Laser Area Sensor Human Body Pattern Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laser area sensors for security systems face issues with erroneous detection due to factors like swaying plants or small animals, and require pre-defined detection areas, limiting their adaptability and reliability in identifying human bodies.

Innovation Solution

A laser area sensor that uses a human body judging portion to match extracted body shapes with a stored pattern map, considering time-series moving distance and direction, and allows for adjustable detection areas by switching between operation modes based on stored detection area information, thereby enhancing spatial resolution and reducing false positives.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a laser area sensor uses simple distance and angle data detection to identify intruders, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of detection deteriorates due to erroneous detection from environmental factors like swaying plants or small animals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection system configurationVSAvoidintruder detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static threshold-based detection to dynamic pattern recognition. The system continuously learns and adapts to environmental conditions by storing distance data patterns over time, enabling it to distinguish between normal environmental variations (swaying plants, small animals) and actual intruders based on learned behavioral patterns rather than fixed thresholds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action through the learning phase where the system collects and stores distance data patterns during a setup period before actual detection begins. This preliminary data collection enables the system to establish baseline environmental patterns, allowing it to later differentiate between normal environmental fluctuations and genuine intruder presence without requiring complex real-time analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If a laser area sensor uses fixed pre-defined detection areas, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different installation locations and surveillance purposes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection area configurationVSAvoidsurveillance area flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the detection area dynamic and adjustable rather than fixed. The control portion allows operators to freely set and modify detection areas based on specific installation locations and surveillance requirements. The system can adapt the detection boundary and parameters dynamically, enabling versatile deployment across different environments without requiring complex pre-programming of fixed zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent achieves universality by designing a detection system that can serve multiple surveillance purposes across different installation locations through a unified flexible area setting mechanism. The same sensor can be configured for various applications (perimeter security, area monitoring, approach detection) by simply adjusting the detection area parameters, eliminating the need for location-specific custom hardware configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Area of stationary object

If a laser area sensor increases the maximum detection distance, then the surveillance coverage area is expanded, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to signal attenuation and environmental interference over long distances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection coverage areaVSAvoiddistance measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by collecting and storing distance data patterns during a learning phase before actual detection. This allows the system to establish baseline measurements and environmental characteristics at various distances, enabling it to compensate for signal attenuation and environmental interference even at maximum detection ranges by comparing against pre-established patterns rather than relying solely on raw distance measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through continuous monitoring and pattern comparison. The system constantly compares current distance measurements against stored patterns from the learning phase, using this feedback to distinguish between legitimate targets and environmental noise. This feedback mechanism maintains measurement precision across the full detection range by dynamically adjusting detection criteria based on learned environmental baselines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

The sensor achieves high accuracy in identifying human bodies and can set arbitrary surveillance areas, improving reliability by distinguishing between human bodies and environmental noise, and adapting to various installation locations and purposes.

Implementation Method 1

a laser range finder that performs distance measurement by use of a laser beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTime of Flight: Time of Flight

Implementation Method 2

emitting laser light and measures an extremely short period of time for reflected light to return from an object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight: Light

Data Source

PatentEP2048517B1Laser area sensor
Publication Date: 2012.09.12 OPTEX CO LTD
  • EP2048517B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2048517B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2048517B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

In an embodiment, a laser area sensor of the present invention comprises: a laser range finder (110); a scanning mechanism (120) that changes a measurement direction of the laser range finder (110); a distance data acquiring portion (130) that defines a detection area and acquires distance information in each direction in the detection area in a time-series manner, by periodically causing the laser range finder (110) to perform measurement while causing the measurement direction to be changed; a human body judging portion (140) that extracts a portion that is presumed to correspond to a human body, from among the distance information and judges whether or not the extracted portion matches a human body based on a time-series moving status of the extracted portion; an alert output control portion (150); a memory (160); and a DIP switch (170).