Methods and apparatus for determining dimensions of an item using 3-dimensional triangulation
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorYoshitaka Utsumi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for determining the dimensions of an unknown item using multiple images captured by different cameras. The dimensions include the height, length and width of the item. The dimensions are used to reduce the universe of possible candidates that would identify the unknown item. The methods use multiple reference planes and projects elements of the item onto the one or more of the reference planes to determine the coordinates of the elements of the item. Once the coordinates are determined, the dimensions of the items are determined.
Claims20
A computer implemented method for determining dimensions of an unknown item by a scanner during a purchase transaction, the method comprising:
- receiving a first image of the item captured by a first camera of the scanner;
- identifying a first top corner of the item in the first image;
- determining a first point on a first reference plane that correlates to the identified first top corner;
- receiving a second image of the item captured by a second camera of the scanner;
- identifying the first top corner of the item in the second image;
- determining a second point on a second reference plane that correlates to the identified first top corner in the second image;
- determining a first dimension of the item using the first and second points and the location of the first and second cameras;
- and
- using the first dimension of the item to identify the item for inclusion in the purchase transaction.
A computer implemented method for determining the dimensions of an unknown item presented for identification to a scanner of a point of sale terminal during a purchase transaction, the method comprising:
- transporting the item to a predetermined scanning area of the scanner for scanning;
- receiving a first image of the item captured by a first camera of the scanner;
- identifying a first top corner of the item in the first image;
- determining a first point on a first reference plane that correlates to the first top corner;
- receiving a second image of the item captured by a second camera of the scanner;
- identifying the first top corner of the item in the second image;
- determining a second point on a second reference plane that correlates to the identified first top corner in the second image;
- determining a first dimension of the item using the first and second points and the location of the first and second cameras;
- and
- using the first dimension of the item to identify the item for inclusion in the purchase transaction.
A scanning apparatus for determining the dimensions of an unknown item during a purchase transaction, the apparatus comprising:
- a first camera located at a first predetermined location and oriented to capture a first image of the item when the item is located at a predetermined scanning location;
- a second camera located at a second predetermined location and oriented to capture a second image of the item when the item is located at the predetermined scanning location;
- a third camera located at a third predetermined location and oriented to capture a third image of the item when the item is located at the predetermined scanning location;
- a memory comprising computer instructions;
- a processor in communication with the memory and the first, second and third cameras where the processor is adapted to execute the computer instructions which cause the processor to perform the following steps:
- receiving a first image of the item captured by a first camera;
- identifying a first top corner of the item in the first image;
- determining a first point on a first reference plane that correlates to the first top corner;
- receiving a second image of the item captured by a second camera;
- identifying the first top corner of the item in the second image;
- determining a second point on a second reference plane that correlates to the identified first top corner in the second image;
- determining a first dimension of the item using the first and second points and the location of the first and second cameras;
- and
- using the first dimension of the item to identify the item for inclusion in the purchase transaction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.