Smart surveillance camera systems and methods
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a thermal imager comprising a focal plane array (FPA) configured to capture thermal images of a scene;
a light source configured to illuminate the scene;
a camera configured to capture additional images of the scene; and
a processor configured to;
determine a presence of an object in the scene based on the thermal images,in response to the determined presence of the object, identify the object from among a desired object and a spurious object by analyzing temperature distribution captured in the thermal images to determine geometric characteristics and thermal characteristics of the object, andselectively operate the light source and the camera in response to identifying the desired object in the scene and according to a predefined association between the identified desired object and corresponding operations to be triggered for the light source and the camera.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various techniques are disclosed for smart surveillance camera systems and methods using thermal imaging to intelligently control illumination and monitoring of a surveillance scene. For example, a smart camera system may include a thermal imager, an IR illuminator, a visible light illuminator, a visible/near IR (NIR) light camera, and a processor. The camera system may capture thermal images of the scene using the thermal imager, and analyze the thermal images to detect a presence and an attribute of an object in the scene. In response to the detection, various light sources may be selectively operated to illuminate the object only when needed or desired, with a suitable type of light source, with a suitable beam angle and width, or in otherwise desirable manner. The visible/NIR light camera may also be selectively operated based on the detection to capture or record surveillance images containing objects of interest.
217 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a thermal imager comprising a focal plane array (FPA) configured to capture thermal images of a scene; a light source configured to illuminate the scene; a camera configured to capture additional images of the scene; and a processor configured to; determine a presence of an object in the scene based on the thermal images, in response to the determined presence of the object, identify the object from among a desired object and a spurious object by analyzing temperature distribution captured in the thermal images to determine geometric characteristics and thermal characteristics of the object, and selectively operate the light source and the camera in response to identifying the desired object in the scene and according to a predefined association between the identified desired object and corresponding operations to be triggered for the light source and the camera. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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capturing, at a focal plane array (FPA) of a thermal imager, thermal images of a scene; determining a presence of an object in the scene based on the thermal images; in response to the determined presence of the object, identifying the object from among a desired object and a spurious object by analyzing temperature distribution captured in the thermal images to determine geometric characteristics and thermal characteristics of the object; and selectively operating a light source and a camera in response to identifying the desired object in the scene and according to a predefined association between the identified desired object and corresponding operations to be triggered for the light source and the camera, wherein; the light source is configured to illuminate the scene, and the camera is configured to capture additional images of the scene. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification