US 6,215,519 B1 · Combined wide angle and narrow angle imaging system and method for surveillance and monitoring

Abstract

A surveillance and monitoring system and method for monitoring an area which includes a first imaging system having a wide-angle field of view approximately equal to or greater than the area. The system also includes one or more second imaging systems having adjustable view settings, each of one or more second imaging systems being positioned to view portions of the area and being capable of producing images of the portions with a resolution greater than the first imaging system. The system also includes one or more controls for controlling the adjustable view settings of the one or more second imaging systems so as to obtain high-resolution, magnified images of regions of interest within the area being monitored. The adjustable view settings may include pan, tilt, and zoom settings for adjusting the panning, tilting, and zooming of one or more second imaging systems with respect to the monitored area. In the method, a global image of the area being monitored is sensed with a first imaging system having a field of view approximately equal to or greater than the area, a region of interest is detected within the global image, and one or more detailed images of the region of interest with at least one of one or more second imaging systems are sensed. At least one of the detailed images may have a higher resolution than that of the global image.

Claims28

Dependent claims

The surveillance and monitoring system for monitoring an area, comprising:

(a) a first imaging system having a wide-angle field of view approximately equal to or greater than said area, said first imaging system providing a direction information for at least one portion of said area;
(b) one or more second imaging systems having adjustable view settings and receiving said direction information from said first imaging system, said one or more second imaging systems positioned to view said at least one portion of said area and being capable of producing images of said at least one portion using said direction information and predetermined depth information relating a depth of said at least one portion of said area at a fixed height from a predetermined base level;
and
(c) one or more controls for controlling said adjustable view settings of said one or more imaging systems.

1 more element

A method for monitoring one or more objects in motion in an area, comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a first imaging system to view said area, said first imaging system having a wide-angle field of view approximately equal to or greater than said area;
(b) positioning one or more second imaging systems having adjustable view settings to view at least one portion of said area, each of said one or more second imaging systems being capable of producing images of said at least one portion with a resolution greater than said first imaging system;
(c) sensing images of said area with said first imaging system;
(d) detecting said one or more objects in motion from said sensed images;
(e) tracking one or more of said detected objects;
(f) generating, from said first imaging system, direction information for said one or more detected objects;
(g) producing, with said one or more second imaging systems, said image using said direction information and predetermined depth information relating a depth of said at least one portion of said area at a fixed height from a predetermined base level;
and
(h) controlling said adjustable view settings so as to view said tracked objects with at least one of said one or more second imaging systems.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Combined wide angle and narrow angle imaging system and method for surveillance and monitoring

Life of this patent

Combined wide angle and narrow angle imaging system and method for surveillance and monitoring

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28