Image-based inventory control system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An inventory control system for determining an inventory condition of objects stored in the system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of storage drawers, each storage drawer including a plurality of storage locations for storing objects;
an image sensing device comprising a plurality of cameras configured to capture images of the drawers;
a data storage device storing imaging parameters corresponding to each storage drawer, the stored imaging parameters comprising known reference data identifying regions of each drawer within a field of view of each of the plurality of cameras, the known reference data further including settings used in capturing the images or processing the images after they are captured; and
a data processor configured to;
determine an identity of a drawer being accessed by the user,access the imaging parameters corresponding to the determined identity of the drawer, the accessed imaging parameters including the known reference data identifying regions of the identified drawer within the field of view of each of the plurality of cameras,capture images of the drawer being accessed by the user using the plurality of cameras,determine relative positional relationships between the images captured by each camera of the plurality of cameras using the known reference data identifying regions of the identified drawer within the field of view of each of the plurality of cameras and stitch together the images captured by the plurality of cameras based on the determined relative positional relationships between the images, anddetermine an inventory condition of the objects stored in the storage drawer according to the stitched together image.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for determining an inventory condition of objects based on captured images are described. An exemplary inventory control system or method utilizes a highly efficient and economical approach to apply suitable imaging parameters for capturing images of a storage drawer being accessed by a user, or for manipulating the captured images of the drawer. An inventory condition of the drawer is determined based on the captured images or manipulated images.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An inventory control system for determining an inventory condition of objects stored in the system, the system comprising:
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a plurality of storage drawers, each storage drawer including a plurality of storage locations for storing objects; an image sensing device comprising a plurality of cameras configured to capture images of the drawers; a data storage device storing imaging parameters corresponding to each storage drawer, the stored imaging parameters comprising known reference data identifying regions of each drawer within a field of view of each of the plurality of cameras, the known reference data further including settings used in capturing the images or processing the images after they are captured; and a data processor configured to; determine an identity of a drawer being accessed by the user, access the imaging parameters corresponding to the determined identity of the drawer, the accessed imaging parameters including the known reference data identifying regions of the identified drawer within the field of view of each of the plurality of cameras, capture images of the drawer being accessed by the user using the plurality of cameras, determine relative positional relationships between the images captured by each camera of the plurality of cameras using the known reference data identifying regions of the identified drawer within the field of view of each of the plurality of cameras and stitch together the images captured by the plurality of cameras based on the determined relative positional relationships between the images, and determine an inventory condition of the objects stored in the storage drawer according to the stitched together image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A imaging control method for use in a tool storage system including a plurality of storage drawers, each storage drawer including a plurality of storage locations for storing objects;
- an image sensing device comprising a plurality of cameras configured to capture images of the drawers;
a data storage device storing imaging parameters corresponding to each storage drawer, the stored imaging parameters comprising known reference data identifying regions of each drawer within a field of view of each of the plurality of cameras, the known reference data further including settings used in capturing the images or processing the images after they are captured; and
a data processor, the method comprising;determining an identity of a drawer being accessed by the user, accessing the imaging parameters corresponding to the determined identity of the drawer, the accessed imaging parameters including the known reference data identifying regions of the identified drawer within the field of view of each of the plurality of cameras, capturing images of the drawer being accessed by the user using the plurality of cameras, determining relative positional relationships between the images captured by each camera of the plurality of cameras using the known reference data identifying regions of the identified drawer within the field of view of each of the plurality of cameras and stitching together the images captured by the plurality of cameras based on the determined relative positional relationships between the images, and determining an inventory condition of the objects stored in the storage drawer being accessed by the user according to the stitched together image. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- an image sensing device comprising a plurality of cameras configured to capture images of the drawers;
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17. An inventory control system for determining an inventory condition of objects stored in the system, the system comprising:
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storage means, including a plurality of drawers, for storing objects; imaging means comprising a plurality of cameras for capturing images of the storage means; data storage means for storing imaging parameters corresponding to each storage means, the stored imaging parameters comprising known reference data identifying regions of each drawer within a field of view of each of the plurality of cameras, the known reference data further including settings used in capturing the images or processing the images after they are captured; and data processing means for; determining an identity of a drawer being accessed by the user, accessing the imaging parameters corresponding to the determined identity of the drawer, the accessed imaging parameters including the known reference data identifying regions of the identified drawer within the field of view of each of the plurality of cameras, capturing images of the drawer being accessed by the user using the plurality of cameras, determining relative positional relationships between the images captured by each camera of the plurality of cameras using the known reference data identifying regions of the identified drawer within the field of view of each of the plurality of cameras and stitching together the images captured by the plurality of cameras based on the determined relative positional relationships between the images, and determining an inventory condition of the objects stored in the drawer according to the stitched together image. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification