IP Library Granted Patent US 9,959,609
Granted Patent B2
US 9,959,609 · App. 15/493,434 · Granted May 1, 2018

System for detecting image abnormalities

Inventors: Frank Giuffrida (Honeoye Falls, NY); Stephen Schultz (West Henrietta, NY)
Assignee: Pictometry International Corporation
G06T7/0002H04N5/23222H04N7/185G06T2207/10016G06T2207/10032G06T2207/30168G06T2207/30184
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,959,609
App. No.
15/493,434
Granted
May 1, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Image capture systems including a moving platform; an image capture device having a sensor for capturing an image, the image having pixels, mounted on the moving platform; and a detection computer executing an abnormality detection algorithm for detecting an abnormality in the pixels of the image immediately after the image is captured by scanning the image utilizing predetermined parameters indicative of characteristics of the abnormality and then automatically and immediately causing a re-shoot of the image.

Claims (22)

1. An image capture system, comprising:

a moving platform;

an image capture device having a sensor for capturing an image having pixels, the image capture device mounted on the moving platform; and

a detection computer executing an abnormality detection algorithm for detecting an abnormality in the pixels of the image immediately after the image is captured by scanning the image utilizing predetermined parameters indicative of characteristics of the abnormality and then automatically and immediately causing a re-shoot of the image, wherein the abnormality is caused by overstimulation of the sensor of the image capture device, causing at least a portion of the image to be obscured.

2. The image capture system of claim 1 , wherein automatically and immediately causing a reshoot of the image is defined further as causing a sequence of re-shoots of the image.

3. The image capture system of claim 2 , wherein the image is a first scheduled image scheduled for capture before a second scheduled image, and wherein causing a sequence of re-shoots of the first scheduled image is defined further as causing a sequence of re-shoots of the first scheduled image until the second scheduled image.

4. The image capture system of claim 2 , wherein causing a sequence of re-shoots of the image is defined further as causing a sequence of re-shoots of the image without detecting whether the abnormality is captured in the re-shoots of the image.

5. The image capture system of claim 2 , wherein causing a sequence of re-shoots of the image is defined further as executing the abnormality detection algorithm for detecting an abnormality in the pixels of the re-shoots of the image immediately after each of the re-shoots of the image is captured by scanning each of the re-shoots of the image utilizing predetermined parameters indicative of characteristics of the abnormality and ending the sequence of re-shoots of the image upon a lack of detection of an abnormality in one or more of the re-shoots of the image.

6. An image capture system, comprising:

a moving platform;

an image capture device mounted on the moving platform and having a sensor for capturing an aerial image, the aerial image having pixels, the sensor having an image area and a dark area bordering the image area; and

a detection computer executing an abnormality detection algorithm for detecting an abnormality in the pixels of the aerial image immediately after the aerial image is captured by scanning the aerial image utilizing predetermined parameters indicative of characteristics of the abnormality and then automatically scheduling a re-shoot of the aerial image such that the re-shoot occurs prior to landing of the moving platform, wherein the abnormality detection algorithm causes the detection computer to scan the aerial image by monitoring pixel values of the aerial image as the pixel values are moved through the dark area of the sensor.

7. The image capture system of claim 6 , wherein the abnormality is caused by overstimulation of the sensor of the image capture device, causing at least a portion of the aerial image to be obscured.

8. The image capture system of claim 6 , wherein automatically scheduling a re-shoot of the aerial image such that the re-shoot occurs prior to landing of the moving platform is further defined as automatically scheduling a re-shoot of the aerial image such that the re-shoot occurs prior to landing of the moving platform and after completion of a planned flight plan.

9. An image capture system, comprising:

a moving platform;

an image capture device mounted on the moving platform and having a sensor for capturing an aerial image, the aerial image having pixels, the sensor having an image area and a dark area bordering the image area; and

a detection computer executing an abnormality detection algorithm for detecting an abnormality in the pixels of the aerial image immediately after the aerial image is captured by scanning the aerial image utilizing predetermined parameters indicative of characteristics of the abnormality and then automatically scheduling a re-shoot of the aerial image such that the re-shoot occurs prior to landing of the moving platform, wherein the abnormality detection algorithm causes the detection computer to scan the aerial image using pattern recognition techniques to detect the abnormality in the pixels of the aerial image.

10. An image capture system, comprising:

a moving platform;

an image capture device mounted on the moving platform and having a sensor for capturing an aerial image, the aerial image having pixels, the sensor having an image area and a dark area bordering the image area; and

a detection computer executing an abnormality detection algorithm for detecting an abnormality in the pixels of the aerial image immediately after the aerial image is captured by scanning the aerial image utilizing predetermined parameters indicative of characteristics of the abnormality and then automatically scheduling a re-shoot of the aerial image such that the re-shoot occurs prior to landing of the moving platform, wherein the abnormality is caused by overstimulation of the sensor of the image capture device, causing at least a portion of the aerial image to be obscured.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2025
From: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
To: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 070828/0266 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 9, 2025
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.; EAGLE VIEW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; OMNIEARTH, INC.
Reel/Frame 070786/0022 →
FIRST LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 28, 2025
From: EAGLE VIEW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 070671/0078 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046919/0065 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 14, 2018
From: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC,
Reel/Frame 046823/0755 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2017
From: GIUFFRIDA, FRANK; SCHULTZ, STEPHEN
To: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042091/0001 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 15043068 · Feb 12, 2016
Continuation 13744174 · Jan 17, 2013
Continuation 12112837 · Apr 30, 2008
Provisional Application 60926985 · May 1, 2007
Related Publication 20170221191A1 · Aug 3, 2017