PHOTO ANALYTICS CALIBRATION

• US 20170011276A1
• Filed: 07/08/2016
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zest Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intelleflex Corporation
• Inventors: Mehring, Peter A., Reese, Thomas C.
• Granted Patent: US 11,030,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/56 relating to colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/68 Food, e.g. fruit or vegetables

Abstract

In one general embodiment, an article of manufacture includes an objective reference having at least two optical references. The optical references are selected from a group consisting of: a non-human-visible mark, a ruler, a spaced grid, a color calibration area, an area of reflectivity, a texture, and a pattern. In at other general embodiment, a method includes receiving an image of a product and an objective reference having at least two optical references. The optical references are selected from a group consisting of: a non-human-visible mark, a ruler, a spaced grid, a color calibration area, an area of reflectivity, a texture, and a pattern. The product is evaluated by comparing the product in the image to the optical references in the image.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture, comprising:

an objective reference having at least two optical references, the optical references being selected from a group consisting of;

a non-human-visible mark,

a ruler,

a spaced grid,

a color calibration area,

an area of reflectivity,

a texture, and

a pattern.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the objective reference includes the texture, wherein the texture corresponds to a texture of a perishable product.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the objective reference has a sample area for receiving a product thereon.

4. The article of manufacture of claim 3, wherein the sample area is configured to receive a standard volume of the product.

5. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the objective reference includes the color calibration area, wherein the color calibration area has color patches corresponding to a color range of a perishable product.

6. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the objective reference includes the area of reflectivity.

7. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the objective reference includes optical references particular to an internal component of a product.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the optical references particular to the internal component of the product correspond to an internal portion of a food item.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the objective reference includes the non-human-visible marks for authentication of the objective reference.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving an image of a product and an objective reference having at least two optical references, the optical references being selected from a group consisting of;

a non-human-visible mark,

a ruler,

a spaced grid,

a color calibration area,

an area of reflectivity,

a texture, and

a pattern; and

evaluating the product by comparing the product in the image to the optical references in the image.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising receiving a second image of the product and the objective reference taken at a different time, and determining a relative change in a characteristic of the product.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising determining a delivery destination based on the evaluation of the product.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the product is a perishable food product.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the objective reference includes the non-human-visible mark, and comprising authenticating the objective reference using the non-human-visible mark.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein evaluating the product further includes considering an environmental condition near the product in transit.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein evaluating the product further includes considering a transit time of the product.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the evaluation is used as proof for an insurance claim.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the objective reference includes the color calibration area, wherein the evaluation includes detecting a color resulting from contact of the product with a substance and comparing the color to the color calibration area.

19. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions thereon for causing a computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving an image of a product and an objective reference having at least two optical references, the optical references being selected from a group consisting of;

a non-human-visible mark,

a ruler,

a spaced grid,

a color calibration area,

an area of reflectivity,

a texture, and

a pattern; and

evaluating the product by comparing the product in the image to the optical references in the image.