Cognex Corporation

Chen Gao

Ivan A Bachelder

Esther Oteo Lozano

Andreas Weber

Francisco Azcona Guerrero

Jose Fernandez Dorado

This invention provides a system and method for detecting and acquiring one or more in-focus images of one or more barcodes within the field of view of an imaging device. A measurement process measures depth-of-field of barcode detection. A plurality of nominal coarse focus settings of a variable lens allow sampling, in steps, of a lens adjustment range corresponding to allowable distances between the one or more barcodes and the image sensor, so that a step size of the sampling is less than a fraction of the depth-of-field of barcode detection. An acquisition process acquires a nominal coarse focus image for each nominal coarse focus setting. A barcode detection process detects one or more barcode-like regions and respective likelihoods. A fine focus process fine-adjusts, for each high-likelihood barcode, the variable lens near a location of the barcode-like regions. The process acquires an image for decoding using the fine adjusted setting.

System and method for auto-focusing a vision system camera on barcodes

Embodiments relate to predicting height information for an object. First distance data is determined at a first time when an object is at a first position that is only partially within the field-of-view. Second distance data is determined at a second, later time when the object is at a second, different position that is only partially within the field-of-view. A distance measurement model that models a physical parameter of the object within the field-of-view is determined for the object based on the first and second distance data. Third distance data indicative of an estimated distance to the object prior to the object being entirely within the field-of-view of the distance sensing device is determined based on the first distance data, the second distance data, and the distance measurement model. Data indicative of a height of the object is determined based on the third distance data.

Methods and apparatus for using range data to predict object features

Embodiments related to local tone mapping for symbol reading. A local pixel neighborhood metric is determined for at least one raw pixel in a region-of-interest, which identifies on one or more raw pixels near the at least one raw pixel. A local mapping function is determined for the at least one raw pixel that maps the value of the raw pixel to a mapped pixel value with a mapped bit depth that is smaller than the bit depth associated with the raw image. The local mapping function is based on a value of at least one other raw pixel near the at least one raw pixel within the local pixel neighborhood metric, and at least one parameter determined based on the raw image. A mapped image is computed for the region-of-interest by applying the local mapping function to the raw image.

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Wayland, MA, United States of America

Chen Gao