Indicia Reading Terminal Spatial Measurement Calibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional imaging systems for spatial measurements in transportation and shipping face inaccuracies due to manufacturing tolerances, which affect the alignment and parallelism of light formations, leading to unreliable dimensioning and distance measurements.

Innovation Solution

An indicia reading terminal that records setup data at various terminal-to-target distances, allowing for accurate spatial measurements by utilizing pixel positions and linear interpolation to normalize changes in pixel distances resulting from deviation angles, ensuring measurements are independent of the terminal-to-target distance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional imaging systems use fixed light formation alignment, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to manufacturing tolerances affecting parallelism

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial measurement accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calibration by capturing images of the light formations at multiple known terminal-to-target distances during setup. These calibration images are used to establish the relationship between pixel distances and actual physical distances, storing the data for later use in normalizing measurements during actual operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of terminal-to-target distance during calibration, capturing images at multiple distinct distances. This allows the system to characterize how pixel distances vary with distance and manufacturing tolerances, enabling subsequent normalization of measurements to compensate for alignment deviations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system operates at variable terminal-to-target distances, then adaptability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to changes in pixel distances from deviation angles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance range flexibilityVSAvoiddimensioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from calibration data captured at multiple distances to normalize measurements during actual operation. By comparing observed pixel distances against the calibration relationship, the system calculates correction factors that compensate for deviation angle effects, maintaining measurement precision across variable distances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-characterizes the relationship between terminal-to-target distance and pixel distance measurements during setup mode. This preliminary characterization enables the system to adapt to variable operating distances while maintaining precision by applying distance-specific normalization based on the pre-established calibration data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 provides highly accurate dimensioning and spatial measurements by compensating for manufacturing tolerances, ensuring precise calculations of width, length, and height, even when light formations deviate from their intended parallelism, thus improving measurement reliability.

Implementation Method 1

an imaging lens focusing an image of an article within said field of view onto said image sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight focusing: Lens

Implementation Method 2

a light generating assembly projecting at least a first light formation onto said article for determining dimension information of said article

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight projection: Light

Data Source

PatentEP2023079B1Indicia reading terminal having spatial measurement functionality
Publication Date: 2018.01.03 HAND HELD PRODS INC
  • EP2023079B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2023079B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2023079B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

There is provided in one embodiment an indicia reading terminal that can execute a spatial measurement mode of operation in which the indicia reading terminal can determine a dimension of an article in a field of view of the indicia reading terminal and/or determine other spatial information. In determining a dimension of an article, an indicia reading terminal can utilize setup data determined in a setup mode of operation and/or data determined utilizing the setup data.