US 11,982,630 B2
Method and apparatus for cleanliness determination of areas and objects via video monitoring
Clint Matthew Harvey, Morgantown, WV (US); and John Edward Moody, Morgantown, WV (US)
Assigned to DATAGARDEN, INC., Morgantown, WV (US)
Filed by DataGarden, Inc., Morgantown, WV (US)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/242,890.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/020,748, filed on May 6, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/017,246, filed on Apr. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0341395 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 21/94 (2006.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); G06V 20/00 (2022.01); G01N 21/88 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/94 (2013.01) [G06T 7/0002 (2013.01); G06V 20/35 (2022.01); G01N 2021/889 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30168 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cleanliness monitoring system comprising:
interface circuitry; and
processing circuitry configured to:
set a cleanliness estimate for a physical object or area to an initial value;
change the value of the cleanliness estimate responsive to least one of: the passage of time, or detected events involving the physical object or area; and
output, via the interface circuitry, an indication of the value of the cleanliness estimate;
wherein the processing circuitry is configured to detect events involving the physical object or area by receiving and evaluating information incoming to the cleanliness monitoring system via the interface circuitry, the information comprising raw or processed sensor data, and wherein, for each detected event, the processing circuitry is configured to determine an event type and to determine the change to the value of the cleanliness estimate in dependence on the determined event type; and
wherein defined event types include cleaning types of events and dirtying types of events, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to change the value of the cleanliness estimate in a direction that corresponds to dirtier, in response to detecting dirtying events, and to change the value of the cleanliness estimate in a direction that corresponds to cleaner, in response to detecting cleaning events.