Reflection spectroscopic means for detecting patterned objects

• US 20060197829A1
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terra Scientia, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blue Marlin LLC
• Inventors: Burstyn, Herschel Clement, Zanzucchi, Peter John
• Granted Patent: US 7,714,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/61
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/145 Illumination specially adapted for pattern recognition, e.g. using gratings

Abstract

A device detects the location of patterned objects in an environment by receiving an optical image and converting the optical image of the lost object into a color digital image. The device employs software to perform an analysis of the color digital image to detect the location of the one or more patterned objects in the environment by using color characteristics of light reflected from a pattern on the one or more patterned objects. The software uses a range of the visible portion of the color space uniquely identified for the light reflected from the pattern on the object and identifies those pixels in the digital image that may be possible targets.

Claims

1. A method of detecting the location of a patterned object in a landscape, the method comprising:

storing a target color space for projected light based on the wavelength of the light source;

generating a color digital image of an environment;

determining whether there are a set of pixels in the digital color image of the environment that are within the target color space defined for the projected light; and

reporting the determination that there are a set of pixels within the target color space defined for the projected light.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the color digital image is generated by one of:

a digital camera and a digital video camera.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising projecting the projected light across the landscape where the patterned object is located.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising reflecting the projected light from a pattern configured on the patterned object, wherein the projected light is at a wavelength for which RGB components may be determined.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the patterned object is a golf ball.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the landscape includes at least one of:

grass, bushes, trees, and sand.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein defining the target color space includes generating the series of reference digital color images of the projected light.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing the target color space.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the digital color image is one digital color image in a series of digital color images.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination that there are a set of pixels within the target color space defined for projected light is reported by one of:

a visual display, a tactile alert, and a sound alert.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the determination that there are a set of pixels within the target color space defined for projected light is reported by one of:

a visual display, a tactile alert, and a sound alert.

11. A system for detecting the location of a patterned object in a landscape, the method comprising:

memory operable to store a target color space for projected light based on the wavelength of the light source;

a sub-system operable to generate a color digital image of an environment;

a processor operable to determine whether there are a set of pixels in the digital color image of the environment that are within the target color space defined for the projected light; and

output circuitry operable to report the determination that there are a set of pixels within the target color space defined for the projected light.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the system is one of:

a digital camera and a digital video camera.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a light source operable to project the projected light across the landscape where the patterned object is located.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a sensor operable to detect the projected light reflected from a pattern configured on the patterned object, wherein the projected light is at a wavelength for which RGB components may be determined.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the patterned object is a golf ball.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the landscape includes at least one of:

grass, bushes, trees, and sand.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein storing the target color space includes generating the series of reference digital color images of the projected light.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein the digital color image is one digital color image in a series of digital color images.