The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 09, 1996
Filed:
Nov. 04, 1991
James F Alves, Camarillo, CA (US);
Gerry R Cacnio, Los Angeles, CA (US);
David R Stevens, Simi Valley, CA (US);
Hughes Aircraft Company, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A video image processor (100) for processing video images performing the steps of generating video images (103) with a multi-spectral video source (102), converting analog color data contained in the generated video images (103) to digital color data for subsequent signal processing, extracting the digital color data from designated areas of the generated video images and utilizing the extracted digital color data for identifying a color distinguishable from a background color. Thus, the video image processor (100) processes the generated video images and has an intrinsic immunity to the effects of shadows by exploiting multi-spectral color information to distinguish, for example, a passing vehicle from the roadway 116. In a preferred embodiment, the video image processor (100) includes a multi-spectral video source (102) for generating the video images. A color digitizer (104) is employed for converting the analog color data contained in the generated video images to the digital color data for the subsequent signal processing. Then, a digital signal processor (106) is employed to extract the digital color data from the designated areas of the generated video images. Finally, a central processing unit (108) utilizes the extracted digital color data to identify a color distinguishable from the background color.