Mark reader configured to prioritize images
AssigneeCognex Corporation
InventorsJames A. Negro, John F. Keating
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for use with a mark reader that reduce the trigger-to-decode response time by prioritizing images to be decoded based on the likelihood of a successful decode are provided. A reader attempts to decode a priority image(s) first to avoid attempting to decode images that are less likely than other images to be successfully decoded. Images are rated based on feature attributes, and then prioritized for decoding. Image feature attributes are correlated with parameter groups, and the parameter groups are prioritized for use in subsequent image acquisitions.
Claims20
A mark reader comprising:
- an image acquisition system, the image acquisition system configured to acquire a plurality of images;
- an analysis process that analyzes at least one acquired image to determine feature attributes of the at least one acquired image;
- a rating process that uses the feature attributes of the at least one acquired image to provide a priority for the at least one acquired image based on the likelihood that the at least one acquired image will result in a successful decode;
- and
- a decode process that attempts to decode one or more of the plurality of images based on the priority of at least one of the acquired images.
A mark reader for reading marks, the reader comprising:
- an image acquisition system, the image acquisition system configured to acquire at least a first image and a second image;
- an analysis process that analyzes at least the first image and the second image to determine feature attributes of the first image and the second image;
- a rating process that uses the feature attributes of the first image to prioritize the first image based on the likelihood that the first image will result in a successful decode, and the rating process uses the feature attributes of the second image to prioritize the second image based on the likelihood that the second image will result in a successful decode, the rating process resulting in at least one priority image;
- and
- a decode process that attempts to decode the at least one priority image.
A method for decoding a mark, the method comprising:
- acquiring a plurality of images using an image acquisition system;
- analyzing at least one acquired image to determine feature attributes of the at least one acquired image;
- assigning a priority to the at least one acquired image based on the feature attributes determined for the at least one acquired image, the feature attributes providing an indication of the likelihood that the at least one acquired image will result in a successful decode;
- and
- attempting to decode at least one of the plurality of images with an assigned priority.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.