US 4,609,939 A · Method of and apparatus for automatically correcting position of TV camera

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of correcting the position of a TV camera for taking up the image of an object to produce video signals of the image, suitable for use in, for example, automotive headlamp beam testing system. The images of reference points which are provided for the purpose of correcting the TV camera position are taken up by the TV camera. Then, the position data representing the positions of the reference points in the field of vision of the TV camera is determined. The position data are compared with predetermined reference point data representing the positions of the reference points in the field of vision of the TV camera as obtained when the TV camera is in the correct position, thereby determining the amount of deviation of the TV camera. Then, the driving unit is operated in accordance with the thus determined amount of deviation to adjust the optical axis of said TV camera so as to eliminate the deviation of the TV camera position. Disclosed also is a method in which the measurement data obtained through the TV camera is corrected in accordance with the amount of deviation of the TV camera, as well as an apparatus suitable for carrying out these methods.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of automatically correcting a position of a TV camera in a measuring system, in which said TV camera takes an image of an object ot be measured to produce a video signal in order to obtain data of measurement, an optical axis of said TV camera being adjustable by a TV camera driving unit, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) taking by a TV camera arranged at a pre-determined position an image of a reference point which is provided in a field of vision of said TV camera;
(b) determining correct position data representing a position of said reference point;
(c) storing said correct position data obtained in step (b) in memory circuits;
(d) taking an image of said reference point by a TV camera whose position is to be corrected;
(e) determining current position data representing a position of said reference point taken by said TV camera whose Position is to be corrected;
(f) comparing the position data obtained in step (e) with the position data obtained in step (b), thereby determining an amount of deviation of said TV camera to be corrected;
and
(g) operating said TV camera driving unit in accordance with the amount of deviation determined in step (f) to adjust the optical axis of said TV camera so as to eliminate the deviation in the position of said TV camera.

5 more elements

A method of automatically correcting measurement data of an object in a measuring system, in which a TV camera takes an image of said object to produce a video signal to obtain said measurement data to eliminate an influence of any deviation in a position of said TV camera from its correct position, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) taking by a TV camera arranged at a pre-determined position an image of a reference point which is provided in a field of vision of said TV camera;
(b) determining correct position data representing a position of said reference point;
(c) storing said correct position data obtained in step (b) in memory circuits;
(d) taking an image of said reference point by a TV camera whose position is to be corrected;
(e) determining position data representing the position of said reference point taken by said TV camera;
(f) comparing the position data obtained in step (e) with the position data obtained in step (b), thereby determining an amount of deviation of said TV camera;
(g) taking by said TV camera an image of said object to produce a video signal indicating a position of said image;
(h) processing said video signal to obtain said data of measurement;
and
(i) correcting said measurement data in accordance with the amount of the deviation of the TV camera position.

7 more elements

In a system having a TV camera for taking an image of an object to be measured to produce a video signal so as to obtain data of measurement concerning said object, an apparatus for correcting said data of measurement in accordance with an amount of deviation of position of said TV camera from its correct position thereby eliminating any influence of said deviation on said data of measurement, said apparatus comprising:

a picture processing device for processing the video signal of said image of said object taken by said TV camera to obtain said data of measurement;
a reference mark provided in the vicinity of said object;
detecting means for detecting, in accordance with the video signal of the image of said reference mark taken by said TV camera, a position of said reference mark in a field of vision of said TV camera;
storage means for storing reference point data representing the position of said reference mark in the field of vision of said TV camera as determined when said TV camera is in the correct position;
comparator means connected to said storage means and said detecting means for comparing the position data concerning said reference mark delivered by said detecting means with said reference point data delivered by said storage means so as to produce a comparison signal representing an amount of deviation in a position of said TV camera from said correct position;
and
correcting means for correcting, in accordance with said comparison signal, said data of measurement obtained by said picture processing means thereby eliminating any influence of the deviation in the TV camera position on said data of measurement.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of and apparatus for automatically correcting position of TV camera

Life of this patent

Method of and apparatus for automatically correcting position of TV camera

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12