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US5706362A
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Image tracking apparatus
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1996-10-11
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Granted: 1998-01-06
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Expires: 2016-10-11
Abstract
Abstract An image tracking apparatus includes a video camera 10 for forming an image of a target vehicle and for producing image signals at predetermined time intervals, a first memory 5A for storing image signals, a window setting switch 9 for setting a tracking window on the image signals which were stored in the first memory, a second memory 6A for storing, as reference image signals, the image signals on which the tracking window has been set, a device 11 for detecting whether or not any disturbance has been introduced into the image signals stored in the first memory, and a device 12 for correcting by interpolation the image signals stored in the first memory to reduce the influence of any disturbances. A window updating device updates the tracking window in accordance with a comparison between the reference image signals stored in the second memory and the image signals stored in the first memory, or, when a disturbance has been introduced, in accordance with a comparison between the reference image signals stored in the second memory and the corrected image signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Sanae Yabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864; G01S3/7865; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/20; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/20; G06V10/255; G06V20/00; G06V20/50; G06V20/56; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/61; G06V2201/00; G06V2201/08; H04N23/63; H04N23/633; H04N23/635
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
An image tracking apparatus comprising: a) image means for forming successive images of a target to be tracked and for producing corresponding image signals based on the formed images at predetermined time intervals; b) a first memory for storing both currently sensed image signals and previously sensed image signals produced by said imaging means; c) window setting means for setting a tracking window on the previously sensed image signals which were stored in said first memory a predetermined time before; d) a second memory for storing, as reference image signals, the previously sensed image signals on which said tracking window has been set by said window setting means; e) disturbance detecting means for detecting whether or not any disturbance has been introduced into the currently sensed image signals stored in said first memory; f) correcting means for correcting, when said disturbance detecting means has detected that the disturbance has been introduced, said currently sensed image signals stored in said first memory in such a manner as to reduce the influence of said disturbance; and g) window updating means for: i) updating said tracking window in accordance with a comparison between the reference image signals stored in said second memory and the currently sensed image signals stored in said first memory when said disturbance detecting means has detected that no disturbance has been introduced, and ii) updating said tracking window in accordance with a comparison between said reference image signals stored in said second memory and the currently sensed image signals which have been corrected by said correcting means when said disturbance detecting means has detected that a disturbance has been introduced.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
An image tracking apparatus comprising: a) image means for forming successive images of a target to be tracked and for producing corresponding image signals based on the formed images at predetermined time intervals; b) a first memory for storing both currently sensed image signals and previously sensed image signals produced by said imaging means; c) window setting means for setting a tracking window on the previously sensed image signals which were stored in said first memory a predetermined time before; d) a second memory for storing, as reference image signals, the previously sensed image signals on which said tracking window has been set by said window setting means; e) disturbance detecting means for detecting whether or not any disturbance has been introduced into the currently sensed image signals stored in said first memory; f) correcting means for correcting, when said disturbance detecting means has detected that the disturbance has been introduced, said currently sensed image signals stored in said first memory in such a manner as to reduce the influence of said disturbance; and g) window updating means for: i) updating said tracking window in accordance with a comparison between the reference image signals stored in said second memory and the currently sensed image signals stored in said first memory when said disturbance detecting means has detected that no disturbance has been introduced, and ii) updating said tracking window in accordance with a comparison between said reference image signals stored in said second memory and the currently sensed image signals which have been corrected by said correcting means when said disturbance detecting means has detected that a disturbance has been introduced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
An image tracking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each image frame of said image signals corresponding to said successive images produced by said imaging means includes a first field and a second field; and wherein said disturbance detecting means detects whether a disturbance has been introduced, based upon the result of a comparison between said first and second fields of said currently sensed image signals produced by said imaging means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
An image tracking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said correcting means includes: field detecting means for detecting one of said first and second fields of said currently sensed image signals which has been less affected by the disturbance; and interpolation means for interpolating, using the currently sensed image signals of the field which has been detected by said field detecting means as having been less affected by the disturbance, the currently sensed image signals of the other field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
200 words
An image tracking apparatus comprising: a) image means for forming successive images of a target to be tracked and for producing corresponding image signals based on the formed images at predetermined time intervals; b) a first memory for storing both currently sensed image signals and previously sensed image signals produced by said imaging means; c) window setting means for setting a tracking window on the previously sensed image signals which were stored in said first memory a predetermined time before; d) a second memory for storing, as reference image signals, the previously sensed image signals on which said tracking window has been set by said window setting means; e) window updating means for updating the tracking window in accordance with a comparison between the reference image signals stored in said second memory and the currently sensed image signals stored in said first memory; f) disturbance detecting means for detecting whether or not any disturbance has been introduced into the currently sensed image signals stored in said first memory; and g) update prohibiting means for prohibiting the updating of said tracking window by said window updating means when the introduction of a disturbance is being detected by said disturbance detecting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
200 words
An image tracking apparatus comprising: a) image means for forming successive images of a target to be tracked and for producing corresponding image signals based on the formed images at predetermined time intervals; b) a first memory for storing both currently sensed image signals and previously sensed image signals produced by said imaging means; c) window setting means for setting a tracking window on the previously sensed image signals which were stored in said first memory a predetermined time before; d) a second memory for storing, as reference image signals, the previously sensed image signals on which said tracking window has been set by said window setting means; e) window updating means for updating the tracking window in accordance with a comparison between the reference image signals stored in said second memory and the currently sensed image signals stored in said first memory; f) disturbance detecting means for detecting whether or not any disturbance has been introduced into the currently sensed image signals stored in said first memory; and g) update prohibiting means for prohibiting the updating of said tracking window by said window updating means when the introduction of a disturbance is being detected by said disturbance detecting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image tracking apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: tracking suspension means for suspending the entire tracking operation when the period of prohibition of updating by said update prohibiting means has exceeded a predetermined time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image tracking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said disturbance is an optical obstruction disposed between said target and said imaging means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image tracking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said imaging means is disposed on a platform and said disturbance is caused by vibration of said platform.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
An image tracking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said platform is a vehicle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-01-05 | 2001-07-07 | 2002-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-01-05 | 2005-07-07 | 2006-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-01-05 | 2009-07-07 | 2010-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |