Optical Code Scanner Stability Assessment During Vehicle Motion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transfer systems require dedicated movable bodies for measuring reading stability, increasing costs and decreasing work efficiency due to the need for vehicles to be stopped during stability measurement.
Innovation Solution
An optical information reading apparatus and method that perform optical code reading and stability determination processes while attached to a vehicle, using a code scanner with an optical head and decoder section, which includes a CCD image sensor and processor to determine reading stability by calculating failure rates and comparing them to predefined thresholds, allowing continuous operation without stopping the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a dedicated movable body is used for measuring reading stability, then measurement accuracy is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the optical code reading function and the reading stability measurement function into a single code scanner device. The same imaging unit and processing unit are used for both reading optical codes during vehicle operation and measuring reading stability by analyzing reading success rates, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated measurement device and thereby reducing system cost while maintaining measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The code scanner is designed to perform multiple functions: it reads optical codes during normal vehicle operation and simultaneously measures reading stability by evaluating reading success rates over time. This multi-functional design allows one device to replace what would traditionally require separate dedicated devices, reducing overall system complexity and cost
2Productivity
If reading stability measurement is performed during vehicle operation, then work efficiency is improved, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to motion
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors reading success rates and provides feedback on reading stability during vehicle operation. By accumulating reading results in real-time and comparing them against stability criteria, the system can assess reading stability without stopping the vehicle, maintaining work efficiency while using computational feedback mechanisms to ensure measurement reliability despite motion conditions
3Measurement precision
If the vehicle stops for stability measurement, then measurement accuracy is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous reading stability measurement during vehicle operation without requiring the vehicle to stop. The code scanner continuously captures images, processes optical codes, and accumulates reading success rate data throughout the vehicle's operation, maintaining uninterrupted productivity while performing stability assessments through continuous data collection and analysis
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
Enables continuous optical code reading and stability determination without increasing system costs or decreasing work efficiency, as the vehicle can move and read codes while assessing stability in real-time, preventing unintentional unreadable codes.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging unit that generates image data by imaging an object to be read
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An optical code reading process and a reading stability determining process are performed while suppressing an increase in the cost of a transfer system and avoiding a decrease in work efficiency. CCD (112) performs imaging. Processor (122) reads a one-dimensional code contained in image data taken by CCD (112), and outputs a signal when a reading process in which the number of reading successes related to the one-dimensional code reaches a determination reference value is completed. In addition, processor (122) determines reading stability during a period from the first reading success to completion of the reading process and outputs predictive maintenance information (PMI) representing a determination result of reading stability.