Patent · US Expired

Auto-setup of a video safety curtain system

US6829371B1 · kind B1 · utility

56Cited by
12References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 30, 2000
Grant dateDec 7, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 19, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16P3/142
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A two-dimensional (2-D) machine-vision safety method and apparatus performs high-integrity, high efficiency machine vision. The system digitally filters a configurable number of time-sequenced camera images of a viewed area to create a filtered image. Objects within view in a training phase are detected and compared to objects detected in a runtime phase. Each new image is then compared to the previously created model and a pixel-oriented difference image is calculated. The difference image is then processed for segmentation features attributable to an intruder object. Alarm conditions are determined from threshold parameters related to location of the intruder objects. For segmentation results that exceed a predetermined threshold, an alarm condition is set. Setup parameters are automatically generated by analysis of distinctively marked physical boundaries in an image. Automatic tools assist in optimization of setup configurations, based on size and speed of intruding objects, system response time, and camera geometry.

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