Smart Camera Image Buffering for Low-Bandwidth Production Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
In production device management systems, image information from smart cameras occupies large communication bandwidth, leading to difficulties in building network interfaces, increased costs and sizes of apparatuses, and insufficient number of channels for wireless communication.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing apparatus that includes an image capturing portion, a controller for performing image processing and obtaining feature values from image data, and a storage device to accumulate image data. The apparatus transmits image processing results during image capturing periods and accumulates image data for transmission during image capturing suspension periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If image data is transmitted continuously during image capturing periods, then real-time monitoring capability is improved, but communication bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmission of image data by dividing it into two distinct modes: real-time transmission of only image processing results during capturing periods, and batched transmission of accumulated raw image data during suspension periods. This segmentation allows the system to maintain real-time monitoring through processed data while avoiding continuous transmission of full-resolution image data, thereby reducing communication bandwidth consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by accumulating raw image data in the storage device during image capturing suspension periods before transmission. This preparation in advance allows the system to transmit large volumes of detailed image data when network bandwidth is more available, rather than attempting to transmit everything in real-time, thus resolving the bandwidth conflict.
2Quantity of substance
If a wired network interface is built to handle large image data transmission, then data transmission capacity is improved, but apparatus cost and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information (image processing results such as feature values, defect detection outcomes, and measurement data) from the complete image data for real-time transmission. By taking out only the critical processed information rather than transmitting full image data continuously, the system achieves necessary data transmission capacity without requiring expensive, high-bandwidth wired network interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by transmitting only the necessary portion of image data (processed results) during capturing periods, and accumulating the remaining data for later transmission. This partial transmission approach during critical periods reduces immediate bandwidth requirements and avoids the need for costly high-capacity network infrastructure.
3Quantity of substance
If wireless communication channels are increased to handle more image data, then communication capacity is improved, but channel availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by alternating between two transmission modes: during image capturing periods, only compressed processing results are transmitted wirelessly; during suspension periods, accumulated raw image data is transmitted. This periodic switching allows the system to utilize existing wireless channels effectively without requiring additional channels, as the bandwidth-intensive transmissions occur only when capturing operations are not active.
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing portion, a controller to perform image processing to obtain a feature value from image data, and a storage device to accumulate the image data. In an image capturing period of capturing an image of the target object by the image capturing portion, the controller transmits a result of the image processing to a data management server while accumulating the captured image data the storage device, while in an image capturing suspension period of not performing image capturing, the controller transmits the image data accumulated in the storage device to the data management server.