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Cargo sensing system

  • US 7,421,112 B2
  • Filed: 03/12/2004
  • Issued: 09/02/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for detecting a presence of cargo in a container, comprising:

  • an ambient light sensor to determine if an ambient light level within the container exceeds a threshold value;

    a camera to obtain an image of an interior of the container;

    an edge detection module configured to recognize lines formed by intersection of floor and walls of the container, and to compare the recognized lines to a plurality of images of empty cargo containers within an edge image library, and upon failure to match the recognized lines to an image within the edge image library, to within a threshold level of differences, to assume that cargo is present within the container;

    a laser unit, controlled by a projection pattern generator and operated only when ambient lighting is below the threshold value, to create a laser projection pattern in the container; and

    a laser pattern evaluation module to evaluate the laser projection pattern to determine if cargo is present in the container.

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