Patent · US Expired

Object imaging system

US5631976A · kind A · utility

184Cited by
7References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 29, 1994
Grant dateMay 20, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 29, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N23/74
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An image processing system segments an object from the background of a scene by controlling a light source to illuminate the object more in one scene image than in another scene image. The two scene images are captured by an image input device and are then compared. The part of the image that experienced an increase in intensity is segmented as corresponding to the object. The image input device and the light source can also be placed in an opaque enclosure with an opening through which the input device can view and the light can illuminate the object. By placing the enclosure the correct distance away from the object, the effects of ambient light on the image are removed. Object glare is removed by a polarizing filter system.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.