Barcode scanning and dimensioning

• US 9,805,240 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Zheng, Hao, Koch, David S., Jia, Zhiheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D
• Application Number:
  US15/131,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20170300734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 23546209, 2354621, 23546211, 2354622
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10792 Special measures in relation to the object to be scanned
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1447 extracting optical codes from image or text carrying said optical code
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Implementations relate to a device and method for barcode scanning and dimensioning. In some implementations, the method includes acquiring a two-dimensional (2D) preview image of an object, and processing the 2D preview image to determine one or more dark areas and to determine a location of a code on the object. The method also includes acquiring a three-dimensional (3D) image of the object based on the one or more dark areas, and processing the 3D image to determine depth data and to determine dimensions of the object. The method also includes acquiring a 2D data capture image of the object based on the depth data in the processed 3D image, where the 2D data capture image captures the code. The method also includes reading the code based on the 2D data capture image.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

acquiring a two-dimensional (2D) preview image of an object, wherein the 2D preview image is obtained from a 2D camera device;

processing the 2D preview image to determine a location of a code on the object;

acquiring a three-dimensional (3D) image of the object, wherein the 3D image is obtained from a 3D camera device;

processing the 3D image to determine depth data associated with the object;

acquiring a 2D data capture image of the object based on the depth data in the processed 3D image, wherein the 2D data capture image captures the code, and wherein the 2D data capture image is obtained from the 2D camera device; and

reading the code based on the 2D data capture image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the 3D camera device is an infrared camera device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising focusing a lens of the 2D camera device on the code based on the depth data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an indicator to a user, wherein the indicator guides the user to optimally position the 2D camera device relative to the object based on the depth data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a resolution of the code based on the depth data in the processed 3D image.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is a barcode.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising cropping an image of the code when the depth data in the processed 3D image exceeds a predetermined depth threshold.

8. A system comprising:

a two-dimensional (2D) camera device;

a three-dimensional (3D) camera device;

one or more processors; and

data storage containing instructions executable by the one or more processors for causing the system to perform operations comprising;

acquiring a 2D preview image of an object, wherein the 2D preview image is obtained from a 2D camera device;

processing the 2D preview image to determine a location of a code on the object;

acquiring a 3D image of the object, wherein the 3D image is obtained from a 3D camera device;

processing the 3D image to determine depth data associated with the object;

acquiring a 2D data capture image of the object based on the depth data in the processed 3D image, wherein the 2D data capture image captures the code, and wherein the 2D data capture image is obtained from the 2D camera device; and

reading the code based on the 2D data capture image.

9. A method comprising:

acquiring a two-dimensional (2D) preview image of an object, wherein the 2D preview image is obtained from a 2D camera device;

processing the 2D preview image to determine one or more dark areas;

acquiring a three-dimensional (3D) image of the object based on the one or more dark areas in the processed 2D preview image, wherein the 3D image is obtained from a 3D camera device;

adjusting at least one of an exposure time of the 3D image and a gain of the 3D image based on the one or more dark areas in the processed 2D preview image; and

processing the 3D image to determine dimensions of the object.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the 3D camera device is an infrared camera device.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying the dimensions of the object on a display device.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying the 2D preview image of the object on a display device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the processing of the 3D image comprises:

identifying one or more surfaces of the object;

determining a region of interest based on the one or more surfaces of the object; and

adjusting at least one of the exposure time of the 3D image and the gain of the 3D image based on the processed 2D preview image.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the processing of the 3D image comprises:

identifying one or more surfaces of the object; and

determining dimensions of the object based on the one or more surfaces of the object.

15. A system comprising:

a two-dimensional (2D) camera device;

a three-dimensional (3D) camera device;

one or more processors; and

data storage containing instructions executable by the one or more processors for causing the system to perform operations comprising;

acquiring a 2D preview image of an object, wherein the 2D preview image is obtained from a 2D camera device;

processing the 2D preview image to determine one or more dark areas;

acquiring a 3D image of the object based on the one or more dark areas in the processed 2D preview image, wherein the 3D image is obtained from a 3D camera device; and

processing the 3D image to determine dimensions of the object.

16. A method comprising:

acquiring a two-dimensional (2D) preview image of an object, wherein the 2D preview image is obtained from a 2D camera device;

processing the 2D preview image to determine one or more dark areas and to determine a location of a code on the object;

acquiring a three-dimensional (3D) image of the object based on the one or more dark areas, wherein the 3D image is obtained from a 3D camera device;

processing the 3D image to determine depth data and to determine dimensions of the object;

acquiring a 2D data capture image of the object based on the depth data in the processed 3D image, wherein the 2D data capture image captures the code, and wherein the 2D data capture image is obtained from the 2D camera device; and

reading the code based on the 2D data capture image.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the 3D camera device is an infrared camera device.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising focusing a lens of the 2D camera device on the code based on the depth data from the 3D image.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing an indicator to a user, wherein the indicator guides the user to optimally position the 2D camera device relative to the object based on the depth data from the 3D image.