System and method for inexpensive railroad track imaging for inspection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging system comprising:
- a first image capturing device having a field of view; and
a first plurality of reflective devices each configured to reflect an image into the field of view of the first image capturing device while the imaging system is moving along at least one railroad track rail,wherein a first reflective device in the first plurality of reflective devices is configured to reflect an image of at least a portion of a first side of a first railroad track rail within a first portion of the field-of-view of the first image capturing device,wherein a second reflective device, separate from the first reflective device, in the first plurality of reflective devices is configured to reflect an image of at least a portion of a second side of the first railroad track rail within a second portion of the first image capturing device'"'"'s field-of-view, and outside of the first portion of the field-of-view of the first image capturing device, andwherein a third portion of the first image capturing device'"'"'s field-of-view is of at least a portion of a top surface of the first railroad track rail; and
further comprising;
a second image capturing device having a field of view; and
a second plurality of reflective devices each configured to reflect an image into the field of view of the second image capturing device while the imaging system is moving along at least one railroad track rail,wherein a first reflective device in the second plurality of reflective devices is configured to reflect an image of at least a portion of a first side of a second railroad track rail within a first portion of a field-of-view of the second image capturing device;
wherein a second reflective device in the second plurality of reflective devices is configured to reflect an image of at least a portion of a second side of the second railroad track rail within a second portion of the second image capturing device'"'"'s field-of-view, and outside of the first portion of the field-of-view of the second image capturing device, andwherein a third portion of the second image capturing device'"'"'s field-of-view is of at least a portion of a top surface of the second railroad track rail.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An imaging system includes an image capturing device and a plurality of reflective devices. The image capturing device is configured to receive a plurality of images reflected by the plurality of reflective devices. Responsive to receiving the plurality of images, the image capturing device is further configured to capture within a single frame at least a first image corresponding to a first side of a first railroad track rail, a second image corresponding to a second side of the first railroad track rail, a third image corresponding to a first side of a second railroad track rail, and a fourth image corresponding to a second side of the second railroad track rail.
32 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An imaging system comprising:
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a first image capturing device having a field of view; and a first plurality of reflective devices each configured to reflect an image into the field of view of the first image capturing device while the imaging system is moving along at least one railroad track rail, wherein a first reflective device in the first plurality of reflective devices is configured to reflect an image of at least a portion of a first side of a first railroad track rail within a first portion of the field-of-view of the first image capturing device, wherein a second reflective device, separate from the first reflective device, in the first plurality of reflective devices is configured to reflect an image of at least a portion of a second side of the first railroad track rail within a second portion of the first image capturing device'"'"'s field-of-view, and outside of the first portion of the field-of-view of the first image capturing device, and wherein a third portion of the first image capturing device'"'"'s field-of-view is of at least a portion of a top surface of the first railroad track rail; and further comprising; a second image capturing device having a field of view; and a second plurality of reflective devices each configured to reflect an image into the field of view of the second image capturing device while the imaging system is moving along at least one railroad track rail, wherein a first reflective device in the second plurality of reflective devices is configured to reflect an image of at least a portion of a first side of a second railroad track rail within a first portion of a field-of-view of the second image capturing device; wherein a second reflective device in the second plurality of reflective devices is configured to reflect an image of at least a portion of a second side of the second railroad track rail within a second portion of the second image capturing device'"'"'s field-of-view, and outside of the first portion of the field-of-view of the second image capturing device, and wherein a third portion of the second image capturing device'"'"'s field-of-view is of at least a portion of a top surface of the second railroad track rail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An imaging system comprising:
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an image capturing device having a field of view; a first plurality of reflective devices each configured to reflect an image into the field of view of the image capturing device while the imaging system is moving along at least one railroad track rail; and at least a second plurality of reflective devices each configured to reflect an image into the field of view of the image capturing device while the imaging system is moving along the at least one railroad track rail, wherein a first reflective device in the first plurality of reflective devices is configured to reflect a first image of at least a portion of a first side of a first railroad track rail to a first reflective device in the second plurality of reflective devices, and wherein the first reflective device in the second plurality of reflective devices is configured to reflect the first image within a first portion of the field-of-view of the image capturing device, and wherein a second reflective device in the first plurality of reflective devices is configured to reflect a second image of at least a portion of a first side of a second railroad track rail to a second reflective device in the second plurality of reflective devices, and wherein the second reflective device in the second plurality of reflective devices is configured to reflect the second image within a second portion of the field-of-view of the image capturing device; and further comprising; a third plurality of reflective devices, wherein a first reflective device in the third plurality of reflective devices is configured to reflect a third image of at least a portion of a second side of the first railroad track rail within a third portion of the field-of-view of the image capturing device, and wherein a second reflective device in the third plurality of reflective devices is configured to reflect a fourth image of at least a portion of a second side of the second railroad track rail within a fourth portion of the field-of-view of the image capturing device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An imaging system comprising:
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a support structure; an image capturing device having a field of view; and a plurality of reflective devices each configured to reflect an image into the field of view of the image capturing device while the imaging system is moving along at least one railroad track rail, wherein the support structure comprises; a first horizontal member; a second horizontal member situated opposite to the first horizontal member; a third horizontal member situated above and parallel to the first horizontal member; a fourth horizontal member situated above and parallel to the second horizontal member; a first vertical member coupled and perpendicular to the first and third horizontal members; at least a second vertical member coupled and perpendicular to the second and fourth horizontal members; a sixth horizontal member coupled to the first and second vertical members; and a seventh horizontal member coupled and perpendicular to the second and third horizontal members, wherein a first reflective device in the plurality of reflective devices is coupled to at least one of the sixth horizontal member and the first vertical member and configured to reflect an image of at least a portion of a first side of a railroad track rail within a first portion of the field of view of the image capturing device, wherein a second reflective device in the plurality of reflective devices is coupled to at least one of the sixth horizontal member and the second vertical member and configured to reflect an image of at least a portion of a second side of the railroad track rail within a second portion of the field of view of the image capturing device, and outside of the first portion of the field of view of the image capturing device, and wherein the image capturing device is movably coupled to the seventh horizontal member allowing adjustment of at least one of the location and the orientation of the image capturing device on the seventh horizontal member. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification