IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,301,659
Granted Patent B2
US 11,301,659 · App. 17/180,899 · Granted Apr 12, 2022

Installation support device and installation support method for stationary code reader

Inventors: Hidezumi Nagata (Osaka, JP); Taichi Tajika (Osaka, JP); Takashi Hirano (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
G06K7/1417G06K7/10722G06K7/10831G06K7/1413
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,301,659
App. No.
17/180,899
Granted
Apr 12, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Recommended installation position and posture of a stationary code reader can be proposed to a user to facilitate installation work of the code reader by the user. An installation support device for the stationary code reader acquires camera information including a camera parameter of the code reader, code information to be read, and environment information including a conveying speed of a line, determines required field of view and depth of the code reader required to read a code under an environment specified by the environment information, and determines an installation pattern which is recommended installation position and posture of the code reader that can satisfy the required field of view and depth based on the camera information and the code information.

Claims (50)

1. An installation support device for a stationary code reader that supports installation of the stationary code reader, which reads a code attached to a workpiece being conveyed on a line, the installation support device comprising:

an acquisition section that acquires camera information including a camera parameter of the code reader, code information to be read, and environment information indicating a reading environment; and

a calculation section that (i) determines required field of view and depth of the code reader required to read the code under an environment specified by the environment information based on the environment information acquired by the acquisition section, (ii) determines a performance field of view of the code reader based on the camera information and an installation distance between the code reader and the code, (iii) determines a performance depth of the code reader based on a cell size, which is a size of the smallest unit constituting the code, calculated from the performance field of view, the camera information and the code information, and (iv) determines an installation pattern which is a recommended installation position of the code reader that enables the performance field of view and the performance depth to satisfy the required field of view and depth.

2. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 1 , further comprising

an output section that outputs the installation pattern determined by the calculation section.

3. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 2 , wherein

the acquisition section acquires assumed installation position and posture of the code reader, and

the calculation section performs a determination on whether or not a field of view and a depth at the assumed installation position and posture acquired by the acquisition section satisfy the required field of view and depth.

4. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 3 , wherein

when the field of view and depth at the assumed installation position and posture acquired by the acquisition section do not satisfy the required field of view and depth, the calculation section executes a change process of changing at least one of the assumed installation position and posture, performs the determination on the assumed installation position and posture after having been subjected to the change process, and repeats the change process and the determination to determine the installation pattern.

5. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 2 , further comprising

a storage unit that stores a plurality of types of templates indicating types of the assumed installation position and posture of the code reader,

wherein the acquisition section is configured to be capable of acquiring an arbitrary template from among the plurality of types of the templates stored in the storage unit.

6. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 5 , wherein

the template includes mounting angle information of the code reader with respect to a reference surface, and

the output section outputs the mounting angle information of the code reader.

7. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 5 , wherein

the template includes surface information to be read by the workpiece, and

the output section outputs the surface information.

8. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 5 , wherein

the output section outputs model information that differs depending on a model of the code reader.

9. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 2 , wherein

the acquisition section receives input of information on a width of the line and information on a height of the workpiece as the environment information from a user, and

the calculation section calculate and determine the required field of view and depth of the code reader based on a conveying speed of the line, the information on the width of the line, and the information on the height of the workpiece.

10. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 2 , wherein

the calculation section determines a plurality of the installation patterns, and

the output section outputs the plurality of installation patterns.

11. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 2 , further comprising,

a display unit that displays a diagram illustrating the installation pattern.

12. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 2 , wherein

the output section outputs a component table illustrating component information required to realize the installation pattern and a required number of components.

13. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 2 , wherein

the output section outputs the installation pattern determined by the calculation section as a CAD file.

14. An installation support method for a stationary code reader that supports installation of the stationary code reader, which reads a code attached to a workpiece being conveyed on a line, the installation support method comprising:

an acquisition step of acquiring camera information including a camera parameter of the code reader, code information to be read, and environment information indicating a reading environment; and

a calculation step of (i) determining required field of view and depth of the code reader required to read the code under an environment specified by the environment information based on the environment information acquired in the acquisition step, (ii) determining a performance field of view of the code reader based on the camera information and an installation distance between the code reader and the code, (iii) determining a performance depth of the code reader based on a cell size, which is a size of the smallest unit constituting the code, calculated from the performance field of view, the camera information and the code information, and (iv) determining an installation pattern, which is a recommended installation position or recommended installation position and posture, of the code reader that enables the performance field of view and the performance depth to satisfy the required field of view and depth.

15. An installation support device for a stationary code reader that supports installation of the stationary code reader, which reads a code attached to a workpiece being conveyed on a line, the installation support device comprising:

an acquisition section that acquires camera information including a camera parameter of the code reader, code information to be read, and environment information indicating a reading environment;

a calculation section that determines required field of view and depth of the code reader required to read the code under an environment specified by the environment information based on the environment information acquired by the acquisition section, and determines an installation pattern which is a recommended installation position of the code reader that enables satisfaction of the required field of view and depth based on the camera information and the code information;

an output section that outputs the installation pattern determined by the calculation section; and

a storage unit that stores a plurality of types of templates indicating types of the assumed installation position and posture of the code reader,

wherein the acquisition section is configured to be capable of acquiring an arbitrary template from among the plurality of types of the templates stored in the storage unit.

16. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 15 , wherein

the template includes mounting angle information of the code reader with respect to a reference surface, and

the output section outputs the mounting angle information of the code reader.

17. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 15 , wherein

the template includes surface information to be read by the workpiece, and

the output section outputs the surface information.

18. The installation support device for the stationary code reader according to claim 15 , wherein

the output section outputs model information that differs depending on a model of the code reader.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2021
From: NAGATA, HIDEZUMI; TAJIKA, TAICHI; HIRANO, TAKASHI
To: KEYENCE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055347/0755 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2020-049506 · Mar 19, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210295001A1 · Sep 23, 2021
Cited By (3)
US 12,190,200 US 12,347,219 US 12,468,912