EQUIPMENT FOR THE AUTOMATIC ASSESSMENT OF ROAD SIGNS AND PANELS
First Claim
1. Device for automatic data acquisition from traffic signs and panels which, based on the measurement of the back-reflection and contrast of the signs and panels under nighttime conditions, characterized by the fact that it includes a vehicle (1) on which are mounted two high-resolution and high light-sensitivity digital cameras (2) with their associated optics for determining a stereoscopic vision system for image capture, a pulsed infrared illumination system (3), which is synchronized with the acquisition of images by the digital cameras (2) and is controlled by a control console (4) which guarantees synchronization between the acquisition of images by the cameras (2) and the infrared illuminator system (3);
- it also includes a processor (5) for acquiring the stereoscopic images and recording them on hard disk, where this processor (5) is based on a computer that is stored on a spring-mounted and stabilized industrial rack that is anchored in the interior of the vehicle itself (1), including also a TFT monitor (6) for displaying the results during the acquisition and recording of the sequence of stereoscopic images;
an event keyboard (7) is also provided for manual on-line input of information of interest by an operator during the recording of stereoscopic images during the work scenario;
there is also a storage system (8) for storing sequences of stereoscopic images that is based on a rack with a capacity of 16 removable hard disks with a capacity of 500 MB each, supplemented by a processing system (9) for processing stereoscopic images for measuring the back-reflection and contrast of the traffic signs and panels on the section of roadway recorded during the on-line operation, supplemented by an odometer (12) for determining the distance covered by the vehicle (1), as well as a GPS (11) for determining the positions and locations of the vehicle at each of the moments when the recordings of the images are made, including also an electric power system (10) for all of the components and systems installed on board the vehicle itself (1).
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An equipment for the automatic assessment of road signs and panels, the equipment performing, for the purpose, a retroreflection measurement of the white element of the signs or panels, and a measurement of the contrast between the white element of the sign or panel and a characteristic element of same (borders or text) in order to ensure a particular level of legibility. To this end, a vehicle (1) is equipped with a pulsed infrared illumination system (3), a system of stereoscopic cameras (2), a GPS (11), an odometer (12), a computer (5) mounted on an industrial rack, a data storage system (8), an event keyboard (7), and a TFT monitor (6) for viewing results. The infrared illumination system (3) is synchronized with the cameras (2). In this way, the infrared illuminator (3) illuminates the road area in alternate images, thereby providing illuminated road images and non-illuminated road images.
35 Citations
7 Claims
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1. Device for automatic data acquisition from traffic signs and panels which, based on the measurement of the back-reflection and contrast of the signs and panels under nighttime conditions, characterized by the fact that it includes a vehicle (1) on which are mounted two high-resolution and high light-sensitivity digital cameras (2) with their associated optics for determining a stereoscopic vision system for image capture, a pulsed infrared illumination system (3), which is synchronized with the acquisition of images by the digital cameras (2) and is controlled by a control console (4) which guarantees synchronization between the acquisition of images by the cameras (2) and the infrared illuminator system (3);
- it also includes a processor (5) for acquiring the stereoscopic images and recording them on hard disk, where this processor (5) is based on a computer that is stored on a spring-mounted and stabilized industrial rack that is anchored in the interior of the vehicle itself (1), including also a TFT monitor (6) for displaying the results during the acquisition and recording of the sequence of stereoscopic images;
an event keyboard (7) is also provided for manual on-line input of information of interest by an operator during the recording of stereoscopic images during the work scenario;
there is also a storage system (8) for storing sequences of stereoscopic images that is based on a rack with a capacity of 16 removable hard disks with a capacity of 500 MB each, supplemented by a processing system (9) for processing stereoscopic images for measuring the back-reflection and contrast of the traffic signs and panels on the section of roadway recorded during the on-line operation, supplemented by an odometer (12) for determining the distance covered by the vehicle (1), as well as a GPS (11) for determining the positions and locations of the vehicle at each of the moments when the recordings of the images are made, including also an electric power system (10) for all of the components and systems installed on board the vehicle itself (1). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- it also includes a processor (5) for acquiring the stereoscopic images and recording them on hard disk, where this processor (5) is based on a computer that is stored on a spring-mounted and stabilized industrial rack that is anchored in the interior of the vehicle itself (1), including also a TFT monitor (6) for displaying the results during the acquisition and recording of the sequence of stereoscopic images;
Specification