Barcode Fragment Stitching Using External 2D Markers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Imaging-based presentation workstations struggle to read barcode symbols due to incomplete images captured during product movement, especially when barcode fragments have repetitive patterns of bars and spaces, leading to failed stitching attempts.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an imaging assembly with two-dimensional visible markers external to the barcode symbol, detected and matched by a controller to stitch together barcode fragments, even in the presence of repetitive patterns, using sequence or character matching techniques if initial methods fail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If barcode fragments are stitched using conventional sequence or character-matching algorithms, then stitching can be performed on simple patterns, but stitching fails when the barcode fragments have repetitive patterns of bars and spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces two-dimensional visible markers as intermediary reference objects placed adjacent to the barcode symbol. These markers serve as mediators that provide unique, non-repetitive reference points for stitching, allowing the system to overcome the limitations of conventional algorithms when dealing with repetitive barcode patterns. The markers are detected and matched across multiple images to establish accurate spatial relationships for fragment stitching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the reference marker information from one image to another by detecting the marker's position and characteristics in multiple images. This copying of marker data allows the system to establish correspondences between different image frames without relying on the repetitive barcode patterns themselves, enabling successful stitching of fragments from images taken at different times and angles.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple imagers are used to capture images during product movement, then more barcode fragments can be captured, but the fields of view are relatively narrow and the product is moving, making it difficult to capture the entire symbol in a single image
Solution Approach 1:
The visible markers serve as intermediary reference points that are detected in multiple images captured by different imagers. These markers provide a common reference frame that allows the system to correlate fragments from multiple imagers and time points, effectively managing the complexity of multi-imager synchronization and product movement without requiring complex coordination between the imagers themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference markers are placed on the product beforehand, before the imaging and stitching process begins. This preliminary placement of markers establishes known reference points that will be visible in multiple images, allowing the system to later reconstruct the complete barcode symbol by stitching fragments together based on the pre-established marker positions.
3Loss of information
If the imaging assembly captures images at different times during product movement, then more barcode fragments are obtained, but the stitching becomes more difficult due to product movement and changing perspectives
Solution Approach 1:
The visible markers act as intermediary reference objects that remain stationary relative to the product while the product moves through the imaging system. By detecting these markers in multiple images taken at different times and angles, the system can accurately determine the spatial relationships between fragments despite product movement, maintaining high alignment precision during the stitching process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system copies the marker position and orientation information from one image to another, creating a consistent reference framework across multiple time points. This copying of marker data allows the system to compensate for product movement and perspective changes, maintaining accurate fragment alignment even when images are captured at different times during product movement.
Data Source
AI summary
Barcode fragments of a barcode symbol to be read by an imaging-based presentation workstation are stitched together by capturing a plurality of images, each containing a barcode fragment and a plurality of features located adjacent to the barcode fragment. The features in each captured image are detected and matched. The barcode fragments are stitched together based on the matched features in the captured images. The barcode symbol is read from the stitched barcode fragments.