Shelf Label Imaging Control With Selective Capture Timing

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image capture systems for checking shelf labels in merchandise racks inefficiently capture images, leading to increased memory storage capacity and reduced image processing speed due to the capture of images without shelf labels.

Innovation Solution

An image capture system and control device that utilize a wheeled platform with multiple cameras, where the traveling control unit manages the platform's movement, and the image capture control unit controls camera operations based on a timing list, ensuring that only necessary images are captured.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple narrow-range cameras are installed on a wheeled platform to capture high-resolution images of shelf labels at various positions, then image capture coverage and resolution are improved, but memory storage capacity increases and image processing speed decreases due to capturing images without shelf labels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage resolutionVSAvoidmemory storage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary wide-range imaging to detect the positions of shelf labels before capturing high-resolution narrow-range images. This preliminary detection action allows the system to pre-determine which areas require high-resolution capture, avoiding unnecessary high-resolution imaging of empty spaces and reducing memory storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the imaging strategy based on detected shelf label positions. The wheeled platform and cameras adapt their operation in real-time, capturing high-resolution images only at positions where shelf labels are detected, rather than uniformly capturing images at all positions, thereby optimizing storage usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If multiple narrow-range cameras are installed on a wheeled platform to capture high-resolution images of shelf labels at various positions, then image capture coverage and resolution are improved, but image processing speed decreases due to capturing images without shelf labels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage resolutionVSAvoidimage processing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary wide-range imaging to detect the positions of shelf labels before capturing high-resolution narrow-range images. This preliminary detection action allows the system to pre-determine which areas require high-resolution capture, avoiding unnecessary high-resolution imaging of empty spaces and reducing memory storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the imaging strategy based on detected shelf label positions. The wheeled platform and cameras adapt their operation in real-time, capturing high-resolution images only at positions where shelf labels are detected, rather than uniformly capturing images at all positions, thereby optimizing storage usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If cameras capture images at all positions in the merchandise rack, then no shelf label position is missed, but unnecessary images are captured increasing data volume and processing burden

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshelf label detection completenessVSAvoiddata volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary wide-range imaging to detect the positions of shelf labels before capturing high-resolution narrow-range images. This preliminary detection action allows the system to pre-determine which areas require high-resolution capture, avoiding unnecessary high-resolution imaging of empty spaces and reducing memory storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the imaging strategy based on detected shelf label positions. The wheeled platform and cameras adapt their operation in real-time, capturing high-resolution images only at positions where shelf labels are detected, rather than uniformly capturing images at all positions, thereby optimizing storage usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4210341B1Image capture system, control device, and method therefor

Publication Date: 2025.02.19 TOSHIBA TEC KK

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AI summary

A control device includes a traveling control unit and an image capture control unit. The traveling control unit controls traveling of a wheeled platform traveling along an image capture plane where a plurality of image capture target objects are arranged, spaced apart from each other in vertical and horizontal directions. The image capture control unit controls an image capture operation of a plurality of cameras installed in a direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of the wheeled platform, according to an image capture timing list set on a per camera basis, of the plurality of cameras.