Device for measuring package size
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for measuring at least one dimension of a package, the device comprising:
- a dimension measuring device extending along a measurement axis and being sized and shaped to receive a package at a measurement position, and a central processor configured to communicate with said dimension measuring device, receive dimension information, and determine said dimension;
the dimension measuring device comprising a plurality of receptor modules detachably connectable to one another;
each receptor module including a plurality of signal receptors spaced along said measurement axis;
the receptor modules being connected in series, with each receptor module being configured such that all of said plurality of receptor modules are in communication with said central processor to facilitate receipt by the central processor of dimension information;
each receptor module including its own local controller associated with the plurality of signal receptors, the local controller containing calibration information for the plurality of signal receptors.
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Abstract
A package measurement apparatus comprising three measurement devices, one for each dimension. Each measurement device comprises a plurality of signal receptor modules. Each module comprises a row of signal receptor, and a signal energy source. In a first calibration step, the outputs of each receptor are standardized to reference maximums and minimums. In a second calibration step, calibration sets of receptor outputs are created and recorded. During measurement, a measurement set of receptor outputs is obtained and matched with a calibration set of receptor outputs to determine the dimension of an object.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring at least one dimension of a package, the device comprising:
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a dimension measuring device extending along a measurement axis and being sized and shaped to receive a package at a measurement position, and a central processor configured to communicate with said dimension measuring device, receive dimension information, and determine said dimension; the dimension measuring device comprising a plurality of receptor modules detachably connectable to one another; each receptor module including a plurality of signal receptors spaced along said measurement axis; the receptor modules being connected in series, with each receptor module being configured such that all of said plurality of receptor modules are in communication with said central processor to facilitate receipt by the central processor of dimension information; each receptor module including its own local controller associated with the plurality of signal receptors, the local controller containing calibration information for the plurality of signal receptors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of calibrating a plurality of signal receptors, the method comprising the steps of:
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for each receptor, (a) exposing the receptor to a maximum signal; (b) measuring the receptor'"'"'s output from said maximum signal; (c) exposing the receptor to a minimum signal; (d) measuring the receptor'"'"'s output from the minimum signal; (e) determining a mapping function that maps the output from the maximum signal to a predetermined reference maximum and maps the output from the minimum signal to a predetermined reference minimum; (f) storing the mapping function for use in multiple measurements. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A receptor module, comprising:
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a plurality of signal receptors positioned generally in a row, and a substrate carrying said plurality; detachable connection means for connecting said receptor module to other receptor modules in series to form a dimension measuring device with signal receptors positioned along a measurement axis; the receptor module further comprising its own local controller, associated with said plurality of receptors, the local controller being configured to store calibration information for said plurality of signal receptors prior to use. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of determining the size of a dimension of an object, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing the object at a measurement location associated with a dimension measuring device comprising a line of signal receptors; actuating a signal source; obtaining a measurement set of receptor outputs; accessing stored calibration sets of receptor outputs, wherein each calibration set of receptor outputs is associated with a particular dimension size; selecting a calibration set of receptor outputs that is closest to the measurement set of receptor outputs; using the particular dimension size associated with said closest calibration set of receptor outputs, determining the size of a dimension of an object. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of calibrating a dimension measuring device that comprises a line of signal receptors, the method comprising:
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selecting a group of N adjacent receptors; positioning at least one calibration object at each of a plurality of positions within an effect area of said N adjacent receptors to simulate measured objects having edges at each of said positions; actuating a signal source when a calibration object is placed at each position; reading a calibration set of receptor outputs for each of said positions, wherein at least one output in the calibration set of receptor outputs is higher than a minimum of a corresponding receptor and a lower than a maximum of the corresponding receptor; and storing said calibration sets of outputs for use during object measurement. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification