Imaging system using sensor(s) and camera for determining velocity, position and/or timing of an object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12520029-B2
Application number	US-202418597998-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2024
Priority date	Oct 1, 2021
Publication date	Jan 6, 2026
Grant date	Jan 6, 2026

Abstract

An imaging system includes a sensor that measures a velocity of a moving object, a camera that is different from the sensor and images the object, and a processing circuit that controls the operations of the sensor and the camera, wherein the processing circuit causes the sensor to generate velocity information on the object and measurement timing information on the velocity by causing the sensor to measure the velocity of the object, generates control data, including imaging timing information on the camera, in accordance with (a) position information on the object or distance information on the object at a time of velocity measurement, (b) the velocity information, and (c) the measurement timing information, and causes the camera to output, in response to the control data, image data including image information on the object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An imaging system comprising:
a sensor that measures a velocity of a moving object, a camera that is different from the sensor and images the object, and a processing circuit that controls operations of the sensor and the camera, wherein the processing circuit: causes the sensor to generate velocity information on the object and measurement timing information on the velocity by causing the sensor to measure the velocity of the object, generates control data, including imaging timing information on the camera, in accordance with (a) position information on the object or distance information on the object at the same time as the measurement of the velocity, (b) the velocity information, and (c) the measurement timing information, and causes the camera to output, in response to the control data, image data including image information on the object, wherein the imaging timing information varies depending on at least the velocity of the moving object.

2 . The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit causes the camera to image the object in accordance with the imaging timing information on the camera.

3 . The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit causes the camera to capture a video of the object and output the image data from the video captured by the camera.

4 . The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the control data further comprises at least one piece of
information determining a Region Of Interest (ROI) included in an image captured by the camera, information determining a focus position of the camera, or information determining a position of the camera.

5 . The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the control data comprises at least one piece of
information determining a pan rotation angle and/or a tilt rotation angle of the camera, or information determining a zoom magnification of the camera.

6 . The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an oscillation source periodically performing frequency modulation and measures a position of the object or a distance to the object, and a velocity of the object by causing a wave reflected from the object and a reference wave to interfere with each other.

7 . The imaging system according to claim 6 , wherein the sensor is a Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW)—Light Detecting and Ranging (LiDAR) device.

8 . The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the control data further comprises information determining a Region Of Interest (ROI) included in an image captured by the camera, and
wherein the processing circuit causes the camera to extract the ROI from the captured image.

9 . The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit generates, in accordance with the image data, classification data including classification information on the object.

10 . The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the control data further comprises at least one piece of
information determining exposure time of the camera, or information determining an opening and closing degree of aperture of the camera.

11 . The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the object is a vehicle, and
wherein an image indicated by the image data comprises an image of a license plate of the vehicle.

12 . The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the object is a vehicle, and
wherein an image indicated by the image data comprises an image of a driver or a passenger of the vehicle.

13 . The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the object is a vehicle, the vehicle comprises a wheel,
wherein the sensor measures a running velocity of the vehicle and a rotating velocity of the wheel, and wherein the velocity information relates to the running velocity of the vehicle and the rotating velocity of the wheel.

14 . The imaging system according to claim 13 , wherein the processing circuit generates, in accordance with the velocity information, axle count data including axle count information on the vehicle.

15 . The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit causes the sensor to measure the velocity a plurality of times at different time points,
wherein the velocity information relates to the velocity that has been measured the plurality of times, and wherein the measurement timing information relates to the respective times at which the velocity has been measured.

16 . The imaging system according to claim 1 , further comprises a second sensor that measures the velocity of the object from a different direction,
wherein the processing circuit: causes the second sensor to generate second piece of the velocity information on the object by causing the second sensor to measure the velocity of the object, and determines the velocity of the object in accordance with the velocity information and the second piece of the velocity information.

17 . A processing device comprising:
a processor; and a memory that stores a computer program executed by the processor, wherein the computer program causes the processor to perform a process comprising: causing a sensor to generate velocity information on an object and measurement timing information on a velocity of the object by causing the sensor to measure the velocity of the object, generating control data, including imaging timing information on a camera different from the sensor, in accordance with (a) position information on the object or distance information on the object at a time of velocity measurement, (b) the velocity information, and (c) the measurement timing information, and causing the camera to output, in response to the control data, image data including image information on the object, wherein the imaging timing information varies depending on at least the velocity of the object.

18 . A method performed by a computer in an imaging system, the method comprising:
causing a sensor to generate velocity information on an object and measurement timing information on a velocity of the object by causing the sensor to measure the velocity of the object, generating control data, including imaging timing information on a camera different from the sensor, in accordance with (a) position information on the object or distance information on the object at a time of velocity measurement, (b) the velocity information, and (c) the measurement timing information, and
causing the camera to output, in response to the control data, image data including image information on the object,
wherein the imaging timing information varies depending on at least the velocity of the object.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Narumi Kenji
• Inada Yasuhisa
• Kato Yumiko

Classifications

• G07B15/00

  Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points (handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00) · CPC title

• H04N23/6812

  based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors · CPC title

• G06V20/625

  License plates · CPC title

• G06V10/25

  Determination of region of interest [ROI] or a volume of interest [VOI] · CPC title

• G08G1/017

  identifying vehicles (G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence) · CPC title