Patent ID: 6020953
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: G01P,G06T

Abstract:
A linear optic flow sensor system comprising:an array of photoreceptors responsive to a visual field for generating a plurality of photoreceptor signals;a plurality of substantially identical feature detectors responsive to said plurality of photoreceptor signals for generating a plurality of feature signals;a feature tracker responsive to said plurality of feature signals for generating a plurality of feature location signals, said feature tracker comprising a winner-take-all, where said winner-take-all is selected from the group consisting of simple winner-take-all circuits, local winner-take-all circuits, k winner-take-all circuits, and k local winner-take-all circuits; anda transition detection and speed measurement circuit responsive to said feature location signals for providing an output comprised of at least one measurement selected from the group consisting of a speed measurement, a direction measurement, and speed and direction measurements;whereby an optic flow measurement is obtained from said measurements and the physical geometry of said feature detectors.