System and method for capturing images of a target area on which information is recorded
First Claim
1. A system for controlling image capture of a surface area on which information is recorded comprising:
- at least one imaging device capturing an image of said surface area;
a moveable element located in a designated sub-region of said surface area and within the field of view of said at least one imaging device; and
a processor in communication with said at least one imaging device, said processor receiving image data from said at least one imaging device and processing said image data to determine if a visible change in a position of said moveable element within said sub-region has occurred.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for capturing images of a target area on which information is recorded includes a boom assembly adapted to extend outwardly from a generally vertical surface. At least one digital camera is mounted on the boom assembly at a location spaced from the surface. The at least one digital camera is oriented so that the field of view thereof encompasses a target area on the surface. A controller is in communication with the at least one digital camera. The controller conditions the at least one digital camera to acquire an image of the target area. The image acquired by the at least one digital camera is conveyed to the controller and is processed to determine if an obstacle blocking the target area is in the captured image. If so, the captured image is not further processed and additional images are acquired until an image of the target area is captured without the obstacle therein.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A system for controlling image capture of a surface area on which information is recorded comprising:
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at least one imaging device capturing an image of said surface area; a moveable element located in a designated sub-region of said surface area and within the field of view of said at least one imaging device; and a processor in communication with said at least one imaging device, said processor receiving image data from said at least one imaging device and processing said image data to determine if a visible change in a position of said moveable element within said sub-region has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A camera-based system for controlling image capture of a surface area comprising:
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a generally horizontally extending boom assembly, said boom assembly being positioned above a surface area on which information is recorded, a designated sub-region of said surface area further comprising an optical switch thereon; at least one digital camera mounted on said boom assembly at a location spaced from the plane of said surface area, said at least one digital camera being oriented so that the field of view thereof encompasses said surface area including said optical switch; and a processor in communication with said at least one digital camera, said processor receiving image data from said at least one digital camera and processing said image data to detect actuation of said optical switch within said sub-region, said processor conditioning said at least one digital camera to capture another image of said surface area when actuation of said optical switch is detected. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of detecting actuation of a switch element mounted on a designated sub-region of a background surface on which information is to be recorded, in a captured image of said background surface, said method comprising the steps of:
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comparing the captured image with a previously captured image of said background surface; and determining, based on the comparison, whether a visual change in the position of said switch element within said sub-region on said background surface has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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42. A method of capturing and storing images of a background surface on which information is recorded, said method comprising the steps of:
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capturing low resolution images of the background surface; processing the low resolution images to determine if a switch element located on a designated sub-region of said background surface has been actuated within said sub-region; and if the switch element has been actuated, further processing the low resolution images. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of capturing and storing images of a background surface on which information is recorded, said method comprising the steps of:
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capturing an image of the background surface; processing the image to determine if a moveable switch located in a designated sub-region of said background surface has visibly changed positions within said sub-region; and further processing the captured image if said moveable switch has visibly changed positions within said designated sub-region. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification