Datalogic IP Tech S.r.l.

Datalogic S.p.a.

Datalogic Automation, Inc.

Datalogic Automation S.r.l.

Claudio Saporetti

Marco Cumoli

Francesco D'Ercoli

Stefano Amorosi

Rinaldo Zocca

Marco Bottazzi

Marco Bassani

Alessandro Franchi

Andrew Hatstat

David Kliebhan

Francesco Caselli

Matteo Di Giorgio

A system including at least one linear scanner. The system utilizes multiple modes to synchronize image acquisition of the at least one linear scanner. A first mode directly triggers image acquisition by the at least one linear scanner based on a distance a conveyor of the object carrying a machine-readable symbol has advanced. A second mode includes sending a speed value for the conveyor. The system transitions between the first mode and the second mode based on an operating parameter of the system to optimize performance of the system. The first mode is more accurate at slower conveyor speeds, for example during stop and go events, and the second mode uses less bandwidth at higher speeds, for example during steady-state operation.

Apparatus and methods utilizing multiple modes to synchronize image acquisition by multiple linear scanners

A predictive system and process that predicts safety system activation in industrial environments when collaborative robots (COBOTs), automated guidance vehicles (AGVs), and other robots (individual or collectively 'robots') are interacting (i) between one another or (ii) between a robot and human. As provided herein, the predictive system is not meant to substitute traditional safety systems, but rather to detect and classify robot-to-robot and robot-to-human interactions and potential interactions thereof so as to limit or avoid those interactions altogether, thereby increasing safety and efficiency of the robots.

Multi-sensor optimization of automatic machines to prevent safety issues

A system and method for processing a machine-readable code associated with an object moving relative to an imaging device may include imaging the machine readable code. A determination may be made as to whether image data of the machine-readable code is clipped along a leading edge of a first image frame. If the machine-readable code is determined to be clipped, (i) image data of the machine-readable code in the first image frame may be skipped, and (ii) image data contained in a subsequent image frame may be processed. Otherwise, if the code is not determined to be clipped, processing image data in the subsequent image frame may be skipped.

Data processing reduction in barcode reading systems with overlapping frames

The invention relates to a method and a system for reading coded information from an object. The system comprises one or more three-dimensional cameras configured such as to capture three-dimensional images of the object and a processor configured such as to process the captured three-dimensional images. The processor is designed to: identify planes upon which faces of the object lie; extract two-dimensional images that lie on the identified planes; and apply coded information recognition algorithms to at least part of the extracted two-dimensional images.

System and method for reading coded information

Systems and methods to reduce the overlap areas of the fields of view of multiple cameras when reading symbols (e.g., barcode symbols, text) disposed on moving objects using an imaging system which includes an array of cameras. Each of a plurality of cameras may have a field of view directed toward objects positioned on a conveyor which moves the objects in a longitudinal direction, and the field of view of each of the plurality of cameras may overlap with the field of view of at least one other camera in the plurality of cameras in one or both of the longitudinal direction and a lateral direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

Symbol stitching imaging system

The invention relates to a sensor for the recognition of images on surfaces of objects in relative motion with regard to the sensor, especially for reading optical codes and/or characters and/or symbols on a surface of an object, comprising a plurality of sensor lines, each adapted to render line images in a temporal sequence, wherein the sensor is arranged to combine a plurality of line images of said sensor lines to yield a line image of the sensor, wherein each of said plurality of line images was captured by a different one of said sensor lines and at least some of said plurality of line images were captured at different points in time. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for the recognition of an image on a surface of an object and to a system for the acquisition of images on a surface of a moving target, comprising a conveyor for carrying target objects and a sensor as described above.

Method and apparatus for acquiring images on moving surfaces

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided for identifying (recognizing) an object from its shape in a sequence of images utilizing sequence alignment matrices (SAMs). For a given image, an object is segmented and from the segmented object, a set of key points is extracted. From the extracted key points, a set of local feature descriptors, strictly related to the key points and uniquely ordered in sequence, are extracted. The feature sequence obtained from the segmented object is aligned with a counterpart or reference image (e.g., a model or another image) using a Sequence Alignment Matrix (SAM). A custom scoring technique for the alignment provides a quality index for the identification of the object.

Object recognition utilizing feature alignment

A method of capturing an image on a surface of an object by line sensor(s), wherein consecutive line images are taken from a plurality of surfaces or surface portions having a different inclination to a given reference plane with a predetermined frequency during a relative movement of the object with regard to the line sensors(s) and a two-dimensional first image of the surfaces or surface portions is formed from these line images, includes resampling the two-dimensional first image so as to reduce the surface resolution of an image or of images of one or more surfaces or surface portions with regard to a direction oblique to the direction of the lines corresponding to consecutive line images taken by a line sensor in such a way that differences in the surface resolution of images of surfaces or surface portions with different inclination to the reference plane are reduced or eliminated.

Method and system for recording images of surfaces of moving objects with reduced distortion

A method for image acquisition of an object in transit on a movable supporting surface includes detecting a presence signal of the object in a preset position, and at least one dimension and/or position signals, the signals being generated by at least one sensor arranged upstream of a linear camera; detecting a 'trigger event' signal, generated on the basis of the presence signal, the linear camera starting to acquire an image on the basis of the 'trigger event' signal; starting to acquire an image of the object, when the object has travelled a preset distance from the preset position, the distance being calculated by an advance sensor suitable for generating a signal comprising an electric pulse at each preset movement of the movable supporting surface; and setting a mode for image acquisition of the linear camera on the basis of a resolution of the advance sensor.

Method for image acquisition

The method for automatic regulation comprises the steps of: acquiring an image; attempting reading of at least one optical code in the acquired image; detecting characteristic quantities of the acquired image only if the reading has been successful; and carrying out a large number of acquisitions of different images, obtaining a significant statistical datum of the characteristic quantities. The controlled parameters of the optical system are modified on the basis of this statistical datum detected, to optimise the reading. If the relationship between each controlled parameter and the respective characteristic quantities is not monotonic, the current valve of the controlled parameter is modified by at least one small positive deviation and one small negative deviation with respect to the current value; the value of the controlled parameter providing the best reading then becomes the central value for the successive readings.

Method for automatic regulation of the characteristics of an optical code reading system

A method of locating highly variable brightness or color regions in an image having at least one specifically ordered region corresponding, for example, to the image of an optical code defined by different-colored elements with a predetermined orientation and at least one highly variable brightness or color region of an order level other than that of the specifically ordered region. A first intermediate binary image is generated representing the acquired image divided into a number of contiguous first subimages, each having a first logic value if corresponding to a specifically ordered region and a second logic value otherwise. A second intermediate binary image is generated representing the acquired image divided into a number of contiguous second subimages, each having a first logic value if corresponding to a specifically ordered region and/or to a highly variable brightness or color region and a second logic value otherwise. The first intermediate binary image is subtracted from the second intermediate binary image to generate an output binary image defined by a number of contiguous subimages having the first logic value only at the highly variable brightness or color regions.

Method of locating highly variable brightness or color regions in an image

A method of locating an optical code of the maxicode type wherein a central target element comprises three concentric black rings separated by two white annular spaces and a white circular central space defining the center of the target element. The method includes the steps of: acquiring and binary-coding an image of the optical code; examining rows and columns of the binary-coded image, each row or column having black elements, each defined by at least one elementary representation unit of a first binary value, and white elements, each defined by at least one elementary representation unit of a second binary value; performing a sequence control step to locate, in each examined row or column of the image, at least one predetermined sequence of white and black elements; and performing an assigning step in which the rows or columns in the image containing a sequence of white and black elements corresponding to the predetermined sequence are recognized as intersecting the center of the target element.

Maxicode locating method

A method of compensating the edge positions of a signal generated by scanning elements of a bar code, the method including the steps of lighting the code and determining the light diffused by the code to generate in response a signal having a substantially alternating waveform defined by a sequence of high-amplitude portions separated by and joined to low-amplitude portions by steeply sloping edges of the waveform. A number of local minimum and maximum points of the waveform are determined to determine coordinates defining approximate edge positions. The coordinates are then corrected to generate modified coordinates, each relative to a corrected position of the edge compensating for any shift in the edge induced by blurring of the signal.

Method of compensating the edge positions of a signal generated by

A method wherein an image of an object bearing an optical code is divided into a number of elementary images for which a brightness gradient vector is calculated. The calculated gradients of a magnitude above a given threshold value (Glim) are transformed to eliminate the information relative to the direction of the vector, while maintaining the information relative to the path of the vector. The transformed and quantized vectors of a subimage including a number of elementary images are added to calculate a total gradient vector, which is compared with reference values to select significant subimages containing a sufficient number of gradient vectors of substantially the same path.

Method of locating an object-applied optical code

A method whereby the image of a bar code is located in a digitized image of an object traveling along a conveyor belt; the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the code with respect to a reference system of the image is determined, and the code is scanned along lines parallel to the longitudinal axis of the code to generate respective vectors describing the pattern of the code image brightness signal along the respective line; and the vectors are digitized and projected to generate a real-number vector containing the coordinates of the brightness signal transition points indicating the shape and location of the code elements.

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Bologna, Italy

Claudio Saporetti