Barrier Operator Obstruction Detection Using Visual Zone Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing barrier operator systems often incorrectly detect obstructions due to monitoring entire camera fields of view, leading to unnecessary evasive actions and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to mark specific protected areas within the camera's field of view, using visual indicators to distinguish between areas of interest and those to ignore, thereby focusing obstruction detection only on the protected zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the camera monitors the entire field of view including areas outside the barrier pathway, then the system can detect all potential obstructions, but false obstruction detections occur and system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the camera's field of view into distinct zones: a protected area (pathway) where obstruction detection is active, and ignored areas (controlled area behind barrier) where detection is disabled. This segmentation allows the system to focus computational resources only on the relevant pathway area, eliminating false detections from movements in ignored areas while maintaining comprehensive monitoring of the protected zone.
2Reliability
If the system monitors all areas in the camera field of view, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but unnecessary evasive actions are triggered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different detection qualities to different spatial regions: full obstruction detection is applied locally to the protected area (pathway), while ignored areas (controlled area) receive no detection processing. This local quality differentiation ensures that detection sensitivity is concentrated where needed (pathway) and suppressed where unnecessary (controlled area), eliminating false alarms from legitimate activities in ignored zones.
3Measurement precision
If visual indicators are used to mark protected areas, then the system can distinguish between areas of interest and those to ignore, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary area definition through visual indicators (tape, paint, string) placed on the ground before system operation. These physical markers establish the protected area boundaries in advance, allowing the camera system to automatically detect and use these markers to define the evaluation area. This preliminary action simplifies ongoing operation by providing clear, pre-established boundaries that the system can automatically recognize and use for obstruction detection.
Data Source
AI summary
At least one of an area to protect and an area to ignore are marked using a visual indicator. The area to protect and the area to ignore are in proximity to a moveable barrier operator system. Visual inputs from a camera representative of the visual indicator are received and evaluated to automatically distinguish between the area to protect and the area to ignore. An evaluation area of the camera is limited so as to coincide with substantially only with the area to protect. Thereafter, it is determined whether an obstruction exists in the evaluation area of the camera. The evaluation area may be recorded and used for future determinations as to whether obstructions exist in the pathway of the barrier.