Imaging System for Barcode Misplacement Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for systems and methods to monitor and prevent barcode misplacement, where barcodes or other indicia associated with inventory management are inadvertently affixed to an operator's appendage instead of the intended item, leading to potential errors in inventory tracking and management.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising cameras, processors, and memory that captures images of a product scanning region, analyzes them to identify indicia and determine if it is positioned on an appendage, and triggers mitigation actions such as pausing transactions or generating alerts if the indicia is found on an appendage, using a combination of two-dimensional, three-dimensional, thermal, and infrared imaging to verify the position of the indicia.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple imaging modalities (2D, 3D, thermal, infrared) are used to detect barcode misplacement, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system is divided into multiple independent imaging modules (2D camera, 3D camera, thermal camera, infrared camera), each capturing specific characteristics of the barcode and its environment. This segmentation allows each sensor to specialize in detecting particular aspects (visual appearance, spatial position, thermal signature, infrared radiation) while collectively providing comprehensive detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system integrates multiple imaging modalities into a single detection platform that can identify barcode misplacement through various physical characteristics. The multi-functional system can detect both visible barcodes and their thermal/infrared signatures, providing universal detection capability across different barcode types and placement scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Speed

If real-time image analysis is performed to identify barcode misplacement, then detection speed is improved, but computational resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection speedVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary processing of images from multiple modalities simultaneously, pre-identifying potential barcode locations and characteristics before conducting the final misplacement determination. This preliminary action reduces the computational burden of the main detection algorithm by pre-filtering and pre-processing the data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex computational analysis with pattern recognition algorithms that leverage the inherent characteristics of different imaging modalities. By using the unique signatures of each imaging type (thermal patterns, infrared radiation profiles), the system reduces computational complexity while maintaining high detection speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Effectively prevents barcode misplacement by accurately determining if the indicia is affixed to an item or an operator's appendage, reducing errors in inventory management and ensuring accurate tracking and transaction processing.

Implementation Method 1

one or more cameras...capture, by the one or more cameras, one or more images associated with a product scanning region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation detection: Light

Implementation Method 2

the one or more cameras include thermal cameras, and analyzing the one or more images to determine if the indicia is positioned on the appendage includes analyzing one or more images captured by the one or more thermal cameras

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation detection: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 3

the one or more cameras include one or more infrared cameras, and analyzing the one or more images captured by the one or more infrared cameras to determine if the indicia is positioned on the appendage includes identifying one or more blood vessels of an appendage in the images captured by the one or more infrared cameras

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS20240289764A1Systems, methods and devices for imaging-based detection of barcode misplacement

Publication Date: 2024.08.29 ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORP

AI summary

An example system for monitoring instances of barcode misplacement, comprising: one or more cameras; one or more processors; and one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: capture, by the one or more cameras, one or more images associated with a product scanning region of a indicia reader; analyze the one or more images to identify an indicia in the one or more images; responsive to identifying the indicia in the one or more images, analyze the one or more images to determine if the indicia is positioned on an appendage; and responsive to determining that the indicia is positioned on the appendage, trigger one or more mitigation actions.