Method of acquiring an image in a transparent, colored container

• US 8,670,066 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Newcomb, David, Young, Demetris P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hogue, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US13/611,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20130002841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 348 86- 95, 348125-134, 348/207.99, 348/370, 348373-376, 356/73, 356/239.4, 356/240.1, 356/427, 382/100, 382/110, 382141-152, 382/163, 382/165, 362 3- 18, 362/247, 315/292, 141/83, 53/67, 250/223.B, 235/462.42
• US Class Current: 348/370
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8816 by using multiple sources, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8822 Dark field detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8835 Adjustable illumination, e.g. software adjustable screen
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8845 Multiple wavelengths of illumination or detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8806 Specially adapted optical and illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9018 Dirt detection in containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9508 Capsules; Tablets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0627 Use of several LED's for spectral resolution
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0644 Simple baffled tube construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0655 Hemispheres
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/045 Lens hoods or shields
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/10 Image acquisition document image scanning and transmission H04N1/00; control of digital cameras H04N23/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS

Abstract

A vision system useful in acquiring images includes: a light dome having a window and a perimeter; an annular light curtain positioned within and radially inwardly from the perimeter of the light dome such that an annular gap is formed between the light dome and the light curtain; and a light ring positioned to illuminate the gap between the light dome and the light curtain. The light curtain and window are sized and positioned such that no direct light from the light ring reaches the window. The system further comprises a camera having a lens facing the window to acquire images of an object on a side of the window opposite the camera. The images acquired by the camera can then be compared to stored images to determine whether the identity of the objects (which may be pharmaceutical tablets) is as expected.

Claims

1. A method of acquiring an image of objects within a transparent, colored container, comprising:

detecting RGB values of a color of the container;

based on the detecting step, automatically determining inverse RGB values of the color of the container;

illuminating the container and the objects therein with light having substantially the inverse RGB values of the color of the container; and

acquiring the image of the objects within the container.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the container is a capped pharmaceutical vial, and the objects in the container are pharmaceutical tablets.

3. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the color of the container is amber, and the color of the illuminating light is a bluish hue.

4. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the detecting step comprises acquiring an image of the container.

5. The method defined in claim 4, wherein the automatically determining step comprises producing a histogram of the image of the container and determining the inverse RGB values of the histogram.

6. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the step of illuminating the container comprises illuminating the container with indirect light.

7. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the detecting step comprises using a sensor to detect the RGB values.

8. A method of acquiring an image of objects within a transparent, colored container, comprising:

detecting RGB values of a color of the container;

based on the detecting step, manually determining inverse RGB values of the color of the container;

illuminating the container and the objects therein with light having substantially the inverse RGB values of the color of the container; and

acquiring the image of the objects within the container.

9. The method defined in claim 8, wherein the container is a capped pharmaceutical vial, and the objects in the container are pharmaceutical tablets.

10. The method defined in claim 9, wherein the color of the container is amber, and the color of the illuminating light is a bluish hue.

11. The method defined in claim 8, wherein the detecting step comprises acquiring an image of the container.

12. The method defined in claim 8, wherein the step of illuminating the container comprises illuminating the container with indirect light.

13. The method defined in claim 8, wherein the detecting step comprises using a sensor to detect the RGB values.