Pharmacy pill counting vision system
AssigneeScriptPro LLC
InventorRodney N. Hamilton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A semi-automated pill counting system (10) using digital imaging technology and image recognition software including a modified Hough Transform. The system (10) comprises a light source (12); a modified pharmacist's tray (14); a digital camera (16); and a personal computer (PC)(18), with the PC (18) storing and executing the image recognition software. A roughly estimated number of pills are placed upon the tray (16) and illuminated by the light source (12), whereafter a digital image of the pills is produced by the camera (16) and sent via an interface to the PC(18). The image recognition software counts the pills present in the image and displays a count result. Based upon the count result, the pharmacist adds or removes pills to the tray (14), as appropriate, to complete the process.
Claims24
A system for counting a quantity of pills, the system comprising:
- a pharmacist's tray upon which the quantity of pills may be arranged;
- a digital camera operable to produce a digital image of the quantity of pills arranged upon the pharmacist's tray;
- a processor interfaced with the digital camera and operable to receive the digital image, execute a program to count the number of pills present in the digital image, and generate a count result;
- and
- a display operable to communicate the count result.
A system for counting a quantity of pills, the system comprising:
- a light source operable to illuminate the quantity of pills;
- a pharmacist's tray having a surface upon which the quantity of pills may be arranged, with the surface presenting a changeable color;
- a digital camera operable to produce a digital image of the quantity of pills arranged upon the surface;
- a computer interfaced with the digital camera and operable to receive the digital image, execute a program to count the number of pills present in the digital image, and generate a count result;
- and
- a display operable to communicate the count result.
A method of counting pills, the pills having one or more visually identifying characteristics, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving a desired quantity input;
- (b) producing a digital image of the pills;
- (c) identifying and counting the pills present in the digital image based upon the visually identifying characteristics, and generating a count result;
- and
- (d) displaying the count result.
A method of counting pills, the pills having one or more visually identifying characteristics, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving a desired quantity input;
- (b) determining the visually identifying characteristics, including a pill color and a pill shape;
- (c) adjusting a background color based upon the pill color.
- (d) producing a digital image of the pills;
- (e) identifying and counting the pills present in the digital image based upon the visually identifying characteristics, and generating a count result;
- and
- (f) displaying the count result.
A system for counting a quantity of items, the system comprising:
- a divided surface upon which the quantity of items may be arranged;
- a digital camera operable to produce a digital image of the quantity of items arranged upon the divided surface;
- a processor interfaced with the digital camera and operable to receive the digital image, execute a program to count the number of items present in the digital image, and generate a count result;
- and
- a display operable to communicate the count result.
A system for counting a quantity of different types of items, the system comprising:
- a divided surface upon which the quantity of different types of items may be arranged;
- a digital camera operable to produce a digital image of the quantity of different types of items arranged upon the divided surface;
- a processor interfaced with the digital camera and operable to receive the digital image, execute a program to identify and count the number and types of items present in the digital image, and generate a count result for each different type;
- and
- a display operable to communicate the count results.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.