Abstract: A system for computer vision is based upon an image sensor that maps an image to memory cells in association with a computer. An object orientation and position patch is attached to an object to be observed comprising a planar substantially coplanar and non-collinear reflective locations positioned upon the patch and a reflector having the reflective properties of the surface of a regular curved surface intersecting the planar surface. The computer has a task stored in main memory for detecting and quantifying a change in orientation and position of the object from the location of the image of the orientation and position patch.

Abstract: A system for computer vision in association with a computer comprises a solid state image sensor or optic ram, a lens, a clock circuit for sequentially addressing the image sensor, and an edge detect circuit for detecting edges in the output bit stream of the image sensor. The edge detect circuit generates an interrupt signal for application to the clock circuit to stop the clock from advancing the addresses and for application to the computer to signal it to read the column and row address currently generated by the clock circuit.

Abstract: A system for computer vision comprises a source of digitized video signals and a frame encoder circuit connected to the source of digitized video signals. The frame encoder encodes threshold crossing events at at least two threshold levels and stores encoded data for a two-dimensional area within the frame in a cache memory. The threshold levels are programmable. A computer is in communication with the encoder circuit at least via its data bus and address bus for programming the threshold levels and controlling the encoder and accessing the data in said cache memory. The computer has an associated main memory with a stored task for reading the cache memory and interactively controlling the frame encoder circuit and interpreting the data gathered thereby. Data is encoded by event type and pixel address wherein the event type is indicative of threshold crossed and direction of crossing.