IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,774,842
Granted Patent B2
US 11,774,842 · App. 17/633,841 · Granted Oct 3, 2023

Systems and methods for image capture and shelf content detection

Inventors: Sarjoun Skaff (Boca Raton, FL); Matthew Brekken (Thornton, CO); Alexander Fink (Austin, TX); Garrick Kremesec (San Francisco, CA); Brendan Mcleod (Londonderry, NH); Christian Carlberg (San Luis Obispo, CA)
Assignee: BOSSA NOVA ROBOTICS IP, INC.
G03B30/00G06V10/141G06V20/52H04N23/54H04N23/56H04N23/72G06V10/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,774,842
App. No.
17/633,841
Granted
Oct 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image capture system for tracking target objects includes a movable base that supports one or more image capture modules, each of the image capture modules including a camera module, a first light module and a second light module. The camera module is mounted on a first plane of a mount bracket, the first light module is mounted on a second plane of the mounting bracket, and a second light module is mounted on a third plane of the mounting bracket. The first and second planes define a first angle, the first and third planes define a second angle, and the second angle is larger than the first angle. An output of the first light module and a light output of the second light module is selected based on an operating condition of the camera module.

Claims (88)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a mounting bracket including a first mounting portion, a second mounting portion and a third mounting portion, the first mounting portion defining a first plane;

a camera module including a control board, the camera module secured to the first mounting portion;

a first light module secured to the second mounting portion; and

a second light module secured to the third mounting portion;

wherein:

the second mounting portion defines a second plane, the second plane and the first plane intersecting to define a first angle;

the third mounting portion defining a third plane, the third plane and the first plane intersecting to define a second angle;

the second angle is greater than the first angle;

the control board is configured to control the first light module to emit a first light beam at a first light intensity during a first time period when the camera module is set to capture a first image at a first focus depth;

the control board is configured to control the second light module to emit a second light beam at a second light intensity during the first time period;

the control board is configured to control the first light module to emit a third light beam at a third light intensity during a second time period when the camera module is set to capture a second image at a second focus depth, the second focus depth being different than the first focus depth;

the control board is configured to control the second light module to emit a fourth light beam at a fourth light intensity during the second time period;

the second light intensity is greater than the first light intensity; and

the fourth light intensity is less than the third light intensity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first angle is between 0.5 and 5 degrees.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first angle is between 1 and 1.5 degrees.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second angle is between 3 and 20 degrees.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second angle is between 8 and 12 degrees.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a center of the camera module is spaced approximately 25 to 150 mm from a center of the first light module along the first plane.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a center of the first light module is spaced approximately 25 to 150 mm from a center of the second light module along the first plane.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the second light intensity is independent from the first light intensity.

9. An image capture system, comprising:

a movable base configured to move on a surface;

a chassis supported by the movable base;

a first image capture module including a first mounting bracket, a first camera module, a first light module, and a second light module, the first mounting bracket being mounted to the chassis; and

a second image capture module, the second image capture module including a second mounting bracket, a second camera module, a third light module, and a fourth light module; wherein:

the first mounting bracket includes a first mounting portion, a second mounting portion and a third mounting portion;

the first camera module is secured to the first mounting portion;

the first light module is secured to the second mounting portion;

the second light module is secured to the third mounting portion;

the first mounting portion defines a first plane;

the second mounting portion defines a second plane, the second plane and the first plane intersecting to define a first angle;

the third mounting portion defining a third plane, the third plane and the first plane intersecting to define a second angle;

the second angle is greater than the first angle;

the first image capture module is mounted to the chassis at a first height relative to the surface; and

the second image capture module is mounted to the chassis at a second height relative to the surface, the second height being different from the first height.

10. The image capture system of claim 9 , wherein:

the surface defines a surface plane; and

the first plane of the first mounting bracket is perpendicular with the surface plane.

11. The image capture system of claim 9 , wherein:

the surface defines a surface plane; and

the surface plane and an optical axis of the first camera module define a tilt angle of between 5 and 75 degrees.

12. The image capture system of claim 9 , wherein:

the first camera module includes a control board;

the control board is configured to control the first light module to emit a first light beam at a first light intensity during a time period;

the control board is configured to control the second light module to emit a second light beam at a second light intensity during the time period; and

the second light intensity is independent from the first light intensity.

13. The image capture system of claim 9 , wherein:

the second mounting bracket includes a fourth mounting portion, a fifth mounting portion and a sixth mounting portion;

the second camera module is secured to the fourth mounting portion;

the third light module is secured to the fifth mounting portion;

the fourth light module is secured to the sixth mounting portion;

the fourth mounting portion defines a fourth plane;

the fifth mounting portion defines a fifth plane, the fifth plane and the fourth plane intersecting to define a third angle;

the sixth mounting portion defining a sixth plane, the sixth plane and the fourth plane intersecting to define a fourth angle; and

the fourth angle is greater than the third angle.

14. The image capture system of claim 13 , wherein:

the surface defines a surface plane;

the first plane of the first mounting bracket is perpendicular with the surface plane; and

the fourth plane of the second mounting bracket is non-perpendicular with the surface plane.

15. The image capture system of claim 9 , wherein:

the surface defines a surface plane;

a first optical axis of the first camera module and the surface plane define a tilt angle of 0 degrees; and

a second optical axis of the second camera module and the surface plane define a second tilt angle between 5 and 75 degrees.

16. A method of adjusting light intensity in an image capture system, the image capture system including a mounting bracket, a camera module, a first light module, and a second light module, the method comprising:

adjusting a camera of the camera module to a focus depth, the camera module being mounted to a first mounting portion of the mounting bracket, the first mounting portion defining a first plane;

setting a first intensity level of the first light module to emit a first light beam at a first light intensity during a time period when the camera is set to capture an image at the focus depth, the first light module being mounted to a second mounting portion of the mounting bracket, the second mounting portion defining a second plane, and the second plane intersecting with the first plane to define a first angle;

setting a second intensity level of the second light module to emit a second light beam at a second light intensity during the time period when the camera is set to capture the image at the focus depth, the second light module being mounted to a third mounting portion of the mounting bracket, the third mounting portion defining a third plane, and the third plane intersecting with the first plane to define a second angle;

the second light intensity is independent from the first light intensity; and

the second angle is greater than the first angle.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:

the focus depth is a first focus depth, the image is a first image, and the time period is a first time period;

the method further comprises:

adjusting the camera of the camera module to a second focus depth;

setting a third intensity level of the first light module to emit a third light beam at a third light intensity during a second time period when the camera is set to capture a second image at the second focus depth,

setting a fourth intensity level of the second light module to emit a fourth light beam at a fourth light intensity during the second time period,

the second focus depth is longer than the first focus depth;

the fourth light intensity is less than the second light intensity; and

the fourth light intensity is less than the third light intensity.

18. A method of capturing an image of a target object using an image capture system, the image capture system including a camera module, a first light module, and a second light module, the method comprising:

determining a focal distance of the target object;

sending a first signal to the first light module to emit a first light beam at least a first portion of the target object at a first light intensity, the first light intensity associated with the focal distance;

sending a second signal to the second light module to emit a second light beam at least a second portion of the target object at a second light intensity, the second light intensity being independent from the first light intensity, the second light intensity associated with the focal distance;

capturing, via the camera module, the image of the target object during a time period when the target object is illuminated by the first light module and the second light module.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first portion of the target object overlaps with the second portion of the target object.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the camera module, the first light module, and the second light module are each coupled to a mounting bracket.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2023
From: BOSSA NOVA ROBOTICS IP, INC.
To: BOSSA, LLC
Reel/Frame 065617/0298 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2023
From: BOSSA, LLC
To: HANSHOW AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 065617/0320 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2023
From: HANSHOW AMERICA, INC.
To: SHANGHAI HANSHI INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 065617/0349 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: SKAFF, SARJOUN; BREKKEN, MATTHEW; FINK, ALEXANDER; KREMESEC, GARRICK; MCLEOD, BRENDAN
To: BOSSA NOVA ROBOTICS IP, INC.
Reel/Frame 058932/0962 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: CARLBERG, CHRISTIAN
To: BOSSA NOVA ROBOTICS IP, INC.
Reel/Frame 058932/0991 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62888265 · Aug 16, 2019
Related Publication 20220303445A1 · Sep 22, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,633,143