Produce recognition system and method

• US 6,431,446 B1
• Filed: 07/28/1999
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Gu, Yeming, Collins, Jr., Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/362,487
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/455, 356/302, 356/328
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0272 Handheld
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/28 Investigating the spectrum using colour filters G01J3/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/501 Colorimeters using spectrally-selective light sources, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/502 using a dispersive element, e.g. grating, prism
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/51 using colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/524 Calibration of colorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/276 with alternation of sample and standard in optical path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/68 Food, e.g. fruit or vegetables
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles

Abstract

A produce recognition system and method which use an internal reference to calibrate a produce data collector. The produce data collector collects first data from an external reference, collects second and third data from an internal reference, and collects fourth data from a produce item. A computer determines a first calibration value from the first and second data and a second calibration value from the third data and applies the first and second calibration values to the fourth data to produce fifth data. The computer further obtains sixth data from reference produce data and compares the fifth and sixth data to identify the produce item.

Claims

1. A produce recognition system comprising:

a produce data collector for collecting first data from an external reference and second and third data from an internal reference, and for collecting fourth data from a produce item; and

a computer coupled to the produce data collector which determines a first calibration value from the first and second data and a second calibration value from the third data, which applies the first and second calibration values to the fourth data to produce fifth data, which obtains sixth data from reference produce data, and which compares the fifth and sixth data to identify the produce item.

2. The produce recognition system as recited in claim 1, wherein the produce data collector comprises:

a housing containing a window;

a light source within the housing having a light path oriented through the window for illuminating the external reference and the produce item;

a collector within the housing for collecting reflected light from the external reference, the internal reference, and the produce item; and

a shutter assembly inside the housing for positioning the internal reference in the light path during collection of the second and third data.

3. The produce recognition system as recited in claim 2, wherein the collector is located in the housing at an opposite end of a reflected light path from the window, and wherein the shutter assembly also positions the internal reference in the reflected light path during collection of the second and third data.

4. The produce recognition system as recited in claim 1, wherein the produce data collector comprises:

a memory for storing at least one of the first and second calibration values.

5. The produce recognition system as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer comprises a transaction terminal.

6. The produce recognition system as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer comprises a server.

7. A produce data collector comprising:

a housing containing a window;

a light source within the housing having a light path oriented through the window;

wherein the light source illuminates an external reference to obtain first data and an internal reference to obtain second data for use in determining a first calibration value;

wherein the light source illuminates the internal reference to obtain third data for use in determining a second calibration value;

wherein the light source illuminates a produce item to obtain fourth data to be calibrated by the first and second calibration values;

a collector within the housing for collecting reflected light from the external reference, the internal reference, and the produce item; and

a shutter assembly inside the housing for positioning the internal reference in the light path during collection of the second and third data.

8. The produce data collector as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

a memory for storing at least one of the first and second calibration values.

9. A produce recognition system comprising:

collecting means for collecting first data from an external reference and second and third data from an internal reference, and for collecting fourth data from a produce item; and

processing means coupled to the collecting means for determining a first calibration value from the first and second data and a second calibration value from the third data, for applying the first and second calibration values to the fourth data to produce fifth data, for obtaining sixth data from reference produce data, and for comparing the fifth and sixth data to identify the produce item.

10. A spectrometer comprising:

a housing containing a window;

a light source within the housing having a light path oriented through the window;

wherein the light source illuminates an external reference to obtain first data and an internal reference to obtain second data for use in determining a first calibration value;

wherein the light source illuminates the internal reference to obtain third data for use in determining a second calibration value;

wherein the light source illuminates an object to obtain fourth data to be calibrated by the first and second calibration values;

a collector within the housing for collecting reflected light from the external reference, the internal reference, and the object; and

a shutter assembly inside the housing for positioning the internal reference in the light path during collection of the second and third data.