IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING REPEATABILITY

• US 20080094480A1
• Filed: 10/19/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Security Systems Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Sablak, Sezai, Swarr, Lonnel J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,839,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.99
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30244 Camera pose
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/74 involving reference images or patches
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/80 Analysis of captured images to determine intrinsic or extrinsic camera parameters, i.e. camera calibration
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19689 Remote control of cameras, e.g. remote orientation or image zooming control for a PTZ camera

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to a dome camera assembly that is able to ensure repeatability. The dome camera assembly includes a nonvolatile storage mechanism including a stored video image and a corresponding stored camera position. The assembly may further include an image capturing device for capturing a current video image after the camera moves to the stored camera position. An image processing component compares the current video image with the stored video image and determines an offset amount between the current video image and the stored video image. An adjustment mechanism adjusts a current camera position in accordance with the determined offset amount to facilitate repeatability.

Claims

1. A system for improving camera repeatability based on a stored video image and a stored camera position corresponding to the stored video image, the system comprising:

image processing components for comparing a current video image captured at the stored camera position with the stored video image by using a stationary object in the stored video image and the current video image to determine a position offset; and

an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a current camera position based on the determined position offset to align the current video image with the stored video image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored video image is a portion of an originally captured video image identified as a region of interest.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the image processing components compare vertical and horizontal edges of the stationary object in the stored video image with vertical and horizontal edges of the stationary object in the current video image.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the image processing components determine pan, tilt, and zoom position offsets based on the horizontal and vertical edge comparisons.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored camera position comprises a pan, tilt, and zoom position.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a processor for adjusting a camera motor.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising nonvolatile memory for storing the stored camera position and the stored video image.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism aligns the images to an alignment accuracy of one pixel.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism aligns the images to an alignment accuracy of one pixel.

9. A camera assembly comprising:

a nonvolatile storage mechanism including a stored video image and a corresponding stored camera position;

an image capturing device for capturing a current video image upon movement of the camera to the stored camera position;

an image processing component for comparing the current video image with the stored video image and determining an offset amount between the current video image and the stored video image; and

an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a current camera position in accordance with the determined offset amount to facilitate repeatability.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a dome camera assembly having selectable pan, tilt, and zoom positions.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the stored video image is a portion of an originally captured video image identified as a region of interest.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the image processing components compare vertical and horizontal edges of the stationary object in the stored video image with vertical and horizontal edges of the stationary object in the current video image.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the image processing components determine pan, tilt, and zoom position offsets based on the horizontal and vertical edge comparisons.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the stored camera position comprises a pan, tilt, and zoom position.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a processor for adjusting a camera motor.

17. A method for improving camera repeatability, the method comprising:

storing a video image and a camera position corresponding to the stored video image;

returning the camera to the stored camera position and capturing a current video image;

comparing the current video image to the stored video image and determining an offset amount; and

adjusting a current camera position in accordance with the offset amount in order to align the current video image with the stored video image.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising storing the video image and corresponding camera position in nonvolatile memory.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing the corresponding camera position in terms of pan, tilt, and zoom values.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing only a portion of an original video image corresponding to a region of interest of the original video image.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising returning the camera to the stored camera position upon receiving an operator command.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein comparing the current video image to the stored video image comprises comparing vertical and horizontal edges of a stationary object in the stored video image with vertical and horizontal edges of the stationary object in the current video image.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein comparing the current video image to the stored video image comprises determining pan, tilt, and zoom position offsets based on the horizontal and vertical edge comparisons.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the current camera position comprises causing a processor to move a camera motor.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the current camera position comprises aligning the images to an alignment accuracy of one pixel.