Marker means for determining direction and zoom of a means for viewing

• US 7,860,640 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2010
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henry H. Wall III
• Original Assignee: Henry H. Wall III
• Inventors: Wall, Henry H. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): KING, RODNEY P
• Application Number:
  US12/703,455
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/208
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30204 Marker
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30236 Traffic on road, railway or crossing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30244 Camera pose
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/80 Analysis of captured images to determine intrinsic or extrinsic camera parameters, i.e. camera calibration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

A system for determining a direction and a magnification of a means for viewing is described herein. The system can have a means for viewing, a marker means, and a processor in communication with a data storage. The means for viewing can have a means for viewing longitude, a means for viewing latitude, a means for viewing height, and a field of view. The system can have a marker means disposed within the field of view, and the marker means can have a certain point, which has a marker means longitude, a marker means latitude, and a marker means height. The marker means can have a first area of a certain shape and of at least one color.

Claims

1. A system for determining a direction and a magnification of a means for viewing, the system comprising:

a. a means for viewing longitude, latitude, height, and a field of view, wherein the means for viewing captures an image or a series of images, and wherein each image or series of images comprises at least one pixel;

b. a marker means disposed within the field of view, wherein the marker means comprises a certain point, wherein the certain point comprises a marker means longitude, a marker means latitude, and a marker means height, wherein the marker means comprises a first area of a certain shape and of at least one color, and wherein the first area reflects light at least one frequency; and

c. a controller processor in communication with a controller data storage, wherein the controller processor is in communication with the means for viewing, and wherein the controller data storage comprises;

(i) a data file comprising the means for viewing longitude, latitude, height, or combinations thereof;

(ii) a second data file comprising the marker means longitude, the marker means latitude, the marker means height, a location of the first area, a location of the certain point defined relative to the location of the first area, or combinations thereof;

(iii) computer instructions to instruct the means for viewing to capture the image or the series of images;

(iv) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to determine a center of the image or series of image;

(v) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to identify the at least one frequency;

(vi) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to identify the certain shape of the first area reflecting light at the at least one frequency;

(vii) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to determine a location of the certain point within the image or series of images by locating the first area and using the location of the certain point defined relative to the location of the first area to form a first determined location of the certain point; and

(viii) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to determine a direction of the means for viewing by using the means for viewing longitude, latitude, height, the first determined location of the certain point, a magnification of the means for viewing, and the determined center of the image or series of image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the marker means further comprises a first plurality of location areas, wherein each of the location area comprises:

a. a location area color; and

b. a predefined location area dimension, wherein the predefined location area dimension of each location area is different than the predefined location area dimension of other location areas, wherein each location area is spaced apart from other location areas, and wherein the controller data storage further comprises;

(i) a stored data file comprising a location on the marker means of each of the location areas and the predefined location area dimension for each location area;

(ii) computer instructions instructing the controller processor to identify the location area within the image or series of images by identifying the location area color within the image or series of images;

(iii) computer instruction to determine a location of each of the first plurality of location areas within the image or series of images using the stored data file;

(iv) computer instructions to determine the location of the certain point within the image or series of images to form a second determined location of the certain point, wherein the second determined location of the certain point is defined relative to the location of each of the first plurality of location areas within the image or series of images;

(v) computer instructions to determine a pixel spacing within the image or series of images, wherein the pixel spacing is defined relative to the predefined location area dimension of each location area to form a first determined pixel spacing;

(vi) computer instructions to determine the magnification of the means for viewing using the first determined pixel spacing and each predefined location area dimension; and

(vii) computer instructions to determine the direction of the means for viewing using the means for viewing longitude, latitude, height, the second determined location of the certain point, the determined magnification, and the determined center of the image or series of images.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the marker means further comprises a second plurality of location areas, wherein each of the location area comprises:

a. a second location area color; and

b. a second predefined location area dimension, wherein the second predefined location area dimension of each location area is different than the predefined location area dimension of other location areas, wherein each location area is spaced apart from other location areas, and wherein the controller data storage further comprises;

(i) a second stored data file comprising a location on the marker means of each of the location areas of the second plurality of location areas and the second predefined location area dimension for each location area;

(ii) computer instructions instructing the controller processor to identify the location area within the image or series of images by identifying the second location area color within the image or series of images;

(iii) computer instruction to determine a location of each of the second plurality of location areas within the image or series of images using the second stored data file;

(iv) computer instructions to determine the location of the certain point within the image or series of images to form a third determined location of the certain point, wherein the third determined location of the certain point is defined relative to the location of each of the second plurality of location areas within the image or series of images;

(v) computer instructions to determine a second pixel spacing within the image or series of images, wherein the second pixel spacing is defined relative to the second predefined location area dimension of each location area to form a second determined pixel spacing;

(vi) computer instructions to determine the magnification of the means for viewing using the second determined pixel spacing and each second predefined location area dimension to form a second determined magnification; and

(vii) computer instructions to determine the direction of the means for viewing using the means for viewing longitude, latitude, height, the third determined location of the certain point, the second determined magnification, and the determined center of the image or series of images.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first plurality of location areas are disposed at an angle from the second plurality of location areas.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fail algorithm stored in the controller data storage, the fail algorithm comprising:

a. computer instructions to determine that the means for viewing did not locate the marker means;

b. computer instructions to determine that the means for viewing located the marker means at a location other than at the marker means longitude, the marker means latitude, and the marker means height; and

c. computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to initiate an alarm to repair the means for viewing, the marker means, or combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising an installer supervisory control computer, wherein the installer supervisory controller computer comprises:

a. an installer processor in communication with controller processor, the controller data storage, the means for viewing, or combinations thereof;

b. an installer data storage in communication with the installer processor;

c. a display, wherein the installer supervisory controller computer receives the image or series of images and displays the image or series of images on the display; and

d. an input device to identify at least one pixel associated with the marker means or with a location of the marker means in the image or series of images.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a. computer instructions in the installer data storage comprising;

(i) computer instructions to receive and store user inputted location data associated with the marker means, associated with the identified pixels, or combinations thereof; and

(ii) computer instructions to instruct the installer processor to send the inputted location data and the image or series of images with the identified pixels to the controller processor, the controller data storage, the means for viewing, or combinations thereof;

b. computer instruction in the controller data storage to instruct the controller processor to use the inputted location data and the image or series of images with the identified pixels to determine which portions of the image or series of images to analyze to locate the marker means within the image or series of images.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lighting device for directing light onto the marker means.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the marker means further comprises an electrical glow wire and the means for viewing further comprises an infrared sensor for sensing the electrical glow wire.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the marker means is a flat geometrically shaped marker means, and wherein the first area has a highly reflective surface for reflecting the light at the at least one frequency.

11. A system for determining a direction and a magnification of a means for viewing, the system comprising:

a. a means for viewing longitude, latitude, height, and a field of view, wherein the means for viewing captures an image or a series of images, and wherein each image or series of images comprises at least one pixel;

b. a marker means disposed within the field of view, wherein the marker means comprises;

(i) a certain point, wherein the certain point comprises a marker means longitude, a marker means latitude, and a marker means height; and

(ii) a first area of a certain shape, wherein the first area comprises an electromagnetic radiation emitting device for emitting electromagnetic radiation at a certain frequency or at certain frequencies;

c. a controller processor in communication with a controller data storage, wherein the controller processor is in communication with the means for viewing, and wherein the controller data storage comprises;

(i) a data file comprising the means for viewing longitude, latitude, height, or combinations thereof;

(ii) a second data file comprising the marker means longitude, the marker means latitude, the marker means height, a location of the first area, a location of the certain point defined relative to the location of the first area, or combinations thereof;

(iii) computer instructions to instruct the means for viewing to capture the image or the series of images;

(iv) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to determine a center of the image or series of image;

(v) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to identify the certain frequency or certain frequencies;

(vi) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to identify the certain shape of the first area emitting light at the at least one frequency;

(vii) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to determine a location of the certain point within the image or series of images by locating the first area and using the location of the certain point defined relative to the location of the first area to form a first determined location of the certain point; and

(viii) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to determine a direction of the means for viewing by using the means for viewing longitude, latitude, height, the first determined location of the certain point, a magnification of the means for viewing, and the determined center of the image or series of image.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the marker means further comprises a first plurality of location areas, wherein each of the location area comprises:

a. a location area electromagnet radiation emitting device for emitting electromagnetic radiation at a certain frequency or certain frequencies;

b. a predefined location area dimension, wherein the predefined location area dimension of each location area is different than the predefined location area dimension of other location areas, wherein each location area is spaced apart from other location areas, and wherein the controller data storage further comprises;

(i) a stored data file comprising a location on the marker means of each of the location areas and the predefined location area dimension for each location area;

(ii) computer instructions instructing the controller processor to identify the location area within the image or series of images by identifying the emitted electromagnetic radiation at the certain frequency or certain frequencies within the image or series of images;

(iii) computer instruction to determine a location of each of the first plurality of location areas within the image or series of images using the stored data file;

(iv) computer instructions to determine the location of the certain point within the image or series of images to form a second determined location of the certain point, wherein the second determined location of the certain point is defined relative to the location of each of the first plurality of location areas within the image or series of images;

(v) computer instructions to determine a pixel spacing within the image or series of images, wherein the pixel spacing is defined relative to the predefined location area dimension of each location area to form a first determined pixel spacing;

(vi) computer instructions to determine the magnification of the means for viewing using the first determined pixel spacing and each predefined location area dimension; and

(vii) computer instructions to determine the direction of the means for viewing using the means for viewing longitude, latitude, height, the second determined location of the certain point, the determined magnification, and the determined center of the image or series of images.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the electromagnetic radiation emitting device and the first location area electromagnet radiation emitting device are each selected from the group consisting of:

an incandescent bulb, an light emitting diode “

LED”

, a florescent bulb, a neon bulb, a halogen bulb, an LCD screen, a laser light or combinations thereof.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a fail algorithm stored in the controller data storage, the fail algorithm comprising:

a. computer instructions to determine that the means for viewing did not locate the marker means;

b. computer instructions to determine that the means for viewing located the marker means at a location other than at the marker means longitude, the marker means latitude, and the marker means height; and

c. computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to initiate an alarm to repair the means for viewing, the marker means, or combinations thereof.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising an installer supervisory control computer, wherein the installer supervisory controller computer comprises:

a. an installer processor in communication with controller processor, the controller data storage, the means for viewing, or combinations thereof;

b. an installer data storage in communication with the installer processor;

c. a display, wherein the installer supervisory controller computer receives the image or series of images and displays the image or series of images on the display; and

d. an input device to identify at least one pixel associated with the marker means or with a location of the marker means in the image or series of images.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a. computer instructions in the installer data storage comprising;

(i) computer instructions to receive and store user inputted location data associated with the marker means, associated with the identified pixels, or combinations thereof; and

(ii) computer instruction to instruct the installer processor to send the inputted location data and the image or series of images with the identified pixels to the controller processor, the controller data storage, the means for viewing, or combinations thereof;

b. computer instruction in the controller data storage to instruct the controller processor to use the inputted location data and the image or series of images with the identified pixels to determine which portions of the image or series of images to analyze to locate the marker means within the image or series of images.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising an installer supervisory control computer, wherein the installer supervisory controller computer comprises:

a. an installer processor in communication with controller processor, the controller data storage, the means for viewing, or combinations thereof;

b. an installer data storage in communication with the installer processor;

c. a display;

wherein the installer supervisory controller computer receives the image or series of images and displays the image or series of images on the display; and

d. an input device to identify at least one pixel associated with the marker means or with a location of the marker means in the image or series of images.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the system further comprises:

a. computer instructions in the installer data storage comprising;

(i) computer instructions to receive and store user inputted location data associated with the marker means, associated with the identified pixels, or combinations thereof; and

(ii) computer instruction to instruct the installer processor to send the inputted location data and the image or series of images with the identified pixels to the processor, the controller data storage, the means for viewing or combinations thereof;

b. computer instruction in the controller data storage to instruct the controller processor to use the inputted location data and the image or series of images with the identified pixels to determine which portions of the image or series of images to analyze to locate the marker means within the image or series of images.

17. A system for determining a direction and a magnification of a means for viewing, the system comprising:

a. a means for viewing disposed at a first location, wherein the means for viewing has a field of view and captures an image or a series of images, and wherein each image or series of images comprises at least one pixel;

b. a marker means disposed within the field of view, wherein the marker means comprises;

(i) a certain point disposed at a second location; and

(ii) a first area of a certain shape and of at least one color, and wherein the first area reflects light at least one frequency;

c. a controller processor in communication with a controller data storage, wherein the controller processor is in communication with the means for viewing, and wherein the controller data storage comprises;

(i) a data file comprising the first location, the second location, a location of the first area, a location of the certain point defined relative to the location of the first area, or combinations thereof;

(ii) computer instructions to instruct the means for viewing to capture the image or the series of images;

(iii) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to determine a center of the image or series of image;

(iv) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to identify the at least one frequency;

(v) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to identify the certain shape of the first area reflecting light at the at least one frequency;

(vi) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to determine a location of the certain point within the image or series of images by locating the first area and using the location of the certain point defined relative to the location of the first area to form a first determined location of the certain point; and

(vii) computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to determine a direction of the means for viewing using the first location, the first determined location of the certain point, a magnification of the means for viewing, and the determined center of the image or series of image.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a fail algorithm stored in the data storage, the fail algorithm comprising:

a. computer instructions to determine that the means for viewing did not locate the marker means;

b. computer instructions to determine that the means for viewing located the marker means at a location other than at the first location; and

c. computer instructions to instruct the controller processor to initiate an alarm to repair the means for viewing, the marker means, or combinations thereof.