Mail Recognition System with Diffuse LED Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for recognizing address information on physical mail face challenges due to reflections, which hinder accurate recognition, and often require complex techniques to eliminate unwanted bright spots and reflections.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a camera with a short focal length and a planar LED light source, positioned at specific angles relative to the recognition surface, with a housing designed to minimize stray light and reflections, and utilizing OCR for accurate image processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a point light source is used to illuminate the envelope at a certain angle, then the address information can be illuminated, but a bright spot reflection appears that hinders accurate recognition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful reflection component by using a diffuse light source instead of a point light source. The diffuse light source distributes illumination across multiple angles, preventing the formation of a concentrated bright spot reflection while maintaining sufficient illumination of the address information on the envelope.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the illumination parameters by transitioning from a point light source (directional, concentrated) to a diffuse light source (omnidirectional, distributed). This parameter change in light source characteristics fundamentally alters the reflection pattern, eliminating the harmful bright spot while preserving the necessary illumination for recognition.
2Area of moving object
If the camera is positioned close to the recognition surface, then the field of view increases, but stray light and reflections enter the optical path more easily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality control by positioning the diffuse light source specifically in the housing structure, creating a localized illumination zone that is separate from the camera's optical path. This spatial separation ensures that while the camera captures a wide field of view from close proximity to the recognition surface, the diffuse light source illuminates the area without introducing stray light or reflections into the camera's optical path.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a diffuse light source is used, then reflections are reduced, but the illumination uniformity must be controlled to avoid dark spots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a diffuse light source that serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides uniform illumination across the recognition surface, eliminates harmful reflections, and maintains consistent lighting intensity. The diffuse light source's inherent omnidirectional emission pattern naturally distributes light evenly across the target area while the housing structure ensures the light reaches all necessary areas uniformly without creating dark spots.
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 captures and processes address information on physical mail with improved image quality and reduced reflections, enabling reliable OCR processing and efficient distribution of mail.
Implementation Method 1
the camera is directed to the recognition surface for imaging
Implementation Method 2
a light source, a recognition surface for mail to be placed onto it
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus for recognizing address information on physical mail, the apparatus comprising a camera, a recognition surface for mail to be placed onto it, and a housing, to a process for recognizing address information on physical mail, to a system for distributing physical mail to a recipient, and to a computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium, comprising parts of code, and adapted to perform steps of the process.