EP0898249B1 - Système, notamment pour le chronométrage de courses; comportant un capteur photosensible et procédé de réglage de l'alignement d'un tel système sur une ligne de passage d'objets - Google Patents

Système, notamment pour le chronométrage de courses; comportant un capteur photosensible et procédé de réglage de l'alignement d'un tel système sur une ligne de passage d'objets Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0898249B1
EP0898249B1 EP97114547A EP97114547A EP0898249B1 EP 0898249 B1 EP0898249 B1 EP 0898249B1 EP 97114547 A EP97114547 A EP 97114547A EP 97114547 A EP97114547 A EP 97114547A EP 0898249 B1 EP0898249 B1 EP 0898249B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
image
signal
line
sensor
reticule
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97114547A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0898249A1 (fr
Inventor
Pascal Richard
Jean-Claude Rais
Francois Arthofer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Omega Electronics SA
Original Assignee
Omega Electronics SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to EP97114547A priority Critical patent/EP0898249B1/fr
Application filed by Omega Electronics SA filed Critical Omega Electronics SA
Priority to ES97114547T priority patent/ES2198522T3/es
Priority to AT97114547T priority patent/ATE239277T1/de
Priority to DE69721520T priority patent/DE69721520T2/de
Priority to AU79921/98A priority patent/AU755152B2/en
Priority to CA002245067A priority patent/CA2245067C/en
Priority to US09/138,075 priority patent/US6411329B1/en
Publication of EP0898249A1 publication Critical patent/EP0898249A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0898249B1 publication Critical patent/EP0898249B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04F—TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
    • G04F13/00—Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by means not provided for in groups G04F5/00 - G04F10/00
    • G04F13/02—Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by means not provided for in groups G04F5/00 - G04F10/00 using optical means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C1/00—Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people
    • G07C1/22—Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people in connection with sports or games
    • G07C1/24—Race time-recorders

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system, in particular for race timing, and more particularly such a system comprising an optical device installed landline and in line with a line of passing objects to project an image of this line on a photosensitive sensor.
  • the invention relates to also a method of adjusting the alignment of such system on an object passage line such as a finish line of a race.
  • Document EP-A-0 207 675 already discloses a system for determining the times separating the Competitors crossing the right of a crossing line of a course or reference line substantially perpendicular to their trajectory.
  • This system includes a camera, a storage and processing device of images, a control box and a control screen.
  • the camera includes an optical unit with which is associated a photosensitive sensor on which the line image of reference is intended to be formed.
  • the optical unit includes a conventional optical lens and the sensor photosensitive is formed of a bar, composed of a plurality of pixels juxtaposed in a single column, generally designated CCD bar (corresponding to the Anglo-Saxon designation "Charged Coupled Device").
  • Patent EP 0 223 119 describes another mode of possible realization for such a timing system of races.
  • the camera must be installed at a landline extension of the line reference and perpendicular to it. More in particular, the reference line must be in perfect alignment with the CCD bar of the camera.
  • This alignment is generally carried out in two steps.
  • a bench CCD bar optic with the optical device of the camera.
  • the CCD bar is moved relative to the optical unit in order to be brought into overlay with a line of a crosshair of an eyepiece mounted on the camera's optical unit using different screw adjustment mechanisms. Once this adjustment made, the CCD bar is fixed in this position using mechanical means such as screws.
  • the optical unit further comprises a mirror switching between a first position called operation, in which the plane of the mirror is clear of the optical path connecting the CCD bar to the objective and a second position, called adjustment in which the mirror is placed on said optical path and returns the image perceived by the objective, in this case the image of the reference line, on the eyepiece.
  • operation in which the plane of the mirror is clear of the optical path connecting the CCD bar to the objective
  • second position called adjustment in which the mirror is placed on said optical path and returns the image perceived by the objective, in this case the image of the reference line, on the eyepiece.
  • the settings required by the camera when its assembly at the factory is long and delicate.
  • the mechanical parts constituting the optical adjustment device by CCD report can distort and misalign the reticle of the eyepiece with respect to the CCD bar.
  • the main aim of the invention is therefore to remedy to the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art in providing a system comprising a camera comprising a simple and inexpensive device allowing adjustment precise alignment of a photosensitive sensor of the type CCD bar on a line of passage of a race.
  • the reticle is associated with means of control via a comparator circuit receiving as input image signal and a reference signal from control means and outputting a signal of command, and the crosshair can be moved over the image by response to the control signal.
  • the system further includes means for switching the image signal either to the processing means or to the extraction means thus switching the system in a spatial mode of operation respectively temporal.
  • switching means have in particular the advantage of allowing easy verification of the system positioning at any time by switching simply the system from temporal to spatial mode.
  • the alignment method of the invention can be, once the alignment steps have been completed, simply completed to provide additional possibilities of exploiting the process such as timing.
  • the invention is not not limited to this application and that it may be advantageously used as part of any other application in which it is needed perform a sensor alignment adjustment photosensitive CCD type on a pass line of objects, for example in scanners or the like.
  • FIG. 1 shows the principle of system according to the invention designated by the reference general digital 1.
  • Runners 2 each evolving on corridor 4 at a certain speed, pass a line crossing 6 which can be here the finish line of the race.
  • a camera 8 is installed which is part of system 1.
  • the camera 8 conventionally comprises a device optical 10 formed by a photo or video lens which can if necessary be equipped with a manually operated zoom or remote control.
  • the optical device 10 projects an image of the passage line 6 on a photosensitive sensor 12 behind the lens in a plane perpendicular to that of the figure.
  • the photosensitive sensor is a CCD type sensor which is presented as illustrated in FIG.
  • the sensor 12 is capable of supplying electrical signals 16 representative of the image projected by the device optical 10 and received by this sensor. These signals 16 will designated image signal in the following description.
  • the sensor 12 comprises 750 lines and 480 columns. These sensors can be easily obtained in commerce, for example at Thomson.
  • this sensor can be a color or black and white sensor depending on the application desired.
  • the image signal 16 from the sensor 12 is supplied as input to processing means 18 via switching means 20 when these are in a first position shown in solid lines at the figure, this position corresponding to a first mode of function of the system known as spatial mode.
  • These means of processing 18 output a processed image signal 21 to display means 22.
  • These are provided to display an image representative of the image signal and are formed by a video standard screen or monitor standard such as PAL, NTSC or multimedia. Through multimedia standard we will understand a digital output intended for a computer.
  • the processing means 18 comprise an encoder 24, which performs the coding of the image signal to render it suitable for display on the monitor, as well as means 26 for generating a reticle 28 which is displayed also on the monitor overlaying the image video or embedded in a digital image.
  • These means 26 are capable of generating on the image displayed by the monitor a vertical bar of small width, typically one pixel wide, and crossing the image of top to bottom which forms the reticle 28.
  • the reticle can be formed by putting part of the signal image from a determined pixel column of the sensor in a given state, for example in a color.
  • the generating means 26 are associated, via a circuit comparator 30, to control means 32 which allow in particular to control movement horizontal of the reticle 28 on the image.
  • control can be carried out via a user interface having the shape of a keyboard 34 on which it can manually enter parameters for selecting a column of the sensor 12 which will allow the formation of the crosshairs at a given location on the monitor 22.
  • the keyboard 34 is connected to the control means 32 by a bus 36.
  • the control means 32 are by elsewhere connected to the switching means 20 in order to control, via a switching signal 31, the mode of functioning of the system as will be described more in detail below.
  • the comparator circuit 30 receives the signal as an input image 16 which comes from the sensor as well as a signal reference 37 which comes from the control means 32, and outputs a control signal 38 which is applied on the one hand to the generating means 26 of the reticle, and secondly to extraction means 40 which will be described in more detail below.
  • the reference signal 37 is a signal representative of the position of the column pixels which corresponds to the desired position of the reticle on monitor 22.
  • This signal 37 is supplied to means memory 42 forming part of the comparator circuit 30 and which store a representative numerical value of an ith column of pixels of the matrix 14 forming the sensor 12, this value corresponding to the parameters of the column of pixels entered by the user at using the keyboard 34.
  • the storage means 42 are classics and can typically be formed by a registry or RAM or ROM.
  • Memory or register 42 includes a default value of system switching on, this value can for example be the one that corresponds to the central pixel column of the pixel matrix be the 240th column in the special case of a matrix with 480 columns.
  • Memory 42 outputs a signal 43 to a first input 44 of a comparator 46.
  • the comparator circuit 30 further comprises counting means 48 of columns which receive as input the image signal 16 and output a signal of counting 50 at a second input 52 of comparator 46 which in turn provides the control signal 38.
  • the column counting means 48 are advantageously formed by a counter which resets at the start of a complete image or "frame", that is to say 50 or 60 times per second depending on the standard video used (PAL respectively NTSC).
  • Comparator 46 is typically a comparator which provides the control signal when the signal count 50 is equal to reference signal 37.
  • the extraction means 40 also receive input image signal 16 via switching means 20 when these are in a second position shown in dotted lines in the figure, this position corresponding to a second mode of operation of the system says time mode. These means 40 are provided for extract the image signal 16 in connection with the signal command 38 coming from the comparator circuit 30, electrical signals from a column of pixels of the matrix 14, which corresponds to the position of the reticle on the screen and to output a column signal 54. The column signal is then supplied to means operating 56 which can be trained for example with the image acquisition and processing circuit from a column of pixels described in the patent EP-A-0 402 749.
  • the extraction means 40 may advantageously be formed by a filtering circuit classic which only lets through part of the signal image 16 relating to the column of pixels corresponding to the reticle based on control signal 38.
  • the system according to the invention further comprises timing means 58 for reading at a frequency determined the signal column 54, or in other words electrical signals from the pixel column defined by control signal 38, the column of pixels forming an image representative of the image of the row projected on this column at a given time, the image of the line being in perfect overlap with the reticle defined above.
  • the means of timing 58 provide a timing signal 60 as a binary signal to frequency programmable by the control means 32.
  • the column reading frequency is chosen by the operator as a function of the running speed objects whose image it must retain, in this case depending on the speed of the race.
  • the operator has the keyboard on which he can manually enter the value of this frequency, the control means 32 serving as an interface between the keyboard and the timing means 58 and delivering to the latter a timing control signal 62.
  • the timing means 58 comprise a time base circuit associated with a microcontroller, these circuits which can be obtained commercially, by example under the name Intel 80186 which combines these two components into one integrated component.
  • timing means 58 provide to sensor 12 sensor 64 timing signals for manage the different read speeds or image acquisition also via the signal timing control 62 depending on the mode of system operation. It should be noted in this connection that the acquisition speed is slow and fixed in the spatial and fast and variable operation in the mode operating time.
  • display speed is standard, PAL, NTSC or multimedia video and when the signal is switched to time mode, the acquisition speed can be between 100 and 5,000 Hz i.e. the content of the column selected is refreshed 100 to 5000 times per second.
  • the timing means 58 also manage the exposure time of the image recorded.
  • the system of the invention may further comprise programmable amplification means (not shown) which would be disposed between the sensor 12 and the means switch 20 to change the contrast and brightness of the image that is displayed on the monitor and this for each color in the case of a sensor color.
  • programmable amplification means not shown
  • the pixel matrix forming the sensor 12 is positioned so as to have a plus large number of pixels in the columns than in the lines. Similarly we will prefer to scan the matrix in the column direction rather than line direction.
  • the optical axis of camera 8 must be perfectly aligned with the object passing line that we want to film in order, for example, to determine speeds or times of passage of objects or competitors in racing, with the largest precision.
  • the matrix sensor 12 will also have been adjusted relative to the camera housing 8 in particular so that the verticality of the pixel columns of sensor 12, i.e. confused with that of the walls of the camera housing. Note in this connection that the optical axis is defined by the direction perpendicular to the plane of the sensor.
  • Camera 8 equipped with a tripod or support (not shown) adjustable according to all degrees of freedom is firstly placed in the extension of the line of passage 6 so that the optical axis of the camera is appreciably directed towards this line.
  • the verticality of the pixel columns of the sensor 12 is adjusted by orienting the housing of the camera 8, for example using a spirit level, acting on adjustment knobs and / or cranks provided on the tripod.
  • the camera is engaged in spatial operating mode by acting on the switching means 20 via the keyboard 34 and the control means 32.
  • this mode of camera 8 reads at first frequency determined, the image signal 16 from the sensor 12 to form on the monitor or screen 22 an image by example a video image.
  • the reading frequency is generated by the timing means 58 in response to switching the system to space mode via the means 32.
  • the first frequency varies depending on the video standard used and can be for example respectively 50 Hz and 60 Hz depending on whether the PAL or NTSC video standard. We can of course also use the multimedia standard.
  • the reticle 28 is therefore displayed at a position on the screen, which is determined by the value contained by default in reference memory 42 to engagement.
  • the value reference is the one that corresponds to the 240th pixel column of matrix 12 so the reticle 28 is formed in the middle of the screen.
  • the CR column is selected and corresponds to reticle 28.
  • the column of pixels CR is the column of pixels that will be used when the the invention will be switched to the operating mode temporal.
  • the image signal 16 is supplied in input to the extraction means 40 which receive by elsewhere the control signal 38.
  • camera 8 reads, at a second determined frequency, the image signal 16.
  • This frequency of reading is generated by the timing means 58 in response to switching the system to time mode. This frequency is chosen, and introduced by the user via the keyboard 34 and the control means 32, depending on the scrolling speed of the objects on the crossing line 6. Typically this second reading frequency varies between 100 and 5000 Hz.
  • extraction means 40 do not pass the image signal 16 that when the control signal 38 is active for thus output the signal column 54 representative of the image intensity profile of the line of passage 6 at a given time. Consequently, the column signal 54 comes from the pixel column CR and corresponds exactly to the position of the reticle 28 of the spatial mode of operation.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Closed-Circuit Television Systems (AREA)
  • Image Input (AREA)
  • Transforming Light Signals Into Electric Signals (AREA)
  • Studio Devices (AREA)
  • Transforming Electric Information Into Light Information (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
  • Testing, Inspecting, Measuring Of Stereoscopic Televisions And Televisions (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Unknown Time Intervals (AREA)
  • Time Recorders, Dirve Recorders, Access Control (AREA)
EP97114547A 1997-08-22 1997-08-22 Système, notamment pour le chronométrage de courses; comportant un capteur photosensible et procédé de réglage de l'alignement d'un tel système sur une ligne de passage d'objets Expired - Lifetime EP0898249B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES97114547T ES2198522T3 (es) 1997-08-22 1997-08-22 Sistema, principalmente para el cronometraje; que incluye un sensor fotosensible y procedimiento de reglaje del alineamiento de tal sistema sobre una linea de paso de objetos.
AT97114547T ATE239277T1 (de) 1997-08-22 1997-08-22 System mit einem photosensor, insbesonder zur zeitmessung bei wettkämpfen, und einstellverfahren zum ausrichten eines solchen systems auf eine ziellinie
DE69721520T DE69721520T2 (de) 1997-08-22 1997-08-22 System mit einem Photosensor, insbesonder zur Zeitmessung bei Wettkämpfen, und Einstellverfahren zum Ausrichten eines solchen Systems auf eine Ziellinie
EP97114547A EP0898249B1 (fr) 1997-08-22 1997-08-22 Système, notamment pour le chronométrage de courses; comportant un capteur photosensible et procédé de réglage de l'alignement d'un tel système sur une ligne de passage d'objets
AU79921/98A AU755152B2 (en) 1997-08-22 1998-08-12 System, in particular for timing races; including a photosensitive sensor and method for adjusting the alignment of such a system with a line across which objects or persons pass
CA002245067A CA2245067C (en) 1997-08-22 1998-08-13 System, in particular for timing races; including a photosensitive sensor and method for adjusting the alignment of such a system with a line across which objects or persons pass
US09/138,075 US6411329B1 (en) 1997-08-22 1998-08-21 System, in particular for timing races; including a photosensitive sensor and method for adjusting the alignment of such a system with a line across which objects or persons pass

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP97114547A EP0898249B1 (fr) 1997-08-22 1997-08-22 Système, notamment pour le chronométrage de courses; comportant un capteur photosensible et procédé de réglage de l'alignement d'un tel système sur une ligne de passage d'objets

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0898249A1 EP0898249A1 (fr) 1999-02-24
EP0898249B1 true EP0898249B1 (fr) 2003-05-02

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97114547A Expired - Lifetime EP0898249B1 (fr) 1997-08-22 1997-08-22 Système, notamment pour le chronométrage de courses; comportant un capteur photosensible et procédé de réglage de l'alignement d'un tel système sur une ligne de passage d'objets

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US6411329B1 (es)
EP (1) EP0898249B1 (es)
AT (1) ATE239277T1 (es)
AU (1) AU755152B2 (es)
CA (1) CA2245067C (es)
DE (1) DE69721520T2 (es)
ES (1) ES2198522T3 (es)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6985875B1 (en) * 1999-11-05 2006-01-10 Wolf Peter H Process for providing event photographs for inspection, selection and distribution via a computer network
IL156124A (en) * 2003-05-26 2010-04-15 Rafael Advanced Defense Sys A method for detecting incorrect pixels against a non-uniform background
US20060146132A1 (en) * 2005-01-05 2006-07-06 Hy Mayerson Video system having multiple video cameras for capturing events
GB0917305D0 (en) 2009-10-02 2009-11-18 Timetronics Nv System and method of calibrating a system
JPWO2013051186A1 (ja) * 2011-10-03 2015-03-30 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 撮像装置、撮像装置を用いたシステム及び測距装置
US20140221159A1 (en) * 2012-12-21 2014-08-07 Wendell Lawrence Force feedback starting blocks
EP2887656B1 (fr) * 2013-12-20 2019-11-06 Swiss Timing Ltd. Méthode pour l'ajustement d'un filtre couleur pour capteur numérique
EP2887655A1 (fr) 2013-12-20 2015-06-24 Swiss Timing Ltd. Filtre couleur adaptatif pour capteur numérique
EP3982337B1 (fr) * 2020-10-09 2023-09-27 Swiss Timing Ltd Procede et systeme de mesure amelioree du temps de passage sur une ligne de chronometrage
CN112907778A (zh) * 2021-01-15 2021-06-04 西安菲猫创达智能技术有限公司 一种一体化高精度终点摄像计时系统及其计时方法

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3678189A (en) * 1969-12-11 1972-07-18 Robert A Oswald Method of producing time-position records of objects
FR2497369B1 (fr) * 1980-12-31 1985-06-07 Ssih Equipment Sa Procede pour chronometrage de courses et dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre de ce procede
US4797751A (en) * 1985-06-19 1989-01-10 Yamaguchi Cinema Corporation Electronic camera apparatus for recording and reproducing moving object images
FR2589604B1 (fr) * 1985-11-04 1988-01-22 Longines Francillon Sa Cie Mon Appareil pour le chronometrage de courses sportives
AT392548B (de) * 1989-02-21 1991-04-25 Alge Guenther Elektronische zeitmesseinrichtung
FR2648594B1 (fr) * 1989-06-15 1993-03-05 Omega Electronics Sa Appareil pour le chronometrage de courses
DE3937977C1 (es) * 1989-11-15 1990-12-20 Augustin 7619 Steinach De Imhof
DE9202456U1 (es) * 1992-02-26 1992-04-23 Imhof, Augustin, 7619 Steinach, De
JPH06276526A (ja) * 1993-03-22 1994-09-30 Hitachi Denshi Ltd カラー着順およびタイム判定装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0898249A1 (fr) 1999-02-24
CA2245067A1 (en) 1999-02-22
DE69721520T2 (de) 2004-03-18
CA2245067C (en) 2006-02-14
DE69721520D1 (de) 2003-06-05
AU7992198A (en) 1999-03-04
ES2198522T3 (es) 2004-02-01
AU755152B2 (en) 2002-12-05
ATE239277T1 (de) 2003-05-15
US6411329B1 (en) 2002-06-25

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