Automatic detection of blocked field-of-view in camera systems
US8243166B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 20, 2009 |
| Grant date | Aug 14, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/61
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for detecting a blockage in the field-of-view of a camera in an image capture system by monitoring changes in the quality of images captured by the camera. As an image is acquired by the camera, intensity values for pixels in the acquired image are determined and stored in a data structure in memory of the camera. Image statistics are calculated based in part on the intensity values for pixels in the currently acquired image and at least some previous images acquired by the camera. If the image statistics satisfy at least one predetermined alert criterion, an alert is triggered. In response to triggering an alert, an alert sensor included as part of the camera is activated to indicate to a user of the image capture system that a possible blockage in the field-of-view of the camera has been detected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.