EP0132151A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for automatically correcting position of TV camera
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1984-07-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A method of correcting the position of a TV camera (2a, 2b) for taking up the image of an object to produce video signals of the image, suitable for use in,forexample, automotive headlamp beam testing system. The images of reference points (10a, 10b) which are provided for the purpose of correcting the TV camera position are taken up by the TV camera (2a, 2b). Then, the position data representing the positions of the reference points (10a, 10b) in the field of vision of the TV camera (2a, 2b) is determined. The position data are compared with predetermined reference point data representing the positions of the reference points in the field of vision of the TV camera (2a, 2b) as obtained when the TV camera (2a, 2b) is in the correct position, thereby determining the amount of deviation of the TV camera (2a, 2b). Then, the driving unit is operated in accordance with the thus determined amount of deviation to adjust the optical axis of said TV camera (2a, 2b) so as to eliminate the deviation of the TV camera position. Disclosed also is a method in which the measurement data obtained through the TV camera is corrected in accordance with the amount of deviation of the TV camera, as well as aparatus suitable for carrying out these methods.
Inventors
- 👤 Kunio Kozawa
- 👤 Soichi Ishikawa
- 👤 Mamoru Yoshida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 00:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M11/00; G01M11/02; G01M11/06; G01M11/067; G01M11/064; H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of correcting a position of a TV camera which takes up an image of an object to be measured to produce video signal in order to obtain data of measurement, an optical axis of said TV camera being adjustable by a TV camera driving unit, said method comprising the steps of: (a) taking up by said TV camera an image of reference point which is provided for the purpose of correcting the TV camera position; (b) determining position data representing a position of said reference point in a field of vision of said TV camera; (c) comparing said position data with predetermined reference point data representing the position of said reference point in said field of vision of said TV camera as determined when said TV camera is in a correct position, thereby determining the amount of deivation of said TV camera; and (d) operating said TV camera driving unit in accordance with the thus determined amount of deviation to adjust the optical axis of said TV camera so as to eliminate the deviation of the TV camera position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of correcting a position of a TV camera which takes up an image of an object to be measured to produce video signal in order to obtain data of measurement, an optical axis of said TV camera being adjustable by a TV camera driving unit, said method comprising the steps of: (a) taking up by said TV camera an image of reference point which is provided for the purpose of correcting the TV camera position; (b) determining position data representing a position of said reference point in a field of vision of said TV camera; (c) comparing said position data with predetermined reference point data representing the position of said reference point in said field of vision of said TV camera as determined when said TV camera is in a correct position, thereby determining the amount of deivation of said TV camera; and (d) operating said TV camera driving unit in accordance with the thus determined amount of deviation to adjust the optical axis of said TV camera so as to eliminate the deviation of the TV camera position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said reference point comprises a pair of reference marks on a screen on which said image is provided.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said object is an automotive headlamp beam which is projected to a screen in order to check as to whether said automotive headlamp beam aims at a predetermined direction.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of obtaining data of measurement concerning an object to be taken up by means of a TV camera and correcting the thus obtained data so as to eliminate an influence, on said data of measurement, of any deviation of position of said TV camera from its correct position, said method comprising the steps of: (a) taking up by said TV camera an image of reference point which is provided for the purpose of compensating the TV camera position; (b) determining position data representing a position of said reference point in a field of vision of said TV camera; (c) comparing said position data with predetermined reference point date representing the position of said reference point in said field of vision of said TV camera as determined when said TV camera is in the correct position, thereby determining the amount of deviation of said TV camera; (d) taking up, by said TV camera, the image of said object to produce video signal indicative of said image; (e) processing said video signal to obtain said data of measurement; and (f) correcting said measurement data in accordance with the amount of the deviation of the TV camera position.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of obtaining data of measurement concerning an object to be taken up by means of a TV camera and correcting the thus obtained data so as to eliminate an influence, on said data of measurement, of any deviation of position of said TV camera from its correct position, said method comprising the steps of: (a) taking up by said TV camera an image of reference point which is provided for the purpose of compensating the TV camera position; (b) determining position data representing a position of said reference point in a field of vision of said TV camera; (c) comparing said position data with predetermined reference point date representing the position of said reference point in said field of vision of said TV camera as determined when said TV camera is in the correct position, thereby determining the amount of deviation of said TV camera; (d) taking up, by said TV camera, the image of said object to produce video signal indicative of said image; (e) processing said video signal to obtain said data of measurement; and (f) correcting said measurement data in accordance with the amount of the deviation of the TV camera position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said object is an automotive headlamp beam which is projected to a screen in order to check as to whether said automotive headlamp beam aims at a predetermined direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said data of measurement is related to an aiming of said automotive headlamp beam, said processing step includes the steps of: specifying a closed curved area surrounded by a line indicative of illumination intensity higher than a predetermined level in the taken-up image of a light distribution pattern on said screen; and determining a position of a geometrical center of the specified closed curves areaas an aiming direction of said headlamp; and said geometrical center is corrected in accordance with said amount of the deviation of the TV camera position.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus fcr correcting a position of a TV camera which is used for taking up an image of an object to be measured so as to obtain data of measurement concerning said object, said apparatus comprising: reference mark provided in the vicinity of said object; detecting means for detecting, in accordance with a video signal of the image of said reference mark taken up by said TV camera, a position of said reference mark in a field of vision of said TV camera; storage means for storing reference point data which represent the position of said reference mark in the field of vision of said TV camera as determined when said TV camera is in the correct position; comparator means connected to said storage means and said detecting means for comparing the position data concerning said reference mark delivered by said detecting means with said reference point data delivered by said storage means so as to produce a comparison signal which represents the amount of deviation of position of said TV camera from said correct position; and a TV driving unit connected to said comparator means for adjusting a optical axis of said TV camera in accordance with said comparison signal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus fcr correcting a position of a TV camera which is used for taking up an image of an object to be measured so as to obtain data of measurement concerning said object, said apparatus comprising: reference mark provided in the vicinity of said object; detecting means for detecting, in accordance with a video signal of the image of said reference mark taken up by said TV camera, a position of said reference mark in a field of vision of said TV camera; storage means for storing reference point data which represent the position of said reference mark in the field of vision of said TV camera as determined when said TV camera is in the correct position; comparator means connected to said storage means and said detecting means for comparing the position data concerning said reference mark delivered by said detecting means with said reference point data delivered by said storage means so as to produce a comparison signal which represents the amount of deviation of position of said TV camera from said correct position; and a TV driving unit connected to said comparator means for adjusting a optical axis of said TV camera in accordance with said comparison signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a screen onto which an automotive headlamp beam is projected to provide a light distribution pattern in order to check as to whether said automotive headlamp beam aims at a predetermined direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: means for specifying a closed curved area surrounded by a line indicative of illumination intensity higher than a predetermined level in the taken up said light distribution pattern or said screen; and means for determining a position of a geometrical center of the specified closed curved area as an aiming direction of said headlamp.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
281 words
In a system having a TV camera for taking up an image of an object to be measured to produce a video signal so as to obtain data of measurement concerning said object, an apparatus for correcting said data of measurement in accordance with an amount of deviation of position of said TV camera from its correct position thereby to eliminate any influence of said deviation on said data of measurement, said apparatus comprising: a picture processing device for processing the video signal of said image of said object taken up by said TV camera so as to obtain said data of measurement; reference mark provided in the vicinity of said object; detecting means for detecting, in accordance with the video signal of the image of said reference mark taken up by said TV camera, the position of said reference mark in a field of vision of said TV camera; storage means for storing reference point data which represent the position of said reference mark in the field of vision of said TV camera as determined when said TV camera is in the correct position; comparator means connected to said storage means and said detecting means for comparing the position data concerning said reference mark delivered by said detecting means with said reference point data delivered by said storage means so as to produce a comparison signal which represents the amount of deviation of position of said TV camera from said correct position; and correcting means for correcting, in accordance with said comparison signal, said data of measurement obtained by said picture processing means thereby eliminating any influence of the deviation of the TV camera position on said data of measurement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
281 words
In a system having a TV camera for taking up an image of an object to be measured to produce a video signal so as to obtain data of measurement concerning said object, an apparatus for correcting said data of measurement in accordance with an amount of deviation of position of said TV camera from its correct position thereby to eliminate any influence of said deviation on said data of measurement, said apparatus comprising: a picture processing device for processing the video signal of said image of said object taken up by said TV camera so as to obtain said data of measurement; reference mark provided in the vicinity of said object; detecting means for detecting, in accordance with the video signal of the image of said reference mark taken up by said TV camera, the position of said reference mark in a field of vision of said TV camera; storage means for storing reference point data which represent the position of said reference mark in the field of vision of said TV camera as determined when said TV camera is in the correct position; comparator means connected to said storage means and said detecting means for comparing the position data concerning said reference mark delivered by said detecting means with said reference point data delivered by said storage means so as to produce a comparison signal which represents the amount of deviation of position of said TV camera from said correct position; and correcting means for correcting, in accordance with said comparison signal, said data of measurement obtained by said picture processing means thereby eliminating any influence of the deviation of the TV camera position on said data of measurement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a screen onto which an automotive headlamp beam is projected to provide a light distribution pattern in order to check as to whether said automotive headlamp beam aims at a predetermined direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
An apparatus for correcting the data of measurement according to claim 11, wherein said picture processing device comprises: means for specifying a closed curved area surrounded by a line indicative of illumination intensity higher than a predetermined level in the taken up image of the light distribution pattern on said screen; and means for determining a position of a geometrical center of the specified closed curved area .as an aiming direction of said headlamp, and wherein said correcting means corrects said geometrical center of said closed curved area in accordance with said comparison signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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