Tunnel-based method of and system for identifying transported packages employing the transmission of package dimension data over a data communications network and the transformation of package dimension data at linear imaging subsystems in said tunnel-based system so as to enable the control of auto zoom/focus camera modules therewithin during linear imaging operations

• US 20030038179A1
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Tsikos, Contantine J., Zhu, Xiaoxun, Knowles, C. Harry, Au, Ka Man, Ghosh, Sankar
• Granted Patent: US 6,959,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0014 at least one surface having optical power
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0052 the light source comprising a laser diode coupling into light guides using intermediate optical elements G02B6/4204; semiconductor lasers having optical devices external to the laser cavity H01S5/005
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0085 for use with both a detector and a source , e.g. in a transceiver, G02B19/009, G02B19/0095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/009 for use with infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0095 for use with ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/10 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/095 Refractive optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/48 Laser speckle optics
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10594 Beam path
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/146 the method including quality enhancement steps
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/62 Text, e.g. of license plates, overlay texts or captions on TV images
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/144 using a slot moved over the image; using discrete sensing elements at predetermined points; using automatic curve following means
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/005 Optical components external to the laser cavity, specially adapted therefor, e.g. for homogenisation or merging of the beams or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping H01S5/026, H01S5/18388 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02325 Mechanically integrated components on mount members or optical micro-benches
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4025 Array arrangements, e.g. constituted by discrete laser diodes or laser bar H01S5/42 takes precedence

Abstract

A camera-based tunnel-type package identification system comprising at least first and second camera units, a package dimension subsystem, and a data communications network installed about a conveyor belt structure. The first camera unit is mounted above the conveyor belt structure, and has a first linear imaging subsystem with a field of view (FOV) having automatic zoom and focus imaging optics, and a first camera control computer for controlling the operation of the first linear imaging subsystem. The second camera unit is mounted below or along side of the conveyor belt structure, and has a second linear imaging subsystem with a field of view (FOV) having automatic zoom and focus imaging optics, and a second camera control computer for controlling the operation of the second linear imaging subsystem. The package dimension subsystem is mounted above the conveyor belt structure and produces package dimension data of packages being transported along the conveyor belt structure past the package dimension subsystem. The data communications network is operably connected to the first and second camera units and the package dimensioning subsystem. During system operation, the package dimension subsystem automatically generates package dimension data from transported packages, and transmits the package dimension data over said data communications network to the first and second camera units. The first camera control computer converts received package dimension data into a first set of converted package dimension data referenced with respect to a first coordinate reference system local to the first camera unit, and generates camera control signals which drive the automatic zoom and focus imaging optics of the first camera unit to enable the capture and processing of linear images of the package during transport past the first camera unit. The second camera control computer converts received package dimension data into a second set of converted package dimension data referenced with respect to a second coordinate reference system local to the second camera unit, and generates camera control signals which drive the automatic zoom and focus imaging optics of the second camera unit to enable the capture and processing of linear images of the package during transport past the second camera unit. The linear images captured by the first and second camera unit are then automatically processed so as to enable identification of the transported package By virtue of the present invention, it is now possible to intelligently control a plurality of spatially distributed auto zoom/focus cameras in a tunnel-based system using package dimension coordinates captured by a single package subsystem.

Claims

670. A tunnel-type automatic package identification system for automatically identifying packages transported along a conveyor belt structure, said tunnel-type automatic package imaging system comprising:

(a) a data communications network having a communication medium;

(b) a package dimensioning subsystem for dimensioning each said package transported along a conveyor belt structure beneath said package dimensioning subsystem, and producing package dimension data representative of the spatial dimensions of said package with respect to a first coordinate reference system;

(c) a first package identification (PID) unit mounted above said conveyor belt structure, and having

(i) a first linear imaging subsystem having a field of view (FOV) with variable zoom and variable focus characteristics, for producing linear images of packages as said packages are transported along said conveyor belt structure and beneath said first package identification unit, and

(iii) a first camera control computer operably connected to said first linear imaging subsystem and said package dimensioning subsystem, and the communication medium of said data communications network,

said first camera control computer receiving said package dimension data producing zoom and focus control signals for automatically and dynamically controlling the variable zoom and variable focus characteristics of said first linear imaging subsystem as said package is transported beneath said first PID unit, and

said first camera control computer also transmitting said package dimension data over the communication medium of said data communications network; and

(d) a second package identification (PID) unit mounted along the side of said conveyor belt structure, and having

(i) a second linear imaging subsystem having a field of view (FOV) with variable zoom and variable focus characteristics, for producing linear images of packages as said packages are transported along said conveyor belt structure and past said second PID unit, and

(ii) a second camera control computer operably connected to said second linear imaging subsystem and the communication medium of said data communications network, and

said second camera control computer receiving said package dimension data transmitted along said data communications network, converting said package dimension data into package dimension data referenced with respect a second coordinate reference system, and producing zoom and focus control signals for automatically and controlling the variable zoom and variable focus characteristics of said second linear imaging subsystem as said package is transported past said second PID unit.

671. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 670, wherein said first linear imaging subsystem comprises a first planar laser illumination (PLIIM) based linear camera subsystem having a linear image detection array.

672. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 670, wherein said second linear imaging subsystem comprises a second planar laser illumination (PLIIM) based linear camera subsystem having a linear image detection array.

673. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 670, wherein said package dimensioning subsystem comprises a LADAR-based package dimensioning subsystem having means for producing an amplitude modulated (AM) laser scanning beam for scanning the surface of each said package as said package is transported under said first PID unit.

674. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 670, wherein said data communications network comprises a local area network supporting the Ethernet networking protocol.

675. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 670, wherein said first coordinate reference system is a global coordinate reference system symbolically embedded within the structure of said first PID unit, and said second coordinate reference system is a local coordinate reference system symbolically embedded within the structure of said second PID unit.

676. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 670, wherein said package dimension data comprises package height, width, and length coordinate data.

677. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 670, wherein said first PID unit further comprises a package velocity mechanism for measuring the velocity of each said package as said package is transported beneath said first PID unit and producing package velocity data that is provided to said first camera control computer for transmission along the communication medium of said data communications network.

678. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 677, wherein said package velocity mechanism is integrated within said package dimensioning subsystem.

679. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 678, wherein said package dimensioning subsystem is integrated within said first PID unit.

680. A tunnel-type automatic package identification system for automatically identifying packages transported along a conveyor belt structure, said tunnel-type automatic package imaging system comprising:

(a) a data communications network having a communication medium;

(b) a package dimensioning subsystem for dimensioning each said package transported along a conveyor belt structure beneath said package dimensioning subsystem, and producing package dimension data representative of the spatial dimensions of said package with respect to a first coordinate reference system;

(c) a first package identification (PID) unit mounted above said conveyor belt structure, and having

(i) a first linear imaging subsystem having a field of view (FOV) with variable zoom and variable focus characteristics, for producing linear images of packages as said packages are transported along said conveyor belt structure and beneath said first package identification unit, and

(iii) a first camera control computer operably connected to said first linear imaging subsystem and said package dimensioning subsystem, and the communication medium of said data communications network,

said first camera control computer receiving said package dimension data producing zoom and focus control signals for automatically and dynamically controlling the variable zoom and variable focus characteristics of said first linear imaging subsystem as said package is transported beneath said first PID unit, and

said first camera control computer also transmitting said package dimension data over the communication medium of said data communications network; and

(d) a second package identification (PID) unit mounted below said conveyor belt structure, and having

(i) a second linear imaging subsystem having a field of view (FOV) with variable zoom and variable focus characteristics, for producing linear images of packages as said packages are transported along said conveyor belt structure and past said second PID unit, and

(ii) a second camera control computer operably connected to said second linear imaging subsystem and the communication medium of said data communications network, and

said second camera control computer receiving said package dimension data transmitted along said data communications network, converting said package dimension data into package dimension data referenced with respect a second coordinate reference system, and producing zoom and focus control signals for automatically and controlling the variable zoom and variable focus characteristics of said second linear imaging subsystem as said package is transported past said second PID unit.

681. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 680, wherein said first linear imaging subsystem comprises a first planar laser illumination (PLIIM) based linear camera subsystem having a linear image detection array.

682. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 680, wherein said second linear imaging subsystem comprises a second planar laser illumination (PLIIM) based linear camera subsystem having a linear image detection array.

683. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 680, wherein said package dimensioning subsystem comprises a LADAR-based package dimensioning subsystem having means for producing an amplitude modulated (AM) laser scanning beam for scanning the surface of each said package as said package is transported under said first PID unit.

684. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 680, wherein said data communications network comprises a local area network supporting the Ethernet networking protocol.

685. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 680, wherein said first coordinate reference system is a global coordinate reference system symbolically embedded within the structure of said first PID unit, and said second coordinate reference system is a local coordinate reference system symbolically embedded within the structure of said second PID unit.

686. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 680, wherein said package dimension data comprises package height, width, and length coordinate data.

687. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 680, wherein said first PID unit further comprises a package velocity mechanism for measuring the velocity of each said package as said package is transported beneath said first PID unit and producing package velocity data that is provided to said first camera control computer for transmission along the communication medium of said data communications network.

688. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 687, wherein said package velocity mechanism is integrated within said package dimensioning subsystem.

689. The tunnel-type automatic package identification system of claim 688, wherein said package dimensioning subsystem comprises a LADAR-based package dimensioning subsystem having means for producing a pair of spaced-part amplitude modulated (AM) laser scanning beams for scanning the surface of each said package as said package is transported under said first PID unit.

690. A camera-based tunnel-type package identification system comprising:

a first camera unit mounted above a conveyor belt structure, and having a first linear imaging subsystem with a field of view (FOV) having automatic zoom and focus imaging optics, and a first camera control computer for controlling the operation of said first linear imaging subsystem;

a second camera unit mounted above a conveyor belt structure, and having a second linear imaging subsystem with a field of view (FOV) having automatic zoom and focus imaging optics, and a second camera control computer for controlling the operation of said second linear imaging subsystem;

a package dimension subsystem for producing package dimension data of packages being transported past said package dimension subsystem;

a data communications network operably connected to said first and second camera units and said package dimensioning subsystem;

wherein said package dimension subsystem generates package dimension data, and transmits said package dimension data to said first and second camera units over said data communications network, and

wherein said first camera control computer converts received package dimension data into a first set of converted package dimension data referenced with respect to a first coordinate reference system local to said first camera unit, and generates camera control signals which drive said automatic zoom and focus imaging optics of said first camera unit to enable the capture and processing of linear images of said package during transport past said first camera unit and the subsequent processing of said linear images captured by said first camera unit to enable identification of said transported package; and

wherein said second camera control computer converts received package dimension data into a second set of converted package dimension data referenced with respect to a second coordinate reference system local to said second camera unit, and generates camera control signals which drive said automatic zoom and focus imaging optics of said second camera unit to enable the capture and processing of linear images of said package during transport past said second camera unit and the subsequent processing of said linear images captured by said second camera unit to enable identification of said transported package.

691. The camera-based tunnel-type package identification system of claim 690, which further comprises a package velocity detection subsystem operably connected to the communication medium of said data communication network, and for producing package velocity data of packages being transported past said package velocity detection subsystem, and transmitting said package velocity data along the communication medium of said data communication network.

692. A camera-based tunnel-type object identification system comprising:

a plurality of auto-zoom/auto-focus camera subsystems, each said auto-zoom/auto-focus camera subsystem utilizing a package-dimension data driven camera control computer for automatic controlling the zoom and focus characteristics of said auto-zoom/auto-focus camera subsystem in a real-time manner.

693. A method of automatically identifying objects transported along a conveyor belt structure, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) dimensioning an object transported along a conveyor belt structure, producing object dimension data representative of the spatial dimensions of said object with respect to a first coordinate reference system, and transmitting said object dimension data along a data communications network;

(b) using a first linear imaging subsystem having a field of view (FOV) with variable zoom and variable focus characteristics and mounted above said conveyor belt structure, to produce linear images of said object as said object is being transported along said conveyor belt structure;

(c) using a second linear imaging subsystem having a field of view (FOV) with variable zoom and variable focus characteristics and mounted along the side of said conveyor belt structure, to produce linear images of said object as said object is being transported along said conveyor belt structure;

(d) at said first linear imaging subsystem, receiving said object dimension data transmitted along said data communications network, and producing zoom and focus control signals for automatically and dynamically controlling the variable zoom and variable focus characteristics of said first linear imaging subsystem as said object is transported along said conveyor belt structure; and

(e) at said second linear imaging subsystem, receiving said object dimension data transmitted along said data communications network, converting said object dimension data into object dimension data referenced with respect a second coordinate reference system, and producing zoom and focus control signals for automatically and controlling the variable zoom and variable focus characteristics of said second linear imaging subsystem as said object is transported along said conveyor belt structure; and

(f) whereby said one or both of said first and second linear imaging subsystems captures a sequence of linear images of said object, processes said sequence of linear images to recognize object identification indicia on the surface of said object, and thereby automatically identifies said transported object.

694. The method of claim 693, wherein said first linear imaging subsystem comprises a first planar laser illumination (PLIIM) based linear camera subsystem having a linear image detection array with said FOV.

695. The method of claim 693, wherein said second linear imaging subsystem comprises a second planar laser illumination (PLIIM) based linear camera subsystem having a linear image detection array with said FOV.

696. The method of claim 693, wherein step (a) comprises producing an amplitude modulated (AM) laser scanning beam for scanning the surface of said object as said object is transported along said conveyor belt structure.

697. The method of claim 694, wherein said data communications network comprises a local area network supporting the Ethernet networking protocol.

698. The method of claim 693, wherein said first coordinate reference system is a global coordinate reference system symbolically embedded within the structure of said first linear imaging subsystem, and said second coordinate reference system is a local coordinate reference system symbolically embedded within the structure of said second linear imaging subsystem.

699. The method of claim 693, wherein said object dimension data comprises object height, width, and length coordinate data.

700. The method of claim 693, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring the velocity of each said object as said object is transported along said conveyor belt structure, and producing object velocity data that is transmitted along the communication medium of said data communications network.

701. A method of automatically identifying objects transported along a conveyor belt structure, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) dimensioning an object transported along a conveyor belt structure, producing object dimension data representative of the spatial dimensions of said object with respect to a first coordinate reference system, and transmitting said object dimension data along a data communications network;

(b) using a first linear imaging subsystem having a field of view (FOV) with variable focus characteristics and mounted above said conveyor belt structure, to produce linear images of said object as said object is being transported along said conveyor belt structure;

(c) using a second linear imaging subsystem having a field of view (FOV) with variable focus characteristics and mounted along the side of said conveyor belt structure, to produce linear images of said object as said object is being transported along said conveyor belt structure;

(d) at said first linear imaging subsystem, receiving said object dimension data transmitted along said data communications network, and producing focus control signals for automatically and controlling the variable focus characteristics of said first linear imaging subsystem as said object is transported along said conveyor belt structure; and

(e) at said second linear imaging subsystem, receiving said object dimension data transmitted along said data communications network, converting said object dimension data into object dimension data referenced with respect a second coordinate reference system, and producing focus control signals for automatically and controlling the variable focus characteristics of said second linear imaging subsystem as said object is transported along said conveyor belt structure; and

(f) whereby said one or both of said first and second linear imaging subsystems captures a sequence of linear images of said object, processes said sequence of linear images to recognize object identification indicia on the surface of said object, and thereby automatically identifies said transported object.

702. The method of claim 701, wherein said first linear imaging subsystem comprises a first planar laser illumination (PLIIM) based linear camera subsystem having a linear image detection array with said FOV.

703. The method of claim 701, wherein said second linear imaging subsystem comprises a second planar laser illumination (PLIIM) based linear camera subsystem having a linear image detection array with said FOV.

704. The method of claim 701, wherein step (a) comprises producing an amplitude modulated (AM) laser scanning beam for scanning the surface of said object as said object is transported along said conveyor belt structure.

705. The method of claim 701, wherein said data communications network comprises a local area network supporting the Ethernet networking protocol.

706. The method of claim 701, wherein said first coordinate reference system is a global coordinate reference system symbolically embedded within the structure of said first linear imaging subsystem, and said second coordinate reference system is a local coordinate reference system symbolically embedded within the structure of said second linear imaging subsystem.

707. The method of claim 701, wherein said object dimension data comprises object height, width, and length coordinate.

708. The method of claim 701, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring the velocity of each said object as said object is transported along said conveyor belt structure, and producing object velocity data that is transmitted along the communication medium of said data communications network.