Drum Image Matching for Long Object Remaining Amount Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing management systems for long objects, such as cables and wires, require the attachment of a management module to a drum, incurring additional costs.

Innovation Solution

A management device that determines the remaining amount of a long object by associating image capture results with winding amounts using matching data generated during manufacturing, allowing for accurate management of the object's remaining amount through pattern recognition and machine learning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a management module is attached to the drum to manage the long object, then the remaining amount can be managed, but additional hardware cost is incurred

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremaining amount managementVSAvoidhardware cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses image capture results as a copy or representation of the actual drum and long object state. Instead of attaching physical management modules to the drum, the system captures images of the drum surface and long object patterns, then uses these image copies for analysis and remaining amount determination through pattern recognition and machine learning models.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical management module attachment system with an optical and computational system. Image capturing devices, pattern recognition algorithms, and machine learning models substitute for the physical management modules, eliminating the need for additional hardware attachment while achieving the same management function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If image capture results are used to determine remaining amount, then hardware cost is reduced, but measurement precision must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware costVSAvoidremaining amount determination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by capturing multiple images of the drum and long object at different states before the actual remaining amount determination is needed. These pre-captured images are stored and serve as reference data for future comparisons, enabling accurate remaining amount determination without requiring the drum to be in a specific state at the time of measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms where image capture results are continuously compared against reference images and machine learning models. The pattern recognition algorithm analyzes the feedback from image comparisons to iteratively refine the remaining amount determination, ensuring high measurement precision through continuous validation and adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12548137B2Management device, management method, and correspondence data generating method

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 FUJIKURA LTD

AI summary

A management device that manages a unit including a drum and a long object wound around the drum, the management device includes: a receiver that receives, from a user terminal, a captured image obtained by capturing an image of the unit; and a controller that accesses correspondence data obtained by associating each of image capture results, obtained by successively capturing images of the unit while winding the long object around the drum, with a corresponding winding amount of the long object wound around the drum at a time when the each of the image capture results was obtained. The controller determines a remaining amount of the long object based on the captured image and the correspondence data.