Dual-Imaging Battery Product Detection in Waste Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waste sorting systems face challenges in accurately identifying battery-containing products, leading to incorrect determinations and potential fires during the sorting process due to the inability to distinguish built-in batteries within containers or obstructing materials.
Innovation Solution
An object processing apparatus that captures both surface and internal images using visible light and X-rays, integrating this information to determine if a subject is a battery-containing product, thereby reducing erroneous identifications and enhancing recognition accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only surface imaging is used to identify battery-containing products, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision and reliability are insufficient leading to incorrect determinations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines surface imaging (visible light) and internal imaging (X-ray) systems into a unified object processing apparatus. The control device integrates both imaging modalities and synthesizes their data to determine whether a subject contains a battery, thereby improving identification accuracy while managing system complexity through coordinated operation of multiple imaging devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional surface imaging to three-dimensional internal structure visualization by incorporating X-ray imaging. This adds a new dimension of information about the internal composition of subjects, enabling detection of batteries hidden within containers or obstructing materials that cannot be seen from the surface
2Reliability
If only surface imaging is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of battery detection is insufficient leading to potential fires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges surface imaging and X-ray imaging capabilities into a single integrated system. The control device processes both surface and internal images together, combining the reliability of visible light imaging for surface characteristics with the penetrating power of X-rays for internal battery detection, thereby improving overall detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary that receives data from both imaging systems, processes the information, and generates determination results. This intermediary processing layer coordinates the complex dual-imaging system, managing the integration of surface and internal images to reliably determine battery presence
3Measurement precision
If dual imaging (surface and internal) is used to improve identification accuracy, then the measurement precision increases, but the loss of time for processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures both surface and internal images simultaneously or in rapid succession during the conveyance process, performing the imaging action in advance before the subject reaches the sorting point. This preliminary capture of both image types eliminates sequential processing delays and enables immediate determination
4Reliability
If dual imaging is used to reduce incorrect determinations, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates surface imaging and X-ray imaging into a unified object processing apparatus with a single control device that manages both imaging modalities. This merging approach improves determination reliability by combining multiple imaging perspectives while managing complexity through centralized control and coordinated operation of the imaging systems
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
The system effectively reduces the frequency of incorrect determinations, making it easier to identify battery-containing products and prevent their misplacement into shredders, thereby minimizing the risk of fires and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first imaging device to capture a surface of a subject to obtain a surface image
Implementation Method 2
a second imaging device to capture an internal object in the subject to obtain an internal image
Data Source
AI summary
An object processing apparatus includes a first imaging device to capture a surface of a subject to obtain a surface image. The object processing apparatus includes a second imaging device to capture an internal object in the subject to obtain an internal image. The object processing apparatus includes circuitry configured to determine whether the subject is a battery-containing product that has a built-in battery based on the surface image and the internal image to generate a determination result. The object processing apparatus includes a processing device to operate based on the determination result.