SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING IMAGES

• US 20100128165A1
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Newcomb, David, Young, Demetris P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,284,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/370
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8816 by using multiple sources, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8822 Dark field detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8835 Adjustable illumination, e.g. software adjustable screen
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8845 Multiple wavelengths of illumination or detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8806 Specially adapted optical and illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9018 Dirt detection in containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9508 Capsules; Tablets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0627 Use of several LED's for spectral resolution
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0644 Simple baffled tube construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0655 Hemispheres
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/045 Lens hoods or shields
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/10 Image acquisition document image scanning and transmission H04N1/00; control of digital cameras H04N23/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS

Abstract

A vision system useful in acquiring images includes: a light dome having a window and a perimeter; an annular light curtain positioned within and radially inwardly from the perimeter of the light dome such that an annular gap is formed between the light dome and the light curtain; and a light ring positioned to illuminate the gap between the light dome and the light curtain. The light curtain and window are sized and positioned such that no direct light from the light ring reaches the window. The system further comprises a camera having a lens facing the window to acquire images of an object on a side of the window opposite the camera. The images acquired by the camera can then be compared to stored images to determine whether the identity of the objects (which may be pharmaceutical tablets) is as expected.

Claims

1. An imaging system, comprising:

a light dome having a window and a perimeter;

an annular light curtain positioned within and radially inwardly from the perimeter of the light dome such that an annular gap is formed between the light dome and the light curtain; and

a light ring positioned to illuminate the gap between the light dome and the light curtain;

wherein the light curtain and window are sized and positioned such that no direct light from the light ring reaches the window; and

a camera having a lens facing the window to acquire images of an object on a side of the window opposite the camera.

2. The imaging system defined in claim 1, wherein the light ring comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

3. The imaging system defined in claim 2, wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises LEDs of at least three different wavelengths.

4. The imaging system defined in claim 1, wherein the light curtain includes inner and outer walls.

5. The imaging system defined in claim 4, wherein the inner wall is dimensioned to have generally the same radius as the lens, and wherein the outer wall has a diameter that is less than a diameter defined by the plurality of LEDs.

6. The imaging system defined in claim 1, further comprising a controller associated with the light ring to control the color produced by the light ring.

7. The imaging system defined in claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to select the color of light produced by the light ring based on the color of the object.

8. The imaging system defined in claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to select the color of light produced by the light ring based on an expected identity of the object.

9. The imaging system defined in claim 1, wherein the light dome includes an anti-glare coating.

10. A method of acquiring an image of objects within a transparent, colored container, comprising:

determining an expected identity of the objects in the container;

selecting a light color based on the expected identity;

illuminating the container and the objects therein with light of the selected color; and

acquiring an image of the objects within the container.

11. The method defined in claim 10, comprising the further steps of:

comparing the image acquired in the acquiring step with a stored image corresponding to the expected identity of the objects; and

determining whether the acquired image matches the stored image.

12. The method defined in claim 10, wherein transparent, colored container is a capped pharmaceutical vial, and wherein the objects are pharmaceutical tablets.

13. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the pharmaceutical vial is of an amber color.

14. The method defined in claim 13, wherein the selected color is a bluish hue.

15. The method defined in claim 10, wherein the selected color is not substantially the inverse RGB color of the RGB color of the colored container.

16. The method defined in claim 10, wherein the step of illuminating the container comprises illuminating the container with indirect light.

17. A method of acquiring an image of objects within a transparent, colored container, comprising:

detecting the RGB values of the color of the container;

automatically determining the inverse RGB values of the color of the container;

illuminating the container and the objects therein with light having substantially the inverse RGB values of the color of the container; and

acquiring an image of the objects within the container.

18. The method defined in claim 17, wherein the container is a capped pharmaceutical vial, and the objects in the container are pharmaceutical tablets.

19. The method defined in claim 18, wherein color of the container is amber, and the color of the illuminating light is a bluish hue.

20. The method defined in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

comparing the image acquired in the acquiring step with a stored image corresponding to the identity of the objects; and

determining whether the acquired image matches the stored image.

21. The method defined in claim 17, wherein the detecting step comprises acquiring an image of the container.

22. The method defined in claim 21, wherein the automatically determining step comprises producing a histogram of the image of the container and determining the inverse RGB values of the histogram.

23. The method defined in claim 17, wherein the step of illuminating the container comprises illuminating the container with indirect light.

24. A method of acquiring an image of objects within a transparent, colored container, comprising:

detecting the RGB values of the color of the container;

manually determining the inverse RGB values of the color of the container;

illuminating the container and the objects therein with light having substantially the inverse RGB values of the color of the container; and

acquiring an image of the objects within the container.

25. The method defined in claim 24, wherein the container is a capped pharmaceutical vial, and the objects in the container are pharmaceutical tablets.

26. The method defined in claim 25, wherein color of the container is amber, and the color of the illuminating light is a bluish hue.

27. The method defined in claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

comparing the image acquired in the acquiring step with a stored image corresponding to the identity of the objects; and

determining whether the acquired image matches the stored image.

28. The method defined in claim 24, wherein the detecting step comprises acquiring an image of the container.

29. The method defined in claim 24, wherein the step of illuminating the container comprises illuminating the container with indirect light.