Datalogic Adc, Inc.

Datalogic Usa, Inc.

Datalogic Scanning, Inc.

Psc Scanning, Inc.

Psc Inc.

Spectra-physics Scanning Systems, Inc.

Digimarc Corporation

Bryan L Olmstead

Alan Shearin

James E Colley

Paul R Huss

Michael J Ahten

WenLiang Gao

Alexander Malcolm McQueen

Michael P Svetal

Thomas E Tamburrini

Michael L Duncan

James W Ring

Robert William Rudeen

Jorge Louis Acosta

Michele Macchia

Jon Pc Williams

Isaac Gremmer

Bruce E Paris

Randy L Person

Eric D Evans

Jeffrey J Hoskinson

Patrick O'Donnell

Ryan Brandon Thompson

David J Newman

Stepan Ryabinin

Larry James Smith

Jon P C Williams

Ken McCormack

Benjamin K Roberts

Mark Schmidt

Ryan B Thompson

Alexander M Mcqueen

Inventory on a rack of store shelves is monitored by a camera-equipped system that senses when items have been removed. Image data is desirably sensed at plural spectral bands, to enhance item identification by digital watermark and/or other image recognition techniques. The system can be alert to the presence of nearby shoppers, and change its mode of operation in response, e.g., suppressing flash illumination or suspending image capture. The system may self-calibrate to the geometry of shelving in its field of view, and affine-correct captured imagery based on the camera's viewpoint. A great many other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Methods and systems employing image sensing and 3D sensing to identify shelved products

A first imager has a relatively high resolution and a relatively narrow first field-of-view. Information about objects in an environment is detected or captured, and used to steer the first field-of-view of the first imager. The sensor(s) may take the form of a second imager with a relatively lower resolution and relatively wider second field-of-view. Alternatively, other types of sensors, for instance presence/absence sensors may be employed. The first field-of-view may be directed toward an object that satisfies one or more conditions, for instance matching a particular SKU. The first field-of-view may track a moving object, for instance via a tracking mirror and actuator. This approach may be employed in retail locations, for example in grocery or convenience stores, for instance to reduce various forms of theft or in industrial environments.

Imaging systems and methods for tracking objects

The disclosure relates to a self-checkout system including a base and a scan gate extending over at least a portion of the base, the scan gate having a field of view that encompasses 360-degree coverage of the items such that the scan gate is able to obtain and read encoded data on any surface of the item passing through the scan gate. The base may include one or more rails positioned along the periphery to help retain items on the surface of the base once they have been passed through the scan gate.

Self-checkout system with scan gate and exception handling

Ambient inventorying arrangements

An improvement is made to a funnel used in connection with a conveyor belt to increase the scanning speed of barcodes on items moving through the funnel and onto the conveyor belt. The funnel includes a funnel protrusion that provides mechanical support and optical access to a bottom-facing barcode on the container. The increased field of view for the barcode created by the funnel protrusion allows for increased scanning speed. Further, a camera system may be used with the funnel to increase scanning speed. The camera system may include a plurality of cameras and a plurality of mirrors to obtain multiple perspectives of the container and provide different images for faster processing.

Device and system for high-speed bottom scanning of barcodes

Systems and methods for providing self-checkout systems that utilize a scanning imager or camera which includes a selectively steerable field of view. A tracking subsystem may include a targeting imager or camera that captures data (e.g., 3-dimensional data) that characterizes objects in an environment, for instance a retail environment. Images captured by one or more targeting imagers may be used to determine characteristics of objects. The characteristics may be used to generate an object model, which is a collection of properties about an object in the field of view. The tracking subsystem directs the field of view of the relatively higher resolution scanning imager with a relatively narrow field of view to track one or more objects so that images of the objects may be captured. The images are processed to identify the identification of the objects so that the objects may be added to a transaction list to complete a purchase process.

Self-checkout with three dimensional scanning

Disclosed systems and methods for detecting and tracking a quantity of items in a particular location by optical means. The system includes an imager having a field of view directed over a region of interest where the items to be tracked are located, the imager being operable to acquire images of the items. The system further includes a controller in operative communication with the imager, where the controller acquires depth data from the images and determines volume measurements based on the depth data. Based on the determined volume measurements, the system is capable of counting and tracking the items present in the region of interest using optical means to avoid relying on barcodes or other identifier information affixed to the items.

System and method for object counting and tracking

A monochrome imager used in such systems as a scanner can detect watermarks that have been encoded in the color space or chrominance. Such watermarks are called chroma watermarks and are considered more reliable than the traditional classic watermarks, which are encoded based on luminance. The monochrome imager detects the chroma watermark, which has been illuminated with ambient white light from a blue light emitting diode (LED) coated with phosphor.

Monochrome imaging of digital watermarks in white light

An automated checkout system for data reading, and related methods of use, the checkout system including a portal scanner and a conveyor for transporting items, the portal scanner housing a data reader with a view volume directed at a steerable mirror. In one example, the steerable mirror moves between various positions to augment the effective view volume of the data reader for capturing data from various surfaces of the item being transported on the conveyor. The portal scanner may include one or more mirrors arranged in an angular configuration to redirect the view volume of the data reader to capture data from the various surfaces of the item.

Data reading system and method for multi-view imaging using an adjustable mirror

Depth camera systems and methods of operation use coded structured light to determine depth values. One example method includes projecting a structured light pattern towards a target region. The structured light pattern includes a plurality of parallel bars that encode a plurality of codes. The method includes, for each of a plurality of rows of pixels that are transverse to the plurality of parallel bars: decoding the plurality of parallel bars represented in the row of pixels to identify a location of each of the plurality of codes in the row of pixels; determining a plurality of disparities respectively between the identified locations of the plurality of codes and a plurality of reference locations respectively associated with the plurality of codes; and determining a depth value for each identified location based at least in part on the determined disparity for such location.

Depth camera system using coded structured light

Systems and methods of determining object dimensions of objects passed through a read zone of an automated data reader are disclosed. A system can include a data reader to read an optical code disposed on the objects, a transport mechanism, an object measurement system to measure dimensions of objects that are transported by the transport mechanism, a light plane generator to project a light plane that produces a light stripe on an object, and a camera to capture image data of objects and a light stripe thereon that can be processed to determine a deviation of a light stripe relative to an optical center within the image data. A deviation from the optical center is used to determine one or more dimensions of the object.

Systems and methods of object measurement in an automated data reader

An automated checkout system and method of operation for reading encoded data on a bottom surface of an item using a data reader. The automated checkout system includes a leading conveyor section and a trailing conveyor section separated by a gap therebetween, where the item is transported across the gap as it moves between the conveyors. A first and second reading device are each positioned beneath the conveyor sections, where each reading device has a field of view projecting through the gap. The first reading device is configured to acquire a first set of scan data and the second reading device is configured to acquire a second set of scan data different from the first. In some embodiments, the first set of scan data may include two-dimensional area views of the encoded data, and the second set of scan data may include linescans of the encoded data.

System and method for reading optical codes on bottom surface of items

A scanning system for data reading, and related methods of use, the scanning system including a portal scanner and a conveyor for transporting items. The scanner includes a generally U-shaped scanner housing and a plurality of data readers arranged within the scanner housing for reading data on various surfaces of an item being transported through the portal scanner. The scanning system may also include a bottom scanner positioned beneath the conveyor, the bottom scanner having a view volume directed through a gap in the conveyor for reading a bottom surface of the item through the gap as the item passes over the gap. In some embodiments, the scanning system may further include one or more light curtains configured for determining a height dimension of the item and/or a position of the item.

Single arch portal scanner and method of scanning

Growing community of inventors

Eugene, OR, United States of America

Bryan L Olmstead