Embedded imaging and control system
First Claim
1. A method comprising performing the following using an imaging system embedded in a unit configured to transport an item with an item-transporting member of the unit:
- taking a picture of the item with a camera embedded in the unit when the item is being transported by the unit such that the item-transporting member and the item are in motion together;
comparing said picture with a pre-stored image of said item in real-time;
determining a quality of said item based on said comparison; and
automatically operating one or more hardware parts in said unit in response to said determining.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A stand alone imaging system is disclosed that captures undistorted, high resolution, stop-action images of objects (e.g., medicine pills) moving at automation speeds, processes the images in real time, and then performs real-time I/O based control that is a function of the image processing results. The imaging system has a form factor that enables it to be embedded inside a product (e.g., a pill dispenser). The imaging system also has a flexible I/O system so that a variety of different applications can be handled by changing only the programming and the external hardware connected to the device in which the imaging system is embedded. In the case of pill dispensing and quality control, a miniature, low cost imaging system can be embedded in a pill dispenser to obtain a pill image and then process the image in real time as the pill moves through a counting system. The embedded imaging system processes the images fast enough and with sufficient quality and resolution so as to command a pill counting mechanism to dispense or reject the pill based on the image processing results. Images of the pills can also be sent to a remote location or an archive. The embedded imaging system has sufficient processing power and I/O to control the entire pill counting mechanism. Lighting may be provided by a separate solid state lighting source which may be controlled by the embedded imaging system'"'"'s camera or operated independently. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.
141 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method comprising performing the following using an imaging system embedded in a unit configured to transport an item with an item-transporting member of the unit:
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taking a picture of the item with a camera embedded in the unit when the item is being transported by the unit such that the item-transporting member and the item are in motion together; comparing said picture with a pre-stored image of said item in real-time; determining a quality of said item based on said comparison; and automatically operating one or more hardware parts in said unit in response to said determining. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising performing the following using an imaging system embedded in a unit configured to transport an item with an item-transporting member of the unit:
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producing a picture of the item with a camera embedded in the unit when said item is being transported by said unit such that the item-transporting member and the item are in motion together; comparing in real-time said picture with a pre-stored image of said item; and automatically operating one or more hardware parts in said unit in real-time in response to said comparison. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising performing the following using an imaging system embedded in a pharmaceutical dispensing unit configured to transport a pharmaceutical item with an item-transporting member of the pharmaceutical dispensing unit:
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taking a picture of the pharmaceutical item as it is being transported by, the pharmaceutical dispensing unit such that the item-transporting member and the pharmaceutical item are in motion together; comparing said picture with a pre-stored image of said pharmaceutical item; determining a quality of the pharmaceutical item based on said comparison; operating one or more hardware parts in said pharmaceutical dispensing unit in response to said determining. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method comprising performing the following using an imaging system embedded in a unit configured to transport an item with an item-transporting member of the unit:
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taking a picture of the item with a camera embedded in the unit when the item is being transported by the unit such that the item-transporting member and the item are in motion together, wherein said taking includes operating the imaging system to take a picture of said item when said item is in a field of view of said imaging system; comparing said picture with a pre-stored image of said item in real-time; determining a quality of said item based on said comparison; and automatically operating one or more hardware parts in said unit in response to said determining.
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26. A method comprising performing the following using an imaging system embedded in a unit configured to transport an item with an item-transporting member of the unit:
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producing a picture of the item with a camera embedded in the unit when said item is being transported by said unit such that the item-transporting member and the item are in motion together; comparing in real-time said picture with a pre-stored image of said item; and automatically operating one or more hardware parts in said unit in real-time in response to said comparison, wherein said one or more hardware parts is selected from the group consisting of lighting, flippers, diverters, cameras, motors, vacuum sources and dispensers.
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Specification