EP0847030A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A method and device for automatically detecting and counting bodies passing through a gap
Assignee: Istituto Trentino di Cultura
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Filing: 1997-12-01
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A method for automatically detecting and counting bodies passing through a gap (A) includes the steps of monitoring the gap (A) with means for generating image signals (3; 4, 9) to obtain a succession of images (4a, 4b; L0, L1, ..., LN) of each body (B) passing through the gap (A), of processing these images (4a, 4b; L0, L1, ..., LN) to obtain an altimetric map for each body (B) passing through the gap (A) for each moment considered, of comparing at least one altimetric map obtained with at least one model of altimetric map stored in a processing unit (5), and of activating a counting procedure depending on the result of the comparison. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Massimo Boninsegna
- 👤 Antonio Virdia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:06
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for automatically detecting and counting bodies
passing through a gap, characterised that in it comprises the
steps of: monitoring the gap (A) with means for generating image
signals (3; 4, 9) to obtain a succession of images (4a, 4b;
L 0 , L 1 , ...,L N ) of each body (B) passing through the gap (A),
each image (4a, 4b; L 0 , L 1 , ..., L N ) corresponding to a
specific moment in time; processing these images (4a, 4b; L 0 , L 1 , ..., L N ) to
obtain an altimetric map of each body (B) passing through the
gap (A) for each moment considered; comparing at least one altimetric map obtained with at
least one models of altimetric map stored in the processing
unit (5); and activating a counting procedure depending on the result
of the said comparison.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method according to Claim 1, characterised in that the
models of altimetric maps include at least one altimetric map
of a reference body corresponding to one moment in the
traversal of the gap (A) by the respective body, and/or at
least a plurality of altimetric maps of a reference body
corresponding to different moments in the traversal of the gap
(A) by that body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in
that the altimetric maps of a body (B) obtained at different
moments are compared with each other to determine the dynamics
of the movement of the body (B) through the gap (A).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 3, characterised in that the
counting procedure is activated in different ways depending on
the dynamics of movement of each body (B) passing through the
gap (A).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
44 words
A method according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterised
in that the images (4a, 4b) obtained by the means for
generating the image signals (3) are processed to obtain a
stereoscopic image (4) of each body (B) passing through the
gap (A).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
49 words
A method according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterised
in that the means for generating the image signals (4, 9) are
capable of obtaining two-dimensional images (L 0 , L 1 , ..., L N )
containing altimetric information by the application of the
structured light technique.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
118 words
A device for automatically detecting and counting bodies
passing through a gap, characterised in that it comprises: means for generating image signals (3; 4, 9) associated
with a gap (A); and a processing unit (5) connected to the image-signal-generator
means (3; 4, 9) for processing images (4a, 4b; L 0 , L 1 , ..., L N )
arising therefrom in order to obtain altimetric maps of each
body (B) passing through the gap (A) for successive moments,
the processing unit (5) also being capable of comparing at
least one altimetric map obtained with at least one model
altimetric map stored therein in order to activate at least
one counting procedure depending on the result of the
comparison.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A device according to Claim 7, characterised in that the
processing unit (5) is capable of storing models of altimetric
maps including at least one altimetric map of a reference body
corresponding to one moment in the traversal of the gap (A) by
that body, and/or at least a plurality of altimetric maps of a
reference body corresponding to different moments in the
traversal of the gap (A) by that body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
A device according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, characterised in
that the image-signal-generator means comprise two television
cameras (3) disposed with their respective focal axes spaced
from each other, and in that the processing unit (5) is
capable of handling a pair of images (4a, 4b) acquired by the
said television cameras (3) at a single moment to form
therefrom a stereoscopic image (4) of each body (B) passing
through the gap (A) at that moment, and to obtain an
associated altimetric map from this stereoscopic image (4).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to Claim 9, characterised in that the
focal axes of the said television cameras (3) lie in an
imaginary surface defining the gap (A).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
104 words
A device according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, characterised in
that the image-signal-generator means comprise a light source
(9) capable of projecting a plane of light coincident with an
imaginary surface defining the gap (A), and a television
camera (4) disposed with its focal axis incident on this
surface, and in that the processing unit (5) is capable of
handling a plurality of two-dimensional images (L 0 , L 1 , ...,
L N ) acquired by the television camera (4), each corresponding
to a different moment, in order to obtain an altimetric map of
each body which passes through the gap (A).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to Claim 11, characterised in that the
light source (9) is a monochromatic light source, preferably a
solid state laser.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to Claim 12, characterised in that the
television camera (4) has an optic provided with a filter set
to the frequency of the light emitted by the light source (9).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, characterised
in that the processing unit (5) is capable of comparing
altimetric maps relating to successive moments for each body
(B) passing through the gap (A), and of determining the
direction and sense of movement of each body (B) through the
gap (A).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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