Fish Length Measurement Using Baseline Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in accurately measuring the size of fish regions from captured images, as they rely on template images and pixel size detection, which limits detection accuracy and fails to provide actual size measurements.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device divides an object image by a baseline to detect measurement-use points in each area, calculating the length of line segments between these points and the baseline, and sums these lengths to determine the object's measured length.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If template image matching is used to estimate fish region sizes, then the measurement process is simplified, but measurement accuracy deteriorates because it only detects template image sizes rather than actual fish sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement process simplicityVSAvoidfish region size detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a baseline as an intermediary reference element. By setting a baseline across the fish image and calculating perpendicular distances from specific points to this baseline, the system creates a geometric mediator that transforms the measurement problem from template matching to direct coordinate-based calculation, thereby improving accuracy while maintaining process simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the template matching mechanism (visual comparison system) with a geometric calculation mechanism (coordinate-based distance calculation). This substitution eliminates the need for template images and manual matching, directly computing actual sizes from captured image coordinates, thus resolving the contradiction between simplicity and accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If pixel size detection is used to measure fish shadow size, then the measurement process is simplified, but actual size measurement capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement operation simplicityVSAvoidactual fish size detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from pixel count (2D area) to perpendicular distance from baseline (1D linear measurement). By transforming the measurement approach from counting pixels in a shadow to calculating geometric distances from a baseline, the system maintains operational simplicity while gaining the ability to measure actual fish dimensions through coordinate geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11328439B2Information processing device, object measurement system, object measurement method, and program storage medium

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 NEC CORP

AI summary

An information processing device includes a detection unit and a calculation unit. The detection unit detects, as a measurement use point, a portion that is used for prescribed length measurement of the object, in each of sectioned regions, in an object image included in the photographed image, set on both sides with respect to a reference line which is set for the object image and by which the object image is sectioned. The calculation unit calculates the length of a segment, in each of the sectioned regions, between the measurement use point and the intersection point between the reference line and a perpendicular line passing through the measurement use point and being perpendicular to the reference line. Further, the calculation unit calculates a length, in the object, to be measured, by adding together the calculated lengths of the segments.