IP Library Granted Patent US 10,062,050
Granted Patent B2
US 10,062,050 · App. 14/464,479 · Granted Aug 28, 2018

Image-based inventory control system with automatic calibration and image correction

Inventors: Matthew J. Lipsey (Sherwood, AR); Preston Phillips (Conway, AR); David C. Fly (Maumelle, AR)
Assignee: SNAP-ON INCORPORATED
G06Q10/087B25H3/00B25H3/028G06K7/10009G06K9/00G06T7/0008H04W4/80G06K2209/19G06T2207/10024G06T2207/30108
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,062,050
App. No.
14/464,479
Granted
Aug 28, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems for monitoring an inventory condition of objects based on captured images are described. An exemplary system includes at least one storage drawer, each storage drawer including a plurality of storage locations for storing objects; and an image sensing device configured to capture an image of one of the storage locations. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensor sub-system senses attributes of objects located in the inventory control system. A data storage system stores, for each storage location, reference data including identification of the object associated with each storage location. A data processor determines the inventory condition of each storage location of the captured image based on the image data of the captured image in conjunction with the sensing data of attributes of objects located in the inventory control system.

Claims (26)

1. An inventory control system for determining an inventory condition of objects stored in the system, the system comprising:

a plurality of storage locations for storing objects, wherein each storage location is associated with an object;

an image sensing device configured to capture an image of the storage locations;

a radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensor sub-system configured to sense attributes of objects located in the inventory control system;

a data storage system storing reference data for each storage location, wherein the reference data includes identification of the object associated with each storage location; and

a data processor configured to:

access image data of the image of the storage locations captured by the image sensing device;

access sensing data of attributes of objects located in the inventory control system captured by the RFID sensor sub-system;

determine the inventory condition of objects stored in the storage locations based on the image data of the captured image; and

perform recognition of objects stored in the storage locations based on characteristics of the objects including at least one of size, shape, and color in the image data of the image captured by the image sensing device in conjunction with the sensing data of attributes of objects located in the inventory control system captured by the RFID sensor sub-system.

2. The inventory control system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one storage drawer comprising the plurality of storage locations for storing objects.

3. The inventory control system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one storage shelf comprising the plurality of storage locations for storing objects; and

a door securing access to the at least one storage shelf.

4. The inventory control system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID sensor sub-system is further configured to perform radio frequency (RF) triangulation to determine locations of objects located in the inventory control system.

5. The inventory control system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor sub-system is further configured to sense attributes including at least one of pressure, force, strain, magnetic field, capacitive sense, electric field, proximity, gravitational field strength.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

each storage location is configured to store a pre-designated object;

the data processor has access to prestored information identifying a relationship between each pre-designated object and an identifier unique to the pre-designated object; and

the data processor is configured to perform recognition of objects by sensing the presence of at least one identifier unique to a pre-designated object, and identifying objects based on the relationship between each pre-designated object and identifiers unique to each pre-designated object.

7. The inventory control system of claim 1 , wherein the data processor is configured to determine the inventory condition of each object based on a correlation between data of a region of interest in the captured image and reference data for the region of interest.

8. The inventory control system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID sensor sub-system is further configured to sense attributes of a storage location of the inventory control system.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the data processor has access to prestored information identifying a relationship between each storage location and an identifier unique to the storage location; and

the data processor is configured to determine an inventory condition of objects by sensing the presence of at least one identifier unique to a storage location, and identifying objects based on the relationship between each object and the identifier unique to the storage location associated with the object.

Continuity (3)
Continuation 12484139 · Jun 12, 2009
Provisional Application 61087565 · Aug 8, 2008
Related Publication 20140358740A1 · Dec 4, 2014
Cited By (1)
US 12,718,196