Adaptive instrument and operator control recognition
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of acquiring information from an image within a vehicle comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one imaging device aboard said vehicle, wherein said imaging device comprises individual raw pixel elements;
providing a computer processor to control said imaging device;
capturing image data representing an area within said vehicle using said raw pixel elements with said imaging device;
applying one or more advanced light metering techniques to at least a subset of said raw pixel elements to create adjusted raw pixel elements;
converting said adjusted raw pixel elements to an image;
inputting said image to said computer processor;
identifying with said computer processor a state of said image; and
said computer processor providing an output corresponding to said image state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of acquiring information from an image of an instrument panel of a vehicle in real time wherein at least one imaging device with advanced light metering capabilities is placed aboard a vehicle, a computer processor means is provided to control the imaging device and the advanced light metering capabilities, the advanced light metering capabilities are used to capture an image of at least a portion of the instrument panel, such as a gauge or operator control, and image recognition algorithms are used to identify the current state of the imaged portion of the instrument panel.
50 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method of acquiring information from an image within a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one imaging device aboard said vehicle, wherein said imaging device comprises individual raw pixel elements; providing a computer processor to control said imaging device; capturing image data representing an area within said vehicle using said raw pixel elements with said imaging device; applying one or more advanced light metering techniques to at least a subset of said raw pixel elements to create adjusted raw pixel elements; converting said adjusted raw pixel elements to an image; inputting said image to said computer processor; identifying with said computer processor a state of said image; and said computer processor providing an output corresponding to said image state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of acquiring information pertaining to the operation of a vehicle from images of objects of interest within the vehicle, including objects of interest on the instrument panel of the vehicle, which method comprises the steps of:
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providing at least one imaging device aboard said vehicle; providing a computer processor to control said imaging device; calibrating the imaging device with an adaptive imaging module; acquiring a test image of said object of interest with said adaptive imaging module; identifying coordinates for said object of interest in said test image; providing an object library comprising information corresponding to images of pre-identified objects corresponding to specific types of vehicles; determining if an object of interest is included in the object library; selecting the vehicle type from said object library; if said object of interest is found in the object library, storing the object of interest configuration from said object library with said computer processor; if said object of interest is not found in the object library, identifying and storing its configuration and operational characteristics with said computer processor; providing raw image data of objects of interest from said imaging device; applying a low-pass filter to said raw image data to remove image noise therefrom; using an edge detection algorithm for identifying points in said image data at which the image brightness changes sharply or has detectable discontinuities; applying a binary hard limiter to convert edge-only images to binary images of said objects of interest; providing an output from said computer processor corresponding to a state of said objects of interest binary images; applying either a high-pass filter or an image differentiator to perform edge detection on said image data; using a set-up utility to create multiple individual fiducial images of multiple objects of interest; storing with said computer processor said fiducial images; providing binary images of said objects of interest with said imaging device; aligning said binary images detected by said imaging device by comparing and cross-correlating said binary images with said fiducial images; using said set-up utility to create a feature mask for each individual object of interest; applying a mask to said aligned binary images to isolate portions of said objects of interest; said imaging device providing an input to said computer processor corresponding to said isolated portions of said objects of interest; said computer processor analyzing a state of said isolated portions of said objects of interest and providing a corresponding output; determining states of the objects of interest using either;
synthetic images of the isolated portions of the objects of interest for comparison with the masked binary images;
or linear regressions to fit the points (pixels) from the masked binary images to determine the objects of interest states;providing configuration files for the objects of interest with limits of travel of moving or changing parts of the objects of interest; determining operating conditions of the vehicle by comparing the objects of interest binary files with the configuration files; receiving geospatial data corresponding to a geospatial position, velocity or attitude of said vehicle; combining said geospatial data with data from said imaging device corresponding to states of objects of interest in said vehicle to create fused sensor values; providing a rules engine corresponding to operating characteristics of said vehicle; comparing with said computer processor said fused sensor values with said rules engine; detecting an exceedance(s) of said rules engine based on said comparisons with said fused sensor values; and providing an event response(s) comprising at least one of;
recording said fused sensor value corresponding to said event;
recording a video from said imaging device output;
communicating the event and/or the fused sensor value offboard the vehicle via a telemetry device; and
communicating the event and/or the fused sensor value offboard the vehicle via a wide-area network.
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24. A system for acquiring information from an image within a vehicle, which system comprises:
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a software-controlled imaging device mounted within said vehicle; said imaging device including individual raw pixel elements; a computer processor connected to and adapted for controlling said imaging device; said computer processor including a memory module; said imaging device capturing an image of said object of interest and providing imaging data as an input to said computer processor; said computer processor being adapted for storing said imaging data in said memory module; said computer processor using said imaging data to determine an image state of said vehicle and providing an output corresponding thereto; said imaging device includes advanced light metering capabilities chosen from among the group comprising spot metering, average metering and center-weighted average metering; and said computer processor being adapted for controlling said light metering capabilities. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification