IP Library Granted Patent US 8,885,043
Granted Patent B2
US 8,885,043 · App. 13/349,897 · Granted Nov 11, 2014

Monitoring system and image reconstruction method for planting bed

Inventors: Ta-Te Lin (Taipei, TW); Tai-Hsien Ou-Yang (Taipei, TW); Chang-Chih Liu (Taipei, TW); Tsung-Cheng Lai (Taipei, TW)
Assignee: National Taiwan University
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,885,043
App. No.
13/349,897
Granted
Nov 11, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image reconstruction method adapted to use with a planting bed is provided. The planting bed is constituted by a work platform disposed on a work plane and for supporting a plurality of plants thereon. The image reconstruction method includes steps of: capturing a plurality of images of the work platform from different positions on a monitoring plane to obtain a plurality of image data, wherein the monitoring plane is opposite to the work plane, the monitoring and work planes are parallel to each other in a visible range and have a predetermined distance therebetween; and performing an image stitching algorithm to stitch the image data into a two-dimensional image of the planting bed. A monitoring system of a planting bed is also provided.

Claims (10)

1. A monitoring system adapted to use with a planting bed, the planting bed being constituted by a work platform disposed on a work plane and for supporting a plurality of plants thereon, the monitoring system comprising:

a supporting bracket disposed on the working platform for defining a monitoring plane opposite to the work plane, wherein the monitoring and work planes are parallel to each other in a visible range and have a predetermined distance therebetween;

a sliding module supported by the supporting bracket and comprising a sliding structure capable of sliding on the monitoring plane in a predetermined direction;

an image capture apparatus installed to the sliding structure for capturing a plurality of images of the work platform from different positions on the monitoring plane and thereby obtaining a plurality of image data while the sliding structure is driven to slide in the predetermined direction; and

an analysis unit signal connected to the image capture apparatus;

wherein the analysis unit is configured to perform an image stitching algorithm to stitch the image data into a two-dimensional image of the planting bed, the analysis unit is further configured to obtain a plurality of height data of the different positions on the work platform according to parallaxes between the images of the work platform captured from different positions on the monitoring plane and perform a stereo vision algorithm on the two-dimensional image of the planting bed and the height data to obtain a three-dimensional image of the planting bed.

2. The monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the image capture apparatus is either a still image camera or a video recorder.

3. The monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the analysis unit is a desktop computer or a portable computer.

4. The monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the analysis unit is a smart handheld device.

5. The monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the analysis unit is a software product.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2012
From: LIN, TA-TE; OU-YANG, TAI-HSIEN; LIU, CHANG-CHIH; LAI, TSUNG-CHENG
To: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 027529/0211 →
Priority Claims (1)
TW 100144223 A · Dec 1, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130141589A1 · Jun 6, 2013