Above-water monitoring of swimming pools
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring swimming pools for possible drowning victims, the system comprising:
- a) a passive sensor, positioned above a surface of a pool, the sensor comprising means for receiving an image of the pool,b) means for digitizing images received from the sensor,c) a programmable computer connected to receive data from the digitizing means, the computer being programmed to analyze the images to determine whether the images indicate a presence of a drowning victim in the pool, andd) means for alerting an operator of the presence of a drowning victim,wherein the computer comprises means for compensating for refraction of images caused by water in the pool,wherein the computer is further programmed to compare sequential images to determine which portions, if any, of said images are artifacts caused by glint, and to remove such portions from said images.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An above-water system provides automatic alerting for possible drowning victims in swimming pools or the like. One or more electro-optical sensors are placed above the pool surface. Sequences of images are digitized and analyzed electronically to determine whether there are humans within the image, and whether such humans are moving in a manner that would suggest drowning. Effects due to glint, refraction, and variations in light, are offset automatically by the system. If a potential drowning incident is detected, the system produces an alarm sound, and/or a warning display, so that an operator can determine whether action must be taken.
48 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring swimming pools for possible drowning victims, the system comprising:
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a) a passive sensor, positioned above a surface of a pool, the sensor comprising means for receiving an image of the pool, b) means for digitizing images received from the sensor, c) a programmable computer connected to receive data from the digitizing means, the computer being programmed to analyze the images to determine whether the images indicate a presence of a drowning victim in the pool, and d) means for alerting an operator of the presence of a drowning victim, wherein the computer comprises means for compensating for refraction of images caused by water in the pool, wherein the computer is further programmed to compare sequential images to determine which portions, if any, of said images are artifacts caused by glint, and to remove such portions from said images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for monitoring swimming pools for possible drowning victims, the system comprising:
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a) a passive sensor, positioned above a surface of a pool, the sensor comprising means for receiving an image of the pool, b) means for digitizing images received from the sensor, c) a programmable computer connected to receive data from the digitizing means, the computer being programmed to analyze the images to determine whether the images indicate a presence of a drowning victim in the pool, and d) means for alerting an operator of the presence of a drowning victim, wherein the computer comprises means for compensating for refraction of images caused by water in the pool, wherein the computer comprises; e) a spectral processor for decomposing each image into principal components, f) a spatial processor which receives input from the spectral processor, the spatial processor comprising means for detecting predetermined shapes in the images, and g) a temporal processor which receives input from the spatial processor, the temporal processor comprising means for analyzing sequences of images and for detecting the presence of predetermined movements of said predetermined shapes in said sequences of images, wherein the computer is further programmed to compare sequential images to determine which portions, if any, of said images are artifacts caused by glint, and to remove such portions from said images.
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8. A method for monitoring swimming pools for possible drowning victims, the method comprising:
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a) forming a sequence of digital images of a pool, each image being formed by a sensor positioned above a surface of the pool, b) analyzing said images to determine whether the images indicate a presence of a drowning victim in the pool, and c) alerting an operator of the presence of a drowning victim, wherein step (b) includes compensating for refraction of images caused by water in the pool, further comprising comparing sequences of images to determine which portions, if any, of said images are artifacts caused by glint, and removing such portions from said images. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for monitoring swimming pools for possible drowning victims, the system comprising:
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a) a passive sensor, positioned above a surface of a pool, the sensor comprising means for receiving an image of the pool, b) means for digitizing images received from the sensor, c) a programmable computer connected to receive data from the digitizing means, the computer being programmed to analyze the images to determine whether the images indicate a presence of a drowning victim in the pool, and d) means for alerting an operator of the presence of a drowning victim, wherein the computer comprises; e) a spectral processor for decomposing each image into principal components, f) a spatial processor which receives input from the spectral processor, the spatial processor comprising means for detecting predetermined shapes in the images, and g) a temporal processor which receives input from the spatial processor, the temporal processor comprising means for analyzing sequences of images and for detecting the presence of predetermined movements of said predetermined shapes in said sequences of images, wherein the computer is further programmed to compare sequential images to determine which portions, if any, of said images are artifacts caused by glint, and to remove such portions from said images.
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15. A method for monitoring swimming pools for possible drowning victims, the method comprising:
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a) forming a sequence of digital images of a pool, each image being formed by a sensor positioned above a surface of the pool, b) analyzing said images to determine whether the images indicate a presence of a drowning victim in the pool, and c) alerting an operator of the presence of a drowning victim, further comprising comparing sequences of images to determine which portions, if any, of said images are artifacts caused by glint, and removing such portions from said images.
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Specification