Method and Apparatus for Verifying Two Dimensional Mark Quality
First Claim
1. A method for applying a two dimensional mark on a first surface of a component and assessing mark quality, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a component with a first surface at a first station;
applying a two dimensional mark to the first surface at the first station wherein the applied mark is intended to codify a first information subset;
obtaining an image of the applied two dimensional mark at the first station;
performing a mark quality assessment on the mark in the obtained image; and
performing a secondary function as a result of the mark quality assessment.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for applying a two dimensional mark on a first surface of a component and assessing mark quality, the method including the steps of positioning a component with a first surface at a first station, applying a two dimensional mark to the first surface at the first station wherein the applied mark is intended to codify a first information subset, obtaining an image of the applied two dimensional mark at the first station, performing a mark quality assessment on the obtained image and performing a secondary function as a result of the mark quality assessment.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for applying a two dimensional mark on a first surface of a component and assessing mark quality, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a component with a first surface at a first station; applying a two dimensional mark to the first surface at the first station wherein the applied mark is intended to codify a first information subset; obtaining an image of the applied two dimensional mark at the first station; performing a mark quality assessment on the mark in the obtained image; and performing a secondary function as a result of the mark quality assessment. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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2-4. -4. (canceled)
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19. A method for assessing quality of a two dimensional mark that is applied to a first surface of a component, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a two dimensional mark on a first surface of a component; b. providing a handheld mark reader that includes a field of view; c. positioning the handheld reader with respect to the component such that the first surface is in the field of view; d. obtaining an image of the two dimensional mark; e. attempting to decode the image to obtain an applied mark information subset; f. when the image is successfully decoded; i. assessing the degree of at least one irregularity in the mark in the obtained image; and ii. when the degree of the at least one irregularity exceeds a tolerable level, providing a feedback signal indicating that the handheld reader should be repositioned. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for assessing quality of a two dimensional mark that is applied to a first surface of a component, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a two dimensional mark on a first surface of a component; b. providing a handheld mark reader that includes a field of view; c. positioning the handheld reader with respect to the component such that the first surface is in the field of view; d. obtaining an image of the two dimensional mark; e. attempting to decode the image to obtain an applied mark information subset; f. when the image is successfully decoded; i. assessing the degree of at least one irregularity in the mark in the obtained image; and ii. when the degree of the at least one irregularity exceeds a tolerable level, attempting to compensate at least in part for the irregularity thereby generating a compensated mark, gleaning mark quality characteristics from the compensated mark and using the gleaned characteristics to calculate an applied mark quality value. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for assessing the quality of a two dimensional mark applied to a first surface of a component using a handheld reader that includes a field of view, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a component with a two dimensional mark on a first surface wherein the applied mark is intended to codify a first information subset; (b) positioning the handheld reader with respect to the component such that the first surface is in the field of view; (c) obtaining an image of the mark using the handheld reader; (d) performing a mark quality assessment on the obtained image to generate an applied mark quality value; (e) where the applied mark quality value is lower than a baseline assessment value, providing at least one of an audible signal and a visual signal to a handheld reader user indicating that the reader should be repositioned; after the reader is repositioned, repeating steps (c) through (e) until an applied mark quality value is at least equal to the baseline assessment value; and when the applied mark quality value is at least equal to the baseline assessment value, providing at least one of an audible signal and a visual signal to the reader user indicating that the applied mark quality value is at least equal to the baseline assessment value. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29-35. -35. (canceled)
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36. A system for assessing the quality of a two dimensional mark applied to a first surface of a component, the system comprising:
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a handheld reader including a field of view, the reader for obtaining an image of the two dimensional mark when the mark is within the reader field of view; a processor for receiving reader generated images and programmed to perform a mark quality assessment process on the obtained images to generate quality assessment values associated with the images, when the quality assessment value is lower than a baseline assessment value, the processor providing one of an audible signal and a visual signal to a handheld reader user indicating that the reader should be repositioned so that a new image can be obtained and, when a quality assessment value is at least equal to the baseline assessment value, providing one of an audible signal and a visual signal to the handheld reader user indicating that the quality assessment value is at least equal to the baseline assessment value. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A method for assessing quality of a two dimensional mark that is applied to a first surface, the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining an image of the applied two dimensional mark; decoding the mark in the obtained image to generate a first information subset; using the first information subset to generate a synthetic ideal mark model; comparing the synthetic ideal mark model to the mark in the obtained image to generate a difference map; using the difference map to at least in part compensate for at least one irregularity in the mark in the obtained image thereby generating a compensated mark; and assessing the quality of the compensated mark.
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39-41. -41. (canceled)
Specification