Showing papers on "Smart camera published in 1990"

Traffic surveillance system

Abstract: A machine vision system for detecting and recognizing objects. The system includes a camera which forms three different images of the object using different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum and uses these different images depending on the time of day and weather conditions. The machine vision system also enables an operator to select zones within the camera's field of view than may be of any size or shape. The machine vision system only detects objects in the specified zones. The vision system provides signals to a traffic light controller to provide vehicle or object presence indications for traffic signal sequencing purposes. The vision system can simply detect an object or optionally can pattern match for specific objects.

Decentralized video telecommunication system

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for the decentralized control of respective video cameras at a plurality of subscriber stations. According to the invention, there is provided a telephone, video camera, input device and camera control module at each subscriber station. The camera control module includes the input device and has a communication section for providing intelligence to the system, a control section for controlling respective video cameras, and a user feed-back section to identify a respective camera, its station and a camera function being controlled.

Model-Based Planning of Sensor Placement and Optical Settings

Abstract: We present a model-based vision system that automatically plans the placement and optical settings of vision sensors in order to meet certain generic task requirements common to most industrial machine vision applications. From the planned viewpoints, features of interest on an object will satisfy particular constraints in the image. In this work, the vision sensor is a CCD camera equipped with a programmable lens (i.e. zoom lens) and the image constraints considered are: visibility, resolution and field of view. The proposed approach uses a geometric model of the object as well a model of the sensor, in order to reason about the task and the environment. The sensor planning system then computes the regions in space as well as the optical settings that satisfy each of the constraints separately. These results are finally combined to generate acceptable viewing locations and optical settings satisfying all constraints simultaneously. Camera planning experiments are described in which a robot-arm positions the camera at a computed location and the planned optical settings are set automatically. The corresponding scenes from the candidate viewpoints are shown demonstrating that the constraints are indeed satisfied. Other constraints, such as depth of focus, as well as other vision sensors can also be considered resulting in a fully integrated sensor planning system.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Video dekstop camera

Abstract: Process for processing image data in a video camera, in particular in a desktop publishing system, with computer-controlled digitalization of the image data and computer-controlled storage of the digitalized data on a storage medium in the camera. The image size or the image scale is adjusted before or between the optical image formation and the line-by-line scanning of an image sensor. One of several possible data formattings which can be read directly by a standard personal computer is adjusted before or between digitalization and storage, and the image data are formatted accordingly and stored. Also described is a video desktop camera with a known opto-electronic system and at least one operating element (10, 10') for adjusting the image size, choice of a data format, a drive (7) for an ordinary interchangeable storage medium (8) for standard personal computers and a microcomputer (9) containing a processing or control program.

A model for fusion of spatial information in dynamic vision

Abstract: Fusion of 3-D spatial information obtained by a dynamic vision system is addressed. The representation of information is seen to be critical in forming a solution. An object-centered representation that encodes, in image registered maps, the relative distances of objects to a set of scene referents is proposed. This representation facilitates fusion of dynamic spatial information without direct use or knowledge of camera motion and points the way for a new model for dynamic vision. >

Precision measurement techniques using computer vision

Abstract: Various techniques using computer-based inspection systems that perform precision measurements are described. The use of cameras as an alternative to the laser-based technology is presented, and some of the difficulties associated with using a camera system are outlined in order to illustrate the use of camera systems in industrial applications. An error analysis of computed 2-D and 3-D measurements of objects is briefly outlined. >

Task Panel Sensing with a Movable Camera

Abstract: This paper discusses the integration of model based computer vision with a robot planning system. The vision system deals with structured objects with several movable parts (the "Task Panel"). The robot planning system controls a T3-746 manipulator that has a gripper and a wrist mounted camera. There are two control functions: move the gripper into position for manipulating the panel fixtures (doors, latches, etc.), and move the camera into positions preferred by the vision system. This paper emphasizes the issues related to repositioning the camera for improved viewpoints.

Adaptive camera calibration in an industrial robotic environment

Abstract: One of the fundamental difficulties that arises when attempting to use computer vision in dynamic environments is that camera calibration coefficients must be adjusted as the relative distances between camera and target object change, causing refocusing to occur. Such situations arise frequently in robotic environments in which the visual sensor is mobile or the target objects are in motion. This paper presents a method for computing camera calibration coefficients for cases in which it is known that the relative motion between camera and target object is a translation along the optical axis, as in cases for which the camera is moving directly toward or away from an object of interest. The calibration technique is straightforward, involving only the solution of linear equations. It is demonstrated that, within the context of a spatial reasoning system, inclusion of the calibration method can improve the relative accuracy of spatial inferences by one to two orders of magnitude.

A computational model for dynamic vision

Abstract: This paper describes a novel computational model for dynamic vision which promises to be both powerful and robust. Furthermore the paradigm is ideal for an active vision system where camera vergence changes dynamically. Its basis is the retinotopically indexed object-centered encoding of the early visual information. Specifically, the relative distances of objects to a set of referents is encoded in image registered maps. To illustrate the efficacy of the method, it is applied to the problem of dynamic stereo vision. Integration of depth information over multiple frames obtained by a moving robot generally requires precise information about the relative camera position from frame to frame. Usually, this information can only be approximated. The method facilitates the integration of depth information without direct use or knowledge of camera motion.

New Stereoscopic Vision System For The Automated Visual Inspection

Abstract: An adaptive stereoscopic vision system has been examined for the task of industrial inspection. With fixed optical setups and working under large defocusing the camera system is simple and robust in construction and reliable in working accuracy. Applied in combination with an adaptive control of the industrial robot industrial parts with various forms and sizes can be inspected under demanded accuracy. As a basis the characteristics of the camera system have been investigated by different optical setups and measuring distances. The calibrations show a good conformance of the camera with its mathematical model under a measuring distance from 325 to 825 mm. The achievable accuracy of the stereoscopic vision system under different camera arrangements is better than 0.5% through a measuring distance of 353 to 1278 mm.

Ultranac - A New Programmable Image Converter Framing Camera

Abstract: The development of an image converter framing camera with the feasibility of operation at frame rates of up to 50 million frames per second is described The camera incorporates a new 'grid' gated all metal/ceramic image converter tube which is manufactured 'in-house' by the vacuum transfer processing method All solid state electronics are used to drive the image converter tube Exposure and interframe times can be set individually to different times if required with these and other camera functions programmed and controlled via standard personal computer Results obtained for the camera operating in its various modes are presented

Video camera system with audio switching circuit

Abstract: A video camera system is composed of a camera head unit having an imager and a microphone, a camera control unit connected to the camera head unit through a coaxial cable for controlling the camera head unit, and a microphone for transmitting an output signal through the coaxial cable to the camera control unit. According to this video camera system, a noise component entered the camera control unit from the camera head unit can be reduced, two communication systems can be independently utilized, and a noise component in the coaxial cable can be reduced considerably. In addition, it becomes possible to widen a dynamic range.

Optical Flow and 3D Information for Navigation

Abstract: This work discusses a new method to extract structural information from a sequence of images. The sequence must represent a fixed environment and its changes must be caused only by camera motion. The algorithm that will be proposed operates on an estimate of the two-dimensional velocity field, the so called "Optical Flow". The result is obtained when the camera undergoes a pure translation and it is a depth map of the environment in which the camera has moved.

Airborne applications of specialized video cameras

Abstract: Traditionally, the standard RS-170 format video camera has found limited application in airborne platforms. It has shown limited performance due to various factors encountered in this environment. Video camera applications in the scientific community have created camera configurations which are quite different from the standard video camera. The scientific applications require shorter integration periods, high sensitivity and narrow-band spectral response. Combinations of these needs have created specialized video cameras which negate some of the adverse factors of airborne video camera application and produce unique imagery well beyond the standard camera capability. This paper will explore the airborne environment and the application of the specialized video cameras.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Important considerations on the use of an integrating focal plane array camera in an optical recognition system

Abstract: Two cameras used as output transducers in a time-sequenced templet-matching optical correction system are compared. One camera, a charge-injection device (CID) camera, is equipped with an image intensifier, automatic gain control (AGC), and a standard video output, while the second camera is a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera without an intensifier or AGC but with a computer interface custom-designed to use the camera's digital output. The cameras are used at the output of the optical correlator in order to integrate high frame-rate time-sequenced output correlation responses derived from binary phase-only filters. It is concluded that an image intensifier is the most important feature to have in a CCD or CID camera because the use of it results in a shorter integration time.

Computer image acquisition using a low resolution CCD array

Abstract: A CCD computer-input camera is described which utilizes the virtual phase method for clocking. The camera was designed to acquire images by means of a PC, at low cost and with minimum parts count, and to allow for computer control of imaging parameters. Design components are listed, including ICs and image sensor, a low-resolution monochrome sensor, an 8-bit flash converter, and a programmed I/O. The software system is presented, including enhancements such as a method for avoiding streaking. Camera performance characteristics are listed. The camera resolution is shown to be 192 by 330 pixels with interlaced scanning. The camera permits electronic exposure control, and 8 bits per pixel gray scale. The camera is of interest in astronomical and other scientific applications, primarily due to its S/N and linearity.