System and method for identifying an object using invisible light

• US 7,034,927 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Allen, Paul G., Billmaier, James A., Novak, Robert E., Regan, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tu T.
• Application Number:
  US10/186,296
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 356/71, 356/3.1, 356/3.11, 356/3.12, 356/141.4, 356/141.5, 356/147, 356/15, 356/2.1, 356/620, 348 1401- 1409, 348164-172, 348 1411- 1413, 348/33, 382/103
• US Class Current: 356/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

An object is identified with a camera that is sensitive to both visible and invisible light. An invisible light illuminator attached to the object may project a target of invisible light, which may either be generated by the illuminator or reflected from a separate invisible light source by the illuminator. The system processes the invisible light and identifies the object based on identity characteristics extracted from the invisible component. The system may then adapt its operation to settings associated with the object.

Claims

1. A system for automatically identifying an object with a camera, the system comprising:

an invisible light illuminator, disposed on the object to be identified, that projects a target of invisible light;

a camera, sensitive to invisible light, that captures a first video signal depicting the object, the first video signal having visible and invisible components; and

an identification subsystem that processes the invisible component to determine the identity of the object without reference to the object'"'"'s position or speed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the illuminator comprises a reflector, the system further comprising:

a stationary invisible light emitter that generates invisible light reflected by the reflector to project the target.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the illuminator comprises a portable invisible light emitter that generates invisible light to project the target.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the invisible light comprises infrared light.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the invisible light comprises ultraviolet light.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the illuminator comprises an illuminating side and a non-illuminating side, the non-illuminating side comprising an adhesive for affixing the illuminator to the object to be identified.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the object to be identified comprises a person engaged in video communication using the camera.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the illuminator comprises a coating applied directly to skin of the person, wherein the coating projects invisible light.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the illuminator is attached to an article worn by the person.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of a pair of glasses, a tie clip, and a piece of jewelry.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the object to be identified is selected from the group consisting of a remote control device and a set of keys.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises:

a wide frequency image collection array that generates the visible component and the invisible component of the first video signal.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises:

a first image collection array that generates the visible component of the first video signal; and

a second image collection array that generates the invisible component of the first video signal.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification subsystem comprises:

an identity characteristic extraction module that extracts an identity characteristic of the object from the invisible component.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the identification subsystem further comprises:

a recognition engine that compares the identity characteristic with a database to identify the object.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a database that stores a plurality of identity characteristics, each of which corresponds to an identity of an object.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the storage subsystem comprises:

a database interface that receives the plurality of identity characteristics and corresponding identities from a user and stores the identity characteristic and corresponding identities in the database.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the database contains at least one setting for each identity, the system commencing operation according to the setting in response to determination of the identity.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the setting comprises an access level that defines circumstances under which the identity is able to control the system.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the setting comprises a status level that defines circumstances under which a preference has priority over preferences of other identities.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the setting comprises an entertainment preference that defines operation of entertainment hardware associated with the system.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the setting comprises an environment preference that defines operation of environment control hardware associated with the system.

23. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a tracking subsystem that orients a first field-of-view of the camera to center the target within the first field of view.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the setting comprises a tracking preference that defines operation of the tracking subsystem.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the camera has a first field-of-view with a magnification level, the system further comprising:

a zoom subsystem that automatically adjusts the magnification level.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the setting comprises a zooming preference that defines operation of the zooming subsystem.

27. The system of claim 14, wherein the identity characteristic comprises a wavelength of invisible light present in the target.

28. The system of claim 14, wherein the identity characteristic comprises an intensity of invisible light present in the target.

29. The system of claim 14, wherein the identity characteristic comprises a shape of the target.

30. The system of claim 14, wherein the identity characteristic comprises a size of the target.

31. The system of claim 14, wherein the identity characteristic comprises a pulse pattern of the target.

32. The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one additional illuminator disposed on the object to project at least one additional target of invisible light, wherein the identity characteristic comprises a pattern of the targets.

33. The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one additional illuminator disposed on the object to project at least one additional target of invisible light, wherein the identity characteristic comprises a composition of shapes of the targets.

34. The system of claim 14, wherein the identity characteristic comprises a composite of characteristics of the target, wherein the characteristics are selected from the group consisting of wavelength, intensity, shape, size, pulse pattern, pattern in relation to other targets, and composition of shapes in relation to other targets.

35. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a local display device viewable from within a first field-of-view that displays at least a subset of the visible component of the first video signal.

36. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication subsystem that transmits at least a subset of the visible component of the first video signal to a remote terminal for display.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the communication subsystem is configured to use a network selected from the group consisting of a cable television network and a direct broadcast satellite network.

38. The system of claim 37, further comprising:

a codec that receives television programming from the communication subsystem for display on a local display device viewable from within a first field-of-view, wherein the codec and a tracking subsystem are disposed within a common housing to form a set top box, and wherein the set top box transmits the first signal from the camera to the communication subsystem.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the communication subsystem receives a second video signal from the remote terminal, the system further comprising:

a local display device that displays the second video signal.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the second video signal and at least a subset of the visible component of the first video signal are displayed simultaneously.

41. A system for automatically identifying an object with a camera, the system comprising:

a camera, sensitive to invisible light, that captures a first video signal depicting the object having an invisible light illuminator disposed thereon to project a target of invisible light, the first video signal having visible and invisible components; and

an identification subsystem that processes the invisible component to determine the identity of the object without reference to the object'"'"'s position or speed.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the illuminator comprises a reflector, the system further comprising:

a stationary invisible light emitter that generates invisible light reflected by the reflector to project the target.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the illuminator comprises a portable invisible light emitter that generates invisible light to project the target.

44. A method for automatically identifying an object with a camera, the method comprising:

projecting a target of invisible light with an invisible light illuminator disposed on the object to be identified;

capturing a first video signal depicting the object with a camera sensitive to invisible light, the first video signal having visible and invisible components; and

processing the invisible component to determine the identity of the object without reference to the object'"'"'s position or speed.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the illuminator comprises a reflector, the method further comprising:

generating invisible light with a stationary invisible light emitter, wherein the invisible light is reflected by the reflector to project the target.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the illuminator comprises a portable invisible light emitter that generates invisible light to project the target.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the invisible light comprises infrared light.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein the invisible light comprises ultraviolet light.

49. The method of claim 44, further comprising affixing the illuminator to the object to be identified with an adhesive disposed on a non-illuminating side of the illuminator, the illuminator further having an illuminating side.

50. The method of claim 44, wherein the object to be identified comprises a person engaged in video communication using the camera.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising attaching the illuminator to an article worn by the person.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of a pair of glasses, a tie clip, and a piece of jewelry.

53. The method of claim 50, further comprising applying a coating directly to skin of the person, wherein the coating projects invisible light.

54. The method of claim 44, wherein the object to be identified is selected from the group consisting of a remote control device and a set of keys.

55. The method of claim 44, wherein capturing the first video signal comprises:

exposing a wide frequency image collection array to visible light and to the invisible light to generate the visible and invisible components of the first video signal.

56. The method of claim 44, wherein the camera comprises:

exposing a first image collection array to visible light to generate the visible component of the first video signal; and

exposing a second image collection array to invisible light to generate the invisible component of the first video signal.

57. The method of claim 44, wherein processing the invisible component comprises:

extracting an identity characteristic of the object from the invisible component.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein processing the invisible component comprises:

comparing the identity characteristic with a database to identify the object.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

storing a plurality of identity characteristics in a database, wherein each of the identity characteristics corresponds to an identity of an object.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein storing the plurality of identity characteristics comprises:

receiving the identity characteristics and corresponding identifies from a user; and

storing the identity characteristic and corresponding identifies in the database.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

storing at least one setting for each identity; and

commencing operation according to the setting in response to determination of the identity.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the setting comprises an access level that defines circumstances under which the identity is able to control the method.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the setting comprises a status level that defines circumstances under which a preference has priority over preferences of other identities.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein the setting comprises an entertainment preference that defines operation of entertainment hardware associated with the method.

65. The method of claim 61, wherein the setting comprises an environment preference that defines operation of environment control hardware associated with the method.

66. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

orienting a first field-of-view of the camera to center the target within the first field of view.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the setting comprises a tracking preference that controls orientation of the first field-of-view.

68. The method of claim 61, wherein the camera has a first field-of-view with a magnification level, the method further comprising:

automatically adjusting the magnification level.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the setting comprises a zooming preference that controls automatic adjustment of the magnification level.

70. The method of claim 57, wherein the identity characteristic comprises a wavelength of invisible light present in the target.

71. The method of claim 57, wherein the identity characteristic comprises an intensity of invisible light present in the target.

72. The method of claim 67, wherein the identity characteristic comprises a shape of the target.

73. The method of claim 57, wherein the identity characteristic comprises a size of the target.

74. The method of claim 57, wherein the identity characteristic comprises a pulse pattern of the target.

75. The method of claim 57, further comprising disposing at least one additional illuminator on the object to project at least one additional target of invisible light, wherein the identity characteristic comprises a pattern of the targets.

76. The method of claim 57, further comprising disposing at least one additional illuminator on the object to project at least one additional target of invisible light, wherein the identity characteristic comprises a composition of shapes of the targets.

77. The method of claim 57, wherein the identity characteristic comprises a composite of characteristics of the target, wherein the characteristics are selected from the group consisting of wavelength, intensity, shape, size, pulse pattern, pattern in relation to other targets, and composition of shapes in relation to other targets.

78. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

displaying at least a subset of the visible component of the first video signal at a location viewable from within a first field-of-view of the camera.

79. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

transmitting at least a subset of the visible component of the first video signal to a remote terminal for display.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein at least a subset of the visible component of the first video signal is transmitted through a network selected from the group consisting of a cable television network and a direct broadcast satellite network.

81. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

receiving television programming from the network for display at a location viewable from within a first field-of-view of the camera, wherein orienting the first field-of-view and receiving the television programming are performed within a set top box, and wherein the set top box transmits the first signal from the camera to the network.

82. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

receiving a second video signal from the remote terminal; and

displaying the second video signal on a local display device.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the second video signal and at least a subset of the visible component of the first, video signal are displayed simultaneously.

84. A method for automatically identifying an object with a camera, the method comprising:

capturing a first video signal depicting the object with a camera sensitive to invisible light, the object having an illuminator disposed thereon to project a target of invisible light, the first video signal having visible and invisible components; and

processing the invisible component to determine the identity of the object without reference to the object'"'"'s position or speed.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the illuminator comprises a reflector, the method further comprising:

generating invisible light with a stationary invisible light emitter, wherein the invisible light is reflected by the reflector to project the target.

86. The method of claim 84, wherein the illuminator comprises a portable invisible light emitter that generates invisible light to project the target.

87. A system for automatically tracking an object with a camera, the system comprising:

means for illuminating, disposed on an object to be tracked, for projecting at least one target of invisible light;

a camera, sensitive to invisible light, that captures a first video signal depicting the object, the first video signal having visible and invisible components; and

means for processing the invisible component to determine the identity of the object based on one or more of a number, pattern, wavelength, and pulse frequency of the at least one target of invisible light.