Article Recognition Device Using Intermediary Support for Height Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Article recognition devices struggle to identify articles with heights lower than the minimum discrimination distance recognizable by the distance sensor, as they cannot specify the article area accurately in such cases.
Innovation Solution
The device includes a camera and distance sensor, with a processor configured to ignore areas below the minimum discrimination distance from the reference plane, using an installation base that supports articles at or above this distance, allowing the extraction of article areas from captured images based on distance information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the distance sensor is used to extract article area, then measurement precision is improved, but articles with height lower than minimum discrimination distance cannot be recognized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support unit as an intermediary component with a known height that is higher than the minimum discrimination distance. This support unit elevates low-height articles to a position where the distance sensor can detect them. The processor uses the support unit's height information as a reference to calculate the article's height and area, enabling recognition of articles that would otherwise be undetectable by the distance sensor alone.
2Reliability
If the minimum discrimination distance threshold is applied, then measurement reliability is improved, but recognition of low-height articles is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the reference parameter from absolute distance from the sensor to relative height from the support unit surface. By establishing the support unit's top surface as a new reference plane and using its known height as a baseline, the system can accurately determine article dimensions even when articles are below the sensor's minimum discrimination distance. This parameter transformation allows the system to retain information about low-height articles while maintaining measurement reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate recognition and settlement processing of items with heights lower than the minimum discrimination distance by extracting the article area from the image, ensuring proper identification and processing even when the item's height is below the sensor's threshold.
Implementation Method 1
a distance sensor configured to measure a distance from the reference plane to an upper surface of the article
Implementation Method 2
an image sensor configured to capture an image of the article
Data Source
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AI summary
An article recognition device includes an image interface, a distance information interface, a support unit, and a processor. The support unit supports an article at a height equal to or greater than a minimum discrimination distance of a distance sensor from a reference plane of the distance sensor and includes a member of which a distance cannot be measured by the distance sensor. The processor acquires a captured image capturing the article supported by the support unit through the image interface, acquires distance information measured by the distance sensor toward the reference plane through the distance information interface, extracts an area having a height equal to or greater than the minimum discrimination distance from the reference plane as an article area of the article from the captured image based on the distance information, and recognizes the article from an image of the article area.