Object imaging system

• US 20060067572A1
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tattile LLC
• Original Assignee: Tattile LLC
• Inventors: St. Pierre, Brian, White, Timothy, Merva, John
• Application Number:
  US11/226,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20060067572A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/152
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/145 Illumination specially adapted for pattern recognition, e.g. using gratings

Abstract

A system, method, and device for imaging and identifying attributes of an object are disclosed. The exemplary system may have the following components. A retro-reflective panel may be positioned behind the object. A light source may be used to illuminate the retro-reflective panel and the object. A camera may image light reflected by the retro-reflective panel and the object. A microprocessor may receive the images from the camera and identify attributes of the object.

Claims

1. A system for identifying an object, the system comprising:

a retro-reflective panel positioned behind the object;

a light source illuminating the retro-reflective panel and the object;

a camera imaging light reflected by the retro-reflective panel and the object; and

a microprocessor receiving the images from the camera and identifying attributes of the object.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the attributes are a width and a depth of the object.

3. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising:

a sensor for determining a height measurement of the object.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the system further comprises:

a sensor for determining a height measurement of the object wherein the microprocessor determines the volume of the object based on the height, the width, and the depth.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is centered over the retro-reflective panel.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the attributes are a dimensional profile.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a protective, translucent layer covers the retro-reflective panel.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source provides near-infrared light energy.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor determines two or more edge points to determine a line to identify an edge of the object.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor performs image-processing techniques on the images.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera is a video camera taking multiple images of the light reflected by the retro-reflective panel and the object;

and the microprocessor utilizes the multiple images to reduce error of the identified attributes of the object.

12. A method for identifying an object, the method comprising the actions of:

reflecting light from a retro-reflective panel and an object;

imaging the light reflected by the retro-reflective panel and the object with a camera; and

identifying attributes of the object by processing the imaged light with a microprocessor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the attributes are a width and a depth of the object.

14. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising the actions of:

determining a height measurement of the object.

15. The method of claim 14, the method further comprising:

a sensor for determining a height measurement of the object wherein the microprocessor determines the volume of the object based on the height, the width, and the depth.

16. A system for identifying an object, the system comprising:

a patterned panel positioned behind the object;

a light source illuminating the patterned panel and the object;

a camera imaging light reflected by the retro-reflective panel and the object; and

a microprocessor receiving the images from the camera and identifying a profile of the object.

17. The system of claim 16, the system further comprising:

a sensor for determining a height measurement of the object.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the system further comprises:

a sensor for determining a height measurement of the object wherein the microprocessor determines a width and a depth of the profile and determines the volume of the object based on the height, the width, and the depth.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the microprocessor determines two or more edge points to determine a line to identify an edge of the object.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the microprocessor performs image-processing techniques on the images.