System and method for object metrology

• US 8,381,976 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Mohideen, Mohammed Ibrahim, Cohen, Isaac
• Primary Examiner(s): Haupt, Kristy A
• Application Number:
  US12/853,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20120037705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 348/164, 348/49, 348/294, 382/118
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/894 3D imaging with simultaneous measurement of time-of-flight at a 2D array of receiver pixels, e.g. time-of-flight cameras or flash lidar
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10028 Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20221 Image fusion; Image merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 of area, perimeter, diameter or volume

Abstract

A system includes a time of flight (TOF) camera or similar device, a processor coupled to the TOF camera, and a sensor. The processor receives TOF data from the sensor. The TOF data is related to an object within range of the TOF device. The processor calculates dimensions of the object using the time of flight data.

Claims

1. A process comprising:

using time of flight (TOF) camera depth data associated with an object in the field of view of the TOF camera;

calculating, using a computer processor coupled to the TOF camera, dimensions of the object using the TOF data; and

incorporating the calculated dimensions of the object into a bar code.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a manufactured object, and comprising using the dimension data to analyze a quality of the manufactured object.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the dimension calculation comprises one or more of normalizing a view of the object and segmenting the object from a background.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein 3D geometry of a surface of the object is used for compensating a geometric distortion of an image when detecting a barcode.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein 3D geometry of a surface of the object is used for compensating a geometric distortion in an image when reading a barcode.

6. A process comprising:

using a time of flight (TOF) camera to provide depth information;

using a camera sensor to provide image color intensities;

computing an orientation and curvature of a surface of an object in a field of view of the camera;

using the surface of the object in the field of view for estimating a dimension of the object; and

adding a dimension of the object to barcode information.

7. The process of claim 6, comprising providing the depth information and image color intensities by a single sensor.

8. The process of claim 6, comprising using the object dimension for estimating a cost of transaction for handling the object.

9. The process of claim 6, comprising using the surface of the object in the field of view for compensating for a distortion in an image due to geometric properties of the surface.

10. The process of claim 9, comprising using the image for detecting and decoding a barcode.

11. The process of claim 6, wherein the object comprises a person, and computing a set of biometric characteristics for identifying the person.

12. The process of claim 6, comprising using the depth information and image color intensities for recognizing the object.

13. A system comprising:

a time of flight (TOF) device;

a processor coupled to the TOF device; and

a sensor;

wherein the processor is configured to;

receive TOF data from the sensor, the TOF data related to an object within range of the sensor;

calculate dimensions of the object using the time of flight data;

incorporate the calculated dimensions of the object into a bar code.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the TOF device comprises a hand-held device.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the TOF device comprises a TOF camera.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to cause the TOF device to transmit a plurality of short light pulses.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the TOF device is integrated with a hand-held scanner.