Methods and apparatus employing multi-spectral imaging for the remote identification and sorting of objects

• US 20030006170A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectra Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Spectra Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Lawandy, Nabil M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,874,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/3.3
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/3412 according to a code applied to the object which indicates a property of the object, e.g. quality class, contents or incorrect indication sorting according to size measured by light-responsive means B07C5/10; sorting according to optical properties B07C5/342; for packages B65D79/02; for information carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06056 the marking comprising a further embedded marking, e.g. a 1D bar code with the black bars containing a smaller sized coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06225 using wavelength selection, e.g. colour code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1434 Barcodes with supplemental or add-on codes

Abstract

A marking system for use with a multi-spectral imager for use in high throughput sortation of articles having distorted or irregular surfaces is disclosed. Specific uses include, but are not limited to, document sorting, garment and textile rental operations, laundry operations, and mail and package sorting and identification. Methods and apparatus are provided to remotely identify items via information that is wavelength-encoded within an applied mark, as well as a mark reading/decoding scheme. In the preferred embodiment the marks are multi-dimensional. In one preferred embodiment the marks are used to realize multi-dimensional wavelength-enabled coding schemes. The marks can be overlayed one upon another and/or they can contain one or more key regions having at least one predetermined spectral characteristic for providing information related at least to reading and/or decoding the marks.

Claims

1. A method for encoding information onto an article, the method comprising:

encoding information in accordance with at least one predetermined code scheme;

disposing the encoded information onto said article as a plurality of regions wherein each of said regions emits one of a plurality of predetermined wavelengths comprising a first set of wavelengths;

applying at least partially over said plurality of regions at least one plurality of second regions that encodes information in accordance with the same or a different predetermined code scheme, wherein each of said second regions emits one of a plurality of predetermined wavelengths comprising a second set of wavelengths.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one key region that emits a predetermined wavelength for indicating at least one characteristic of said encoded information.

3. The method of claim 2, where the characteristic indicates orientation of the plurality of regions.

4. The method of claim 2, where the characteristic indicates a start of the plurality of regions.

5. The method of claim 2, where the characteristic indicates an end of the plurality of regions.

6. The method of claim 2, where the characteristic indicates the identity of the predetermined code scheme.

7. The method of claim 2, where the characteristic indicates a shift in the identity of the predetermined code scheme.

8. The method of claim 2, where the characteristic indicates a shift in the wavelength set used by at least one of the first set of wavelengths and the second set of wavelengths.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one key region is characterized by a unique appearance relative to other regions.

10. The method as in claim 2, where disposing comprises applying at least one of the plurality of regions and the key region to the article by printing using a plurality of different fluorescent inks.

11. The method as in claim 2, where disposing comprises applying at least one of the plurality of regions and the key region to the article by printing onto a label using a plurality of different fluorescent inks, and then affixing the label to the article.

13. The method of claim 12, where the characteristic indicates orientation of the plurality of regions.

14. The method of claim 12, where the characteristic indicates a start of the plurality of regions.

15. The method of claim 12, where the characteristic indicates an end of the plurality of regions.

16. The method of claim 12, where the characteristic indicates the identity of the predetermined code scheme.

17. The method of claim 12, where the characteristic indicates a shift in the identity of the predetermined code scheme.

18. The method of claim 12, where the characteristic indicates a shift in the wavelength set used by the set of wavelengths.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one key region is characterized by a unique appearance relative to other regions.

20. The method as in claim 12, where disposing comprises applying at least one of the plurality of regions and the key region to the article by printing using a plurality of different fluorescent inks.

21. The method as in claim 12, where disposing comprises applying at least one of the plurality of regions and the key region to the article by printing onto a label using a plurality of different fluorescent inks, and then affixing the label to the article.

12. A method for encoding information onto an article, the method comprising:

encoding information in accordance with at least one predetermined code scheme;

disposing the encoded information onto said article as a plurality of regions arranged in a two dimensional array wherein each of said regions emits one of a plurality of predetermined wavelengths comprising a set of wavelengths;

including with said encoded information at least one key region that emits a predetermined wavelength for indicating at least one characteristic of said encoded information.

22. A method for encoding information onto an article, the method comprising:

encoding information in accordance with at least one predetermined code scheme;

disposing the encoded information onto said article as a plurality of regions arranged in a linear array wherein each of said regions emits one of a plurality of predetermined wavelengths comprising a first set of wavelengths; and

,

including with said encoded information a key region that emits a predetermined wavelength for indicating at least one characteristic of said encoded information.

23. The method of claim 22, where the characteristic indicates orientation of the plurality of regions.

24. The method of claim 22, where the characteristic indicates a start of the plurality of regions.

25. The method of claim 22, where the characteristic indicates an end of the plurality of regions.

26. The method of claim 22, where the characteristic indicates the identity of the predetermined code scheme.

27. The method of claim 22, where the characteristic indicates a shift in the identity of the predetermined code scheme.

28. The method of claim 22, where the characteristic indicates a shift in the wavelength set used by the set of wavelengths.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the key region is characterized by a unique appearance relative to other regions.

30. The method as in claim 22, where disposing comprises applying at least one of the plurality of regions and the key region to the article by printing using a plurality of different fluorescent inks.

31. The method as in claim 22, where disposing comprises applying at least one of the plurality of regions and the key region to the article by printing onto a label using a plurality of different fluorescent inks, and then affixing the label to the article.

32. A method for decoding information encoded onto an article, the method comprising:

illuminating the article with excitation light;

forming a two-dimensional image of encoded information on the article, the encoded information comprising a plurality of regions wherein each one of the plurality of regions emits one of a plurality of predetermined wavelengths comprising a set of wavelengths;

recognizing at least one predetermined wavelength associated with at least one key region, the key region bearing information regarding on at least one characteristic of the encoded information; and

,

processing said two-dimensional image in accordance with the at least one characteristic to produce decoded information.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein processing comprises identifying the orientation of the encoded information.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein processing comprises identifying a start of the encoded information.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein processing comprises identifying an end of the encoded information.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein processing comprises identifying wavelengths used to encode the information.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein processing comprises identifying the coding scheme used to encode the information.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein processing further comprises changing coding schemes.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein processing further comprises changing wavelength assignments.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein processing comprises decoding a linear array of the plurality of regions.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein processing comprises decoding multiple layers of the linear array.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein processing comprises decoding a two dimensional array of the plurality of regions.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein processing comprises decoding a two dimensional array of a plurality of regions by horizontal priority, wherein each of said regions emits one of a plurality of predetermined wavelengths comprising a first set of wavelengths.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein processing comprises decoding a two dimensional array of a plurality of regions by vertical priority, wherein each of said regions emits one of a plurality of predetermined wavelengths comprising a first set of wavelengths.

47. The marking of claim 46, where the characteristic indicates at least one of the orientation of the encoded information, the start of the encoded information, the end of the encoded information, the predetermined wavelengths, the predetermined code scheme, a shift in the predetermined code scheme and a shift in the set of wavelengths associated with the plurality of regions.

48. The marking of claim 46, comprising:

at least one plurality of second regions disposed in a predetermined code scheme at least partially over said plurality of regions, wherein each of said second regions emits one of a plurality of predetermined wavelengths comprising a second set of wavelengths; and

,

at least one key region in at least one of said plurality of regions and second regions.

49. The marking of claim 46, comprising:

the encoded information as a plurality of regions that are arranged in a linear array.

50. The marking of claim 46, comprising:

the encoded information as a plurality of regions that are arranged in a two dimensional array.

51. The marking of claim 46, wherein the at least one key region is characterized by a unique appearance relative to the other regions.

52. The marking as in claim 46, where at least one of the plurality of regions and the key region are printed using a plurality of different fluorescent inks.

45. A method for sorting articles, the method comprising:

illuminating each article with excitation light;

forming a two-dimensional image of encoded information on the article;

recognizing at least one predetermined wavelength associated with at least one key region, the key region bearing information regarding at least one characteristic of the encoded information;

entering a routine based upon the at least one characteristic for processing said two dimensional image to produce decoded information; and

,

sorting each article from the decoded information.

46. A marking for an article containing encoded information, the marking comprising:

information encoded in accordance with at least one predetermined code scheme;

the encoded information comprising a plurality of regions arranged in a linear array wherein each of said regions emits one of a plurality of predetermined wavelengths comprising a first set of wavelengths; and

,

a key region that emits a predetermined wavelength for indicating at least one characteristic of said encoded information.

53. A system for decoding information encoded onto an article, the system comprising:

a source of illumination;

imaging means for forming a two-dimensional image of encoded information affixed to said article;

processing means recognizing at least one predetermined wavelength associated with at least one key region contained in the two-dimensional image, the key region being associated with at least one characteristic of the encoded information and processing said two-dimensional image in accordance with the recognized key region to produce decoded information.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein processing comprises identifying at least one of the orientation of the encoded information, the start of the encoded information, the end of the encoded information, the predetermined wavelengths, the predetermined code scheme, a shift in the predetermined code scheme, and a shift in the set of wavelengths associated with the plurality of regions.

55. A system for sorting an article, the system comprising:

a marking affixed to the article containing encoded information, the marking comprising information encoded in accordance with a linear array or a two dimensional array predetermined code scheme;

the encoded information comprising a plurality of regions, wherein each of said regions emits one of a plurality of predetermined wavelengths comprising a first set of wavelengths; and

, at least one key region that emits a predetermined wavelength for indicating at least one characteristic of said encoded information;

a source of excitation illumination directed to the article;

imaging means for forming a two-dimensional image of encoded information affixed to said article;

processing means recognizing at least one predetermined wavelength associated with at least one key code contained in the two-dimensional image, the key region being associated with at least one characteristic of the encoded information and processing said two-dimensional image in accordance with the at least one characteristic to produce decoded information; and

,

sorting means for sorting the article from the decoded information.