Vision-Based Pill Counter with Under-Counting Surface Camera
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pill counting devices are complex and costly due to their electromechanical complexity, making them expensive to build, purchase, and maintain, while current vision-based solutions often require a camera to be mounted above the counting surface, increasing size and reducing aesthetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile countertop device with a camera and infrared light source positioned below the counting surface, using a dark-colored, infrared transmissive material to enhance image contrast and reduce background noise, allowing pills to be counted accurately without the need for complex mechanisms or high costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera is mounted above the counting surface to capture pill images, then image capture is achieved, but the device size increases and aesthetic appeal decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional camera mounting arrangement by positioning the camera and light source below the counting surface instead of above it. This allows the camera to capture images of pills through the translucent surface from underneath, achieving accurate pill detection while maintaining a low-profile, compact device design with improved aesthetics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the imaging approach from a vertical top-down configuration to a horizontal bottom-up configuration. By capturing images through the counting surface from below, the system achieves the same measurement objective while eliminating the need for overhead mounting space, thereby reducing device volume.
2Extent of automation
If complex electromechanical mechanisms are used in automated pill counters, then counting automation is achieved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electromechanical counting mechanisms with a vision-based system. Instead of using mechanical sensors, funnels, and counting wheels, the system uses a camera to capture pill images and software algorithms to automatically count and identify pills, significantly reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining full automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates optical copies (images) of the pills instead of physically manipulating them through complex mechanical counting mechanisms. By capturing digital images and processing them computationally, the system achieves automated counting without the need for intricate electromechanical counting devices.
3Illumination intensity
If standard lighting is used above the counting surface, then illumination is provided, but image contrast is reduced and background noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the lighting arrangement by placing the light source below the counting surface instead of above it. This bottom-up illumination approach, combined with the dark translucent surface, creates superior image contrast by preventing background glare and highlighting pill features from underneath, thereby improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a dark-colored translucent counting surface that selectively transmits light. The dark surface absorbs excess light and reduces background reflections, while still allowing sufficient light transmission for imaging from below. This color selection enhances image contrast and reduces background noise in the captured pill images.
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 solution provides a cost-effective, accurate, and aesthetically pleasing pill counting system that reduces human error and improves counting efficiency by using a vision-based technology with a camera and light source configuration that enhances image quality and reduces size, enabling easy integration with pharmacy management systems.
Implementation Method 1
a dark-colored, infrared transmissive material to enhance image contrast
Implementation Method 2
using a camera and light source configuration that enhances image quality
Data Source
AI summary
A low-profile visual counting system is provided and designed to count pills or other small discrete objects. This technology is vision based, which allows a pharmacist or other user to pour pills onto a counting surface in a single layer, and then the device tells the user how many pills are on that surface. The present device places the camera and preferably an infrared light source below the counting surface. This offers the unique advantage of not having to mount a camera above the counting surface which reduces the size and improves the aesthetic characteristics of such a device. The image is captured and then processed to determine the number of pills on the surface. This system may be interfaced with other networks, terminals, and existing pharmacy management systems.