Multi-zone passageway monitoring system and method

• US 7,920,718 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cognex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cognex Corporation
• Inventors: Marrion, Cyril C., Nichani, Sanjay, Fix, Raymond A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Strege; John B
• Application Number:
  US11/754,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20080100438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 348/143, 340/540, 340/541, 340/545.1, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30232 Surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30241 Trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/248 involving reference images or patches
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and machine vision system for monitoring an activity area proximate an actuated passageway for the occurrence of an object-related event. The activity area includes a first activity zone and at least a second activity zone. The first and the at least a second activity zones are essentially parallel to the activity area. The actuated passageway is actuatable with a control signal. The occurrence of an object-related event is detected within the activity area. If the object-related event occurs within the first activity zone, a first algorithm is executed to generate the control signal. If the object-related event occurs within the at least a second activity zone, a second algorithm is executed to generate the control signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring an activity area proximate an actuated passageway for the occurrence of an object-related event, wherein;

the activity area includes a first activity zone, a second activity zone, and at least a third activity zone,

the first, second, and third activity zones are essentially parallel to and exclusive of each other, and

the actuated passageway is actuatable with a control signal;

detecting the occurrence of an object-related event within the activity area;

if the object-related event occurs within the first activity zone, executing a first algorithm to generate the control signal;

if the object-related event occurs within the second or at least the third activity zone, executing a second algorithm to generate the control signal,

wherein the first activity zone is a presence activity zone, the second activity zone is a movement activity zone, and the third activity zone is a direction activity zone.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the object-related event is chosen from the group consisting of a presence-related event;

a movement- related event; and

a direction-related event.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if the object-related event is a presence-related event that occurs in the presence activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway;

if the object-related event is a movement-related event that occurs in the movement activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway; and

if the object-related event is a direction-related event that occurs in the direction activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the activity area includes a ground level activity zone, the method further comprising:

if the object-related event occurs within the ground level activity zone, executing a third algorithm to generate the control signal.

5. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

monitoring an activity area proximate an actuated passageway for the occurrence of an object-related event, wherein;

the activity area includes a first activity zone, a second activity zone, and at least a third activity zone,

the first, second, and third activity zones are essentially parallel to and exclusive of each other, and

the actuated passageway is actuatable with a control signal;

detecting the occurrence of an object-related event within the activity area;

if the object-related event occurs within the first activity zone, executing a first algorithm to generate the control signal; and

if the object-related event occurs within the second or at least the third activity zone, executing a second algorithm to generate the control signal, wherein the first activity zone is a presence activity zone, the second activity zone is a movement activity zone, and the third activity zone is a direction activity zone.

6. The computer program product of claim 5 wherein the object-related event is chosen from the group consisting of a presence-related event;

a movement-related event; and

a direction-related event.

7. The computer program product of claim 5 further comprising instructions for:

if the object-related event is a presence-related event that occurs in the presence activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway;

if the object-related event is a movement-related event that occurs in the movement activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway; and

if the object-related event is a direction-related event that occurs in the direction activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway.

8. The computer program product of claim 5 wherein the activity area includes a ground level activity zone, the computer program product further comprising instructions for:

if the object-related event occurs within the ground level activity zone, executing a third algorithm to generate the control signal.

9. A machine vision system comprising:

a plurality of cameras; and

logic circuitry responsive to the plurality of cameras, the logic circuitry configured for;

monitoring an activity area proximate an actuated passageway for the occurrence of an object-related event, wherein;

the activity area includes a first activity zone, a second activity zone, and at least a third activity zone,

the first, second, and third activity zones are essentially parallel to and exclusive of each other, and

and the actuated passageway is actuatable with a control signal;

detecting the occurrence of an object-related event within the activity area;

if the object-related event occurs within the first activity zone, executing a first algorithm to generate the control signal; and

if the object-related event occurs within the second or at least the third activity zone, executing a second algorithm to generate the control signal, wherein the first activity zone is a presence activity zone, the second activity zone is a movement activity zone, and the third activity zone is a direction activity zone.

10. The machine vision system of claim 9 wherein the object-related event is chosen from the group consisting of a presence-related event;

a movement-related event; and

a direction-related event.

11. The machine vision system of claim 9 wherein the logic circuitry is further configured for:

if the object-related event is a presence-related event that occurs in the presence activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway;

if the object-related event is a movement-related event that occurs in the movement activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway; and

if the object-related event is a direction-related event that occurs in the direction activity zone, generating an open control signal that is provided to the actuated passageway.

12. The machine vision system of claim 9 wherein the activity area includes a ground level activity zone, the logic circuitry being further configured for:

if the object-related event occurs within the ground level activity zone, executing a third algorithm to generate the control signal.