Abstract: A color-recognition camera comprises a red-green-blue CCD-imaging device that provides an analog RGB-video signal. A set of three analog-to-digital converters convert the analog RGB-video signal into a digital RGB-video signal. A digital comparator tests the digital RGB-video signal pixel-by-pixel for a match against a color setpoint. If a match occurs, a pixel with a particular color represented by the color setpoint has been recognized and a “hit” is output. A pixel address counter provides a pixel address output each time a “hit” is registered. The number of hits per video frame are accumulated, and a color-match area magnitude value is output for each frame. Alternatively, neural networks are used to indicate hits when a pixel in the video image comes close enough to the color setpoint value. Just how close can be “learned” by the neural network.

Abstract: In a vehicle time-of-entry and time-of-exit system, the passing of a vehicle through an entrance generates a “trigger-t0” signal. An entrance video camera provides realtime images of entering vehicles. The trigger-t0 signal causes one video frame of the image of vehicle to be stored or “frame-grabbed” in an entrance subsystem. A time-of-entry clock-time signal is used to time-stamp the image which is then forwarded on a connection to a matcher. The passing of a vehicle through an exit generates a “trigger-t1” signal. An exit video camera 116 provides realtime images of exiting vehicles. The trigger-t1 signal causes one video frame of the image of vehicle to be stored or “frame-grabbed” in an exit subsystem. A clock-time signal is used to time-stamp the image which is then forwarded on a connection to the matcher. A output automatically provides a length-of-stay for each exiting vehicle according to its time-of-entry.

Abstract: A vehicle video imaging system comprises a white-light LED array for illuminating retro-reflective painted parts of a vehicle's license plate, a powerful flash with a visual spectrum cutout filter and a polarizing filter for illuminating any non-retro-reflective license plate paint and the vehicle itself. A video camera with a polarizing filter turned 90° relative to the one in front of the flash receives the illuminated image of the vehicle and its license plate. The retro-reflective paint of a license plate will return polarized light as it is received, so the white-light LED array will provide all the illumination needed by the camera to get a good high-contrast picture of the license plate. The polarizing filters will combine to block out most of the light from the flash that was returned still-polarized by the retro-reflective-paint license plate.

Abstract: A fast frame-rate imaging device is produced by a attaching a fiberoptic block to an otherwise ordinary and inexpensive CCD. A part of the fiberoptic block is occluded so as to darken a majority of the active imaging photocells. The CCD imaging device is operated at near its maximum horizontal and vertical clock rates, but multiple image frames are defined within the one previous active photocell array field. The added dark areas in the optical field protect the recent frames still in transit within the active array area from being double exposed and thus corrupted. The serial output of the thus-modified CCD imaging device is reinterpreted to include more frames than originally at a multiple equal to the original array dimension divided by the new array dimension (m·n/m′·n′). Such a modified CCD array uses only one-fourth of the original active area, and is operable at a multiple of the original frame rate.

Abstract: A matrix code reader comprises a camera-on-a-chip CMOS image sensor with a global-shutter and window-of-interest constraints. The CMOS image code reader is mounted in a handheld or stationary unit that also include a local display screen, a microprocessor, and a serial communications interface. A trigger allows a user to signal the microprocessor to capture the visual scene being imaged by the CMOS image sensor when the local display screen indicates a properly framed image.

Abstract: A fast frame-rate CCD imaging device is produced by modifying the optical mask of an otherwise ordinary and inexpensive CCD integrated circuit to darken a majority of the active imaging photocells. The modified CCD integrated circuit is operated at near its maximum horizontal and vertical clock rates, but multiple image frames are newly defined within the one previous active photocell array field. The added dark areas in the optical mask act to protect all recent frames still in transit within the active array area from being double exposed and thus corrupted.