Detection system

US6600509B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• QINETIQ LIMITED · GB

Inventors

• Charles J. Radford · Malvern, GB
• Raymond White · Saratoga, US
• Robert W. Smith · Los Altos, US
• John Savage · Malvern, GB
• John T. O'Connor · Malvern, GB
• Philip John Kent · Malvern, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 20, 1998
• Grant date: Jul 29, 2003
• Expiry date: Nov 20, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T2207/30232
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A detection system (10) utilising projected light (18, 20) viewed through an appropriately placed camera (22) detects variations in surface height (26). The system (10) is arranged to project light onto the surface (16) of interest. A camera with optical axis (24) oriented parallel to and offset from the direction of light projection is used to image the intersection (50, 66) of the projected light (18, 20) with the surface (16). The system (10) observes deflections (64) of this imaged intersection (66) and associates them with the movement of an object (26, 124) through the projected light. The object can range from a surface irregularity (124) to a person (26) walking along a corridor.