Method, system and apparatus for monitoring loading of a payload into a load carrying container

• US 8,405,721 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motion Metrics International Corp (WEIR Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Motion Metrics International Corp (WEIR Group PLC)
• Inventors: Bilandi, Shahram Tafazoli, Bilandi, Farshid Tafazoli, Esfahani, Arya Ohadi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US12/588,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20100110185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 706/52, 702/174
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for monitoring loading of a payload into a load carrying container is disclosed. The method involves acquiring at least one image of a load transfer container during operation of the load transfer container by a first operator to load the payload into the load carrying container, and wirelessly transmitting an image signal representing the at least one image. The method also involves receiving the image signal and producing a display signal for causing the at least one image to be displayed for viewing by a second operator to facilitate monitoring of the loading of the payload.

Claims

1. An image signal generator apparatus for producing an image signal to facilitate monitoring of loading of a payload into a load carrying container, the apparatus comprising:

a camera operably configured to acquire at least one image of a load transfer container during operation of said load transfer container by a first operator to load the payload into the load carrying container;

an image signal transmitter operably configured to wirelessly transmit an image signal representing said at least one image to permit reception and display of said at least one image for viewing by a second operator to facilitate monitoring of the loading of the payload by said second operator;

a control signal transmitter; and

a controller operably configured to;

receive a position signal, said position signal indicating a location of the load carrying container;

determine a location of said load transfer container; and

cause said control signal transmitter to transmit a control signal encoded with configuration information for configuring a receiver associated with the load carrying container to receive said image signal when a distance between the load carrying container and said load transfer container meets a criterion;

wherein said image signal has first transmission characteristics for preventing interference with a second image signal produced by a second load transfer container having second transmission characteristics and wherein said control signal is encoded with information representing said first transmission characteristics for configuring the receiver associated with the load carrying container to receive said image signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a receiver operably configured to receive an annunciation alerting said first operator to a loading condition observed by said second operator.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said receiver is operably configured to receive a wirelessly transmitted annunciation of said loading condition.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said receiver is operably configured to receive an annunciation signal at a receiver associated with said load transfer container, said annunciation signal being produced in response to a vocal alert uttered by said second operator.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said receiver is operably configured to receive a relayed annunciation signal from a dispatch center.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said receiver is operably configured to receive an annunciation of at least one of:

a structural condition of said load transfer container;

a hazard associated with the loading of the payload into the load carrying container;

an indication that a payload portion in said load transfer container exceeds a safe loading size;

an indication that a payload portion in said load transfer container includes undesired materials or detritus;

an indication of a non-uniform loading condition occurring in the load carrying container; and

an indication that the loading operation should be discontinued.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said camera is operably configured to acquire a plurality of video frames representing real time movements of said load transfer container.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said camera is operably configured to have a field of view within which at least a portion of the load transfer container and at least a portion of the load carrying container is observable.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said image signal transmitter is operably configured to transmit one of:

a video signal including a plurality of video frames representing real time movements of said load transfer container;

a plurality of image signals, each of said plurality of image signals representing a still image of one of a plurality of a discrete states occurring during the loading operation; and

a screen image signal representing a copy of a screen image produced and displayed on a display associated with said load transfer container.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said image signal transmitter is operably configured to transmit an image signal having transmission characteristics that limit reception of said image signal within a pre-determined radius from said load transfer container.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said image signal transmitter is operably configured to transmit a first analog image signal having frequencies within a first frequency band, and wherein said second image signal comprises a second analog image signal having frequencies within a second frequency band.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said image signal transmitter is configurable to act as said control signal transmitter.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first controller is operably configured to produce said position signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver operably configured to produce said position signal in response to receiving GPS satellite signals.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control signal transmitter is operably configured to transmit a control signal including channel information identifying a channel for transmitting said image signal.

16. A system for monitoring loading of a payload into a load carrying container, the system comprising the image signal generator of claim 1 and further comprising:

a display signal generator operably configured to receive said image signal and to produce a display signal for causing said at least one image to be displayed for viewing by a second operator to facilitate monitoring of the loading of the payload.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image signal generator comprises a first image signal generator and further comprising a second image signal generator for producing an image signal to facilitate monitoring a location of a load carrying container with respect to an obstacle, the second image signal generator comprising:

a camera located proximate the obstacle and operably configured to acquire at least one image of a terrain surrounding the obstacle; and

an image signal transmitter operably configured to wirelessly transmit an image signal representing said at least one image to permit reception and display of said at least one image for viewing by an operator to facilitate monitoring of a location of the load carrying container relative to the obstacle.

18. A system for monitoring loading of a payload into a load carrying container, the system comprising:

an image signal transmitter apparatus for use with an image signal processing system, the image signal processing system including a camera operably configured to acquire at least one image of a load transfer container during operation of said load transfer container by a first operator to load a payload into the load carrying container, the image signal processing system having an image signal output for producing an image signal, the image signal transmitter apparatus comprising an input for receiving said image signal from said image signal output, said image signal transmitter being operably configured to wirelessly transmit;

a control signal encoded with information representing first transmission characteristics of said image signal and a location of said load transfer container; and

an image signal representing said at least one image;

a display signal generator comprising an image signal receiver operably configured to wirelessly receive the image signal representing said at least one image of the load transfer container, said image signal receiver being operably configured to produce a display signal for causing said at least one image to be displayed for viewing by the second operator to facilitate monitoring of the loading of the payload, said display signal generator comprising;

a control signal receiver for receiving said control signal;

a controller operably configured to;

determine a location of the load carrying container; and

cause said image signal receiver to be configured to receive said image signal in accordance with said first transmission characteristics when a distance between the load carrying container and said load transfer container meets a criterion.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising an annunciation signal transmitter operably configured to cause a loading condition observed by said second operator to be wirelessly transmitted for alerting said first operator to said loading condition.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said annunciation signal transmitter is operably configured to wirelessly transmit an annunciation signal produced in response to a vocal alert uttered by said second operator.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said annunciation signal transmitter is operably configured to transmit an annunciation of at least one of:

a structural condition of said load transfer container;

a hazard associated with the loading of the payload into the load carrying container;

an indication that a payload portion in said load transfer container exceeds a safe loading size; and

an indication of a non-uniform loading condition occurring in the load carrying container.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said second operator is located in a compartment of the load carrying container, and wherein the load carrying container further comprises a display mounted in said compartment, said display being operably configured to cause said at least one image to be displayed on said display in response to receiving said display signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said image signal receiver comprises a wireless interface of a portable display device.

24. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said image signal receiver is operably configured to receive one of:

a video signal including a plurality of video frames representing real time movements of said load transfer container;

a plurality of image signals, each of said plurality of image signals representing a still image of one of a plurality of a discrete states occurring during the loading operation; and

a screen image signal representing a copy of a screen image produced and displayed on a display associated with said load transfer container.

25. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said image signal receiver is operably configured to act as said control signal receiver.

26. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said control signal receiver is operably configured to receive a plurality of control signals, each control signal including an identification of one of a plurality of load transfer containers, and wherein said controller is operably configured to cause said second operator to be prompted to select one of said plurality of load transfer containers for monitoring.

27. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver operably configured to produce a position signal representing said location of the load carrying container in response to receiving GPS satellite signals.

28. A system for monitoring loading of a payload into a load carrying container, the system comprising:

an image signal transmitter apparatus for use with an image signal processing system, the image signal processing system including a camera operably configured to acquire at least one image of a load transfer container during operation of said load transfer container by a first operator to load a payload into the load carrying container, the image signal processing system having an image signal output for producing an image signal, the image signal transmitter apparatus comprising an input for receiving said image signal from said image signal output, said image signal transmitter being operably configured to wirelessly transmit an image signal representing said at least one image;

a display signal generator comprising an image signal receiver operably configured to wirelessly receive the image signal representing said at least one image of the load transfer container, said image signal receiver being operably configured to produce a display signal for causing said at least one image to be displayed for viewing by the second operator to facilitate monitoring of the loading of the payload, said display signal generator comprising a controller in communication with said image signal receiver, said controller being operably configured to;

cause said image signal receiver to periodically attempt to establish a communications link with image signal transmitters in range of said first receiver, each image signal transmitter being associated with one of a plurality of load transfer containers; and

select one of said image signal transmitters for receiving said image signal when a communications link between said one of said transmitters meets a quality-of-service criterion.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said controller is operably configured to monitor said quality-of-service while receiving said image signal and to discontinue said receiving in response to said quality-of-service falling below said quality-of-service criterion.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said controller is operably configured to select another one of said transmitters for receiving said image signal when a communications link between said one of said transmitters meets said quality-of-service criterion.

31. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising an annunciation signal transmitter operably configured to cause a loading condition observed by said second operator to be wirelessly transmitted for alerting said first operator to said loading condition.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said annunciation signal transmitter is operably configured to wirelessly transmit an annunciation signal produced in response to a vocal alert uttered by said second operator.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said annunciation signal transmitter is operably configured to transmit an annunciation of at least one of:

a structural condition of said load transfer container;

a hazard associated with the loading of the payload into the load carrying container;

an indication that a payload portion in said load transfer container exceeds a safe loading size; and

an indication of a non-uniform loading condition occurring in the load carrying container.

34. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said second operator is located in a compartment of the load carrying container, and wherein the load carrying container further comprises a display mounted in said compartment, said display being operably configured to cause said at least one image to be displayed on said display in response to receiving said display signal.

35. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said image signal receiver comprises a wireless interface of a portable display device.

36. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said image signal receiver is operably configured to receive one of:

a video signal including a plurality of video frames representing real time movements of said load transfer container;

a plurality of image signals, each of said plurality of image signals representing a still image of one of a plurality of a discrete states occurring during the loading operation; and

a screen image signal representing a copy of a screen image produced and displayed on a display associated with said load transfer container.

37. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said image signal receiver is operably configured to receive a plurality of image signals and to select one of said plurality of image signals having transmission characteristics that provide a best quality-of-service.