System and method for detecting and classifying objects in images, such as insects and other arthropods
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a sticky substrate configured to trap arthropods to be automatically classified;
a color digital camera having a lens and configured to obtain an image of at least a portion of a surface of the sticky substrate and arthropods on the portion of the substrate; and
a communications unit having an interface operable to communicate across an internet, wherein the communications unit is operatively coupled to the camera and configured to receive image information from the camera and to transmit a signal across the internet to a remote receiver, wherein the transmitted signal is based on the received image information.
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Abstract
A color-based imaging system and method for the detection and classification of insects and other arthropods are described, including devices for counting arthropods and providing taxonomic capabilities useful for pest-management. Some embodiments include an image sensor (for example, a digital color camera, scanner or a video camera) with optional illumination that communicates with a computer system. Some embodiments include a color scanner connected to a computer. Sampled arthropods are put on a scanner to be counted and identified. The computer captures images from the scanner, adjusts scanner settings, and processes the acquired images to detect and identify the arthropods. Other embodiments include a trapping device and a digital camera connected by cable or wireless communications to the computer. Some devices include a processor to do the detection and identification in the field, or the field system can send the images to a centralized host computer for detection and identification.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a sticky substrate configured to trap arthropods to be automatically classified; a color digital camera having a lens and configured to obtain an image of at least a portion of a surface of the sticky substrate and arthropods on the portion of the substrate; and a communications unit having an interface operable to communicate across an internet, wherein the communications unit is operatively coupled to the camera and configured to receive image information from the camera and to transmit a signal across the internet to a remote receiver, wherein the transmitted signal is based on the received image information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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providing a sticky substrate configured to trap arthropods to be automatically classified; providing a color digital camera having a lens; obtaining an image of at least a portion of a surface of the sticky substrate and any arthropods on the portion of the substrate, in order to form image information; receiving the image information from the camera; and transmitting a signal to a remote receiver across an internet, wherein the transmitted signal is based on the received image information. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus comprising:
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a sticky substrate configured to trap arthropods to be automatically classified, wherein the sticky substrate has a first area that has a first background color and a second area that has a second contrasting background color different than the first background color; a color digital camera having a lens and configured to obtain an image of at least a portion of a surface of the sticky substrate and arthropods on the portion of the substrate; a polarized filter operatively coupled to the camera to selectively filter light to the camera in order to enhance images of arthropods of interest; a communications unit having an interface operable to communicate across an internet, wherein the communications unit is operatively coupled to the camera and configured to receive image information from the camera and to transmit a signal across the internet to a remote receiver, wherein the transmitted signal is based on the received image information; a source of selectively colored illumination light selected to enhance images of arthropods of interest, wherein the source is configured to direct the light onto the substrate; a diffuser on the source of selectively colored illumination light to reduce shadows and make the illumination light more even across the surface of the sticky substrate; an image pre-processor configured to classify one or more arthropod images and generate classification information, and wherein the transmitted signal includes the classification information; a controller configured to periodically obtain a further image and to transmit another signal to the remote received based on the further image; a chemical repellant to selectively avoid capturing certain types of arthropods; and wherein a portion of the sticky substrate includes a color-calibration patch.
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- 25. An apparatus comprising a sticky substrate configured to trap arthropods to be automatically classified, wherein the sticky substrate has a first sticky area that has a first uniform background color and that provides enhanced image quality for imaging arthropods that stick on the first sticky area, and a second sticky area that has a second uniform contrasting background color that is different than, and that contrasts with, the first uniform background color and that also provides enhanced image quality for imaging arthropods that stick on the second sticky area, and wherein a portion of the substrate includes a chemical repellant to selectively avoid capturing one or more types of arthropods.
- 27. An apparatus comprising a sticky substrate configured to trap arthropods to be automatically classified, wherein the sticky substrate has a first sticky area that has a first uniform background color and that provides enhanced image quality for imaging arthropods that stick on the first sticky area, and a second sticky area that has a second contrasting uniform background color that is different than, and that contrasts with, the first uniform background color and that also provides enhanced image quality for imaging arthropods that stick on the second sticky area, and wherein a portion of the substrate includes a chemical attractant to selectively attract one or more types of arthropods.
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29. An apparatus comprising a sticky substrate configured to trap arthropods to be automatically classified, wherein the sticky substrate has a first sticky area that has a first uniform background color and that provides enhanced image quality for imaging arthropods that stick on the first sticky area, and a second sticky area that has a second uniform contrasting background color that is different than, and that contrasts with, the first uniform background color and that also provides enhanced image quality for imaging arthropods that stick on the second sticky area, and wherein a portion of the substrate includes a color-calibration patch.
Specification