel alignment system having an image sensing module and a host processor for calculating a vehicle wheel alignment parameter in response to image data communicated from the image sensing module, an improvement in the image sensing module, wherein the image sensing module comprises:
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an image sensor circuit for capturing and digitizing images;
a field programmable gate array coupled to the image sensor circuit for pre-processing the digitized images; and
a communication interface coupled to the field programmable gate array for sending pre-processed image data to the host processor. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. In a wheel alignment system having an image sensing module and a host processor for calculating a vehicle wheel alignment parameter in response to image data communicated from the image sensing module, an improvement in the image sensing module, wherein the image sensing module comprises:
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an image sensor circuit for capturing and digitizing images;
a communication interface configured for sending digitized image data to the host processor; and
an active electronic cooling circuit arranged to cool at least the image sensor circuit. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. In a wheel alignment system having an image sensing module and a host processor for calculating a vehicle wheel alignment parameter in response to image data communicated from the image sensing module, an improvement in the image sensing module, wherein the image sensing module comprises:
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an image sensor circuit, configured for capturing and digitizing images;
an electronic strobe circuit, for illuminating a field of view for imaging by the image sensor circuit;
a controller circuit coupled to the image sensor circuit and the electronic strobe circuit;
a communication interface circuit, configured for sending digitized image data to the host processor; and
at least one optical isolator coupled to the electronic strobe circuit, for optically isolating the strobe circuit from the other circuits of the image sensing module.
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39. A wheel alignment system, comprising:
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at least one imaging module, comprising;
1) an image sensor, for imaging a field of view encompassing at least one target mounted on a wheel of a subject vehicle and generating image data representing the imaged field of view;
2) a processor, coupled to receive the image data from the image sensor, and configured for compressing the image data from the image sensor; and
3) a data communication interface configured for transmitting the compressed image data from the processor; and
a host computer coupled to receive the compressed image data transmitted from the at least one imaging module, and configured for processing the compressed image data to determine at least one wheel alignment parameter of the subject vehicle.
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40. An imaging module for use in a system for performing wheel alignment measurements on a subject vehicle, the imaging module comprising:
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an image sensor, for imaging a field of view encompassing at least one target mounted on a wheel of the subject vehicle and generating representative image data;
a processor, coupled to the image sensor, and configured for compressing the image data from the image sensor; and
a data communication interface configured for transmitting the compress image from the processor to a host computer of the system, for processing to determine the a least one wheel alignment parameter of the subject vehicle.
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41. A method of determining a wheel alignment parameter of a vehicle, comprising:
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attaching a target to a wheel of the vehicle, the target comprising at least one visually perceptible target element;
using a camera to capture an image of the target;
compressing the image;
transmitting the compressed image to a host processing system;
in the host processing system, processing the compressed image to determine the wheel alignment parameter of the vehicle.
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Specification