Image processing system and method for object tracking

• US 9,651,850 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Fortress, LLC
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Fortress, LLC
• Inventors: Chu, Kevin Hwading, Wang, Xiran, Chen, Yangyang
• Primary Examiner(s): Velez, Roberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, TUAN H
• Application Number:
  US14/751,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20160306264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/28 Undercarriages for supports with one single telescoping pillar
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/06 also serviceable for other purposes, e.g. to be used as spade, chair, ski-stick
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/08 for use as a walking-cane
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/08 for controlling the direction of light in light guides G02B6/35
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0816 by means of one or more reflecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/644 compensating for large deviations, e.g. maintaining a fixed line of sight while a vehicle on which the system is mounted changes course
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/563 Camera grips, handles means in general for steadying hand-held apparatus F16M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/565 Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming

Abstract

A telescoping monopod apparatus including a holder configured to hold an image acquisition module having a field of vision, and a support holding a mirror to be in proximity to a lens of the image acquisition module, the mirror is configured to enable the image acquisition module to capture an image outside the field of vision, and a body housing a control component and an electronic component configured to actuate the telescoping monopod apparatus and the support. The body is operatively connected to the holder. A tracking method including receiving an input from a user, detecting, by an image acquisition module, a feature, and adjusting a mirror to track the feature.

Claims

1. A tracking method comprising:

receiving an input from a user or a processor;

detecting, by an image acquisition module, a feature; and

automatically adjusting a mirror to track the feature based on the detecting;

wherein the input is at least one of a right turn signal, a left turn signal, and a reverse signal, and the feature is one selected from the group consisting of a person, an animal, a bicycle, a passenger vehicle, a bus, a train, an airplane, and a combination thereof;

wherein if the input is the reverse signal and the right turn signal, the adjusting adjusts the mirror to track the feature on a left side of the user and adjusts a second mirror to track a second feature on a right side of the user, and if the input is the reverse signal and the left turn signal, the adjusting adjusts the mirror to track the feature on the right side of the user and adjusts the second mirror to track the second feature on the left side of the user.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an initial state;

determining that the feature is outside of a field of vision; and

returning the mirror to the initial state.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

if the input is the right turn signal, the adjusting adjusts the mirror to track the feature on a right side of the user, and if the input is the left turn signal, the adjusting adjusts the mirror to track the feature on a left side of the user.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second feature is at least one of a line designating a parking space and a curb.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

capturing images by the image acquisition module, each image comprising the feature;

stitching the images to create a video stream; and

displaying the video stream on a display device.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising calculating and displaying a speed of the feature and a distance between the feature and the user on a display device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, if the detecting detects more than one feature, the adjusting adjusts the mirror to track the feature closest to the user.