초록 ▼

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting fire in a monitored area. In a preferred embodiment, this method is seen to comprise the steps of: (1) capturing video images of the monitored area in the form of two-dimensional bitmaps whose spatial resolution is determined by the

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting fire in a monitored area. In a preferred embodiment, this method is seen to comprise the steps of: (1) capturing video images of the monitored area in the form of two-dimensional bitmaps whose spatial resolution is determined by the number of pixels comprising the bitmaps, (2) cyclically accumulating a sequential set of these captured bitmaps for analysis of the temporal variations being experienced in the pixel brightness values, (3) examining these sets of bitmaps to identify clusters of contiguous pixels having either a specified static component or a specified dynamic component of their temporally varying brightness values, (4) comparing the patterns of the shapes of these identified, static and dynamic clusters to identify those exhibiting patterns which are similar to those exhibited by the comparable bright static core and the dynamic crown regions of flickering open flames, and (5) signaling the detection of a fire in the monitored area when the degree of match between these identified, static and dynamic clusters and the comparable regions of flickering open flames exceeds a prescribed matching threshold value.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A method of detecting fire in a monitored area, said method comprising the steps of:detecting and capturing, at a prescribed frequency, video images of said monitored area in the form of two-dimensional bitmaps whose spatial resolution is determined by the number of pixels comprisi

[ We claim:] [1.] A method of detecting fire in a monitored area, said method comprising the steps of:detecting and capturing, at a prescribed frequency, video images of said monitored area in the form of two-dimensional bitmaps whose spatial resolution is determined by the number of pixels comprising said bitmaps,cyclically accumulating a sequential set of said captured bitmaps for analysis of the temporal variations in the brightness values observed at each of said pixels, said temporal variations being expressible in terms of a static and a dynamic component of said variations in pixel brightness values,examining said set of bitmaps to identify a static cluster of contiguous pixels having a static component of said brightness values that exceed a prescribed static threshold magnitude,examining said set of bitmaps to identify a dynamic cluster of contiguous pixels having a dynamic component of said brightness values that exceed a prescribed dynamic threshold magnitude, andcomparing the patterns of the shapes of said identified, static and dynamic clusters to identify those exhibiting patterns which match to a predetermined matching level those exhibited by the comparable static and dynamic regions of the type of fire for which said area is being monitored.