Brake component monitoring
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- an imaging component including;
a first imaging device configured to acquire image data for a target area corresponding to a target component of a vehicle when the target area is within a field of view of the first imaging device, wherein the first imaging device has one of;
a downward or an upward angle with respect to the target area;
first and second illumination devices configured to concurrently direct electromagnetic radiation on the target area during acquisition of the image data, wherein the first and second illumination devices are horizontally and vertically offset from the first imaging device, and wherein the first and second illumination devices are located on opposite sides of the target area along a plane substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of the first imaging device to illuminate substantially all of the imaged portion of the target component of the vehicle from opposing sides of the target area, wherein the target component of the vehicle is partially obstructed by at least one obstructing component of the vehicle located in front of the target component in the image data; and
a computer system for evaluating the target component of the vehicle only partially visible in the target area using the image data by performing a method comprising;
locating a region of interest within the image data by identifying intersection points in the image data between a component of the vehicle adjacent to the target component and the at least one obstructing component, wherein the region of interest corresponds to a location where the target component is expected to be partially visible behind the at least one obstructing component;
identifying a set of points in the image data corresponding to at least two edges of the target component visible in the region of interest, wherein the set of points are found using the intersection points in the image data to define the region of interest, and wherein the identifying includes identifying a separation point between the target component and at least one other adjacent component of the vehicle; and
calculating a measurement for at least one attribute of the target component using the set of points.
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Abstract
A solution for evaluating a component of a vehicle, such as a brake pad of a rail vehicle, is provided. An imaging component can acquire image data for a target area of the vehicle within which at least a portion of the component is visible. The target area can be illuminated by an illumination device that is, for example, horizontally offset from the imaging device to highlight the three-dimensional structure in the target area by creating shadows in the image data. A set of points corresponding to the component can be identified in the image data using the shadows. A measurement for at least one attribute of the component can be calculated from the set of points.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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an imaging component including; a first imaging device configured to acquire image data for a target area corresponding to a target component of a vehicle when the target area is within a field of view of the first imaging device, wherein the first imaging device has one of;
a downward or an upward angle with respect to the target area;first and second illumination devices configured to concurrently direct electromagnetic radiation on the target area during acquisition of the image data, wherein the first and second illumination devices are horizontally and vertically offset from the first imaging device, and wherein the first and second illumination devices are located on opposite sides of the target area along a plane substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of the first imaging device to illuminate substantially all of the imaged portion of the target component of the vehicle from opposing sides of the target area, wherein the target component of the vehicle is partially obstructed by at least one obstructing component of the vehicle located in front of the target component in the image data; and a computer system for evaluating the target component of the vehicle only partially visible in the target area using the image data by performing a method comprising; locating a region of interest within the image data by identifying intersection points in the image data between a component of the vehicle adjacent to the target component and the at least one obstructing component, wherein the region of interest corresponds to a location where the target component is expected to be partially visible behind the at least one obstructing component; identifying a set of points in the image data corresponding to at least two edges of the target component visible in the region of interest, wherein the set of points are found using the intersection points in the image data to define the region of interest, and wherein the identifying includes identifying a separation point between the target component and at least one other adjacent component of the vehicle; and calculating a measurement for at least one attribute of the target component using the set of points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 18, 19)
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6. A system comprising:
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an imaging component including; a first imaging device configured to acquire image data for a target area corresponding to a brake assembly of a rail vehicle when the target area is within a field of view of the first imaging device, wherein the first imaging device has one of;
a downward or an upward angle with respect to the target area; andfirst and second illumination devices configured to direct electromagnetic radiation on the target area during acquisition of the image data, wherein the first and second illumination devices are horizontally and vertically offset from the first imaging device, and wherein the first and second illumination devices are located on opposite sides of the target area along a plane substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of the first imaging device to illuminate the substantially all of imaged portion of the brake assembly of the rail vehicle from opposing sides of the target area, wherein the brake assembly is partially obstructed by at least one obstructing component of the rail vehicle located in front of the brake assembly in the image data; and a computer system for evaluating the brake assembly using the image data by performing a method comprising; locating a region of interest within the image data by identifying intersection points in the image data between the at least one obstructing component of the rail vehicle and a rail wheel located adjacent to the brake assembly, wherein the region of interest corresponds to a location where the brake assembly is expected to be partially visible behind the at least one obstructing component; identifying a set of points in the image data corresponding to at least two edges of the brake assembly, wherein the set of points are found using the intersection points in the image data to define the region of interest, and wherein the identifying includes identifying a separation point between the brake assembly and at least one other adjacent component of the vehicle; and calculating a measurement for at least one attribute of the brake assembly using the set of points. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20)
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13. A method comprising:
evaluating a brake assembly using image data for a target area of a rail vehicle, wherein the image data is acquired by an imaging device having one of;
a downward or an upward angle with respect to the target area while the target area is illuminated by a pair of horizontally and vertically offset illumination devices located on opposing sides of the target area along a plane substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of the first imaging device, wherein the target area includes only a portion of a brake assembly of the rail vehicle, and wherein substantially all of imaged portion of the of the brake assembly is illuminated by the pair of illumination devices, wherein the brake assembly is partially obstructed by at least one obstructing component of the rail vehicle located in front of the brake assembly in the image data, the evaluating including;locating a region of interest within the image data by identifying intersection points in the image data between the at least one obstructing component of the rail vehicle and a rail wheel located adjacent to the brake assembly, wherein the region of interest corresponds to a location where the brake assembly is expected to be partially visible behind the at least one obstructing component; identifying a set of points in the image data corresponding to at least two edges of the brake assembly, wherein the set of points are found using the intersection points in the image data to define the region of interest, and wherein the identifying includes identifying a separation point between the brake assembly and at least one other adjacent component of the vehicle; and calculating a measurement for at least one attribute of the brake assembly using the set of points. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
Specification