IP Library Granted Patent US 11,145,066
Granted Patent B2
US 11,145,066 · App. 16/623,667 · Granted Oct 12, 2021

Parcel recognition device, parcel sorting system, and parcel recognition method

Inventors: Takaaki Moriyama (Kanagawa, JP); Takaaki Idera (Kanagawa, JP); Shohji Ohtsubo (Kanagawa, JP); Pongsak Lasang (Singapore, SG); Takrit Tanasnitikul (Singapore, SG)
Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
G06T7/194G06K7/1413G06Q10/083G06Q10/087G06T7/70G06T7/90G06T2207/10024
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,145,066
App. No.
16/623,667
Granted
Oct 12, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a parcel recognition device that recognizes parcel based on a color image including one or more parcels, the device including: a processor; and a memory, in which by cooperating with the memory, the processor estimates a region of the one or more parcels in the color image, switches a color of a background which is a region excluding the region of the one or more parcels in the color image, and recognizes each of the one or more parcels based on the background having the switched color and a color of the region of the parcel.

Claims (34)

1. A parcel recognition device that recognizes parcel based on a color image including one or more parcels on a conveyor, the device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory,

wherein by cooperating with the memory,

the processor estimates a region of the one or more parcels in the color image,

switches a color of a background in the color image, the background being which is a region including a region of the conveyor in the color image and excluding the estimated region of the one or more parcels in the color image, and

recognizes each of the one or more parcels based on the color image after the color of the background is switched.

2. The parcel recognition device of claim 1 ,

wherein the processor switches the color of the background for each predetermined period.

3. The parcel recognition device of claim 2 ,

wherein the processor changes a period for switching the color of the background, according to recognition accuracy of the parcel.

4. The parcel recognition device of claim 1 ,

wherein the processor sets a color different from a color of parcel successfully recognized in a past frame as a candidate of the color of the background.

5. The parcel recognition device of claim 1 ,

wherein the processor further

receives a designation of a candidate of a color of a background, and switches the color of the background within a range of the received candidate.

6. The parcel recognition device of claim 1 ,

the processor estimates the region of the one or more parcels in the color image, by using a distance image.

7. A parcel sorting system comprising:

a projection instruction device including the parcel recognition device according to claim 1 ;

a label reader that reads parcel identification information from a label attached to the parcel;

a distance image sensor that obtains a distance image including the parcel;

a color image sensor that obtains a color image including the parcel; and

an image projection device which projects a projection image indicating a sorting destination on parcel.

8. A parcel recognition method of recognizing parcel based on a color image including one or more parcels on a conveyor, the method comprising:

by causing a processor to cooperate with a memory,

estimating a region of the one or more parcels in the color image;

switching a color of a background in the color image, the background being a region including a region of the conveyor in the color image and excluding the estimated region of the one or more parcels in the color image; and

recognizing each of the one or more parcels based on the color image after the color of the background is switched.

9. The parcel recognition device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more parcels including a parcel having a color similar to a color of the conveyor.

10. The parcel recognition device according to claim 3 , wherein the period is shortened when the recognition accuracy decreases.

11. The parcel recognition device according to claim 4 , wherein

the processor detects the color of the parcel successfully recognized in the past frame; and

the processor excludes the detected color of parcel from the candidate of the color of the background in a current frame.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2020
From: MORIYAMA, TAKAAKI; IDERA, TAKAAKI; OHTSUBO, SHOHJI; LASANG, PONGSAK; TANASNITIKUL, TAKRIT
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 052200/0321 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2017-129574 · Jun 30, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200193612A1 · Jun 18, 2020