Computer-vision-based object tracking and guidance module

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a mount body by which the apparatus is secured to a structure. A camera assembly includes an image sensor adapted to capture images within its field of view. A lighting assembly houses one or more light sources including a directional light source. A control-board assembly, fixed to the mount body, houses control boards including one or more processors configured to acquire information about an object, to associate a location within the field of view of the image sensor with the object, to point light emitted by the directional light source at the location associated with the object by rotating the lighting assembly and turning the laser assembly, and, based on an image acquired from the camera assembly, to detect change within the field of view of the image sensor corresponding to placement or removal of the object.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus comprising:
 a mount body by which to secure the apparatus to a structure;   a camera assembly fixed to the mount body, the camera assembly including an image sensor that captures images within its field of view;   a controller in electrical communication with the camera assembly to acquire the images captured by the image sensor, the controller configured to acquire information about an object, to associate a location within the field of view of the image sensor with the object and, based on the images acquired from the camera assembly, to detect change within the field of view of the image sensor corresponding to placement or removal of the obj ect.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a lighting assembly rotatably coupled to the mount body, the lighting assembly housing one or more light sources including a directional light source secured to a laser assembly, wherein the controller is in electrical communication with the lighting assembly to control an articulation of the one or more light sources relative to the mount body.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the controller communicates with the lighting assembly to point light emitted by the one or more light sources at the location associated with the object by controlling an articulation of at least one of the one or more light sources in response to the images. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the lighting assembly is rotatably connected to a bottom side of the mount body. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more light sources includes a laser assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the lighting assembly has a translucent dome-shaped cover with a frontally located slot that runs vertically along the side of the cover and extends along a bottom of the cover. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more light sources, when activated, generates light originating from within the lighting assembly and passes the light through the slot in a direction determined by the controller. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a mount body;   a lighting assembly attached to the mount body, the lighting assembly housing a directional light source;   a camera assembly attached to the mount body, the camera assembly housing at least two cameras that capture image information within their fields of view, the camera assembly having a mounting surface upon which one of the at least two cameras is fixed; and   a control-board assembly attached to the mount body, the control-board assembly being in communication with the camera assembly to receive image information captured by the cameras and with the lighting assembly to control operation of the directional light source, the control-board assembly housing control boards including a processor configured to receive and process images captured by the camera assembly and to operate the directional light source in response to the processed images.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two cameras include a RGB (red green blue) camera and a depth camera. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the control-board assembly communicates with the lighting assembly to point light emitted by the directional light source at the location associated with an object by controlling an articulation of at least one of the one or more light sources in response to the images. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the lighting assembly is rotatably connected to a bottom side of the mount body. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more light sources includes a laser assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the lighting assembly has a translucent dome-shaped cover with a frontally located slot that runs vertically along the side of the cover and extends along a bottom of the cover. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more light sources, when activated, generates light originating from within the lighting assembly and passes the light through the slot in a direction determined by the control-board assembly. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 a mount body;   a camera assembly attached to the mount body, the camera assembly housing at least two cameras that capture image information within their fields of view, the camera assembly having a mounting surface upon which one of the at least two cameras is fixed; and   a control-board assembly attached to the mount body, the control-board assembly being in communication with the camera assembly to receive image information captured by the cameras, the control-board assembly housing control boards including a processor configured to receive and process images captured by the camera assembly and to operate a directional light source in response to the processed images.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the control-board assembly operates the directional light source by communicating with the directional light source to point light at a location associated with an object by controlling an articulation of at least one of the one or more light sources in response to the images. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the directional light source is rotatably connected the mount body, and the control-board assembly causes the directional light source to rotate relative to the mount body. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the directional light source has a cover with a frontally located slot that runs vertically along the side of the cover and extends along a bottom of the cover. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the directional light source, when activated, generates light originating from within the cover and passes the light through the slot in a direction determined by the control-board assembly. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more light sources includes a laser assembly.