IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,737,902
Granted Patent B2
US 12,737,902 · App. 18/732,059 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

System and method for estimating box shape representation of a generally cuboidal object

Inventors: Hongwei Zhu (Natick, MA); Daniel Moreno (Northbridge, MA); Ali M. Zadeh (Greenville, SC); Martin Schaufuss (Erfurt, DE)
Assignee: Cognex Corporation
G06T7/50G06T2207/10028G06T2207/20016
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,737,902
App. No.
18/732,059
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for estimating a 3D box model of a generally cuboidal 3D object imaged by 3D vision system, which provides a 3D image having a set of 3D points representing surfaces of the cuboidal 3D object to a processor is provided. An input process provides an approximate box as a region of interest (ROI), to the processor, the ROI defining a search volume within the 3D image. An identification process identifies the 3D points that are within the search volume. A coarse estimation process estimates 3D box dimensions that approximate a box shape of the cuboidal object based upon the identified 3D points. A refinement process refines the coarse box shape by processing the 3D points based on the 3D box dimensions that correspond to each of a plurality of imaged faces of the cuboidal object to derive an estimated result for the cuboidal object.

Claims (45)

1 . A system for estimating a three-dimensional (3D) box model of a generally cuboidal object imaged by a 3D vision system, that provides a 3D image having 3D points representing imaged surfaces of the cuboidal object to at least one processor, comprising:

an input process that provides, to the at least one processor, a region of interest (ROI) defining a search volume within the 3D image;

an identification process that identifies the 3D points that are within the search volume;

a coarse estimation process that estimates, based on the identified 3D points, 3D box dimensions that approximate a coarse box shape of the cuboidal object; and

a refinement process that refines the coarse box shape to derive an estimated result for the 3D box model by, for an imaged surface of the imaged surfaces:

determining a projection two-dimensional (2D) height map and defining at least one of face pixels or non-face pixels associated with the imaged surface,

identifying bounding positions that define a face of the coarse box shape based upon a distribution of the at least one of face pixels or non-face pixels,

refining the face of the coarse box shape by determining an associated face thickness, and

deriving the estimated result for the 3D box model including the refined face.

2 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the coarse estimation process is adapted to estimate a thickness of each of a plurality of imaged faces corresponding to the 3D box dimensions by analyzing statistics of a distribution of the 3D points based on the 3D box dimensions that correspond to each of the plurality of imaged faces.

3 . The system as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the statistics are based upon a 3D point density distribution along a normal direction to each of the plurality of imaged faces.

4 . The system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the statistics are further based upon a histogram of face point distances relative to each of the plurality of imaged faces, and

wherein the thickness is a predetermined distance on each of opposing sides of a histogram peak position, the histogram peak position being a location at which the 3D point density distribution is a maximum.

5 . The system as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the refinement process is adapted to identify boundary 3D points corresponding to the 3D points located between adjacent faces of the plurality of imaged faces.

6 . The system as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the refinement process is adapted to compute a face plane for each of the plurality of imaged faces by fitting a 3D robust plane using the identified boundary 3D points.

7 . The system as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the face plane is computed based upon the thickness estimates of neighboring imaged faces.

8 . The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a result process that is adapted to estimate a 3D box shape based upon the 3D box dimensions that correspond to a plurality of imaged faces with face position and rotation correction.

9 . The system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the result process is adapted to perform rotation correction based upon identification of a face in the estimated result that defines a tilt angle that is greater than a preset threshold angle.

10 . A method for estimating a three-dimensional (3D) box model of a generally cuboidal object imaged by a 3D vision system that provides a 3D image having 3D points representing imaged surfaces of the cuboidal object, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a region of interest (ROI) in which the ROI defines a search volume within the 3D image;

identifying the 3D points that are within the search volume;

estimating 3D box dimensions that approximate a coarse box shape of the cuboidal object based upon the identified 3D points;

refining the coarse box shape by determining a projection two-dimensional (2D) height map associated with an imaged surface of the imaged surfaces, and defining at least one of face pixels or non-face pixels associated with the imaged surface;

identifying bounding positions that define a face of the coarse box shape based upon a distribution of the at least one of face pixels or non-face pixels;

refining the face of the coarse box shape by determining an associated face thickness; and

deriving an estimated result for the 3D box model including the refined face.

11 . The method as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the step of estimating determines an estimated thickness of each of a plurality of imaged faces corresponding to the 3D box dimensions by analyzing statistics of a distribution of the 3D points based on the 3D box dimensions that correspond to each of the plurality of imaged faces.

12 . The method as set forth in claim 11 , further comprising, basing the statistics upon a 3D point density distribution along a normal direction to each of the plurality of imaged faces.

13 . The method as set forth in claim 12 , further comprising, basing the statistics upon a histogram of face point distances relative to each of the plurality of imaged faces, and

determining the thickness based upon a predetermined distance on each of opposing sides of a histogram peak position, the histogram peak position being a location at which the 3D point density distribution is a maximum.

14 . The method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the step of refining identifies boundary 3D points corresponding to the 3D points located between adjacent faces of the plurality of imaged faces.

15 . The method as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the step of refining comprises computing a face plane for each of the plurality of imaged faces by fitting a 3D robust plane using the identified boundary 3D points.

16 . The method as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the step of computing the face plane is based upon the thickness estimate of neighboring imaged faces.

17 . The method as set forth in claim 10 , further comprising, estimating a 3D box shape based upon the 3D box dimensions that correspond to a plurality of imaged faces with face position and rotation correction.

18 . The method as set forth in claim 17 , further comprising, correcting rotation of the estimated result based upon identification of a face in the estimated result that defines a tilt angle that is greater than a preset threshold angle.

19 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform:

receiving, by the at least one processor, a three-dimensional (3D) image of a generally cuboidal object, the 3D image having 3D points representing imaged surfaces of the cuboidal object;

receiving, by the at least one processor, a region of interest (ROI) in which the ROI defines a search volume within the 3D image;

identifying the 3D points that are within the search volume;

estimating 3D box dimensions that approximate a coarse box shape of the cuboidal object based upon the identified 3D points;

refining the coarse box shape by determining a projection two-dimensional (2D) height map associated with an imaged surface of the imaged surfaces, and defining at least one of face pixels or non-face pixels associated with the imaged surface;

identifying bounding positions that define a face of the coarse box shape based upon a distribution of the at least one of face pixels or non-face pixels;

refining the face of the coarse box shape by determining an associated face thickness; and

deriving an estimated result for the 3D box model including the refined face.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 19 , further comprising program instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to determine an estimated thickness of each of a plurality of imaged faces corresponding to the 3D box dimensions by analyzing statistics of a distribution of the 3D points based on the 3D box dimensions that correspond to each of the plurality of imaged faces.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2025
From: ZHU, HONGWEI; MORENO, DANIEL; ZADEH, ALI M.; SCHAUFUSS, MARTIN
To: COGNEX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 070398/0217 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63470548 · Jun 2, 2023
Related Publication 20240404091A1 · Dec 5, 2024
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