Multi-Pose Illumination for Printed Tag Recognition Glare Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Imaging glare significantly impairs the recognition of printed tags, such as barcodes, due to specular reflection from surfaces and varying lighting conditions, particularly in retail environments where accurate product location data is crucial.
Innovation Solution
An imaging and illumination system that employs a multi-pose external illuminator coupled with algorithmic control and processing to detect and mitigate glare regions, allowing for the acquisition of additional images under different illumination conditions to eliminate glare and enhance barcode recognition rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If imaging is performed under existing store lighting conditions, then the imaging system can operate without additional illumination equipment, but glare from specular reflection significantly impairs barcode recognition accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the illumination parameters by using multiple illuminators positioned at different angles (e.g., 45 degrees and 135 degrees relative to the imaging axis) to illuminate the barcode from different directions. This parameter change in illumination geometry allows the system to capture images where at least one view does not suffer from specular reflection glare, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining recognition accuracy and avoiding harmful glare effects.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple illuminators serve as intermediaries that mediate the lighting conditions for barcode imaging. By introducing these additional light sources at specific angles, the system creates intermediate imaging conditions that avoid the direct specular reflection path from the barcode surface to the camera sensor, thus eliminating glare while maintaining image quality for accurate recognition.
2Reliability
If multiple images are acquired under different illumination conditions to mitigate glare, then barcode recognition accuracy improves, but the time and energy required for image acquisition and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial action by acquiring multiple images under different illumination conditions only when glare is detected or suspected, rather than always acquiring multiple images. The controller analyzes the captured images and determines whether glare mitigation is necessary, thus reducing unnecessary image acquisitions and processing time while maintaining high recognition accuracy when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the controller analyzes the quality of captured images (detecting glare conditions) and automatically adjusts the illumination configuration or triggers additional image acquisitions only when necessary. This feedback-driven approach minimizes redundant imaging operations and processing time while ensuring high recognition accuracy is maintained when glare is present.
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 effectively reduces the impact of glare on barcode recognition, improving detection rates and reducing energy consumption by targeting only necessary areas, thereby enabling accurate product location data collection without pre-sorting signage.
Implementation Method 1
Glare refers to saturated regions in images typically caused by specular reflection from the surface of an object being imaged
Data Source
AI summary
Eliminate or reduce the impact of glare in printed information tag recognition applications using single- and multi-pose external illumination coupled with intelligent processing. A shelf imager can acquire shelf images for printed information tag localization and recognition. An external illuminator can provide at least one illumination condition/pose for shelf image acquisition in addition to lighting associated with the enclosed environment. A glare region of interest (ROI) detector can analyze all or a portion of the acquired shelf images for glare to determine whether additional images need to be acquired using different illumination conditions provided by the single- or multi-pose external illuminator or whether full or portion of acquired images need to be analyzed by a printed information tag locator and recognizer. A printed information tag locator and recognizer can analyze all or a portion of the acquired images to localize and recognize data printed on the printed information tags.