Medication Dispenser Image Pattern Recognition Layout Matching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Medication dispensers are limited to specific package types and formats, failing to obtain information from non-standard packages effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and dispenser that analyze images of medication packages using pattern recognition techniques to identify and interpret information from various package types, including text and bar codes, by selecting a matching layout from stored options and adjusting lighting and camera positions for enhanced recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a medication dispenser uses a fixed format for reading medication package information, then it can reliably read standard packages, but it cannot handle different package types and formats
Solution Approach 1:
The medication dispenser is equipped with a camera and image processing capabilities that allow it to universally read multiple package types and formats. Instead of having separate reading mechanisms for different package types, the system uses a single universal image-based reading system that can adapt to various layouts through layout detection and selection from stored reference layouts.
Solution Approach 2:
The information reading system dynamically adapts to different package formats by detecting the actual layout of the medication package and selecting the corresponding reference layout from stored options. The system can adjust its reading approach based on the detected package type, making the reading process flexible rather than fixed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a medication dispenser uses image-based recognition with multiple layouts, then it can handle different package types, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Reference layouts for different package types are pre-stored in the medication dispenser's memory before actual use. When a new package type is encountered, the system can quickly match it against the pre-stored reference layouts rather than creating new layouts from scratch, reducing the computational burden and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses reference layouts that are copies or templates of expected package formats. Instead of developing complex algorithms to interpret every possible package format from scratch, the system creates and stores reference copies of common package layouts and matches incoming packages against these references, simplifying the recognition process.
3Measurement precision
If the dispenser captures multiple images to ensure accurate reading, then information retrieval accuracy improves, but the time required for dispensing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures images of the medication package at an earlier stage, before the actual dispensing action. This allows sufficient time for image processing and layout detection without rushing the dispensing process. The multi-image capture and analysis are performed in advance, ensuring accuracy is achieved without compromising dispensing timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The image capture and processing operations are performed rapidly and efficiently, skipping unnecessary delays. The system captures the required images and processes them through automated layout detection and matching algorithms quickly, ensuring that the time added to the dispensing process is minimized while still achieving high reading accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for obtaining information from a medication package. In the method, an image of the medication package is provided, the image is analyzed to determine positions and formats of patterns in the image, a layout, which has similar pattern formats in the same positions as the image, is selected from a set of layouts stored in the medication dispenser, the selected layout defining the type of information for each pattern in the image, and the information contained in at least one of the patterns of the image is interpreted by linking the content of the pattern to the type of information defined in the selected layout. The invention also relates to a medication dispenser.