System and method for inspecting surfaces using optical wavelength filtering
First Claim
1. A system for inspecting a railroad track bed, the system comprising:
- at least one light generator positioned adjacent the railroad track bed, the light generator adapted to project a beam of light across the railroad track bed, the beam of light having an intensity totaling at least 0.15 watts per inch of a width of the beam of light;
at least one camera positioned adjacent the railroad track bed for receiving at least a portion of the light reflected from the railroad track bed and for generating at least one image representative of a profile of at least a portion of the railroad track bed, the camera comprising a bandpass filter adapted to pass a band of the beam of light projected by the light generator, the band corresponding only to a natural intensity dip in a spectrum of ground-level solar radiation; and
at least one processor adapted to analyze the at least one image and determine one or more physical characteristics of the portion of the railroad track bed, the processor comprising an algorithm configured for determining a distance between crossties of the railroad track bed, the algorithm comprising the steps of;
(a) analyzing a first frame, one or more intermediate frames and an end frame of the at least one image, the first and end frames comprising crossties, while the one or more intermediate frames lack crossties;
(b) determining a number of the one or more intermediate frames lacking crossties;
(c) determining a known spacing between frames; and
(d) determining the distance between the crossties of the first and end frames based upon the number of the one or more intermediate frames lacking crossties and the known spacing between the frames.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for daylight inspection of a surface, such as a railroad track, is disclosed. The disclosed system includes lasers, cameras, and a processor. The lasers are positioned adjacent the surface. The laser emits a beam of light across the surface at a combined intensity of at least 0.15 watts of intensity per inch of width of the surface, and the camera captures images of the surface having the beam of light emitted thereon. The camera includes a bandpass filter which passes only a band of light corresponding to a dip in solar radiation. The laser is selected to provide an emitted light beam which is more intense than the solar radiation at the dip. The processor formats the images so that they can be analyzed to determine various measurable aspects of the surface. The system and method includes one or more algorithms for determining these measurable aspects of the surface.
47 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for inspecting a railroad track bed, the system comprising:
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at least one light generator positioned adjacent the railroad track bed, the light generator adapted to project a beam of light across the railroad track bed, the beam of light having an intensity totaling at least 0.15 watts per inch of a width of the beam of light; at least one camera positioned adjacent the railroad track bed for receiving at least a portion of the light reflected from the railroad track bed and for generating at least one image representative of a profile of at least a portion of the railroad track bed, the camera comprising a bandpass filter adapted to pass a band of the beam of light projected by the light generator, the band corresponding only to a natural intensity dip in a spectrum of ground-level solar radiation; and at least one processor adapted to analyze the at least one image and determine one or more physical characteristics of the portion of the railroad track bed, the processor comprising an algorithm configured for determining a distance between crossties of the railroad track bed, the algorithm comprising the steps of; (a) analyzing a first frame, one or more intermediate frames and an end frame of the at least one image, the first and end frames comprising crossties, while the one or more intermediate frames lack crossties; (b) determining a number of the one or more intermediate frames lacking crossties; (c) determining a known spacing between frames; and (d) determining the distance between the crossties of the first and end frames based upon the number of the one or more intermediate frames lacking crossties and the known spacing between the frames. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for inspecting a railroad track bed, comprising:
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at least one light generator positioned adjacent the railroad track bed, the light generator adapted to project a beam of light across the railroad track bed, the beam of light having an intensity totaling at least 0.15 watts per inch of a width of the beam of light; at least one camera positioned adjacent the railroad track bed for receiving at least a portion of the light reflected from the railroad track bed and for generating at least one image representative of a profile of at least a portion of the railroad track bed, the camera comprising a bandpass filter adapted to pass a band of the beam of light projected by the light generator, the band corresponding only to a natural intensity dip in a spectrum of ground-level solar radiation; and at least one processor adapted to analyze the at least one image and determine one or more physical characteristics of the portion of the railroad track bed, the processor comprising an algorithm for detecting a misaligned or sunken tie plate of the railroad track bed, the algorithm comprising the steps of; (a) analyzing a frame of the at least one image, the frame comprising a region of interest; (b) determining whether the region of interest contains a tie plate; (c) if a tie plate is present, determining a crosstie contour and a tie plate contour; (d) comparing an orientation of the crosstie contour and an orientation of the tie plate contour; and (e) determining whether the tie plate is misaligned or sunken based upon the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for inspecting a railroad track bed, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) illuminating a light across the span of the railroad track bed, the light totaling a combined intensity of at least 0.15 watts per inch of a width of the light; (b) receiving at least a portion of the light reflected from the railroad track bed using one or more cameras, the one or more cameras comprising a bandpass filter adapted to pass only a band of the reflected light, the band corresponding only to a natural intensity dip in a spectrum of ground-level solar radiation; (c) generating at least one image representative of a profile of at least a portion of the railroad track bed; (d) analyzing the at least one image; (e) determining one or more physical characteristics of the portion of the railroad track bed; (f) outputting the determined physical characteristics of the portion of the railroad track bed; (g) determining a distance between crossties of the railroad track bed by the steps of; (h) analyzing a first frame, one or more intermediate frames and an end frame of the at least one image, the first and end frames comprising crossties while the one or more intermediate frames lack crossties; (i) determining a number of the one or more intermediate frames lacking crossties; (j) determining a known spacing between frames; and (k) determining the distance between the crossties of the first and end frames based upon the number of the one or more intermediate frames lacking crossties and the known spacing between the frames. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for inspecting a railroad track bed, comprising the steps of:
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(a) illuminating a light across the span of the railroad track bed, the light totaling a combined intensity of at least 0.15 watts per inch of a width of the light; (b) receiving at least a portion of the light reflected from the railroad track bed using one or more cameras, the one or more cameras comprising a bandpass filter adapted to pass only a band of the reflected light, the band corresponding only to a natural intensity dip in a spectrum of ground-level solar radiation; (c) generating at least one image representative of a profile of at least a portion of the railroad track bed; (d) analyzing the at least one image; (e) determining one or more physical characteristics of the portion of the railroad track bed; (f) detecting a misaligned or sunken tie plate of the railroad track bed, the step of detecting comprising the steps of; (g) analyzing a frame of the at least one image, the frame comprising a region of interest; (h) determining whether the region of interest contains a tie plate; (i) if a tie plate is present, determining a crosstie contour and a tie plate contour; (j) comparing an orientation of the crosstie contour and an orientation of the tie plate contour; and (k) determining whether the tie plate is misaligned or sunken based upon the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for inspecting a railroad track bed, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) projecting a light onto the railroad track bed, the light having an intensity of at least 0.15 watts per inch of a width of the light; (b) receiving at least a portion of the light reflected from the railroad track bed into a receiver; (c) utilizing a bandpass filter of the receiver to pass a band of the reflected light which corresponds only to a natural intensity dip in a spectrum of ground-level solar radiation, wherein the reflected light is adapted to be more intense than the solar radiation at the dip; (d) utilizing the passed band of the reflected light to generate one or more images representative of a profile of at least a portion of the railroad track bed; (e) determining one or more characteristics of the portion of the railroad track bed; (f) outputting the determined characteristics of the portion of the railroad track bed; (g) determining a distance between crossties of the railroad track bed by the steps of; (h) analyzing a first frame, one or more intermediate frames and an end frame of the one or more images, the first and end frames comprising crossties while the one or more intermediate frames lack crossties; (i) determining a number of the one or more intermediate frames lacking crossties; (j) determining a known spacing between frames; and (k) determining the distance between the crossties of the first and end frames based upon the number of the one or more intermediate frames lacking crossties and the known spacing between the frames. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method for inspecting a railroad track bed, comprising the steps of:
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(a) projecting a light onto the railroad track bed, the light having an intensity of at least 0.15 watts per inch of a width of the light; (b) receiving at least a portion of the light reflected from the railroad track bed into a receiver; (c) utilizing a bandpass filter of the receiver to pass a band of the reflected light which corresponds only to a natural intensity dip in a spectrum of ground-level solar radiation, wherein the reflected light is adapted to be more intense than the solar radiation at the dip; (d) utilizing the passed band of the reflected light to generate one or more images representative of a profile of at least a portion of the railroad track bed; (e) determining one or more characteristics of the portion of the railroad track bed; (f) outputting the determined characteristics of the portion of the railroad track bed; (g) detecting a misaligned or sunken tie plate of the railroad track bed, the step of detecting comprising the steps of; (h) analyzing a frame of one or more images, the frame comprising a region of interest; (i) determining whether the region of interest contains a tie plate; (j) if a tie plate is present, determining a crosstie contour and a tie plate contour; (k) comparing an orientation of the crosstie contour and an orientation of the tie plate contour; and (l) determining whether the tie plate is misaligned or sunken based upon the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification