IP Library Granted Patent US 10,169,856
Granted Patent B1
US 10,169,856 · App. 15/174,471 · Granted Jan 1, 2019

Laser-assisted image processing

Inventors: Anthony Scott Farnsworth (San Antonio, TX); Jordan A. Newmark (Fair Oaks Ranch, TX); Kathleen L. Swain (Kemah, TX); Teddy Joseph Edmond Voutour (Helotes, TX); Jess W. Gingrich (San Antonio, TX); Michael J. Allen (San Antonio, TX); Anthony G. Castiglione (San Antonio, TX)
Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
G06T7/0004G01B11/26G06K9/46G06K9/52G06K9/6201G06K9/6267G06Q40/08G06T7/60H04N5/2256G06T2207/30108G06T2207/30252
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,169,856
App. No.
15/174,471
Filed
Jun 6, 2016
Granted
Jan 1, 2019
Kind
B1
Examiner
SOOD, ANSHUL
Art Unit
3665
USPC
701/23
Abstract

Unmanned vehicles can be terrestrial, aerial, nautical, or multi-mode. Unmanned vehicles may be used to survey a property in response to or in anticipation of damage to an object. For example, an unmanned vehicle may project a laser pattern and use information associated with the laser pattern to determine characteristics of the object.

Claims (37)

1. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, the memory having stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

generating an image of light projected on an object, wherein a source of the light has a design;

extracting a first pattern of the light as it appears projected on the object from the image;

determining, based on comparing the first pattern to a second pattern, a distortion of the first pattern, the second pattern comprising a predetermined baseline image of the design; and

determining a characteristic of the object based on the distortion of the first pattern.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a roof.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a vehicle.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic comprises an angle.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic comprises a pitch of a roof.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second pattern has known dimensions; and

wherein the determining the distortion of the first pattern comprises determining, based on the known dimensions, dimensions of the first pattern.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise converting the image to an orthographic projection.

8. A method comprising:

generating an image of light projected on an object, wherein a source of the light has a design;

extracting a first pattern of the light as it appears projected on the object from the image;

determining, based on comparing the first pattern to a second pattern, a distortion of the first pattern, the second pattern comprising a predetermined baseline image of the design; and

determining a characteristic of the object based on the distortion of the first pattern.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the object comprises a roof.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the object comprises a vehicle.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the characteristic comprises a pitch of a roof.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the characteristic comprises a type of material.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the determining the comparing the first pattern to the second pattern comprises comparing a portion of the first pattern corresponding to a segment of the design to a portion of the second pattern corresponding to the segment of the design.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the comparing the first pattern to the second pattern comprises comparing a distance between at least two pixels of the first pattern to a distance between at least two pixels of the second pattern corresponding to the at least two pixels of the first pattern.

15. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, the memory having stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

illuminating an object with a laser having a design;

determining a scattering response of the laser on the object;

comparing the scattering response of the laser on the object to a predetermined scattering response, wherein the predetermined scattering response is based on the design; and

providing a classification of at least a portion of the object based on the comparing the scattering response of the laser on the object to the predetermined scattering response.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the object comprises a roof.

17. The device of claim 15 , wherein the object comprises a vehicle.

18. The device of claim 15 , wherein the classification comprises an indication of hail damage.

19. The device of claim 15 , wherein the classification comprises an indication of tree damage to a roof.

20. The device of claim 15 , wherein the device comprises a camera.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2016
From: FARNSWORTH, ANTHONY SCOTT; NEWMARK, JORDAN A.; VOUTOUR, TEDDY JOSEPH EDMOND; GINGRICH, JESS W.; ALLEN, MICHAEL J.; CASTIGLIONE, ANTHONY G.
To: UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)
Reel/Frame 038825/0776 →
Continuity (1)
Continuation In Part 15008043 · Jan 27, 2016
Cited By (11)
US 12,229,938 US 12,322,219 US 12,327,368 US 12,429,322 US 12,429,432 US 12,498,208 US 12,535,379 US 12,549,681 US 12,626,307 US 12,632,748 US 12,657,633