Eye Detection Security System Using Red-Eye Effect

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current security systems for detecting people are expensive, require substantial processing power, and struggle to accurately identify individuals in low-light conditions due to issues like red-eye effect, especially when using compact cameras with flash illumination.

Innovation Solution

A security system utilizing light sources and detectors to capture reflections from eyes, analyzing these reflections to count and identify individuals, which can be communicated remotely, and employing techniques like spectral filtering and scanning to enhance signal quality and reduce background noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If image processing algorithms are used to identify people, then detection accuracy is improved, but system cost and processing power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing power requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and isolates the eye region as the specific detection target, using eye-tracking technology to identify individuals. By focusing detection on the eyes rather than processing entire facial images or body shapes, the system achieves accurate person identification while significantly reducing computational complexity and processing power requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by concentrating detection resources on the eye region specifically. Instead of uniformly processing entire images to identify people, the patent uses specialized eye-tracking algorithms that analyze only the local eye area, thereby maintaining high detection accuracy while minimizing overall system complexity and processing demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If flash illumination is used in low-light conditions, then visibility is improved, but red-eye effect increases making eye detection more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility in low-lightVSAvoideye detail detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful red-eye effect into a beneficial detection feature. Instead of treating the red-eye phenomenon as noise to be eliminated, the system specifically detects the characteristic red coloration and reflection patterns caused by flash illumination to identify and locate the eyes. This approach maintains visibility in low-light conditions while using the red-eye effect itself as the detection signal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system exploits color changes by specifically detecting the red coloration that occurs during red-eye effect. The eye-tracking algorithm identifies the characteristic red hue and reflection patterns produced by flash illumination on the retina, transforming the color change from a detrimental artifact into a useful detection marker for locating eyes in low-light environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Volume of moving object

If compact cameras with close-mounted flash are used, then device size is reduced, but red-eye effect is intensified

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera sizeVSAvoidred-eye effect intensity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the intensified red-eye effect produced by compact cameras into a beneficial detection signal. By specifically algorithms that detect the characteristic red reflection patterns, the system transforms the harmful artifact into the primary detection mechanism, enabling accurate eye tracking despite the close-mounted flash configuration that intensifies the effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient and cost-effective detection of people or animals over a range, improving accuracy in low-light conditions by leveraging the 'redeye' effect and reducing processing complexity, with applications in vehicle safety, advertising verification, and environmental monitoring.

Implementation Method 1

one or more light detectors for detecting reflections of said one or more light sources from said one or more persons to form an image representing eyes of said one or more persons

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

The light source has a spectrally narrow bandwidth or includes a spectral filter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpectral filtering: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentUS8594389B2Security system and method
Publication Date: 2013.11.26 COHEN YOSSEF GERARD
  • US8594389B2 patent drawing
  • US8594389B2 patent drawing
  • US8594389B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A security system and method for detecting the presence of one or more persons in a location, by: directing a light source in the direction of the location; detecting reflections of the light source from the location by a light detector in order to form an image representing the one or more persons' eyes; and analyzing the image received on the light detector to identify and count the number of eyes on the image. Preferably, the analyzed information is then communicated to a remote facility for further processing. Appropriate action to take based on the analyzed information includes issuing an alert, turning on an alarm system, sending a message to one or more predetermined persons and/or machines.