Patent US6901163B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6901163B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of detecting objects
Assignee: Active Silicon Ltd
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Filing: 1999-03-29
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Granted: 2005-05-31
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Expires: 2019-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A method of recognizing and detecting colors is disclosed, to allow recognition and sorting of objects. Pixels of a color image of an object to be recognized are received, the hue, intensity and/or saturation of each pixel is determined, the hue, intensity and/or saturation of each received pixel is allocated to a plurality of predetermined hue, intensity and/or saturation bands respectively to obtain hue, intensity and/or saturation distribution values respectively for the color image, and the distribution values for the color image are compared with the distribution values from one or more reference objects to determine if the object is recognized as a said reference object. This method of object recognition is independent of the image complexity and the number of colors on the object to be recognized. The method operates to compare a hue signature of the object to be recognized with a hue signature of a reference object.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry Colin Pearce
- 👤 Martin Bertram Bone
- 👤 Christopher Lewis Read
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:30
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D3/00; G07D3/14; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/36; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/46; G01J3/50; G01J3/463
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of object recognition by colour comprising: receiving, as a plurality of object pixels, a colour object image of the object to be recognised; allocating the object pixels to a plurality of predetermined hue bands; allocating the object pixels to at least one of a plurality of intensity bands, a plurality of saturation bands, and a plurality of pseudo saturation bands; characterised by: comparing the numbers of object pixels in each said hue band with corresponding numbers for reference pixels representing a reference object to generate a hue correlation; comparing the numbers of object pixels in each said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band with corresponding numbers for reference pixels representing a reference object to generate a respective intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation correlation; and combining said generated correlations to generate a combined correlation representative of the probability that the object to be recognised matches the reference object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of object recognition by colour comprising: receiving, as a plurality of object pixels, a colour object image of the object to be recognised; allocating the object pixels to a plurality of predetermined hue bands; allocating the object pixels to at least one of a plurality of intensity bands, a plurality of saturation bands, and a plurality of pseudo saturation bands; characterised by: comparing the numbers of object pixels in each said hue band with corresponding numbers for reference pixels representing a reference object to generate a hue correlation; comparing the numbers of object pixels in each said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band with corresponding numbers for reference pixels representing a reference object to generate a respective intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation correlation; and combining said generated correlations to generate a combined correlation representative of the probability that the object to be recognised matches the reference object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said combined correlation is generated by averaging said generated correlations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said combined correlation is generated by taking a weighted average of said generated correlations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said predetermined hue bands are predetermined by dividing all of the visible spectrum into 360 separate hue bands.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said comparing steps are repeated for each of a plurality of reference objects to generate a respective plurality of hue and intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation correlations and said combining step is repeated for each of said plurality of reference objects to generate a respective combined correlation; the method including recognising the object by determining which of said reference objects has the closest combined correlation with the object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said object is recognised as a said reference object when said combined correlation is larger than a threshold correlation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said object is rejected as not being recognised as a said reference object when said combined correlation is smaller than said threshold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: employing sliding correlation between the numbers of object pixels in each said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band and the corresponding numbers for the said reference pixels representing the reference object to generate the respective intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation correlation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of sorting objects comprising the method of object recognition by colour as claimed in claim 1 for recognising objects; and further comprising: sorting objects according to the result of the recognition.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
298 words
A method of sorting objects according to their colour, comprising: receiving, as a plurality of object pixels, a colour object image of each of a plurality of reference objects of different colours; allocating the object pixels into a plurality of predetermined hue bands and at least one of a plurality of predetermined intensity bands, saturation bands and pseudo saturation bands to generate a reference hue distribution and a respective reference intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation distribution for each said reference object; receiving as a plurality of object pixels, a colour object image of each of a plurality of objects to be recognised; allocating the object pixels to said plurality of predetermined hue bands and at least one of said plurality of predetermined intensity bands, saturation bands and pseudo saturation bands; characterised by: comparing the number of object pixels in each said hue band for the objects to be recognised with the number of object pixels in each said hue band for the reference objects to generate a respective hue correlation for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object; comparing the number of object pixels in each said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band for the objects to be recognised with the number of object pixels in each respective said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band for the reference objects to generate a respective intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation correlation for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object; combining said generated correlations for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object to generate combined correlations representative of the probability that the objects to be recognised match the reference objects; and sorting said objects to be recognised in accordance with the probability that the objects match the reference objects.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
298 words
A method of sorting objects according to their colour, comprising: receiving, as a plurality of object pixels, a colour object image of each of a plurality of reference objects of different colours; allocating the object pixels into a plurality of predetermined hue bands and at least one of a plurality of predetermined intensity bands, saturation bands and pseudo saturation bands to generate a reference hue distribution and a respective reference intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation distribution for each said reference object; receiving as a plurality of object pixels, a colour object image of each of a plurality of objects to be recognised; allocating the object pixels to said plurality of predetermined hue bands and at least one of said plurality of predetermined intensity bands, saturation bands and pseudo saturation bands; characterised by: comparing the number of object pixels in each said hue band for the objects to be recognised with the number of object pixels in each said hue band for the reference objects to generate a respective hue correlation for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object; comparing the number of object pixels in each said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band for the objects to be recognised with the number of object pixels in each respective said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band for the reference objects to generate a respective intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation correlation for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object; combining said generated correlations for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object to generate combined correlations representative of the probability that the objects to be recognised match the reference objects; and sorting said objects to be recognised in accordance with the probability that the objects match the reference objects.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein each combined correlation is generated by averaging the relevant generated correlations for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein each combined correlation is generated by taking a weighted average of the relevant generated correlations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said predetermined hue bands are predetermined by dividing all of the visible spectrum into 360 separate hue bands.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein a particular one of said objects to be recognised is recognised as a particular one of said reference objects when the relevant combined correlation is larger than a threshold correlation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein a particular one of said objects to be recognised is rejected as not being recognised as a particular one of said reference objects when the relevant combined correlation is smaller than said threshold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method as claimed in claim 10 further characterised by: employing sliding correlation between the numbers of object pixels in each said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band and the corresponding numbers for the said reference pixels representing any one of said reference objects to generate the respective intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation correlation.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
175 words
An apparatus for object recognition by colour, comprising: a receiving element for receiving, as a plurality of object pixels, a colour object image of an object to be recognised; a first allocating element for allocating the object pixels to a plurality of predetermined hue bands; a second allocating element for allocating the object pixels to at least one of a plurality of intensity bands, a plurality of saturation bands, and a plurality of pseudo saturation bands; a first comparing element for comparing the numbers of object pixels in each said hue band with corresponding numbers for reference pixels representing a reference object to generate a hue correlation; a second comparing element for comparing the numbers of object pixels in each said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band with corresponding numbers for reference pixels representing a reference object to generate a respective intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation correlation; and a combining element for combining said generated correlations to generate a combined correlation representative of the probability that the object to be recognised matches the reference object.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
175 words
An apparatus for object recognition by colour, comprising: a receiving element for receiving, as a plurality of object pixels, a colour object image of an object to be recognised; a first allocating element for allocating the object pixels to a plurality of predetermined hue bands; a second allocating element for allocating the object pixels to at least one of a plurality of intensity bands, a plurality of saturation bands, and a plurality of pseudo saturation bands; a first comparing element for comparing the numbers of object pixels in each said hue band with corresponding numbers for reference pixels representing a reference object to generate a hue correlation; a second comparing element for comparing the numbers of object pixels in each said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band with corresponding numbers for reference pixels representing a reference object to generate a respective intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation correlation; and a combining element for combining said generated correlations to generate a combined correlation representative of the probability that the object to be recognised matches the reference object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said combining element is adapted to generate said combined correlation by averaging said generated correlations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said combining element is adapted to generate said combined correlation by taking a weighted average of said generated correlations.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 including an element for predetermining said predetermined hue bands by dividing all of the visible spectrum into 360 separate hue bands.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said first and second comparing elements are adapted to repeat the comparison for each of a plurality of reference objects to generate a respective plurality of hue and intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation correlations, and said combining element is adapted to repeat the combining for each of said plurality of reference objects to generate a respective combined correlation; the apparatus including an element for recognising the objects by determining which of said reference objects has the closest combined correlation with the object.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said recognising element is adapted to recognise said object as a said reference object when said combined correlation is larger than a threshold correlation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 22 , wherein said recognising element is adapted to reject said object as not being recognised as a said reference object when said combined correlation is smaller than said threshold.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
333 words
An apparatus for sorting objects according to their colour, the apparatus comprising: a receiving element for receiving, as a plurality of object pixels, a colour object image of each of a plurality of reference objects of different colours; a first allocating element for allocating the object pixels into a plurality of predetermined hue bands and at least one of a plurality of predetermined intensity bands, saturation bands and pseudo saturation bands, to generate a reference hue distribution and a respective reference intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation distribution for each said reference object; means for receiving, as a plurality of object pixels, a colour object image of each of a plurality of objects to be recognised; second allocating means for allocating the object pixels to said plurality of predetermined hue bands and at least one of said plurality of predetermined intensity bands, saturation bands and pseudo saturation bands; characterised by: a first comparing element for comparing the number of object pixels in each said hue band for the objects to be recognised with the number of object pixels in each said hue hand for the reference objects to generate a respective hue correlation for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object; a second comparing element for comparing the number of object pixels in each said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band for the objects to be recognised with the number of object pixels in each respective said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band for the reference objects to generate a respective intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation correlation for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object; a combining element for combining said generated correlations for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object to generate combined correlations representative of the probability that the objects to be recognised match the reference objects; and a sorting element for sorting said objects to be recognised in accordance with the probability that the objects match the reference objects.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
333 words
An apparatus for sorting objects according to their colour, the apparatus comprising: a receiving element for receiving, as a plurality of object pixels, a colour object image of each of a plurality of reference objects of different colours; a first allocating element for allocating the object pixels into a plurality of predetermined hue bands and at least one of a plurality of predetermined intensity bands, saturation bands and pseudo saturation bands, to generate a reference hue distribution and a respective reference intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation distribution for each said reference object; means for receiving, as a plurality of object pixels, a colour object image of each of a plurality of objects to be recognised; second allocating means for allocating the object pixels to said plurality of predetermined hue bands and at least one of said plurality of predetermined intensity bands, saturation bands and pseudo saturation bands; characterised by: a first comparing element for comparing the number of object pixels in each said hue band for the objects to be recognised with the number of object pixels in each said hue hand for the reference objects to generate a respective hue correlation for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object; a second comparing element for comparing the number of object pixels in each said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band for the objects to be recognised with the number of object pixels in each respective said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band for the reference objects to generate a respective intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation correlation for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object; a combining element for combining said generated correlations for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object to generate combined correlations representative of the probability that the objects to be recognised match the reference objects; and a sorting element for sorting said objects to be recognised in accordance with the probability that the objects match the reference objects.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 , wherein said combining means is adapted to generate each combined correlation for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object by averaging the relevant generated correlations for each object to be recognised with respect to each reference object.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 25 , wherein said combining means is adapted to generate each combined correlation by taking a weighted average of the relevant generated correlations.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 , including means for predetermining said predetermined hue bands by dividing all of the visible spectrum into 360 separate hue bands.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 , wherein said recognising means is adapted to recognise a particular one of said objects to be recognised as a particular one of said reference objects when the relevant combined correlation is larger than a threshold correlation.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 28 , wherein said recognising means is adapted to reject a particular one of said objects to be recognised as not being recognised as a particular reference object when said combined correlation is smaller than said threshold.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
158 words
A carrier medium carrying computer code for object recognition by colour, the computer code comprising instructions for: receiving, as a plurality of object pixels, a colour object image of the object to be recognised; allocating the object pixels to a plurality of predetermined hue bands; allocating the object pixels to at least one of a plurality of intensity bands, a plurality of saturation bands, and a plurality of pseudo saturation bands; characterised by: comparing the numbers of object pixels in each said hue band with corresponding numbers for reference pixels representing a reference object to generate a hue correlation; comparing the numbers of object pixels in each said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band with corresponding numbers for reference pixels representing a reference object to generate a respective intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation correlation; and combining said generated correlations to generate a combined correlation representative of the probability that the object to be recognised matches the reference object.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
158 words
A carrier medium carrying computer code for object recognition by colour, the computer code comprising instructions for: receiving, as a plurality of object pixels, a colour object image of the object to be recognised; allocating the object pixels to a plurality of predetermined hue bands; allocating the object pixels to at least one of a plurality of intensity bands, a plurality of saturation bands, and a plurality of pseudo saturation bands; characterised by: comparing the numbers of object pixels in each said hue band with corresponding numbers for reference pixels representing a reference object to generate a hue correlation; comparing the numbers of object pixels in each said intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation band with corresponding numbers for reference pixels representing a reference object to generate a respective intensity, saturation and/or pseudo saturation correlation; and combining said generated correlations to generate a combined correlation representative of the probability that the object to be recognised matches the reference object.
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