Shelf Label Imaging Timing on Wheeled Rack Capture Platforms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image capture systems for merchandise racks capture images regardless of the presence of shelf labels, leading to increased memory capacity and reduced image processing speed due to processing of images without labels.
Innovation Solution
An image capture system with a control device that includes a traveling control unit and an image capture control unit, which controls a wheeled platform with cameras to capture images only when shelf labels are present, using a timing list to determine image capture operations for each camera, thereby reducing unnecessary image data storage and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a plurality of narrow-range cameras are installed to capture images of shelf labels at high resolution, then image quality and recognition accuracy are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable platform that dynamically positions a single narrow-range camera to capture images of shelf labels at optimal distances. Instead of installing multiple fixed cameras, the system moves the camera platform along the merchandise rack, allowing one camera to serve multiple capture positions sequentially, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining high image resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces temporal dimension by capturing images sequentially at different positions rather than simultaneously with multiple cameras. The movable platform traverses along the rack in one dimension while the camera captures images at discrete points, transforming a spatial multi-camera problem into a temporal single-camera sequence, thus reducing hardware complexity
2Reliability
If images are captured repeatedly at all positions along the merchandise rack, then no shelf label is missed, but memory capacity increases and image processing speed decreases due to processing unnecessary images
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary wide-range image capture to detect the presence and positions of shelf labels before executing narrow-range detailed capture. This preliminary detection action allows the system to plan subsequent targeted captures only at positions where shelf labels are actually present, avoiding unnecessary high-resolution captures and reducing the total number of images requiring processing
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from wide-range image analysis to dynamically adjust narrow-range capture decisions. By analyzing the wide-range image to identify shelf label positions, the system feeds this information back to control the movable platform and camera to capture only at relevant positions, thereby maintaining detection completeness while minimizing unnecessary image processing
Data Source
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.