Surveillance System with Variable Magnification Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surveillance systems face limitations in effectively monitoring movement over long ranges while maintaining sufficient resolution and frame rate, as well as aligning PIR and camera sensors for accurate detection and verification, leading to potential false alarms and reduced operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A surveillance system that uses cameras with a field of view divided into zones with varying apparent magnifications, allowing objects to appear at a consistent size across zones, enabling efficient motion tracking and detection, and optionally incorporating multiple cameras or sensors with varying pixel densities for enhanced resolution and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If higher resolution cameras are used to capture images at higher optical resolution for long range surveillance, then the resolution is improved, but the processing speed and frame rate drop due to increased data volume
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor is divided into multiple zones with different pixel densities. High-density zones capture distant objects with higher resolution, while low-density zones capture nearby objects with sufficient resolution. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high frame rates by reducing total pixel count while preserving critical detail in distant regions where intruders are most likely to be detected.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the field of view are assigned different resolution qualities based on their importance for detection. Distant zones receive higher resolution allocation since intruders appear smaller and require more detail for identification, while near zones use lower resolution. This local quality differentiation optimizes the balance between detection capability and processing speed.
2Length of stationary object
If a telephoto lens is used to achieve long range video motion detection, then the detection range is improved, but the field of view is reduced and short range coverage is sacrificed
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a single fixed focal length approach to a multi-focal-length system that captures images at different magnifications for different zones. This dimensional change in optical configuration allows simultaneous coverage of both near and far distances, with each zone optimized for its specific range while maintaining a wide overall field of view.
3Length of stationary object
If PIR detectors are used to detect intruders over long ranges, then the detection range is improved, but false alarms increase due to inability to distinguish object shape
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges PIR detection capabilities with visual imaging capabilities into a single integrated sensor or closely coupled system. This combination allows the system to benefit from PIR's long-range thermal detection while simultaneously using visual information to verify object identity and reduce false alarms from animals or environmental factors.
Data Source
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AI summary
A surveillance system (10) for monitoring movement in a region of interest (18) is described. The surveillance system (10) includes: An image capturing system (12) having a field of view (16) including a region of interest (18), and adapted to capture an image of the region of interest (18). An image processing system (78) configured to process a time-sequential series of images of the field of view from the image capturing system such that at least a portion (52, 53, 54) of each processed image (50) is analysed for detecting movement within the region of interest (18). The image capturing system (12) is configured to capture, in each image, different apparent magnifications of respective zones (20, 22, 24) within the region of interest (18) in the field of view (16) that are at different distances from the image capturing system (12) such that an object (60) in at least one position in at least two of said zones has substantially the same apparent size in the images.