Wearable Image Capture for Worker Range Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image capturing devices in production sites often create blind spots, making it difficult to accurately capture the work range of workers, and can impose a psychological burden due to fixed positioning that may capture a worker's face.

Innovation Solution

A work management system featuring an image capturing device worn by the worker, which captures images of their work range and transmits them to a server device, allowing for flexible positioning and reducing psychological burden.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If an image capturing device is provided at a fixed position on the production site, then the device structure is simple and easy to install, but blind spots are formed by machines and workers' positions, making it impossible to accurately capture the work range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of capturing work rangeVSAvoidnumber of image capturing devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The image capturing device is transformed from a fixed installation to a wearable device that moves with the worker. The capturing position dynamically follows the worker's movements, ensuring the work range is always within the capturing scope without requiring multiple fixed devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A single wearable image capturing device serves multiple purposes: capturing work range images, monitoring worker operations, and adapting to different work positions. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for multiple specialized fixed cameras.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If an image capturing device is provided at a fixed location, then the installation is simple, but the device captures the worker's face, imposing a great psychological burden on the worker

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepsychological burden on workerVSAvoidease of capturing work range
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The capturing perspective dynamically shifts with the worker's movements and orientation. The device captures images from the worker's field of view rather than from a fixed overhead position, naturally avoiding face capture while maintaining work range visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The wearable device acts as an intermediary between the worker and the monitoring system. It captures images from the worker's perspective without directly observing the worker's face, serving as a buffer that protects worker privacy while enabling work monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If multiple image capturing devices are provided to eliminate blind spots, then the work range capture accuracy improves, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage of work rangeVSAvoidnumber of image capturing devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using multiple fixed devices to cover all possible positions, a single wearable device dynamically adjusts its capturing position to follow the worker. This ensures complete coverage of the work range regardless of worker movement, eliminating blind spots without increasing device quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The wearable device copies the worker's position and movement patterns. By attaching the device to the worker, it replicates their spatial trajectory, ensuring the work range remains consistently within the capturing scope without requiring additional devices at various locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3001270B1Work management system and work management method
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 OMRON CORP
  • EP3001270B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3001270B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3001270B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A work management system (1) includes: an image capturing device (20) worn by a worker; and a server device (60). The image capturing device (20) includes: an image capturing section (21) for capturing an image of a work range of the worker; and a communication section (30) for transmitting, to the server device (60), at least one of (i) the image captured by the image capturing section (21) and (ii) generated information generated in accordance with the image. The server device (60) includes a control section (70) for managing the at least one of the image and the generated information which one is received from the communication section.