IMAGE-BASED INVENTORY CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100045423A1
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: FLY, David C., WEEKS, Jason L., LIPSEY, Matthew J., PHILLIPS, Preston, JACKSON, David A., GLICKMAN, Stephen L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,041,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.100
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/00 Storage means or arrangements for workshops facilitating access to, or handling of, work tools or instruments containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00; nail dispensers B25C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/028 by sliding extraction from within a common frame
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining an inventory condition of objects based on captured images are described. An exemplary inventory control system or method utilizes a highly efficient and economical approach to apply suitable imaging parameters for capturing images of a storage drawer being accessed by a user, or for manipulating the captured images of the drawer. An inventory condition of the drawer is determined based on the captured images or manipulated images.

Claims

1. An inventory control system for determining an inventory condition of objects stored in the system, the system comprising:

at least one storage drawer, each storage drawer including a plurality of storage locations for storing objects;

an image sensing device configured to capture images of the drawers;

a data storage device storing imaging parameters corresponding to each storage drawer; and

a data processor configured to;

determine an identity of a drawer being accessed by the user,

access the imaging parameters corresponding to the determined identity of the drawer, wherein the imaging parameters are used by the image sensing device in capturing an image of the drawer being accessed by the user or used by the data processor to manipulate the captured image of the drawer being accessed by the user, and

determine an inventory condition of the objects stored in the storage drawer according to the captured image or manipulated image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data processor determines the identity of the storage drawer according to an identifier unique to each storage drawer or a state of a signal generated by a sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging parameters include at lest one of exposure parameters, shutter parameters, illumination parameters and color gains.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging parameters are pre-stored in the data storage device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging parameters are pre-stored in the data storage means.

5. A imaging control method for use in a tool storage system including for controlling at least one storage drawer, each storage drawer including a plurality of storage locations for storing objects;

an image sensing device configured to capture images of the drawers;

a data storage device storing imaging parameters corresponding to each storage drawer; and

a data processor, the method comprising;

determining an identity of a drawer being accessed by the user,

accessing the imaging parameters corresponding to the determined identity of the drawer, wherein the imaging parameters are used by the image sensing device in capturing an image of the drawer being accessed by the user or used by the data processor to manipulate the captured images of the drawer being accessed by the user, and

determining an inventory condition of the objects stored in the storage drawer being accessed by the user according to the captured image or manipulated image.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data processor determines the identity of the storage drawer according to an identifier unique to each storage drawer or a state of a signal generated by a sensor.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the imaging parameters include at lest one of exposure parameters, shutter parameters, illumination parameters and color gains.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the imaging parameters are pre-stored in the data storage device.

9. An inventory control system for determining an inventory condition of objects stored in the system, the system comprising:

storage means, including a plurality of drawers, for storing objects;

imaging means for capturing images of the storage means;

data storage means device for storing imaging parameters corresponding to each storage means; and

data processing means for;

determining an identity of a drawer being accessed by the user,

accessing the imaging parameters corresponding to the determined identity of the drawer, wherein the imaging parameters are used by the imaging means in capturing an image of the drawer being accessed by the user or used by the data processing means to manipulate the captured image of the drawer being accessed by the user, and

determining an inventory condition of the objects stored in the drawer according to the captured image or manipulated image.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the data processing means determines the identity of the storage drawer according to an identifier unique to each storage drawer or a state of a signal generated by a sensor.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the imaging parameters include at lest one of exposure parameters, shutter parameters, illumination parameters and color gains.