Gradient calculating camera board

• US 7,069,660 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Gururaj, Manjula, O'Mahony, Patrick Brendan, Gill, George M., Jackson, David A., Robb, Michael J., Glickman, Steve L., Bryan, Eric F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Application Number:
  US11/039,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20050126021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 332/88, 332/031.8, 382/151, 356/139.09, 701/29, 701/33
• US Class Current: 33/203.16
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2755 using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/26 Algorithms, instructions, databases, computerized methods and graphical user interfaces employed by a user in conjunction with the wheel aligner
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80

Abstract

In a machine vision system utilizing computer processing of image data, an imaging module incorporates the image sensor as well as pre-processing circuitry, for example, for performing a background subtraction and/or a gradient calculation. The pre-processing circuitry may also compress the image information. The host computer receives the pre-processed image data and performs all other calculations necessary to complete the machine vision application, for example, to determine one or more wheel alignment parameters of a subject vehicle. In a disclosed example useful for wheel alignment, the module also includes illumination elements, and the module circuitry provides associated camera control. The background subtraction, gradient calculation and associated compression require simpler, less expensive circuitry than for typical image pre-processing boards. Yet, the pre-processing at the imaging module substantially reduces the processing burden on the host computer when compared to machine vision implementations using direct streaming of image data to the host computer.

Claims

1. In a wheel alignment system having an image sensing module and a host for providing a vehicle wheel alignment parameter in response to data communicated from the image sensing module, an improvement in the image sensing module, wherein the image sensing module comprises:

an image sensor for capturing images;

image processing circuitry, coupled to the image sensor, for processing the images; and

a local area network data communication interface coupled to the image processing circuitry for sending processed image data to the host and for receiving information to establish a configuration of the processing by the image processing circuitry.

2. The improvement as in claim 1, wherein the processing by the image processing circuitry is capable of being dynamically reconfigured to meet different image processing requirements.

3. The improvement as in claim 1, wherein the local area network data communication interface comprises an Ethernet interface.

4. The improvement as in claim 1, wherein the local area network data communication interface comprises a broadband wireless data communication interface.

5. The improvement as in claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to the image processing circuitry, for controlling operation of the image sensing module.

6. The improvement as in claim 5, further comprising an illumination source coupled for selective activation by the controller, for selective illumination of an object of or on a subject vehicle.

7. The improvement as in claim 1, comprising the further improvement wherein the host is a laptop or handheld type computer.

8. The improvement as in claim 1, wherein the image processing circuitry comprises a processor and memory capable of being dynamically programmed to reconfigure the processing by the image processing circuitry to meet different image processing requirements.

9. The improvement as in claim 1, wherein the image processing circuitry comprises a field programmable gate array (FPGA), which is capable of being dynamically reconfigured to meet different image processing requirements.

10. An imaging module for use in a system implementing a vehicle measurement application, the imaging module comprising:

an image sensor, for imaging a field of view encompassing an object of or on a subject vehicle and generating representative image data;

image processing circuitry, coupled to the image sensor to receive the representative image data, for processing information from the representative image data in accord with a configuration, to form processed data; and

a data communication interface configured for transmitting the processed data from the image processing circuitry to a host implementing the vehicle measurement application and for receiving information to establish the configuration of the processing of the image processing circuitry.

11. The imaging module of claim 10, wherein the interface is a local area network interface.

12. The imaging module of claim 11, wherein the local area network interface supports either Ethernet data communications or broadband wireless data communications.

13. The improvement as in claim 10, further comprising a controller coupled to the image processing circuitry, for controlling operation of the image sensing module.

14. The improvement as in claim 13, further comprising an illumination source coupled for selective activation by the controller, for selective illumination of the object.

15. A vehicle measurement system, comprising:

at least one imaging module, comprising;

1) an image sensor, for imaging a field of view encompassing at least one object of or on a subject vehicle and generating data representing the imaged field of view;

2) image processing circuitry, coupled to the image sensor to receive the data representing the imaged field of view, and for performing a processing operation on information from the data representing the imaged field of view in accord with a configuration, to form processed data; and

3) a data communication interface configured for transmitting the processed data from the image processing circuitry and for receiving information to establish the configuration of the processing operation of the image processing circuitry; and

a host coupled to receive the processed data transmitted from the at least one imaging module, configured for processing the received data to provide at least one measurement of a parameter of the subject vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface is a local area network interface.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the local area network interface supports either Ethernet data communications or broadband wireless data communications.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the host comprises a laptop or handheld type computer.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing by the image processing circuitry is capable of being dynamically reconfigured to meet different image processing requirements.