Hand-held produce recognition system and produce data collector

• US 6,501,547 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Spencer, Michael A., Collins, Jr., Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAUCHMAN, LAYLA G
• Application Number:
  US09/507,369
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 356/328, 356/326, 356/430, 356/428, 356/446, 356/240, 356/416, 356/402-411, 356/300, 356/319, 235/462.06, 235/462.11
• US Class Current: 356/328
• 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 3/42 Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry beam switching arrangements G01J3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/502 using a dispersive element, e.g. grating, prism
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/251 Colorimeters; Construction thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/17 using hand-held instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/68 Food, e.g. fruit or vegetables

Abstract

A hand-held produce data collector which captures wavelength information from a produce item. The produce data collector includes a light emitter for illuminating a produce item, collecting optics for collecting light reflected from the produce item and separating the reflected light into a plurality of wavelength portions of light, a photosensor for capturing wavelength information from the wavelength portions of light, control circuitry, and a hand-held housing containing the light emitter, the collecting optics, the photosensor, and the control circuitry. The control circuitry may store reference wavelength information and compare the captured wavelength information to the reference wavelength information to identify the produce item.

Claims

1. A portable data collector comprising:

a light emitter for illuminating a produce item;

collecting optics for collecting light reflected from the produce item and separating the reflected light into a plurality of wavelength portions of light;

a photosensor for capturing wavelength information from the wavelength portions of light;

control circuitry; and

a hand-held housing containing the light emitter, the collecting optics, the photosensor, and the control circuitry.

2. The data collector as recited in claim 1, wherein the light emitter comprises a number of light emitting diodes which together produce substantially white light.

3. The data collector as recited in claim 1, wherein the light emitter comprises:

a light source external to the housing; and

an optical cable which routes light from the light source into the housing.

4. The data collector as recited in claim 1, wherein the collecting optics comprises a spectrometer.

5. The data collector as recited in claim 1, wherein the control circuitry comprises:

an analog-to-digital converter for converting analog electrical signals from the photodetector into digital wavelength information;

a memory for storing reference wavelength information; and

a processor for comparing the digital wavelength information to the reference wavelength information to identify the produce item.

6. The data collector as recited in claim 1, further comprising a trigger for initiating operation of the light source and collection of the wavelength information.

7. The data collector as recited in claim 1, further comprising a power supply for providing power to the control circuitry.

8. The data collector as recited in claim 7, wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

9. The data collector as recited in claim 1, further comprising communication circuitry for receiving reference wavelength information from a computer.

10. The data collector as recited in claim 9, wherein the communication circuitry comprises wireless RF communication circuitry.

11. The data collector as recited in claim 9, wherein the communication circuitry also sends the wavelength information to the computer.

12. The data collector as recited in claim 9, wherein the communication circuitry also sends produce item identification information to the computer.

13. The data collector as recited in claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying produce item identification information by the control circuitry.

14. The data collector as recited in claim 1, further comprising an ambient light sensor for initiating capture of wavelength information.

15. A portable data collector comprising:

a light emitter for illuminating a produce item;

a spectrometer for collecting light reflected from the produce item and separating the reflected light into a plurality of wavelength portions of light;

a photosensor for capturing wavelength information from the wavelength portions of light and for producing corresponding analog electrical signals;

an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog electrical signals into digital wavelength information;

a memory for storing the digital wavelength information;

a processor; and

a hand-held housing containing the spectrometer, the photosensor, the analog-to-digital converter, the memory, and the processor.

16. The portable data collector as recited in claim 15, further comprising a trigger switch for initiating collection of the digital wavelength information.

17. The portable data collector as recited in claim 15, further comprising a battery in the housing for providing power.

18. The portable data collector as recited in claim 15, further comprising a communication circuit for exchanging information with a computer.

19. The portable data collector as recited in claim 15, further comprising an ambient light sensor for initiating collection of the digital wavelength information.

20. The portable data collector as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a display controlled by the processor;

wherein the processor compares the digital wavelength information to reference wavelength information to identify the produce item and display produce identification information.

21. A method of collecting produce data comprising the steps of:

providing a hand-held housing;

illuminating a produce item through an aperture in the housing;

collecting light reflected from the produce item;

separating the reflected light into a plurality of wavelength portions of light;

generating electrical signals for the wavelength portions of light; and

converting the electrical signals to digital wavelength information.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

generating the electrical signals in response to actuation of a trigger in the housing.

23. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of:

providing power for generating the electrical signals by a battery.

24. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

sensing a drop in ambient light below a predetermined threshold; and

generating the electrical signals in response to the drop in ambient light.

25. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of:

sending the digital wavelength information to a computer.

26. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

receiving reference digital wavelength information from a computer; and

comparing the digital wavelength information to the reference digital wavelength information to identify a produce item.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, further comprising the step of:

displaying identification information.

28. The method as recited in claim 26, further comprising the step of:

sending the identification information to the computer.