PTZ Camera Wide-Area Detection for Shelf Tag Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photographing systems face inefficiencies in capturing high-resolution images of shelf tags across a wide area, as controlling camera direction, zooming, and focusing on specific regions is complex and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A photographing device and method that uses a PTZ camera controlled by a processor to first capture a wide area image at low resolution to detect shelf tag regions, then focuses on specific tags at high resolution, correcting for distortion and determining an efficient photographing order to minimize movement and time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a high-resolution camera is used to photograph an entire shelf, then the resolution for recognizing shelf tags is improved, but the efficiency and time consumption are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the photographing process into two stages: first capturing a low-resolution wide-area image to identify shelf tag regions, then capturing high-resolution images only of those specific regions. This segmentation approach avoids the need to photograph the entire shelf at high resolution, thereby improving efficiency while maintaining recognition accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary low-resolution photographing to detect and locate shelf tag regions before conducting high-resolution photographing. This preliminary action enables the system to pre-identify target areas, eliminating unnecessary high-resolution capture of non-tag regions and reducing overall time consumption.
2Measurement precision
If the camera direction is moved to photograph specific shelf tag regions, then the resolution for recognizing tags is improved, but the control complexity and time consumption are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical control of camera direction with image processing and coordinate transformation. Instead of manually or mechanically adjusting camera angles and positions, the system uses software to process wide-area images, detect tag regions, calculate corresponding camera parameters, and automatically control the camera, thereby reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing step that converts coordinates from the wide-area image to the high-resolution image space. This intermediary coordinate transformation acts as a bridge between the two photographing stages, simplifying the control process by providing a mathematical mapping rather than requiring direct mechanical manipulation.
3Measurement precision
If the camera zooms in on specific shelf tag regions, then the resolution for recognizing tags is improved, but the time consumption and operational complexity are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of shelf tag regions using low-resolution wide-area photography before executing the zoom and high-resolution capture. This preliminary identification of target regions allows the camera to directly zoom to the correct positions without trial-and-error adjustments, significantly reducing the time required for focusing and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the wide-area image analysis to guide the subsequent high-resolution photographing. By detecting shelf tag regions and their positions in the initial low-resolution image, the system generates feedback information (coordinates, regions of interest) that directs the camera's zoom and focus actions, ensuring accurate and efficient capture without time-consuming manual adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
According to at least one embodiment, a photographing device includes a camera interface and a processor. The camera interface supplies a control signal to a camera and acquires a photographed image photographed by the camera. The processor causes the camera to photograph a wide area image in a detection region of target objects set as a photographing range, detects the target objects present in the wide area image photographed by the camera, determines a photographing order of the target objects detected from the wide area image, and causes the camera to photograph a narrow area image of one target object selected according to the photographing order.