Apparatus and method for monitoring a cable
First Claim
1. A device for monitoring a cable, comprising:
- an imaging device having a field of view;
a target, distinguishable within said field of view of said imaging device, associated with a cable; and
a computer processor connected to said imaging device for analyzing images of said target produced by said imaging device to determine a position of said cable.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment the present invention provides a device for monitoring a cable, comprising an imaging device having a field of view; a target, distinguishable within the field of view of the imaging device, associated with a cable; and a computer processor connected to the imaging device for analyzing images of the target produced by the imaging device to determine a position of the cable. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for monitoring a cable, comprising calibrating a first image of a predetermined field of view showing a portion of a cable to be monitored; capturing a second image of the predetermined field of view; correlating the first image with the second image to determine a position of the portion of the cable within the second image; and reporting said position.
21 Citations
41 Claims
-
1. A device for monitoring a cable, comprising:
-
an imaging device having a field of view;
a target, distinguishable within said field of view of said imaging device, associated with a cable; and
a computer processor connected to said imaging device for analyzing images of said target produced by said imaging device to determine a position of said cable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A device for monitoring a cable, comprising:
-
a sealed housing having a viewing port;
a video camera mounted within said sealed housing and having a field of view through said viewing port;
a target, distinguishable within said field of view of said video camera, mounted on a cable having a position;
a computer processor mounted within said housing and connected to said video camera for analyzing video images of said target produced by said video camera to determine a change in said position;
a data storage device mounted within said housing and electrically connected to said computer processor for storing said position determined by said computer processor and a time value associated with said position; and
a communications transmitter electrically connected to said data storage device for transmitting said position and said time value to a remote location.
-
-
20. A method for monitoring a cable, comprising:
-
calibrating a first image of a predetermined field of view showing a portion of a cable to be monitored;
capturing a second image of said predetermined field of view;
correlating said first image with said second image to determine a position of said portion of said cable within said second image; and
reporting said position. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A device for monitoring a cable, comprising:
-
a stationary imaging device having a field of view;
a target, distinguishable within said field of view of said stationary imaging device, fixedly attached to a cable; and
a computer processor connected to said stationary imaging device for analyzing images of said target produced by said stationary imaging device to determine a position of said cable relative to a previous position of said cable. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
-
Specification