IP Library Granted Patent US 11,889,185
Granted Patent B2
US 11,889,185 · App. 17/056,815 · Granted Jan 30, 2024

Monitoring system and operation method thereof

Inventors: Dong Jin Park (Seongnam-si, KR); Dae Bong Kim (Seongnam-si, KR); Young Sang Kwon (Seongnam-si, KR); Ki Bum Park (Seongnam-si, KR); Joon Chan Park (Seongnam-si, KR); Young Sub Kim (Seongnam-si, KR)
Assignee: Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd.
H04N23/67G01S17/08G01S17/88
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,889,185
App. No.
17/056,815
Granted
Jan 30, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A monitoring system includes a camera module configured to photograph a subject, a laser distance sensor configured to sense a distance to the subject, the laser distance sensor being arranged in a line with the camera module, and a processor configured to acquire a first angle and a first sensing value of the laser distance sensor in response to an event, calculate a first distance between the camera module and the subject by using the first angle and the first sensing value, calculate a second angle by using the first distance, a laser angle of view of the laser distance sensor, and a laser angle of view length of the laser distance sensor, rotate the laser distance sensor up to the second angle when a difference between the first angle and the second angle exceeds a predetermined range, and acquire a second sensing value of the laser distance sensor.

Claims (32)

1. A monitoring system comprising:

a camera module configured to photograph a subject;

a laser distance sensor that configured to sense a distance to the subject, the laser distance sensor being arranged in a line with the camera module; and

a processor configured to acquire a first angle and a first sensing value of the laser distance sensor in response to an event, calculate a first distance between the camera module and the subject by using the first angle and the first sensing value, calculate a second angle by using the first distance, a laser angle of view of the laser distance sensor, and a laser angle of view length of the laser distance sensor, rotate the laser distance sensor up to the second angle when a difference between the first angle and the second angle exceeds a predetermined range, acquire a second sensing value of the laser distance sensor, and operate the camera module based on the first sensing value or the second sensing value.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first angle and the second angle is a tilt angle or a pan angle of the laser distance sensor,

wherein the second angle is an angle of the laser distance sensor at which the laser angle of view at least partially overlaps the center of a photographing area of the camera module.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the laser distance sensor is separate from the rotation of the camera module.

4. The monitoring system of claim 3 , further comprising:

a rotation driving module configured to rotate the laser distance sensor,

wherein the rotation driving module includes a direct current (DC) motor, a solenoid, or a stepping motor,

wherein, when the rotation driving module includes the DC motor or the solenoid, the processor rotates the laser distance sensor at once from the first angle to the second angle, and when the rotation driving module includes the stepping motor, the processor gradually rotates the laser distance sensor from the first angle to the second angle.

5. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein

the processor calculates the second angle based on the first distance, the laser angle of view, and the laser angle of view length by using the following equation:

second angle=arctan(laser angle of view length/first distance)−(laser angle of view/2).

6. A method of operating a monitoring system including a camera module and a laser distance sensor arranged in a line with the camera module, the method comprising:

detecting an event;

acquiring, in response to the event, a first angle of the laser distance sensor and a first sensing value that is a result obtained by sensing a distance to a subject through the laser distance sensor;

calculating a first distance between the camera module and the subject by using the first angle and the first sensing value;

calculating a second angle by using the first distance, a laser angle of view of the laser distance sensor, and a laser angle of view length of the laser distance sensor;

comparing the first angle with the second angle;

operating the camera module based on the first sensing value when a difference between the first angle and the second angle is within a predetermined range; and

rotating the laser distance sensor up to the second angle when the difference between the first angle and the second angle exceeds the predetermined range, acquiring a second sensing value of the laser distance sensor, and operating the camera module based on the second sensing value.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each of the first angle and the second angle is a tilt angle or a pan angle of the laser distance sensor,

wherein the second angle is an angle of the laser distance sensor at which the laser angle of view at least partially overlaps a center of a photographing area of the camera module.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the rotation of the laser distance sensor is separate from the rotation of the camera module.

9. The method of claim 8 ,

wherein the laser distance sensor is rotated by a rotation driving module,

wherein the rotation driving module includes a direct current (DC) motor, a solenoid, or a stepping motor,

wherein, when the rotation driving module includes the DC motor or the solenoid, the laser distance sensor rotates at once from the first angle to the second angle, and when the rotation driving module includes the stepping motor, the laser distance sensor gradually rotates from the first angle to the second angle.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the calculating of the second angle includes:

calculating the second angle by using the following equation:

second angle=arctan(laser angle of view length/first distance)−(laser angle of view/2).

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 10, 2023
From: HANWHA TECHWIN CO., LTD.
To: HANWHA VISION CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064549/0075 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2020
From: PARK, DONG JIN; KIM, DAE BONG; KWON, YOUNG SANG; PARK, KI BUM; PARK, JOON CHAN; KIM, YOUNG SUB
To: HANWHA TECHWIN CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054416/0457 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2018-0063525 · Jun 1, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210211571A1 · Jul 8, 2021