Image processing sensor systems

• US 8,780,198 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2009
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tko Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tko Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: McClure, Neil L., Wieland, Ralph David
• Primary Examiner(s): Algibhah, Hamza
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDWARDS, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US12/481,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20100214408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/255 Detecting or recognising potential candidate objects based on visual cues, e.g. shapes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1961 Movement detection not involving frame subtraction, e.g. motion detection on the basis of luminance changes in the image
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19615 wherein said pattern is defined by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera

Abstract

An image processing sensor system functions as a standalone unit to capture images and process the resulting signals to detect objects or events of interest. The processing significantly improves selectivity and specificity of detection objects and events.

Claims

1. An image processing control system, comprising:

a first processing station,

an image capture and processing device that resides at a location remote from the first processing station,

the first processing station having means for transforming one or more images into data that defines what to look for from an image processing standpoint by targeting a particular object of interest or event which is selected upon creation of the data;

the image capture and processing device including

a lens operably positioned relative to a field of view and a detector array such that the detector array is capable of providing a signal representative of an image captured by the lens, and

circuitry programmed with an algorithm for analysis of the signal; and

means for transferring the data to the image capture and processing device;

the algorithm for analysis of the signal including

means for transforming the image captured by the detector array into data using the same transformation as the first processing station and comparatively analyzing the two data sets to ascertain whether the particular object of interest or event is present in the field of view;

means for configuring the image capture and processing device to use the means for transforming in an operational state as a processing loop for detecting the object of interest or event to determine if the particular object of interest is present; and

means for generating a control output signal when the analysis algorithm determines that the object of interest or event is present.

2. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry provides means for changing image processing techniques based upon at least one trigger event selected from the group consisting of detected motion, change in ambient light, geographic location, a mixing of fluids, a change from constant background, a shadow analysis result, a first specified analysis outcome condition, a detected sound, a detected proximity, a detected temperature, a detected pressure, a time, a change in color, a gas flow rate, and a liquid flow rate.

3. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the data represents an object of interest as an intruding animal selected from the group consisting of a birds, mammals and rodents;

and

the system further comprises an actuable mechanism for dealing a suitable response to the intruding animal.

4. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the data includes a first data set, conditioned upon first specified analysis outcome of the first data set, for using a second data set to detect sequentially a second object of interest.

5. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the data represents a body as an object of interest and the system further comprises means for actuating a lock, light or other mechanical system that is actuable by the control output signal remotely from the housing.

6. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the control logic operates based on a combination of algorithms selected from the group consisting of grey-scale processing, infrared, near infrared processing, and visible light processing.

7. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the control logic uses shadow analysis to prevent spoofing of the system with a false image.

8. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the image processing and capture device contains a lens that has a total field of view and the step of using the image processing and capture device includes performing the analysis using a selected portion less than the total field of view.

9. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the lens has a field of view equal to or greater than 180°

.

10. The image processing control system of claim 1,

wherein the means for configuring the image capture and processing device includes program instructions for a threshold analysis that improves selectivity of the pre-defined analysis outcome condition;

and further including an integrally housed artificial light source configured for activation by the control output signal.

11. The image processing control system of claim 1, further comprising means for providing the output control signal based upon observed interaction over time between a plurality discrete objects of interests.

12. The image processing control system of claim 1, further comprising means for increasing a system sampling rate based upon a detected event.

13. The image processing control system of claim 1, further comprising means for placing the system in a sleep mode for conservation of energy until detection of a trigger event.

14. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry provides the control output signal as a wireless control output signal.

15. The image processing control system of claim 1, wherein the image processing device is mounted on a printed circuit board in the housing.

16. The image processing control system of claim 1 wherein the images used by the transforming means characterize the object of interest.

17. A method of image processing, comprising:

selecting an object of interest;

collecting images containing the object of interest and transforming the image representations of the object of interest into a single results key on a first processing station, the results key consisting essentially of data allocated to a particular object of interest;

transferring the results key to a second, standalone, self-contained processing station that includes image capture and processing circuitry executing analysis algorithms;

capturing images through use of the self-contained processing station to provide captured images;

using the results key to configure the analysis algorithms to analyze the captured images for the presence of the object of interest in a processing loop that is dedicated to identifying the particular object of interest, circuitry programmed with an algorithm for analysis of the signal by

transforming the image captured by the detector array into data using the same transformation as the first processing station and comparatively analyzing the two data sets to ascertain whether the particular object of interest or event is present in the field of view; and

placing the image capture and processing device in an operational state as a processing loop for detecting the object of interest or event to determine if the particular object of interest is present; and

;

providing an output signal when a captured image contains the object of interest.