Virtual Inductance Loop for Vehicle Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for detecting moving objects, such as inductance loops and video cameras, face challenges including complex installation, sensitivity issues, false alarms, and inability to differentiate between objects, especially in varying lighting conditions and outdoor environments.

Innovation Solution

The method involves calibrating cameras to generate virtual inductance loop lines based on reference structures in a scene, synchronizing images, and determining object passage by analyzing changes in light intensity and color, allowing for automated detection and action without human supervision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If inductance loops are used to detect vehicle presence, then detection capability is provided, but installation complexity increases and sensitivity adjustment becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical inductance loop system with an optical system using cameras and image processing. Instead of using electromagnetic induction through buried loops, the system uses visual detection through cameras to identify vehicle presence, eliminating the need for complex physical installation of inductance loops while maintaining detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual representation of the inductance loop detection zone using image processing. By analyzing video frames and identifying objects that enter the detection zone, the system replicates the functionality of a physical inductance loop without requiring the actual loop infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If inductance loop sensitivity is increased to detect all vehicles, then detection sensitivity improves, but false detections increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidfalse detection rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different analysis methods to different parts of the image data. Instead of uniform thresholding across the entire image, the system identifies specific regions of interest and applies object recognition algorithms that consider local characteristics such as vehicle shape, size, and motion patterns to distinguish actual vehicles from false detection sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts detection parameters based on environmental conditions and observed patterns. By changing parameters such as detection thresholds, time windows, and object classification criteria, the system maintains high sensitivity while adapting to reduce false detections from shadows, reflections, or other environmental factors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If multiple video cameras are used to improve detection accuracy, then object detection precision improves, but computational cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject detection accuracyVSAvoidcomputational cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the image processing task into segments by first detecting motion regions and then applying detailed object recognition only to those regions. This segmentation approach allows the system to use multiple cameras for improved accuracy while reducing computational cost by avoiding full-image analysis on all camera feeds simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If motion detectors are used for general motion detection, then detection coverage is provided, but false alarms increase in outdoor environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection coverageVSAvoidfalse alarm rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses color information from camera images to distinguish between actual objects and environmental disturbances. By analyzing color characteristics and patterns, the system can differentiate between vehicles (which have specific color properties) and false alarm sources such as moving foliage or weather effects, thereby maintaining broad detection coverage while reducing false alarms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS10565733B1Virtual inductance loop

Publication Date: 2020.02.18 ALARM COM INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for virtual inductance loop technology. In one aspect, a method includes calibrating, using calibration parameters, cameras directed towards a scene, obtaining, by the cameras, images corresponding to the scene, identifying reference structures in the scene, and determining, based on the reference structures and the images, locations in the scene for generating virtual inductance loop lines in the scene. The method also includes generating the virtual inductance loop lines to be imposed on the images, comparing the virtual inductance loop lines to determine one or more offsets, and determining, based on the offsets, characteristics of the scene.