Optimum spectral bands for active vision systems
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorsNilton O. Rennó, Keith C. Hughes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vision system for monitoring areas of interest having a system for receiving an optical input, outputting a signal, and processing the signal. The system is configured to measure the radiance in spectral bands in which solar radiation is reduced substantially due to absorption by atmospheric constituents. This mitigates the negative effects of solar radiation such as sun glare. The system is configured to output a resultant detection signal in response to the measurements in the spectral bands selected.
Claims19
An active vision system for monitoring areas of interest, the vision system comprising:
- an illumination source outputting energy to the areas of interest in at least one spectral band in which solar radiation is reduced substantially due to absorption by atmospheric constituents, the at least one spectral band being selected from the group consisting of less than 0.3, 0.90-0.95 μm, 1.10-1.15 μm, 1.35-1.50 μm, 1.80-2.06 μm, and 2.50-3.05 μm;
- an optics system receiving an optical input in the at least one spectral band from the areas of interest and outputting an optics signal;
- and
- a processing system receiving the optics signal, the processing system configured to measure the optics signal, the processing system configured to output a resultant signal in response to the measurements in the at least one spectral band,
- wherein the optics system comprises at least one detector configured to measure radiance in the at least one spectral band adjacent to a crossover point of the imaginary part of the index of refraction of liquid water and ice, the at least one detector configured to measure the radiance in the first band portion of the at least one spectral band having wavelengths on a first side of the crossover point and output a first band signal, the at least one detector configured to measure the radiance in a second band portion of the at least one spectral band having wavelengths on a second side of the crossover point and output a second band signal, the second side of the crossover point being opposite of the first side;
- and
- the processing system configured to detect the presence of water, snow, frost, ice, and water/ice mixtures using non-transitory software and look-up tables to estimate the surface condition and output an alert when a predetermined condition is detected based on the radiance measurements in the first band portion and the second band portion.
A vision system for detecting the condition of the road ahead of a vehicle, the condition of the airspace ahead of a vehicle, or obstacles, or for mapping terrain, navigating, or for detecting surface or atmospheric constituents of interest, and the system comprising:
- a measurement system configured to measure in spectral bands in which solar radiation is reduced substantially because of absorption by atmospheric constituents in order to mitigate the negative effects of solar radiation and output a determination signal.
A detection method for detecting an obstacle, a surface, or constituents of interest, the method comprising:
- measuring a determination signal in spectral bands in which solar radiation is reduced substantially because of absorption by atmospheric constituents in order to mitigate negative effects of solar radiation such as sun glare.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.