SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF OBJECT MEASUREMENT IN AN AUTOMATED DATA READER
First Claim
1. An automated data reading system comprising:
- a data reader configured to identify objects as they pass through one or more read zones of the data reader;
a transport mechanism to transport the objects placed thereon through one or more read zones of the data reader, the transport mechanism having a top surface on which the objects are placed and transported, the top surface defining a transport plane, wherein the transport mechanism transports the objects in a scanning direction; and
an object measurement system to measure dimensions of objects that are transported by the transport mechanism through the data reader, the object measurement system comprising;
a light plane generator disposed above the transport mechanism and operable to project a light plane vertically downward toward the transport mechanism, the light plane projected perpendicular to the transport plane and to the scanning direction, wherein the light plane produces a light stripe where the light plane strikes an object;
a camera disposed above the transport mechanism and offset from the light plane generator, the camera comprising an imager and a lens and having a field of view (FOV) directed downward toward the transport mechanism and at an angle to the light plane, the camera configured to capture image data of an object as the object passes through the light plane,wherein a position of the light stripe within the image data is used to calculate a measurement of one or more dimensions of the object.
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Abstract
Systems and methods of determining object dimensions of objects passed through a read zone of an automated data reader are disclosed. A system can include a data reader to read an optical code disposed on the objects, a transport mechanism, an object measurement system to measure dimensions of objects that are transported by the transport mechanism, a light plane generator to project a light plane that produces a light stripe on an object, and a camera to capture image data of objects and a light stripe thereon that can be processed to determine a deviation of a light stripe relative to an optical center within the image data. A deviation from the optical center is used to determine one or more dimensions of the object.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An automated data reading system comprising:
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a data reader configured to identify objects as they pass through one or more read zones of the data reader; a transport mechanism to transport the objects placed thereon through one or more read zones of the data reader, the transport mechanism having a top surface on which the objects are placed and transported, the top surface defining a transport plane, wherein the transport mechanism transports the objects in a scanning direction; and an object measurement system to measure dimensions of objects that are transported by the transport mechanism through the data reader, the object measurement system comprising; a light plane generator disposed above the transport mechanism and operable to project a light plane vertically downward toward the transport mechanism, the light plane projected perpendicular to the transport plane and to the scanning direction, wherein the light plane produces a light stripe where the light plane strikes an object; a camera disposed above the transport mechanism and offset from the light plane generator, the camera comprising an imager and a lens and having a field of view (FOV) directed downward toward the transport mechanism and at an angle to the light plane, the camera configured to capture image data of an object as the object passes through the light plane, wherein a position of the light stripe within the image data is used to calculate a measurement of one or more dimensions of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for measuring object dimensions in an automated data reading system having a transport plane on which objects are moved through the data reading system, the method comprising:
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generating a first light plane from a first position above the transport plane of the automated data reading system, the first light plane being generated to project vertically downward toward the transport plane and oriented perpendicular to the transport plane, wherein a first light stripe is produced on an object being moved on the transport plane where the first light plane strikes the object; capturing first image data of the object as the object passes through the first light plane, wherein the first image data is captured by a camera from a second position above the transport plane and offset from the first position, the camera having a field of view (FOV) directed downward toward the plane and angled toward the first light plane; processing the first image data captured by the camera to determine a position of the first light stripe within the image data; determining a deviation of the position of the first light stripe within the first image data; and calculating one or more dimensions of the object using the deviation. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for measuring object dimensions in an automated optical code reader, the system comprising:
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a first laser plane generator operable to project a first laser plane vertically downward toward a transport plane on which objects are moved through the automated optical code reader, the first laser plane oriented perpendicular to the transport plane, wherein the first laser plane produces a first laser stripe where the first laser plane strikes an object; a second laser plane generator operable to project a second laser plane vertically downward toward the transport plane, the second laser plane oriented perpendicular to the transport plane and parallel to the first laser plane, wherein the second laser plane produces a second laser stripe where the second laser plane strikes an object; a camera disposed above the transport plane and offset from the first laser plane generator and the second laser plane generator, the camera comprising an imager and a lens and having a field of view (FOV) directed downward toward the transport plane and at an angle to the first laser plane and to the second laser plane, the camera configured to capture first image data of an object as the object passes through the first laser plane and to capture second image data of the object as the object passes through the second laser plane, wherein a position of one of the first laser stripe within the first image data and the second laser strip within the second image data, relative to a position of an optical center within the first image data and the second image data, is used to determine one or more dimensions of the object.
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Specification