System and method of calibrating a system
AssigneeTimetronics N.V.
InventorEddy Vanuytven
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The system measures time of at least one object on the basis of passing a finish line and includes a camera with a photosensitive sensor and a lens for registering an image of the line. The image is sent to a processor for processing. Timing means deliver a timing signal to the processor. The system is at least partially automatically aligned. It thereto comprises a first active optical indicator that is located at a predefined location with reference to the line of passage, which indicator is detected as part of the image registered by the camera so as to obtain detection data. The system further includes a camera adjustment arrangement for adjustment of the orientation of a center axis of the camera, said adjustment being specified by the processor on the basis of the detection data.
Claims22
A system for capturing an image and for at least partially automatically aligning a camera with a line, comprising:
- a camera registering images of said line and an area surrounding said line, said camera comprising a photosensitive sensor provided with a plurality of sensor columns and a lens having a center axis extending through said lens, said center axis having an orientation relative to said line;
- processing means for processing said images and for calibrating said system;
- at least a first active optical indicator that is located along said line or in the area surrounding said line with reference to the line, which indicator is detectable as part of the image registered by the camera so as to obtain detection data, and
- camera adjustment means for adjustment of the orientation of the center axis of the camera, said adjustment being specified on the basis of the detection data, wherein said camera adjustment means is configured to align the camera relative to said line when an alignment difference based on the at least first active optical indicator within the image exceeds a threshold value.
A method of capturing an image and for at least partially automatically aligning a camera with a line, using a system that comprises:
- a camera generating images of said line and an area surrounding said line, the camera comprising a photosensitive sensor provided with a plurality of sensor columns and a lens and provided with a center axis extending through said lens, which center axis has an orientation relative to said line,
- processing means for processing said images and for calibrating said system;
- at least a first active optical indicator that is located along said line or in the area surrounding said line with reference to the line;
- said method comprising the steps:
- aligning the camera relative to the line by:
- positioning the camera;
- registering images with the plurality of columns so as to include the line or area surrounding the line and the first indicator;
- detecting the first indicator within the image to obtain detection data;
- processing the detection data to obtain an alignment difference;
- adjusting the orientation of the center axis of the camera if the alignment difference exceeds a threshold value.
A method of monitoring a system for the measurement of a time period, wherein said time period is measured on the basis of passing a line of passage of at least one object, said line of passage being drawn on a ground level, which system comprises:
- a camera generating images of said line of passage and an area surrounding said line of passage, the camera comprising a photosensitive sensor provided with a plurality of sensor columns and a lens provided with a center axis extending through said lens, which center axis has an orientation relative to said line of passage,
- processing means for processing said images into the measurement of the time period and for calibrating said system;
- at least a first active optical indicator that is located along said line or in the area surrounding said line with reference to the line of passage,
- which method comprises the steps of:
- detecting said at least first indicator as part of the images registered by the camera, and
- signaling a need for recalibration if said at least first indicator is invisible or only partially visible or moved within the image, and optionally,
- starting a recalibration by bringing the system into a calibration mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.