Image Reading Device Shape Measurement via Dual Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reading devices struggle to accurately measure the shape of three-dimensional objects using only image data from scanner units or capturing units, as each method has limitations in dimensional and positional accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The integration of both scanner and capturing units in an image reading device, which scans the object from below and captures images from above, allows for simultaneous acquisition of image data to perform shape measurement processes, utilizing equations and disparity image generation to calculate heights and dimensions with high accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only scanner unit or capturing unit is used for shape measurement, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a scanner unit and a capturing unit into a single image reading device. The scanner unit scans the mounting table to obtain first image data, while the capturing unit captures the to-be-scanned object to obtain second image data. By merging these two different imaging approaches, the system achieves high-precision shape measurement that neither unit could accomplish alone, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If scanner unit scans from below only, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to capture three-dimensional information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional scanning (scanner unit only) to three-dimensional measurement by introducing the capturing unit that captures the object from above. The shape measuring device then processes both the first image data (from below) and second image data (from above) to calculate three-dimensional shape information including height, resolving the limitation of single-view scanning.
3Measurement precision
If capturing unit is used alone, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to perspective distortion and lower dimensional accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the scanner unit to create a reference image (first image data) of the mounting table and object from below, which serves as a baseline with high dimensional accuracy. This reference copy is then combined with the capturing unit's image (second image data) to compensate for perspective distortion and achieve high-precision three-dimensional measurement.
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading device and an image forming apparatus. The image reading device includes a scanned-image acquisition unit configured to scan a mounting table to obtain image data of a to-be-scanned object placed on the mounting table, a capturing unit configured to capture an image of the to-be-scanned object to obtain image data of the to-be-scanned object, and a shape measuring device configured to perform a shape measurement process to measure a shape of the to-be-scanned object placed on the mounting table based on the image data of the to-be-scanned object obtained by the scanned-image acquisition unit and the image data of the to-be-scanned object obtained by the capturing unit. The image forming apparatus includes the image reading device and an image recording unit configured to record an image on a recording material.