With Rotating Reflector Patents (Class 348/146)
  • Patent number: 11962903
    Abstract: Aerial camera systems are disclosed, including an aerial camera system that comprises at least one camera arranged to capture a plurality of successive images; the at least one camera being rotatable such that the field of view of the camera traverses across a region of the ground that includes multiple different swathes extending in different directions, the at least one camera having a steering mirror to direct light reflected from the ground onto a lens assembly, the lens assembly having a central longitudinal axis extending in a direction generally parallel to a direction of movement of a survey aircraft; and the system arranged to control the at least one camera to capture successive images at defined intervals as the at least one camera rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Spookfish Innovation PTY LTD
    Inventors: Simon Cope, Michael Von Bertouch
  • Patent number: 11367211
    Abstract: A target detection system includes an imager that sequentially captures frames, in different emission bands. These frames are registered with respect to one another based on information from an Inertial Navigation System (INS) and compensation is made for any motion of the imager between frames. Identification of a candidate target object that is detected, or otherwise identified in one band, initiates a search for a correlated object in the other band within a radius, or distance, in a common image-space reference frame. When a pair of objects is identified, a measure of the intensities of the signals in the two bands is compared to an expected range of values to discriminate a target of interest from an object that is not of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Anthony J. Ragucci
  • Patent number: 11019245
    Abstract: Bundle adjustment systems and methods are disclosed for determining a solution for orientation information associated with a plurality of image frames captured by at least one rolling shutter camera in a rotating camera lens type imaging system having a camera lens that moves across track in an oscillating manner and captures image frames as the camera lens moves. The system may define a plurality of pose time domain polynomials for the rolling shutter camera, the pose time domain polynomials together defining pose information for the rolling shutter camera for scanlines of an image frame captured by the rolling shutter camera, and each pose time domain polynomial including a plurality of parameters to be adjusted in a bundle adjustment process and carry out a bundle adjustment process using the pose time domain polynomials to produce a bundle adjustment solution wherein the pose time domain polynomial parameters are adjusted to reduce error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Spookfish Innovations PTY LTD
    Inventor: Simon Cope
  • Patent number: 10656653
    Abstract: A work area determination system for an autonomous traveling work vehicle includes a photographing device for photographing a predetermined area including a work area and acquiring a photographic image thereof, a positioning device for obtaining position information indicative of a position at which the photographic image has been acquired, a map generation section for generating a map based on the photographic image and the position information, a displaying section for displaying the map, and a work area determination section for determining the work area in which the autonomous traveling work vehicle is to work, based on an area designation for the map displayed in the displaying section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Uemura, Hitoshi Aoyama, Hideya Umemoto
  • Patent number: 10640040
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes front, rear, driver-side camera and passenger-side cameras each having a respective field of view exterior of the vehicle. Each of the cameras connects with a central video/image processor via a respective mono coaxial cable. Image data captured by the imaging sensor of each camera is carried as captured to the central video/image processor via said the respective mono coaxial cable as a Low Voltage Differential Signal (LVDS). The central video/image processor generates an output provided to a video display device of the vehicle, with the video display device having a video display screen viewable by a driver of the vehicle. The video display screen is operable to display a birds-eye view of an area around the vehicle. The birds-eye view of the area around the vehicle is derived, at least in part, from image data captured by the imaging sensors of the cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Joern Ihlenburg, Andreas Koppe, Achim Gieseke, Hossam Mahmoud, Horst D. Diessner
  • Patent number: 9453500
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for ground or unmanned aerial vehicle based wind turbine blade inspection consisting of a thermal imaging camera configured to detect the presence of defects by acquiring thermal imaging data from a rotating wind turbine blade when it is not exposed to solar radiation heating and analyzing the thermal imaging data with a processor to identify thermal effects associated with latent defects or damage caused by internal friction due to cyclic gravitational stresses and wind loads during normal turbine operation or aerodynamic cooling of the area around a breach in the blade shell by escaping air, or blockage of residual heat flow or thermoelectric emissions from the rotating blade by the presence of delamination or crushing damage to the blade shell. The system permits latent defects to be identified using a ground-based in situ inspection before they become easily visually apparent, which allowing repairs to be made economically while the blade is in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Digital Wind Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Newman
  • Patent number: 9041898
    Abstract: Simultaneous movies of plural portions of a scene are acquired and shown, using one imager with electrooptical directing device to acquire, stepwise, an interleaved (e. g. alternating) sequence of subscene images. Apparatus is ideally in a vehicle: airborne or unmanned, or both. The invention records and transmits (via one data link, with no needed parallel path) the sequence as one image series; best sorts the received sequence into noninterleaved sequences, a separate sequence for each subscene; and shows these as movies. Alternatively, scene portions form a mosaic. Including gyro operation and pointing, the device best gets a new image roughly each 5 to 40 msec or less; or excluding gyros and pointing, 5 to 40 msec by FSM, 1 to 5 by MEMS, 1 to 5 (or 10) by LC, 1 by 2-axis nongimbal scanner and 0.1 to 0.2 by digigimbal. Subscene direction and focal changes best synchronize with frame reception. FSMs best have refractory bearings and electromagnetic pointing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Arete Associates
    Inventors: Tom Reilly, Paul Eason, David Kane, Tony Pittner, Kelly Hillman, Christopher Hornberg, John Hunt, Andrew E. Paul, Philip A. Selwyn
  • Patent number: 9019373
    Abstract: A monitoring device includes an indicating unit configured to indicate an object to be monitored; a camera to acquire time-series images; a predicting unit configured to predict the position of destination of the characteristic points belonging to a first aggregation including characteristic points having an amount of movement larger than a reference amount of movement set in advance; a detecting unit configured to detect the position of center of gravity of the changed area; a determining unit configured to determine the positions of destination as an indicating position when representative amount of movement is larger than a first threshold value and determine the position of center of gravity as the indicating position when the representative amount of movement is smaller than the first threshold value; and a control unit configured to control the indicating unit to cause the indicating unit to indicate the indicating position are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Tasaki, Daisuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9013576
    Abstract: An aerial photographing image pickup method comprises a step of making a flying object fly meanderingly, a step of taking the image at each vertex where a direction is changed in the meandering flight, a step of extracting feature points from a common overlay portion of the images taken from at least three adjacent vertices, a step of determining two images of two vertices in the images as one set and acquiring positional information of the two vertices by a GPS device for each set regarding at least two sets, a step of performing photogrammetry of the measuring points corresponding to the feature points based on positional information and based on the feature points of the two images and a step of determining the feature points when the surveying results of the measuring points coincide with each other in at least the two sets as tie points for image combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kazuki Osaragi, Tetsuji Anai, Hitoshi Otani
  • Patent number: 9001214
    Abstract: A method, system and reference target for estimating spectral data on a selected one of three spectral information types is disclosed. Spectral information types comprise illumination of a scene, spectral sensitivity of an imager imaging the scene and reflectance of a surface in the scene. The method comprises obtaining a ranking order for plural sensor responses produced by the imager, each sensor responses being produced from a reference target in the scene, obtaining, from an alternate source, data on the other two spectral information types, determining a set of constraints, the set including, for each sequential pair combination of sensor responses when taken in said ranking order, a constraint determined in dependence on the ranking and on the other two spectral information types for the respective sensor responses and, in dependence on the ranking order and on the set of constraints, determining said spectral data that optimally satisfies said constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: University of East Anglia
    Inventor: Graham Finlayson
  • Patent number: 8965047
    Abstract: Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for performing selective viewing of a scene includes acquiring an image of a real scene using a camera. The method includes identifying, in the acquired image, a first object in the real scene located on a first side of a virtual plane defined for the real scene and a second object located on a second side of the virtual plane. The method includes modifying the acquired image by removing image content corresponding to the identified first object, wherein image content corresponding to the identified second object is not removed based on the second object being located on the second side. The method includes displaying the modified acquired image for a person to view the real scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mindmancer AB
    Inventors: Johnny Berlic, Jan Strandevall
  • Patent number: 8953044
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that include a video-based analysis system that detects, tracks and archives vehicles in video stream data at multiple resolutions. The system includes an image capturing device that captures video stream data having video at a first high resolution. A vehicle detection module detects at least one vehicle within the video. A vehicle analysis module is configured to analyze the video and to extract one or more key vehicle features from the video to enable identification of a vehicle of interest (VOI) according to a set of predetermined criteria. A subsampling module creates a reduced resolution video stream in a second subsampled resolution that is lower than the first high resolution while maintaining the one or more extracted key features within the reduced resolution video stream in the first high resolution, and archives the reduced resolution video stream into a video database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Wencheng Wu, Edgar A. Bernal, Robert P. Loce, Martin E. Hoover
  • Patent number: 8947527
    Abstract: Zoom illumination system for use with closed circuit TV cameras in applications requiring long distance illumination, such as surveillance and night vision. The system includes multiple strings of LEDs, which may have additional lenses, with each LED string capable of providing illumination for a predetermined viewing angle. The LED strings can be switched on and off to provide illumination as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventors: Valdis Postovalov, Dmitry Postovalov
  • Patent number: 8894259
    Abstract: An illuminator is described which may be used with large inspection areas and which provides a dark field illumination pattern that is spatially uniform, illuminates from consistent angles, has high efficiency, and is smaller than existing solutions. A light pipe has a first end proximate an object to be illuminated and a second end opposite the first end and spaced from the first end. The light pipe also has at least one reflective sidewall. The first end of the light pipe includes an exit aperture and the second end has at least one opening to allow at least one image acquisition device to view the surface therethrough. At least one light source is configured to provide illumination in the light pipe. The object is illuminated by the first end of the light pipe by illumination at a selected elevation angle and substantially all azimuth angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: CyberOptics Corporation
    Inventors: Carl E. Haugan, Steven K. Case, David M. Kranz, Steven A. Rose, Mark R. Schoeneck, Beverly Caruso
  • Patent number: 8860804
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically capturing, uploading, and publishing content. The system may include one or more monitoring modules for providing captured content to a remote site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Xanboo Inc.
    Inventors: Babak Rezvani, Jack L. Chen, Edward B. Kalin, Reza Jalili
  • Patent number: 8803972
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting moving objects are provided. Systems illustratively include an image acquisition component, an image processing component, and a display component. Image acquisition components capture image data over a wide spatial area. Image processing components have dedicated algorithms for change detection and receive captured image data from image acquisition components. Image processing components utilize the captured data and the dedicated algorithms to perform image change detection. Display components receive processed image data from image processing components and provide visual indications that items of interest have been detected. Methods illustratively include obtaining first and second images covering a wide field-of-view. The second image is registered to and compared to the first image. Based at least in part on the comparison, a moving object within the wide field-of-view is detected. An indication of the moving object is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Innovative Signal Analysis, Inc.
    Inventors: Stacy K. Kniffen, Jordan S. Dean, Weldon T. Bailey, Michael F. Becker, Daniel P. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 8792002
    Abstract: Systems for extending a field-of-view of an image acquisition device are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a rotatable image-directing device, an actuator, and a controller. The rotatable image-directing device directs optical images along an optical image path. The actuator controls a position of the rotatable image-directing device, and the controller generates signals for synchronizing the rotatable image-directing device and the image acquisition device. The signals illustratively include a first signal that is transmitted to the actuator, and a second signal that is transmitted to the image acquisition device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Innovative Signal Analysis, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Gibbs, Stacy K. Kniffen, Joran S. Dean, Weldon T. Bailey, Michael F. Becker
  • Patent number: 8792005
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically determining the camera field of view in a camera network. The system has a plurality of spatially separated cameras and direction sensors, carried on respective cameras, configured to measure the angle directions of the field of views of the cameras. Elevation sensors are operably coupled to respective cameras to measure the elevation angles of thereof. A controller is configured to process direction and elevation measurement signals transmitted from the cameras to automatically determine the cameras' fields of views. One or more cameras having a field of view containing or nearby an event of interest can be selected from the determined field of views and indicated to a user via a graphical user interface. Selected cameras which are rotatably mounted can be rotated if need be to automatically bring the event of interest into the field of views of the selected cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steve D. Huseth, Saad J. Bedros
  • Patent number: 8786702
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for visually conveying a percept. The percept may represent information learned by a video surveillance system. A request may be received to view a percept for a specified scene. The percept may have been derived from data streams generated from a sequence of video frames depicting the specified scene captured by a video camera. A visual representation of the percept may be generated. A user interface may be configured to display the visual representation of the percept and to allow a user to view and/or modify metadata attributes with the percept. For example, the user may label a percept and set events matching the percept to always (or never) result in alert being generated for users of the video surveillance system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Behavioral Recognition Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley Kenneth Cobb, Bobby Ernest Blythe, Rajkiran Kumar Gottumukkal, Ming-Jung Seow
  • Patent number: 8730323
    Abstract: An image converter for performing processes of cutting out a part of a distorted circular image photographed by use of a fisheye lens and converting the part into a planar regular image. The image converter includes a distorted circular image memory, a planar regular image memory, a parameter input unit, a corresponding coordinate calculating unit, and a planar regular image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Inagaki
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8711220
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described that directly detect whether or not enhanced vision system images obtained from a moving vehicle are degraded. If they are, image display is turned off to reduce operator distraction. When image quality is restored, image display is turned back on so operators can take advantage of EVS capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Aireyes, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlo L. M. Tiana
  • Patent number: 8704890
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes: an insertion portion which is inserted into a device under inspection; a projection unit which projects a striped pattern including a plurality of linear patterns onto an object; an imaging unit which is provided in the insertion portion and images the object onto which the striped pattern is projected and generates image data; a specification unit which specifies an area of interest of the object in an image based on a position of the striped pattern in the image based on the image data; and a measurement unit which measures the area of the object using the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Fumio Hori
  • Publication number: 20130321626
    Abstract: A camera assembly is disclosed for mounting on a vehicle (e.g. an aircraft). An exemplary camera assembly can include: a fixture (e.g. a rotatable drum); a camera; and a mirror; wherein the fixture is arranged to be rotated relative to the vehicle about an axis; the camera is mounted on the fixture such that the camera has a substantially fixed position relative to the fixture; the mirror is mounted on the fixture such that, if the fixture rotates, the mirror rotates; the mirror is rotatable relative to the fixture about a further axis, the further axis being substantially perpendicular to the axis; and the camera is arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by the mirror. The axis and the further axis may intersect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Harry John Finn, Andrew Christopher Tebay, David Robert Parker, Simon Graham Stockton
  • Patent number: 8581981
    Abstract: An optical imaging system and associated methods for capturing images from an aircraft, such as a UAV. A camera unit on-board the aircraft is remotely controlled from an image control station. The image control station receives image data from the camera unit, and also delivers control signals for determining a viewing mode of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Kevin Alley, Roger Lopez, Richard Somers
  • Patent number: 8537219
    Abstract: An invention for identifying a spatial location of an event within video image data is provided. In one embodiment, there is a spatial representation tool, including a compression component configured to receive trajectory data of an event within video image data, and generate a set of compressed spatial representation of the trajectory data of the event within the video image data. A database component is configured to input the set of compressed spatial representations into a relational database, and a search component is configured to search the relational database to identify a spatial location of the event within the video image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Desimone, Arun Hampapur, Zuoxuan Lu, Carl P. Mercier, Christopher S. Milite, Stephen R. Russo, Chiao-Fe Shu, Chek K. Tan
  • Patent number: 8493445
    Abstract: An optical scanner system for contiguous three-dimensional topographic or volumetric imaging of a surface from an aircraft or spacecraft is disclosed. A servo controller synchronizes the rotation rates of a pair of wedge scanners with high precision to the multi-kilohertz laser fire rate producing an infinite variety of well-controlled scan patterns. This causes the beam pattern to be laid down in precisely the same way on each scan cycle, eliminating the need to record the orientations of the wedges accurately on every laser fire, thereby reducing ancillary data storage or transmission requirements by two to three orders of magnitude and greatly simplifying data preprocessing and analysis. The described system also uses a holographic element to split the laser beam into an array that is then scanned in an arbitrary pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sigma Space Corp
    Inventors: John James Degnan, III, David Nelson Wells
  • Publication number: 20130162822
    Abstract: In a method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a camera to capture images of a target, the computing device sets coordinates of a target, initial coordinates of the camera, and an initial viewing direction of the camera. Real-time coordinates and a real-time viewing direction of the camera are obtained when the UAV flies around the target. Accordingly, adjustment parameters of the camera are calculated and transferred to a driver system connected to the camera, such that the driver system adjusts the camera to face the target according to the adjusting parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8416298
    Abstract: A method for moving object detection, comprising generating a time series of multi-exposures of scenes, each multi-exposure of a scene comprising a sequence of at least two at least partially overlapping images of that scene captured in rapid succession, wherein the time series of multi-exposures periodically revisits substantially the same scenes, detecting moving objects within each multi-exposure by comparing its sequence of overlapping images, and tracking objects by comparing moving objects detected within multi-exposures of substantially the same scenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Visionmap Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Pechatnikov
  • Patent number: 8416300
    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: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Giuseppe Longobardi
  • Publication number: 20130048792
    Abstract: A turret assembly for attachment on the undersurface of an aircraft that reduces performance limitations due to gimbal lock and reduces the cross section profile of the assembly. The assembly includes a roll actuator including a drive shaft. A yoke having a cross member is coupled to the drive shaft and a pair of prongs. The yoke is rotated via the roll actuator and drive shaft along a roll axis oriented substantially parallel to the body of the aircraft. A turret is mounted on the prongs of the yoke. A tilt actuator is contained within the turret. The tilt actuator tilts the turret on a tilt axis relative to the yoke. The tilt axis is perpendicular to the roll axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Szarek, Thomas Omer, Manolis Pavlos Dimotakis, Jefferson C. McBride
  • Patent number: 8368755
    Abstract: Considering the locations of a self-vehicle and other vehicles changing from moment to moment, an image signal is chosen in relation to the location, orientation, viewing angle, and moving speed of a camera mounted on each vehicle, and information on a region to be a driver's blind spot is provided in real time by means of images and voice. When there is the other vehicles whose camera meets requirements such as the location, orientation, viewing angle, and moving speed for photographing a region to be the self-vehicle's blind spot, it is possible to provide information on the blind spot by the image picked up by the camera. However, since the other vehicle's location also changes with a lapse of time, it is not possible to keep photographing the blind spot with the same camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Nishida, Hirotomo Sai
  • Patent number: 8259176
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to visually show both of information which is originally visually recognizable and information which is originally not seen that have been provided from equipment on the same image, so that it is possible to grasp the content of information and the source of providing the information corresponding to or in association with each other. Furthermore, it is possible to view information difficult to visually recognize together with visually recognizable information, and it is possible to clearly grasp, in addition to information which can be visually obtained at the place where a user currently stays, information related to the visually obtained information, from an image visually indicating the association.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Misawa, Sumie Mikami, Masaaki Koshiba, Akihisa Yamazaki, Motoari Ota
  • Patent number: 8224024
    Abstract: The spatial location and azimuth of an object are computed from the locations, in a single camera image, of exactly two points on the object and information about an orientation of the object. One or more groups of four or more collinear markers are located in an image, and for each group, first and second outer markers are determined, the distances from each outer marker to the nearest marker in the same group are compared, and the outer marker with a closer nearest marker is identified as the first outer marker. Based on known distances between the outer markers and the marker nearest the first outer marker, an amount of perspective distortion of the group of markers in the image is estimated. Based on the perspective distortion, relative distances from each other point in the group to one of the outer markers are determined. Based on the relative distances, the group is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: InterSense, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Foxlin, Leonid Naimark
  • Patent number: 8212860
    Abstract: A digital camera having an image mover includes a controller, a location information inputter, an orientation information inputter, a focal length information inputter, and an exposure time setter which sets an exposure time for which a celestial body image is exposed to an image sensor. The controller calculates a movement path of the celestial body image, which moves relative to the photographing optical system due to the rotation of the earth within the exposure time, using the location information that is input to the controller via the location information inputter, and the azimuth information and the altitude information that are input to the controller via the orientation information inputter. The controller drives the image mover in accordance with the calculated movement path to move the image sensor in a manner such that the image of the celestial body remains at a stationary position on the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Norio Numako
  • Patent number: 8199976
    Abstract: An image pickup device that acquires images is controlled by an image pickup device controller that accepts image acquisition requests from multiple application programs, and an application scheduler selects application programs to be executed. Information indicative of the image data volumes and image data acquisition rates required for each of the multiple application programs is stored and used to select multiple concurrently executable application programs on the basis of the image data volumes and image data acquisition rates. An image acquisition scheduler determines the timing and intervals at which the multiple executable application programs repeat receiving image data from the image pickup device, without overlapping in terms of time. In addition, an operations section, which explicitly presents concurrently executable application programs to a user and commands the startup of these programs, is displayed on a navigation screen menu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Muramatsu, Yuuji Otsuka, Hiroshi Takenaga, Tatsuhiko Monji, Jiro Takezaki, Isao Furusawa
  • Patent number: 8193909
    Abstract: A method and a system for calibrating a camera in a surveillance system. The method and system use a mathematical rotation between a first coordinate system and a second coordinate system in order to calibrate a camera with a map of an area. In some embodiments, the calibration can be used to control the camera and/or to display a view cone on the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Intergraph Technologies Company
    Inventors: Andrew D. Estes, Johnny E. Frederick
  • Patent number: 8179439
    Abstract: A security system includes at least first and second monitoring units, each having a motion sensor for detecting motion, a camera for obtaining visual data, a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor in data communication with the motion sensor, camera, transmitter, and receiver. The security system includes means for outputting visual data from the first unit camera when the first unit motion sensor detects motion more recently than the second unit motion sensor detects motion. The security system includes programming for outputting the visual data from the second unit camera when the second unit motion sensor detects motion more recently than the first unit motion sensor detects motion. The system includes a telephone interface for transmitting visual data captured by a respective camera. A unit's camera is only activated when its associated motion detector detects motion and is deactivated when another unit's motion detector detects motion more recently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher T. Resch, Amy R. Resch
  • Patent number: 8098283
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for implementing image capture and display services are provided. The system includes an enclosure having an opening through which a subject enters, an imaging system encircling the enclosure, a computer processor device communicatively coupled to the imaging system, and an application executing on the computer processor device. The system also includes an image capture activation component in communication with the computer processor device and a display device in communication with the computer processor device. In response to activating the image capture activation component, the application issues a first command to the imaging system, the first command causing the imaging system to capture images of the subject in the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: Shaka Ramsay
  • Patent number: 8098282
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a means by which the privacy zone on a PTZ camera can be maintained so that an object in the camera's sight is always masked or covered. An algorithm which remembers the defined privacy zones as an area in space marked by four rays touching the four corners of the marked zone and having absolute Pan, Tilt angular coordinates is presented. The privacy zone is initially defined by a rectangle on the screen with known pixel co-ordinates which are translated into angular coordinates. Then, when the camera moves and prepares to display a new screen, the privacy zone is superimposed on the object to be masked. Locating the object and displaying its privacy zone is done by translating the absolute angular coordinates of the original privacy zone into pixel coordinates. Additionally, multiple privacy zones can be displayed on one camera screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Manoj Gopinath, Arathi Mariswamy
  • Patent number: 8077201
    Abstract: A camera system for a motor vehicle is described. Incident radiation is guided to a radiation receiving unit by means of one or more deflecting mirrors, where at least one deflecting mirror is configured to swivel. The swivelable deflecting mirror has a first mirror side, which is suitable for deflecting incident radiation, and a second mirror side, which is also suitable for deflecting incident radiation. The second mirror side exhibits a curvature shape that is different from that of the first mirror side. The swivelable deflecting mirror can be oriented in such a manner that incident radiation can be guided to the receiving unit by selecting one of the first or the second mirror side as an effective mirror surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werker Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Kilian Wimmer, Guenter Bauer, Thomas Mangold, Axel Seinsche, Alexander Augst
  • Publication number: 20110137498
    Abstract: An unmanned aircraft includes a camera, a laser ranging system and a driving unit. The laser ranging system measures a distance to an object in the field of view of the camera. The driving unit rotates the field of view. Thus, it is possible to acquire relative position data of the object around the unmanned aircraft with a small and light-weight unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: Satoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7938542
    Abstract: An optical swiveling device is specified for imaging and/or projection of an object scene, having a supporting structure, having a detection/transmission unit arranged in the supporting structure, having a pitch frame and having a roll frame, with the pitch frame being mounted in the roll frame such that it can rotate about a pitch axis and with the roll frame being mounted in the supporting structure such that it can rotate about a roll axis. In this case the pitch axis and the roll axis intersect at an intersection angle of less than 90°. First deflection optics are arranged in the pitch frame such that a beam propagating along the pitch axis is deflected in an object-side direction which intersects the pitch axis at the intersection angle, and vice versa, and second deflection optics are arranged in the roll frame such that a beam propagating along the pitch axis is deflected in the direction along the roll axis, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hagen Kempas
  • Patent number: 7924311
    Abstract: A camera terminal where tables where camera operations are described are not required, and that continues thoroughly imaging a monitoring subject region as a complete system even when a portion of cameras shuts down due to a failure is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Yoshida, Katsuji Aoki, Shoichi Araki
  • Patent number: 7796153
    Abstract: A system and method for equalizing an imaging sensor. The system includes at least one image sensor having a plurality of detectors defining a sensor array, each detector being configured to provide an output signal representative of a sensed image. The system further includes an equalization system configured to receive the output signals from the detectors; estimate a distribution for at least one detector based on the respective output signals; compare the distribution for the at least one of the detectors to a given distribution to determine a mapping function for the at least one detector; and apply the respective mapping function of the at least one detector to the output signal of the at least one detector to provide an equalized signal for the at least one detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Sanderson, Scott A. Bennett, Kristo Miettinen
  • Patent number: 7697026
    Abstract: A pipeline architecture for analyzing multiple streams of video is embodied, in part, in a layer of application program interfaces (APIs) to each stage of processing. Buffer queuing is used between some stages, which helps moderate the load on the CPU(s). Through the layer of APIs, innumerable video analysis applications can access and analyze video data flowing through the pipeline, and can annotate portions of the video data (e.g., frames and groups of frames), based on the analyses performed, with information that describes the frame or group. These annotated frames and groups flow through the pipeline to subsequent stages of processing, at which increasingly complex analyses can be performed. At each stage, portions of the video data that are of little or no interest are removed from the video data. Ultimately, “events” are constructed and stored in a database, from which cross-event and historical analyses may be performed and associations with, and among, events may be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: 3VR Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Vallone, J. Andrew Freeman, Stephen G. Russell
  • Patent number: 7679507
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an alarm zone within a perimeter, border and/or building includes capturing video image data of an alarm event detected in the alarm zone, and automatically establishing a cell phone session with an end-user to verify a true or false nature of the detected alarm. The end-user may use the cell phone display to review the video during the cell phone session, and may use the cell phone's key for the verifying. The novel monitoring method with end-user alarm event verification avoids false alarms being raised where the nature of the detected alarm event is false, and the verifying occurs before a false alarm is raised/communicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas S. Babich, Dean Mason
  • Patent number: 7663687
    Abstract: A digital cinema camera includes a plurality of imagers and a plurality of shutters mounted radially on a frame. A beam splitter disposed at a center of the frame rotates to provide an input optical beam sequentially to the plurality of imagers. When the input optical beam is aligned with a particular one of the imagers, a corresponding one of the shutters is triggered to apply the optical beam on the particular one of the imagers. The electrical signals generated by the imagers are first stored in RAM, and then transferred to a hard disk drive disposed in a removable magazine. This way, the magazine can be replaced with a new magazine, and the latent image data can be downloaded out of the removed magazine for post-processing while new image data is being stored in the new magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Inventor: Glenn Neufeld
  • Patent number: 7659922
    Abstract: The invention consists of a system and method for transferring video images from video sources to video receivers using a video server as an intermediary. The video server creates a list of all the requests from the video receivers for a video image from a video source. The video server requests the video image from the video source and then sends the video image to each video receiver on the list. The video source is only required to send one image for any number of requests from video receivers and the video sources and video receivers have no direct connection to each other. The load of handling many video sources and many video receivers can be distributed amongst multiple video servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell Silent Witness Inc.
    Inventors: David Black, Jeremy Craig Wilson
  • Patent number: 7597489
    Abstract: Reflective movable mirrors are used to reflect an image from a desired direction into the lens of a camera. This apparatus is preferably used with infrared (IR) cameras. To capture images from different directions, the orientations of the mirrors are modified. The mirrors are light, requiring only miniature motors and actuators for moving them. The mirrors are also much smaller than the focal plane electronics and the IR lens, requiring much less space for moving them than would be required for moving the camera. This provides a pointing capability for an airframe-fixed IR camera and this capability is provided with minimum additional payload, space and power requirements. The apparatus and method can be used for IR and electro-optical (EO) cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Dan T. Horak, Emray R. Goossen, Steven D. Martinez