The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 03, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 08, 2001
Rodney N. Hamilton, Gardner, KS (US);
Scriptpro LLC, Mission, KS (US);
Abstract
A semi-automated pill counting system ( ) using digital imaging technology and image recognition software including a modified Hough Transform. The system ( ) comprises a light source ( ); a modified pharmacist's tray ( ); a digital camera ( ); and a personal computer (PC) ( ), with the PC ( ) storing and executing the image recognition software. A roughly estimated number of pills are placed upon the tray ( ) and illuminated by the light source ( ), whereafter a digital image of the pills is produced by the camera ( ) and sent via an interface to the PC ( ). The image recognition software counts the pills present in the image and displays a count result. Based upon the count result, the pharmacist adds or removes pills to the tray ( ), as appropriate, to complete the process.