Glare Reduction in Injection Pen Dose OCR via Sequential Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection devices face challenges in capturing clear images of the dosage window due to reflections from the transparent window, which interfere with optical character recognition and image quality, making it difficult to accurately monitor insulin doses and track device usage.
Innovation Solution
A supplementary device with a processor-controlled arrangement of light sources that captures multiple images under different illumination conditions, combining them to eliminate reflections and create a final image free from glare, allowing for accurate optical character recognition and improved image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a single light source is used to illuminate the dosage window, then the imaging apparatus can capture an image, but reflections from the transparent window create glare that degrades image quality and interferes with optical character recognition
Solution Approach 1:
The single light source is segmented into multiple light sources positioned at different locations around the dosage window. Each light source illuminates the window from a different angle, causing reflections to appear in different positions in the captured image. This segmentation allows the system to capture multiple images where reflections are spatially separated from the dosage information, enabling glare reduction through image combination techniques.
2Measurement precision
If multiple images are captured under different illumination conditions and combined, then glare is reduced and image quality is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple light sources and image processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple light sources are activated sequentially in a periodic manner rather than simultaneously. Each light source is turned on in turn, allowing the imaging apparatus to capture a series of images under different illumination conditions. This periodic activation simplifies the system control logic compared to managing multiple simultaneous light sources, while still achieving the benefit of reduced glare through image combination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system captures multiple copies of the same dosage window image under different illumination conditions. These image copies are then processed and combined to create a final image with reduced glare. This approach uses information copying and processing rather than requiring complex hardware modifications to the injection device itself.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the supplementary device is attached to an existing injection device, then dosage monitoring is enabled without modifying the injection pen design, but the attachment may obstruct the view of the dosage window or interfere with device operation
Solution Approach 1:
The supplementary device is designed as an attachment that nests around the existing injection device housing, embracing it without requiring modification of the injection pen. The imaging apparatus is positioned within or on the supplementary device to capture images of the dosage window through the transparent window, ensuring that the attachment provides necessary functions while maintaining access to the dosage information.
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 solution effectively reduces glare and enhances image quality, enabling accurate recognition of insulin doses and improved monitoring of injection device usage without modifying existing injection pen designs.
Implementation Method 1
Each illumination source, when activated, may result in one or more reflections from a transparent window of the injection device being visible in a field of view of the imaging apparatus
Implementation Method 2
combining into a single image multiple images captured by an imaging apparatus under different illumination conditions
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b~2a
Figure 2b~2c
AI summary
The present invention relates to a supplementary device for attachment to a pen-type drug injection device, in order to record the set and/or injected dose, the supplementary device comprising a camera configured to capture an image of the moveable dose dial sleeve of the injection device and a plurality of point light sources as well as a processor arrangement configured to control operation of the camera and plurality of light sources and to receive image data from the camera, wherein the processor arrangement is configured to activate the plurality of light sources sequentially and to combine multiple images captured by the camera under illumination by different light sources into a single image. This way, reflections which could be disturbing for an OCR process such as bright spots respectively regions of glare due to the point light sources appear in different positions in each image captured. The regions without glare from each image can thus be extracted and combined into a substantially glare free image.