Distance By Apparent Target Size (e.g., Stadia, Etc.) Patents (Class 348/140)
  • Patent number: 9952036
    Abstract: In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing maximum likelihood image binarization in a coded light range camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander Bronstein, Aviad Zabatani, Ron Kimmel, Michael Bronstein, Erez Sperling, Vitaly Surazhsky
  • Patent number: 9948905
    Abstract: A remote access control system comprising a remote host connected to a mobile device, a proximity sensor doorbell, a door lock device and a gateway device is provided. The proximity sensor doorbell triggers a doorbell signal when sensing a finger of a visitor approaches. The gateway device sends a first notification message to the mobile device via the remote host when recognizing that a captured monitoring video comprises image of the visitor, sends a second notification message to the mobile device via the remote host when receiving the doorbell signal, and controls the door lock device to unlock when receiving an unlocking message from the mobile device. This system facilitates the householder to control the entry remotely and effectively reduces the probability of doorbell failing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: BRAINCHILD ELECTRONIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsu-Yi Peng, Hee-Lup Chong, Susan Dong
  • Patent number: 9818180
    Abstract: It is possible to determine whether or not a specific shape candidate obtained from a captured standard image has a corresponding shape in an actual space. A shape surrounded by straight lines is detected from a standard image as a candidate having a rectangular shape. A target object image obtained by imaging a target object representing the candidate having the rectangular shape at a viewing angle different from the viewing angle of the standard image is generated. The generated target object image is detected from a reference image obtained by imaging the target object at a different viewing angle. If the target object image is detected, the target object represented by the candidate having the rectangular shape is determined to be a rectangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tomonori Masuda
  • Patent number: 9773316
    Abstract: Disclosed are a camera module and a method of measuring a distance by using the same. The camera module includes a light source to irradiate a light, a film having a pattern through which the light irradiated by the light source passes, an image sensor to acquire an image of a subject, and a distance estimating module to estimate a distance from the subject by using the image acquired by the image sensor. The acquired image includes a pattern image projected by the light passing through the pattern, and the distance estimating module estimates the distance by using the pattern image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Hyun Lim, Jung Ah Park
  • Patent number: 9760436
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for data storage error protection are described. One example apparatus for data storage error protection includes an array of memory cells arranged in a first dimension and a second dimension. A controller is configured to determine a set of symbols corresponding to data stored in the memory cells. The controller is configured to add subsets of the set of symbols obliquely oriented to the first dimension and the second dimension to determine a number of parity check symbols. The controller is configured to use a same number of parity check symbols for protection of a first subset of memory cells oriented parallel to the first dimension as used for protection of a second subset of memory cells oriented parallel to the second dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Amato, Marco Sforzin
  • Patent number: 9661227
    Abstract: A method of stabilizing a three-dimensional (3D) digital video image sequence includes generating a depth map for each stereoscopic pair of images using each of the image frames in a first-perspective (e.g., left) group and each of the image frames in a second-perspective group (e.g., right) and determining the background regions of each of the depth maps, defining the background regions in each of the image frames in one group among the first-perspective and second-perspective groups using the determined background regions, and calculating first global motion vectors between the consecutive image frames in the one group using only pixels of the defined second background regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dong hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9612598
    Abstract: An unmanned aircraft structure evaluation system includes a computer system with an input unit, a display unit, one or more processors, and one or more non-transitory computer readable medium. Image display and analysis software causes the one or more processors to generate unmanned aircraft information. The unmanned aircraft information includes flight path information configured to direct an unmanned aircraft to fly a flight path around the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Pictometry International Corp.
    Inventors: Stephen L. Schultz, John Monaco
  • Patent number: 9196048
    Abstract: An autonomous pavement assessment system may receive depth data indicative of the depth of pixels that collectively comprise multiple defective areas of pavement. For each defective area, the system may fit a plane to it; generate a histogram that indicates the frequency of its pixels at different depths; dynamically determine a depth noise threshold for it; generate a binary image of it based on its noise threshold; and generate a depth map of it containing only the pixels that have a depth that meets or exceeds its depth noise threshold. The system may prioritize the multiple defective areas for repair and/or generate optimized rehabilitation routes. Crowd sourcing may be used to gather the depth data, as well as location information for each defective area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Mohammad R. Jahanshahi, Farrokh Jazizadeh Karimi, Sami F. Masri, Burcin Becerik-Gerber
  • Patent number: 9142031
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that is capable of improving the alignment accuracy by detecting a motion vector accurately even if there is a low contrast region or a repeating pattern region. A division unit divides each of inputted images into blocks of a predetermined size. A first determination unit determines whether contrast in a block is less than a predetermined contrast for each of the blocks. A size changing unit changes the size of the block concerned when the first determination unit determines that the block concerned is low contrast. A motion vector detection unit detects a motion vector by comparing images in each pair of corresponding blocks between the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9134126
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus (10) includes: an imaging device (20); an optical system (22); and a distance determining unit (16) determining an object distance between the optical system and the object based on a size of a blur developed on the image. The optical system (22) has a characteristic which simultaneously satisfies both of conditions that (i) variation in magnification is equal to or smaller than the predetermined number of pixels in the case where a focused point is set farthest from and closest to the optical system (22) in a range of the distance of the object determined by the distance determining unit (16) and (ii) variation in a PSF due to an image height of the optical system (22) is equal to or smaller than a predetermined degree so as not to affect the determination of the distance of the object by the distance determining unit (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Dolby International AB
    Inventor: Masayuki Kimura
  • Publication number: 20150130932
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for profiling the depth of a surface of a target object (30), having a two-dimensional array of lasers (5), an optical device (15) for projecting a two-dimensional illumination pattern (31) onto an area of the surface of the target object, an image capture device (10) arranged to capture an image of the two-dimensional illumination pattern projected onto the area of the surface of the target object and a processor (25) configured to process the captured image in order to reconstruct a depth profile of the two-dimensional area of the surface of the target object from the image captured by the image capture device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Arno Vredenborg, Mark Carpaij, Stephen Gronenborn, Pavel Pekarski, Arnd Ritz
  • Publication number: 20150116486
    Abstract: An image measuring system includes an interface module, an automatic measuring module, and an outputting module. The interface module is configured to display an image of a workpiece. The automatic measuring module finds features on the image of the workpiece, constructs a coordinate system according to the searched features, and measures a distance from each point on the workpiece to the constructed coordinate system. The outputting module compares the distance with a predetermined tolerance range and outputs the distance and a compared result to the interface module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: CHIH-KUANG CHANG, ZHONG-KUI YUAN, XIAO-GUANG XUE, JUN-HUA LI
  • Publication number: 20150103163
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for measuring a distance change, the apparatus including an information acquisition unit, an object determination unit, a feature point determination unit, an optical flow calculator, a matching point determination unit, an object length change calculator that calculates a length change ratio between an object of a first frame image and an object of a second frame image by using a feature point and a matching point, and a distance change calculator that calculates a change from a distance between a camera and the object from when the camera acquires the first frame image and when the camera acquires the second frame image using the calculated length change ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Jong-hoon Won, Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Masataka Hamada, Chang-su Kim, Yeong-jun Koh, Dae-youn Lee, Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 9001203
    Abstract: A photography unit photographs a target, a control unit acquires distance data between a photography position and a target to be photographed of the photography unit, an azimuth angle and an elevation/depression angle of a photography direction of the photography unit together with the image information by an angle distance measurement unit synchronously or asynchronously to the shutter operation of the photography unit. The angle distance measurement unit has a configuration without using an axis fixed onto a mobile object. Coordinate information of the photography position of the photography unit is acquired from the coordinate measurement unit synchronously to asynchronously to the shutter operation. The control unit calculates coordinate information of a photographing target, based on the data of the acquired distance data, the azimuth, elevation and depression angles, and the coordinate information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Pasco Corporation
    Inventors: Tadao Shimada, Tsuneki Sakakibara, Tatsuya Hirai
  • Publication number: 20150085110
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a surveying apparatus for surveying a measurement scenery. The surveying apparatus may include a base defining a vertical axis; a support tiltable around the vertical axis; a telescope unit tiltable around the vertical axis and around a horizontal axis that is orthogonal to the vertical axis and comprises means for distance measurement; motor means for rotational driving of the support and the telescope unit; and angle determination means for detecting an orientation of the telescope unit with respect to the base. In some embodiments, the telescope unit comprises a first camera capable to take a visible image of the measurement scenery and/or means for capturing coordinates of 3D-points of the measurement scenery. In some embodiments, the surveying apparatus comprises a display capable to display at least a portion of the visible image taken by the first camera and/or at least a portion of the 3D-points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Bo Pettersson, Knut Siercks, Eugen Voit, Jürg Hinderling, Benedikt Zebhauser, Klaus Schneider
  • Patent number: 8964028
    Abstract: A method and system to compensate for stray light errors in time of flight (TOF) camera systems uses reference targets in the in the field of view (FOV) that can be used to measure stray light. In different embodiments, one or more reference targets are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: MESA Imaging AG
    Inventor: Thierry Oggier
  • Publication number: 20150035973
    Abstract: A method for determining a current distance and/or a current speed of a target object relative to a motor vehicle based on an image of the target object, in which the image is provided by a camera of the motor vehicle, where characteristic features of the target object are extracted from the image and a reference point associated with the target object is determined based on the characteristic features for determining the distance and/or the speed, wherein the distance and/or the speed are determined based on the reference point, and a baseline is determined in the image based on the characteristic features, which is in a transition area from the depicted target object to a ground surface depicted in the image, and a point located on the baseline is determined as the reference point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Perikles Rammos
  • Publication number: 20140375798
    Abstract: In the present invention, with a preset subject distance (the distance to a photographic subject) being stored in a storage section, a control section constituting a digital camera (imaging apparatus) specifies an imaging target subject, detects the distance to this specified subject, and performs imaging (for example, consecutive photographing or moving image capturing) by an imaging section when the detected distance is substantially equal to the preset subject distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ken Fujita
  • Publication number: 20140368642
    Abstract: A lighting audit system includes a lighting audit docking station in communication with the smart device and a database, where the lighting audit docking station includes a targeting unit and a camera. A lighting audit method includes providing a physical parameter to a lighting audit table for a space-under-study, representing the space-under-study on a virtual map presented on a display, adding surface characteristic data for the space-under-study into the lighting audit table, measuring the physical dimensions of the space-under-study using the targeting unit, the physical dimension measurements being stored in the lighting audit table, entering into the lighting audit table parameters for a luminaire located in the space-under-study, and calculating a lighting audit for the space-under-study based on data in the lighting audit table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: László Balázs, András Kuti, Roland Batai
  • Patent number: 8913127
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for imaging biological/chemical samples are provided. A calibrated imaging system can allow a user to obtain an optimal focus setting (position) for any effective distance (e.g. a zoom setting). The optimal focus can be determined from a functional approximation that defines a relationship between effective distance and focus setting. A user can input a size, and an imaging system can determine the appropriate effective distance and focus. An imaging system can also determine a size based on any effective distance. A flat-field correction can also be determined for any effective distance or size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Kotchou, Christof Schultz, Kevin McDonald, Neeraj Bhatt
  • Publication number: 20140320643
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a laser tracker for continuously pursuing a reflective target and for determining the position of the target. The method may include a base which defines a vertical axis, a beam guiding unit for emitting a measurement beam, the beam guiding unit being pivotable by motor relative to the base about the vertical axis and an inclination axis, and a measurement axis being defined by an emission direction of the measurement beam. The laser tracker may include a precision distance measurement unit and an angle measurement function. The target search unit may have illumination source for illuminating the target, a first camera with a first position-sensitive detector and at least one part of the illumination beam reflected on the target being determinable as a first target position, and a control and evaluation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Albert Markendorf
  • Publication number: 20140320644
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for determining a height profile of the surroundings of a vehicle by means of a 3D camera. The 3D camera records at least one image of the vehicle's surroundings. The image data of the 3D camera is used to determine whether there is at least one jump in the height curve of the surface of the surroundings transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Stefan Hegemann, Stefan Heinrich, Stefan Lüke
  • Patent number: 8872915
    Abstract: Methods can include using a doorbell to wirelessly communicate with a remotely located computing device. Doorbells can include a speaker, a microphone, a camera, and a button to sound a chime. A doorbell shipping mode can detect whether the doorbell is electrically coupled to an external power source. Methods can include entering a setup mode or a standby mode in response to detecting electricity from the external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: SkyBell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Frank Scalisi, Desiree Mejia, Gregory Saul Harrison, Andrew Paul Thomas
  • Patent number: 8866901
    Abstract: A motion calculation device includes an image-capturing unit configured to capture an image of a range including a plane and outputs the captured image, an extraction unit configured to extract a region of the plane from the image, a detection unit configured to detect feature points and motion vectors of the feature points from a plurality of images captured by the image-capturing unit at a predetermined time interval; and a calculation unit configured to calculate the motion of the host device based on both of an epipolar constraint relating to the feature points and a homography relating to the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Elesys Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Azuma, Masatoshi Okutomi, Shigeki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8842223
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a transmitter apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and a transmitter system capable of easily transmitting a wideband signal. The transmitter apparatus includes: a first acquisition unit that obtains first transmission control information; a second acquisition unit that obtains second transmission control information similar to information input to another transmitter apparatus; and a generating unit that processes transmission target data based on a parameter contained in the first transmission control information and generates data including the processed transmission target data and the second transmission control information. The present technology can be applied to a transmitter apparatus that transmits a DVB-C2 signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroo Takahashi, Lachlan Bruce Michael, Takashi Yokokawa, Naoki Yoshimochi, Takahiro Okada
  • Patent number: 8817093
    Abstract: The present invention involves a surveying system and method which determines the position of an object point using two images. First, at least two reference points appearing on the two images are correlated. Then the position of the object point is determined based on the two images and the two reference points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Zoom Information Systems
    Inventors: William A. Westrick, Elena V. Apter
  • Patent number: 8817099
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein comprise a system and method for improving visibility of a roadway using an improved visibility system. The method comprising receiving data from a plurality of fog detectors located proximate a roadway and determining, based on the data from the plurality of fog detectors, that fog is present about the roadway. The method further comprising obtaining, after the determining that fog is present about the roadway, a plurality of images of the roadway by activating a plurality of cameras located proximate the roadway. The method further comprising creating a composite image by combining two or more of the plurality of images, wherein the composite image depicts the roadway unobstructed by fog and transmitting the composite image to a display device located in a vehicle traveling along the roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Giuseppe Longobardi
  • Publication number: 20140218512
    Abstract: A measuring device is configured to measure a height of a mold. The measuring device includes a laser generator, a raster, a camera module, and a controller. The raster is positioned between the laser generator and the mold. A laser beam emitted by the laser generator is refracted by the raster to divide the laser into two laser beams. The two laser beams cooperatively define a predetermined angle ?. The camera module is configured to capture an image of the two laser beams irradiated onto the top surface. The controller is electrically connected to the camera module, and configured to receive the image and to calculate an actual distance D between the two laser beams, according to the image. The controller is capable of calculating a height H of the mold, according to D and the predetermined angle ?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: YUNG-CHANG TSENG
  • Publication number: 20140204204
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an imaging unit configured to take an image of an area including an object on which an image is projected and to acquire image data; a distance measuring unit configured to calculate distance data relevant to a distance between the object and the imaging unit based on the image data; a plane estimating unit configured to estimate a plane corresponding to the object based on the distance data; and a correction information calculating unit configured to calculate correction information relevant to correction of an image to be projected based on the distance data and plane information relevant to the plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Shinichi Sumiyoshi, Fumihiro Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8773531
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) pointing sensing apparatus may be provided. The 3D pointing sensing apparatus may include an image generation unit that may photograph a first light source and a second light source in a light emitting unit, and generate an image including an image of the first light source and an image of a second light source. Also, the 3D pointing sensing apparatus may include an orientation calculation unit that may calculate an orientation of the light emitting unit, using a size difference between the image of the first light source and the image of the second light source in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: SangHyun Kim, Hyong Euk Lee, Won-Chul Bang
  • Publication number: 20140184792
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect an object from image data, a blurring processing unit configured to execute blurring processing on the image data based on a result of the detection by the detection unit, and a control unit configured to control whether to execute the blurring processing according to a distance difference in subject distance between an object area corresponding to the object detected by the detection unit and a background area other than the object area in the image data and a size of the background area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsutomu Ogasawara
  • Publication number: 20140168424
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging device for motion detection of objects in a scene, and method for motion detection of objects in a scene. Generally the present invention relates to a system and method for creating a three dimensional image or image sequence (hereinafter “video”), and more particularly to a system and method for measuring the distance and actual 3D velocity and acceleration of objects in a scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Ziv Attar, Yelena Vladimirovna Shulepova, Edwin Maria Wolterink, Koen Gerard Demeyer
  • Patent number: 8723950
    Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating the fit of a modular window assembly into a simulated vehicle body opening includes a base member, a vehicle body opening/sheet metal simulator mounted to the base member, one or more light sources disposed in the vehicle body opening/sheet metal simulator and one or more devices for securing the vehicle window to the vehicle body opening/sheet metal simulator. A method of utilizing the apparatus is also a part of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Pilkington Group Limited
    Inventor: Brian Hertel
  • Publication number: 20140118539
    Abstract: A dark region as a region on which light is not projected by a light projection unit is set. Disturbance light projected on a measurement target object is estimated from the set dark region. A captured image is corrected based on the estimated disturbance light. Distance to the measurement target object is executed from the corrected captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Ota, Hiroshi Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20140104419
    Abstract: A measuring unit having an edge tracking function which runs at least partially automatically. After an at least coarse alignment of a targeting unit having an alignment display function at a first corner known or defined by a user between adjacent surfaces of the structure and a recording of an image of the said first corner with the environment thereof, edge lines are identified as part of the edge tracking function by means of an edge definition by image processing, a query is made as to which of the identified edges lines should be tracked starting from the first corner or in which direction the identified edge line should be tracked starting from the first edge point a user-defined edge line is tracked automatically by the targeting unit at least as far as to a further corner, wherein spatial points situated along the user-defined edge line are measured if necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventor: Bernhard Metzler
  • Patent number: 8692880
    Abstract: An image correlation displacement sensor for measuring a displacement component along a direction perpendicular to a target surface, with a simple configuration. The sensor may include: an illumination portion (130?) which emits illumination light; an imaging portion including at least two optical paths (A and B?) which are used to capture multiple images of a speckle field produced by the target surface (300), one of which (A) is inclined with respect to a normal to the target surface in proximity to the target surface, and an element (110?) which deflects an at least one of the optical paths (A and B?); and a processing portion (200) which measures a displacement relative to the target surface along a direction which includes a component normal to the target surface (300) in accordance with the correlation of multiple images captured in the optical paths (A) and (B?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Daniel Tobiason
  • Patent number: 8687060
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for estimating the time of a set of pulses based upon a plurality of position measurements of a moving object provided by a non-contacting sensor, such as a one-dimensional optical sensor that tracks movements of object features and reports position measurements with respect to time. Position measurements determine the estimated velocity. The velocity and position measurement allow the timing of a next pulse to be updated, based upon the time of the previous pulse. The pulse is output at the time of the last updated time before the first new position measurement received after the estimated pulse output time. The system allows pulses to be precisely delivered at predetermined motion distances. Where the distance is too short for the measurement rate, the system compares estimated pulse times to clock-generated pulse times and updates the clock-generated pulse times based upon the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Wolff
  • Patent number: 8687059
    Abstract: An image taking system includes a lens apparatus 1 and a camera 2 which performs a shooting using the lens apparatus. The system comprises a distance calculator 114 which calculates an object distance in each of a plurality of ranging areas 1 to 16 provided in an image-taking range, a distance information generator 114 which generates distance information indicating at least one of the object distance calculated by the distance calculator and a difference between the object distances, an extractor 115 which extracts, out of the plurality of ranging areas, a ranging area where the object distance calculated by the distance calculator is in a first range A, and an output image generator 203 which generates an output image including a shot image generated by the camera and the distance information corresponding to the ranging area extracted by the extractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaomi Kanayama
  • Patent number: 8687057
    Abstract: A three-dimensional measurement apparatus generates patterns to be projected onto the measurement object, images the measurement object using an imaging unit after projecting a plurality of types of generated patterns onto the measurement object using a projection unit, and computes the coordinate values of patterns on a captured image acquired by the imaging unit, based on the projected patterns, a geometric model of the measurement object, and information indicating the coarse position and orientation of the measurement object. Captured patterns on the captured image are corresponded with the patterns projected by the projection unit using the computed coordinate values, and the distances between the imaging unit and the patterns projected onto the measurement object are derived. The position and orientation of the measurement object are estimated using the derived distances and the geometric model of the measurement object, and the information on the coarse position and orientation is updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Shinji Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20140063235
    Abstract: To provide a method which can estimate a distance of a flat part while keeping a precision for estimating a distance in detail. Distance information is estimated by estimating each piece of distance information of an image represented by image data, and distance information represented by resolution-converted image data, and combining the distance information of the image and the distance information of the resolution-converted image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kaori Taya
  • Publication number: 20140055606
    Abstract: A method for range imaging allows determining respective distances to multiple objects, based on a single image. The image is captured through a component having a transmittance function of which the Fourier transform is inscribed on a circle within a plane of spatial frequencies. A Fourier transform of the captured image is calculated in order to obtain a total spectrum for the image content. The distance to each object is then calculated based on several homothetic superimpositions of a reference spectrum with the total spectrum, so that said reference spectrum coincides with a portion of the total spectrum each time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: ONERA (Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aerospatiales)
    Inventors: Martin Piponnier, Jerome Primot, Guillaume Druart, Nicolas Guerineau
  • Patent number: 8649917
    Abstract: Accurate measurements of flight path obstructions are taken from a moving aerial platform. Platform position, including altitude, is combined with dynamic data including target distance and target elevation data to calculate obstruction height or altitude. An optical subsystem on the aerial platform images the obstructions and provides a video stream showing the obstructions. The video stream and aerial platform data are wirelessly communicated to a control terminal where an operator observes a presentation of obstructions and obstruction altitudes or heights. The operator can issue commands to the aerial platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Franklin Abernathy
  • Publication number: 20140028839
    Abstract: The image processing method includes acquiring an input image produced by image capturing through an image capturing optical system tilted with respect to an image pickup plane, acquiring tilt information showing a condition of the tilt of the image capturing optical system in the image capturing, and performing an image process on the input image, by using information on aberration of the image capturing optical system corresponding to the tilt information, to correct image degradation caused by the aberration. The tilt information shows a tilt direction and a tilt angle of the image capturing optical system with respect to the image pickup plane. The method acquires object distances for respective image heights in the image pickup plane by using the tilt direction and the tilt angle and performs the image process corresponding to the object distance for each image height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomohiko ISHIBASHI
  • Publication number: 20130335560
    Abstract: In the case where an imaging apparatus is not able to detect the distance to an object placed over an imaging surface thereof, if the area of a bright region in an image of the object captured by an imaging unit with light emitted from a light emitting unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined area, the imaging apparatus determines that the object is close to the imaging apparatus. Thus, it becomes possible to let the user know that the palm is too close to the imaging apparatus and to prompt the user to move the palm away from the imaging apparatus. Accordingly, it becomes possible to smoothly capture an image of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: FUJITSU FRONTECH LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Higashiura, Hideo Kamata, Akitaka Minagawa, Kentarou Kasugai, Katsumi Ide, Yasuhiro Morimoto, Masahiro Kobayashi, Yoshikazu Kosaka
  • Publication number: 20130335561
    Abstract: In the present invention, images at a front side or a rear side of a vehicle are obtained from a plurality of image capturing devices and a disparity and a distance to the captured object are calculated from the images, if the disparity is not sufficiently obtained, pattern light is irradiated onto a capturing object and an image of the object onto which the pattern light is irradiated is obtained again from the plurality of image capturing devices and the disparity and the distance to the captured object are calculated. Therefore, it is possible to provide an in-vehicle camera and system that recognizes an obstacle even in a situation where it is difficult to obtain the disparity of the obstacle around the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Kourogi, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Patent number: 8612150
    Abstract: A method for determining the position of another road user includes the following steps: determining the position of a road user with the aid of a position detection unit; estimating a distance of the road user to the other road user with the aid of a distance sensor; and determining the position of the other road user on the basis of the determined position of the road user, the estimated distance, and a road map, the other road user being assumed to be located in a road area predefined by the road map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Heger, Kathleen Tischler
  • Publication number: 20130329042
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: a lens optical system including six regions having such optical characteristics that focal characteristics are made different from one another; an image pickup device having a plurality of pixels on which light beams having passed through the lens optical system are incident; and an arrayed optical device for making light beams having passed through the six regions incident respectively on different pixels on the image pickup device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiko Murata, Norihiro Imamura
  • Publication number: 20130278759
    Abstract: Method for determining, with geodesic precision, the position of a target point on a target object by using a geodesic measuring device, said method comprising a sighting device which comprises at least one objective unit that defines an optical line of sight, an electronic distance measuring unit, and a thermal imaging camera for recording a thermal image in the direction of the optical line of sight. An angle measuring function is provided for recording the line of sight alignment, and a control unit is provided for controlling the angle measuring function, the thermal imaging camera. In a thermal imaging mode when a measurement procedure is triggered, position data of the sighted target point which are determined in said measurement procedure are linked to temperature information which is read out from the thermal image for the target point at which the line of sight is aimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Jan Zimmermann, Norbert Kotzur, Bernd Möller, Stefan Sieber, Vincent Legrand
  • Publication number: 20130271597
    Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus (11) optically detects a measuring target, thereby measuring an object distance, which is the distance to the measuring target. The orientation of an optical axis of a lens is set to be different from an advancing direction of light incident from the measuring target. The lens is configured to form an image from the incident light, thereby obtaining an image of the measuring target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Shinya Kawamata, Ryuji Funayama, Shin Satori, Yoshihide Aoyanagi, Tadayoshi Komatsuda
  • Publication number: 20130258099
    Abstract: A method of a estimating a depth including outputting an optical signal to an object and estimating a depth between the object and the depth estimation device in response to a gate signal and a reflected optical signal which is reflected from the object, wherein the optical signal includes a plurality of sequences and a phase of a pulse of the optical signal is randomly changed for each of the plurality of sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Ilia Ovsiannikov, Dong Ki Min, Yo Hwan Noh