Apparatus for commanding energization of electrical device

Claim 1

An apparatus for commanding an energization of an electrical device comprising: illumination means for illuminating an object; camera means for converting an optical image of the object into a video signal; memory means for storing at least one frame of the video signal; output means for delivering an on/off command signal to an electrical device; video signal processing means which operates (a) to write the video signal into the memory means; (b) to read the video signal from the memory means and to detect at least part of an outer profile of the object within an image frame and to detect the location of the part; (c) on the basis of the location detected, to detect a particular area of the object which is located within the outer profile of the object as well as its location; (d) to calculate a window region which is greater in size than the particular area and less in size than the image frame and centered about the particular area; (e) to write at least one fresh frame of video signal into the memory means; (f) to read the video signal located within the window region from the memory means, to detect the particular area and the location thereof on the basis of the video signal which is read from the memory means, and to calculate a fresh window region which is centered about the location detected; (g) to repeat the steps (e) and (f) to detect any change in a given status of the particular area; and (h) to command the output means to feed an on/off command signal in response to a given change in the status, illumination control means for adjusting the brightness achieved by the illumination means, whrein the memory means includes halftone video signal memory means which stores halftone data and bi-level data, and wherein the video signal processing means writes halftone data which is obtained by an A/D conversion of the video signal into the halftone video signal memory means, determines the brightness of an object based on the halftone data which is written into and to provide a command to increase or decrease the brightness level to the illumination control means when the brightness level is low or high, respectively, thus establishing the brightness level of an illumination lamp, writes the halftone data which is obtained by an A/D conversion of the video signal which is obtained at the established brightness level into the halftone video signal memory means and then reads the halftone data written into the memory means therefrom and convert it into bi-level data which is then written into the bi-level video signal signal memory means during the step (a), the video signal processing means reading the bi-level data from the bi-level video signal memory means during the step (b), the video signal processing means writing halftine data which is obtained by an A/D conversion of fresh video data into the halftone video signal memory means, reads the halftone data from the memory means and converts is into bi-level data which is then written into the bi-level video signal memory means during the step (e), the video signal processing means reading the bi-level data from the bi-level video signal memory means during the step (f).

Claim 2

An apparatus for commanding an energization of an electrical device comprising: illumination means for illuminating an object; camera means for converting an optical image of the object into a video signal; memory means for storing at least one frame of the video signal; output means for delivering an on/off command signal to an electrical device; video signal processing means which operates (a) to write the video signal into the memory means; (b) to read the video signal from the memory means and to detect at least part of an outer profile of the object within an image frame and to detect the location of the part; (c) on the basis of the location detected, to detect a particular area of the object which is located within the outer profile of the object as well as its location; (d) to calculate a window region which is greater in size than the particular area and less in size than the image frame and centered about the particular area; (e) to write at least one fresh frame of video signal into the memory means; (f) to read the video signal located within the window region from the memory means, to detect the particular area and the location thereof on the basis of the video signal which is read from the memory means, and to calculate a fresh window region which is centered about the location detected; (g) to repeat the steps (e) and (f) to detect any change in a given status of the particular area; and (h) to command the output means to feed an on/off command signal in response to a given change in the status, illumination control means for adjusting the brightness achieved by the illumination means, whrein the memory means includes halftone video signal memory means which stores halftone data and bi-level data, and wherein the video signal processing means writes halftone data which is obtained by an A/D conversion of the video signal into the halftone video signal memory means, determines the brightness of an object based on the halftone data which is written into and to provide a command to increase or decrease the brightness level to the illumination control means when the brightness level is low or high, respectively, thus establishing the brightness level of an illumination lamp, writes the halftone data which is obtained by an A/D conversion of the video signal which is obtained at the established brightness level into the halftone video signal memory means and then reads the halftone data written into the memory means therefrom and convert it into bi-level data which is then written into the bi-level video signal signal memory means during the step (a), the video signal processing means reading the bi-level data from the bi-level video signal memory means during the step (b), the video signal processing means writing halftine data which is obtained by an A/D conversion of fresh video data into the halftone video signal memory means, reads the halftone data from the memory means and converts is into bi-level data which is then written into the bi-level video signal memory means during the step (e), the video signal processing means reading the bi-level data from the bi-level video signal memory means during the step (f).

Claim 5

An apparatus for commanding an energization of electrical device comprising: illumination means for illuminating an object; camera means for converting an optical image of the object into a video signal; memory means for storing at least one frame of the video signal; output means for delivering an on/off command signal to an electrical device; video signal processing means which operates (a) to write the video signal into the memory means; (b) to read the video signal form the memory means and to detect at least part of an outer profile of the object within an image frame and to detect the loaction of the part; (c) on the basis of the location detected, to detect a particular area of the object which is located within the outer profile of the object as well as its location; (d) to calculate a window region which is greater in size than the particular area and less in size than the image frame and centered about the particular area; (e) to write at least one fresh frame of video signal into the memory means; (f) to read the video signal located within the window region from the memory means, to detect the particular area and the location thereof on the basis of the video signal which is read from the memory means, and to calculate a fresh window region which is centered about the location detected; (g) to repeat the steps (e) and (f) to detect any change in a given status of the particular area; and (h) to command the output means to feed an on/off command signal in response to a given change in the status, in which the change in a given status represents a change in the configuration of the particular area.

Claim 6

An apparatus for commanding an energization of electrical device comprising: illumination means for illuminating an object; camera means for converting an optical image of the object into a video signal; memory means for storing at least one frame of the video signal; output means for delivering an on/off command signal to an electrical device; video signal processing means which operates (a) to write the video signal into the memory means; (b) to read the video signal form the memory means and to detect at least part of an outer profile of the object within an image frame and to detect the loaction of the part; (c) on the basis of the location detected, to detect a particular area of the object which is located within the outer profile of the object as well as its location; (d) to calculate a window region which is greater in size than the particular area and less in size than the image frame and centered about the particular area; (e) to write at least one fresh frame of video signal into the memory means; (f) to read the video signal located within the window region from the memory means, to detect the particular area and the location thereof on the basis of the video signal which is read from the memory means, and to calculate a fresh window region which is centered about the location detected; (g) to repeat the steps (e) and (f) to detect any change in a given status of the particular area; and (h) to command the output means to feed an on/off command signal in response to a given change in the status, in which the change in a given status represents a change in the configuration of the particular area.

Claim 8

An apparatus for commanding an energization of an electrical device comprising: illumination means for illuminating an object; camera means for converting an optical image of the object into a video signal; memory means for storing at least one frame of the video signal; output means for delivering an on/off command signal to an electrical device; video signal processing means which operates (a) to write the video signal into the memory means; (b) to read the video signal from the memory means and to detect at least part of an outer profile of the object within an image frame and to detect the location of the part; (c) on the basis of the location detected, to detect a particular area of the object which is located within the outer profile of the object as well as its location; (d) to calculate a window region which is greater in size than the particular area and less in size than the image frame and centered about the particular area; (e) to write at least one fresh frame of video signal into the memory means; (f) to read the video signal located within the window region from the memory means, to detect the particular area and the location thereof on the basis of the video signal which is read from the memory means, and to calculate a fresh window region which is centered about the location detected; (g) to repeat the steps (e) and (f) to detect any change in a given status of the particular area; and (h) to command the output means to feed an on/off command signal in response to a given change in the status, wherein the camera means comprises a television camera disposed in front of a driver's seat within an automobile for taking a picture of the face of a driver who is seated upon the driver's seat and looking forward of the automobile, the particular area being at least one pupil.

Claim 9

An apparatus for commanding an energization of an electrical device comprising: illumination means for illuminating an object; camera means for converting an optical image of the object into a video signal; memory means for storing at least one frame of the video signal; output means for delivering an on/off command signal to an electrical device; video signal processing means which operates (a) to write the video signal into the memory means; (b) to read the video signal from the memory means and to detect at least part of an outer profile of the object within an image frame and to detect the location of the part; (c) on the basis of the location detected, to detect a particular area of the object which is located within the outer profile of the object as well as its location; (d) to calculate a window region which is greater in size than the particular area and less in size than the image frame and centered about the particular area; (e) to write at least one fresh frame of video signal into the memory means; (f) to read the video signal located within the window region from the memory means, to detect the particular area and the location thereof on the basis of the video signal which is read from the memory means, and to calculate a fresh window region which is centered about the location detected; (g) to repeat the steps (e) and (f) to detect any change in a given status of the particular area; and (h) to command the output means to feed an on/off command signal in response to a given change in the status, wherein the camera means comprises a television camera disposed in front of a driver's seat within an automobile for taking a picture of the face of a driver who is seated upon the driver's seat and looking forward of the automobile, the particular area being at least one pupil.

Claim 12

An apparatus for commanding an energization of an electrical device comprising: illumination means for illuminating an object; camera means for converting an optical image of the object into a video signal; memory means for storing at least one frame of the video signal; output means for delivering an on/off command signal to an electrical device; video signal processing means which operates (a) to write the video signal into the memory means; (b) to read the video signal from the memory means and to detect at least part of an outer profile of the object within an image frame and to detect the location of the part; (c) on the basis of the location detected, to detect a particular area of the object which is located within the outer profile of the object as well as its location; (d) to calculate a window region which is greater in size than the particular area and less in size than the image frame and centered about the particular area; (e) to write at least one fresh frame of video signal into the memory means; (f) to read the video signal located within the window region from the memory means, to detect the particular area and the location thereof on the basis of the video signal which is read from the memory means, and to calculate a fresh window region which is centered about the location detected; (g) to repeat the steps (e) and (f) to detect any change in a given status of the particular area; and (h) to command the output means to feed an on/off command signal in response to a given change in the status, wherein the camera means comprises a television camera disposed in front of a driver's seat within an automobile for taking a picture of the face of a driver who is seated upon the driver,s seat and looking forward of the automobile, the particular area being a mouth of the driver.

Claim 13

An apparatus for commanding an energization of an electrical device comprising: illumination means for illuminating an object; camera means for converting an optical image of the object into a video signal; memory means for storing at least one frame of the video signal; output means for delivering an on/off command signal to an electrical device; video signal processing means which operates (a) to write the video signal into the memory means; (b) to read the video signal from the memory means and to detect at least part of an outer profile of the object within an image frame and to detect the location of the part; (c) on the basis of the location detected, to detect a particular area of the object which is located within the outer profile of the object as well as its location; (d) to calculate a window region which is greater in size than the particular area and less in size than the image frame and centered about the particular area; (e) to write at least one fresh frame of video signal into the memory means; (f) to read the video signal located within the window region from the memory means, to detect the particular area and the location thereof on the basis of the video signal which is read from the memory means, and to calculate a fresh window region which is centered about the location detected; (g) to repeat the steps (e) and (f) to detect any change in a given status of the particular area; and (h) to command the output means to feed an on/off command signal in response to a given change in the status, wherein the camera means comprises a television camera disposed in front of a driver's seat within an automobile for taking a picture of the face of a driver who is seated upon the driver,s seat and looking forward of the automobile, the particular area being a mouth of the driver.

Claim 15

An apparatus for commanding an energization of an electical device comprising: illumination means for illuminating an object; camera means for converting an optical image of the object into a video signal; memory means for storing at least one frame of the video signal; output means for delivering an on/off command signal to an electrical device; video signal processing means which operates (a) to write the video signal into the memory means; (b) to read the video signal from the memory means and to detect at least part of an outer profile of the object within an image frame and to detect the location of the part; (c) on the basis of the location detected, to detect a particular area of the object which is located within the outer profile of the object as well as its location; (d) to calculate a window region which is greater in size than the particular area and less in size than the image frame and centered about the particular area; (e) to write at least one fresh frame of video signal into the memory means; (f) to read the video signal located within the window region from the memory means, to detect the particular area and the location thereof on the basis of the video signal which is read from the memory means, and to calculate a fresh window region which is centered about the location detected; (g) to repeat the steps (e) and (f) to detect any change in a given status of the particular area; and (h) to command the output means to feed an on/off command signal in response to a given change in the status, wherein the camera means comprises a television camera disposed in front of a driver's seat within an automobile for taking a picture of the face of a driver who is seated upon the driver,s seat and looking forward of the automobile, the particular area being at least one pupil and mouth of the driver.

Claim 16

An apparatus for commanding an energization of an electical device comprising: illumination means for illuminating an object; camera means for converting an optical image of the object into a video signal; memory means for storing at least one frame of the video signal; output means for delivering an on/off command signal to an electrical device; video signal processing means which operates (a) to write the video signal into the memory means; (b) to read the video signal from the memory means and to detect at least part of an outer profile of the object within an image frame and to detect the location of the part; (c) on the basis of the location detected, to detect a particular area of the object which is located within the outer profile of the object as well as its location; (d) to calculate a window region which is greater in size than the particular area and less in size than the image frame and centered about the particular area; (e) to write at least one fresh frame of video signal into the memory means; (f) to read the video signal located within the window region from the memory means, to detect the particular area and the location thereof on the basis of the video signal which is read from the memory means, and to calculate a fresh window region which is centered about the location detected; (g) to repeat the steps (e) and (f) to detect any change in a given status of the particular area; and (h) to command the output means to feed an on/off command signal in response to a given change in the status, wherein the camera means comprises a television camera disposed in front of a driver's seat within an automobile for taking a picture of the face of a driver who is seated upon the driver,s seat and looking forward of the automobile, the particular area being at least one pupil and mouth of the driver.