USING A LASER DETECTION AND RANGING DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to detecting and tracking systems, and more particularly, such systems employing a laser detection and ranging device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior to setting forth the background of the invention, it may be helpful to set forth definitions of certain terms that will be used hereinafter.

The term "laser detection and ranging" (LADAR) or "light detection and ranging" (LiDAR) is referred herein as a device that measures distance to a target by illuminating that target with light such as a pulsed laser light, and measuring the reflected pulses with a sensor. Differences in laser return times and wavelengths can then be used to make digital representations of the target.

While LADAR devices become more available for commercial uses, they still suffer from precision and latency issues that renders them unsuitable on their own for surveillance and homeland security purposes. Therefore, it would be advantageous to find a way by which the features of LADAR may be effectively harnessed for detecting and tracking applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a system for detecting and positioning an intruder within a specified volume defined by a dome. The method may include the following steps: periodically scanning using a laser detection and ranging (LADAR) device directing a laser beam, within the specified volume defined by the dome; collecting reflections of the laser beam arriving from objects within the dome; converting the reflections to LADAR signal indicative of spatiotemporal presence of objects within the dome; applying signal processing algorithms to the LADAR signals, to determine a presence of an intruder and respective orientation parameters, based on predefined criteria; directing a camera based on the orientation parameters associated with the intruder for continuously capturing images of the intruder; and analyzing the images by a computer processor and instructing the camera to track the intruder based on the analysis, to yield real-time tracking parameters of the intruder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating non-limiting exemplary architecture of a system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed block diagram illustrating a non-limiting exemplary implementation of a system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a graph diagram illustrating an aspect in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a high level flowchart illustrating a non-limiting exemplary method in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, various aspects of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details presented herein. Furthermore, well known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the present invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as "processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining," or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and/or transforms data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within the computing system's registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing system's memories, registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating non-limiting exemplary architecture of a system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. System 100 shows a laser detection and ranging (LADAR) device 112 configured for detecting and positioning an intruder within a specified volume defined by a dome 10 having a radius R. LADAR device 112 may include at least one laser transmitter and at least one laser sensor (not shown here).

In operation, LADAR device 114 may be configured to: periodically scan via a laser beam, a specified volume defined by dome 10 and collect reflections of the laser beam arriving from objects such as object 30 and object 20 within dome 10. LADAR device 114 may be further configured to convert the reflections into LADAR signal indicative of spatiotemporal presence of objects such as object 30 and 20 within dome 10. LADAR device 114 may be configured to ignore any reflections coming from objects outside dome 10, this may be achieved by calibrating LADAR device 114 for a maximal range set to radius R.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, system 100 may further include a computer processor 110 operatively connected to LADAR device 114 wherein computer processor 110 may be configured to apply signal processing algorithms to the LADAR signals, to determine a presence of an intruder 20 and respective orientation parameters, based on predefined criteria or an un-harmful object 30. It should be noted that object beyond dome 10 such as object 40 are deemed irrelevant due to their location but may become relevant as soon as they enter dome 10.

The purpose of LADAR device 114 is to illuminate incoming objects threats but other objects such as buildings, which a priori, are not incoming threats but are considered as environmental noise. Evidently, environmental noise is not relevant and is therefore filtered out. It is the task of the processing apparatus to filter out environmental noise by running a dedicated filtering computer program, for execution by a computer, which computer program is stored in a non- transitory computer readable medium. It may thus be said that the filtering program embodied in the computer-readable medium is dedicated to detect a relevant object 100, having the level of danger of being a threat 100, out of many objects penetrating into the hemispheric dome scanned by the LADAR device 114. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention an algorithm implemented by the aforementioned computer readable code may use those parameters to calculate the threshold. It is done in an adaptive mode and this enable filtering out of moving vegetation and other changes in the neighborhood

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, system 100 may further include a camera 114 configured to receive the orientation parameters associated with intruder 30 and continuously capture images of intruder 20, wherein computer processor 110 may be configured to receive the images, and instruct camera 114 to track intruder 20 based on an analysis of the images, to yield real-time tracking parameters 120 of intruder 20. These real-time tracking parameters 120 may be used by other systems not shown here.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, computer processor 100 may be configured to apply at least one de-noising filter to the LADAR signals prior to determining the presence of intruder 30.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, camera is a gimballed camera and wherein said system further comprises a driver configured to mechanically control pan-tilt- zoom (PTZ) parameters of said camera based on said orientation parameters. According to some embodiments of the present invention, predefined criteria for determining a presence of an intruder in specific orientation parameters comprise a level of an integral of two of the LADAR signals measured in different times for the specific orientation parameters.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, analysis of the images include analyzing a mobility and an appearance of the intruder. According to some embodiments of the present invention, wherein the mobility comprises at least one of: speed, acceleration, and vector of advancement, and wherein the appearance comprises at least one of: shape, color, and size.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, orientation parameters comprise an orientation a line of sight of the LADAR whenever the line of sight intersects an objected determined to be an intruder. According to some embodiments of the present invention, real-time tracking parameters are at least one order of magnitude more precise than the orientation parameters.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, comprising a control unit configured to instruct an external entity based on the tracking parameters. According to some embodiments of the present invention, comprising a display, wherein the computer processor is configured to present on the display images of the intruder captured continuously while being tracked.

Figure 2 is a detailed block diagram illustrating a non-limiting exemplary implementation of a system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. System 200 shows in more details an exemplary non-limiting implementation of the system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Reflections 210 from an object within the dome (not shown here) are received at LADAR device 112 and are converted into respective LADAR signals that are being filtered by de-noising module 230 possibly implemented by computer processor 110. The filtered signals are then applied to a decision function possibly implemented by detection module 240 implemented by computer processor 110 where a decision whether the reflections belong to an intruder or not. In the case they are, respective PTZ parameters 242 associated with the direction of the intruder are applied to a driver 116 which is mechanically coupled to camera 114 which is directed accordingly and starts capturing images of the intruder. These images are conveyed to an image analysis module 250 possibly implemented by computer processor 110 where further recognition and enhancement of the images may be carried out. Tracking parameters 252 are then derived in real time so that camera 114 tracks the intruder in real time and image analysis module 250 keeps tracking the intruder in real time.

The tracking parameters may be conveyed to a control unit 260 for use by an external entity (no shown here). Additionally, image analysis module 250 may provide enhanced images to be presented over a display 270 to an operator 60 who can then provide his or her input via a user interface 280 to control unit 260.

Figure 3 is a graph diagram 300 illustrating an aspect in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Graph 300 shows LADAR signals intensity vs. spatial location (e.g. azimuth) in two different times. As can be shown in region 310 the difference between the two signals including the height of the step function and the size of the object all indicate it to be an intruder while in regions 320 and 300 the amount of energy differences in in insufficient either because the object is too remote, too small, moves slowly or any other predefined criteria. Figure 4 is a high level flowchart illustrating a non-limiting exemplary method 400 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Method 400 of detecting and positioning an intruder within a specified volume defined by a dome may include the following steps: periodically scanning using a laser detection and ranging(LADAR) device directing a laser beam, within the specified volume defined by the dome 410; collecting reflections of the laser beam arriving from objects within the dome; converting the reflections to LADAR signal indicative of spatiotemporal presence of objects within the dome 420; applying signal processing algorithms to the LADAR signals, to determine a presence of an intruder and respective orientation parameters, based on predefined criteria 430; directing a camera based on the orientation parameters associated with the intruder for continuously capturing images of the intruder 440; and analyzing the images by a computer processor and instructing the camera to track the intruder based on the analysis, to yield real-time tracking parameters of the intruder

450.

In order to implement method 400 according to some embodiments of the present invention, a computer processor may receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. At least one of aforementioned steps is performed by at least one processor associated with a computer. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memories for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to communicate with, one or more mass storage devices for storing data files. Storage modules suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices and also magneto-optic storage devices.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, some aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, some aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a "circuit," "module" or "system." Furthermore, some aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD- ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in base band or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wire-line, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). Some aspects of the present invention are described above with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or portion diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each portion of the flowchart illustrations and/or portion diagrams, and combinations of portions in the flowchart illustrations and/or portion diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or portion diagram portion or portions.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or portion diagram portion or portions.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or portion diagram portion or portions.

The aforementioned flowchart and diagrams illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each portion in the flowchart or portion diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the portion may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two portions shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the portions may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each portion of the portion diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of portions in the portion diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

In the above description, an embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions. The various appearances of "one embodiment," "an embodiment" or "some embodiments" do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments.

Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment. Reference in the specification to "some embodiments", "an embodiment", "one embodiment" or "other embodiments" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only.

The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples.

It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construe a limitation to an application of the invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description above.

It is to be understood that the terms "including", "comprising", "consisting" and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers.

If the specification or claims refer to "an additional" element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to "a" or "an" element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element.

It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic "may", "might", "can" or "could" be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described. Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks.

The term "method" may refer to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.

The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only.

Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined. The present invention may be implemented in the testing or practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein.

Any publications, including patents, patent applications and articles, referenced or mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in the description of some embodiments of the invention shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of the preferred embodiments. Other possible variations, modifications, and applications are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by what has thus far been described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.