Hand Held Machine Vision Method and Apparatus

Abstract

A method and system for use with a portable device including a processor, at least some embodiments of the method including the steps of providing an identification tag on at least one item that includes item identifying information, obtaining item identifying information from the identification tag via the portable device, obtaining at least one image of the at least one item via the portable device and performing a supplemental process using the identifying information and the at least one image.

1 . A method for use with a portable device including a processor, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an identification tag on at least one item that includes item identifying information;   obtaining item identifying information from the identification tag via the portable device;   obtaining at least one image of the at least one item via the portable device; and   performing a supplemental process using the identifying information and the at least one image.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the supplemental process includes correlating the image with the identifying information. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the supplemental process further includes storing the correlated image and identifying information in a database for subsequent use. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  also for use with a processor linked to a database and a receiver wherein the portable device includes a transmitter, the step of storing including transmitting the correlated information to the processor via the transmitter and receiver and storing the correlated information in the database via the processor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one item includes at least one feature that is distinguishable in the obtained image and the supplemental process includes identifying the at least one feature in the image. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the supplemental process further includes identifying at least a first characteristic of the identified feature. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  also for use with a database wherein at least one expected first characteristic is stored, the supplemental process further including comparing the identified first characteristic with the at least one expected first characteristic and, when the identified first characteristic is different than the at least one expected first characteristic, performing a warning function. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the portable device includes at least one of an audible warning device and a visual warning device and wherein the step of performing a warning process includes activating the at least one of the audible and visual warning device in a first way. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the supplemental process further includes, when the identified first characteristic matches the acceptable first characteristic, activating the warning device in a second way that is distinguishable from the first way. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of performing a warning function includes providing feedback that indicates the difference between the identified first characteristic and the at least one expected first characteristic. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the step of identifying at least a first characteristic includes identifying one of a dimension, a color, a pattern, a curvature, an angle with respect to at least a second feature within the image and a relative juxtaposition with respect to at least a second feature within the image. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the supplemental process further includes correlating the item identifying information with the identified characteristic and storing the correlated information in a database. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5  further including the step of using the information obtained from the tag to determine the feature to be identified in the image. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  also for use with a processor that has access to a database that correlates items with features to be identified in associated images and wherein the step of using the information obtained from the tag to determine the feature includes identifying a feature correlated with the identified item in the database. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the step of identifying at least a first characteristic includes identifying at least one dimension defined by the at least one feature and at least a second feature in the image. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the portable device further includes an output device and wherein the supplemental process further includes presenting the identified dimension via the output device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the output device is a visual output device and wherein the step of presenting the identified dimension includes presenting the dimension via the visual output device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  also for use with a database wherein at least one expected dimension is stored, the supplemental process further including comparing the identified dimension with the at least one expected dimension and, when the identified dimension is different than the at least one expected dimension, indicating the difference via the output device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of indicating the difference includes indicating the at least one expected dimension. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of identifying the at least one feature includes identifying circumstances under which the image was obtained and compensating at least in part for the identified circumstances. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  further including placing a source mark on the item, the method further including the step of obtaining an image of the source mark. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of obtaining an image includes obtaining an image including the at least one item and several other items proximate the at least one item. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portable device includes an alignment device useable to align the portable device with the at least one item, the method further including the step of, prior to obtaining the at least one image, using the alignment device to align the portable device with the at least one item. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1  also for use with a display device and a receiver separate from the portable device wherein the portable device includes a transmitter, the supplemental process further including transmitting the obtained image to the display device via the transmitter and the receiver and displaying the obtained image via the display device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of identifying the at least one feature includes identifying at least one region of interest (ROI) within the image that should include the at least one feature and processing the portion of the image in the ROI to identify the at least one feature. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the supplemental process includes at least a subset of storing the image, storing the obtained identifying information, storing the image correlated with the obtained identifying information, identifying characteristics of obtained images, correlating and storing identified image characteristics with obtained identifying information, comparing identified image characteristics with expected image characteristics to identify differences, indicating differences between identified image characteristics and expected characteristics, storing differences between identified image characteristics and expected characteristics, providing guidance for aligning the portable device to obtain an optimal image and using the obtained image to identify at least one optimal image that is most similar to the obtained image. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of obtaining information from the tag includes one of reading the information from the tag and exciting the tag to transmit information and receiving the transmitted information. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tag is one of a bar code, an RFID tag, an optical character tag and a dot matrix tag. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the supplemental function includes using the image content to discern at least one feature to be identified in the image. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portable device has access to a database that stores at least first and second optimal images of the at least one item that are correlated with item identifying information and, wherein, the supplemental process includes comparing the obtained image to at least one of the first and second optimal images to identify the optimal image most similar to the obtained image. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the database further includes at least first and second distinct sub-processes associated with the first and second optimal images, respectively, and, wherein, when the obtained image is most similar to one of the optimal images, the supplemental process includes performing the sub-process associated with the most likely associated optimal image. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein each of the at least first and second optimal images include at least one distinguishable feature and wherein the sub-processes include attempting to identify the distinguishable feature in the obtained image. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the distinguishable feature in the first optimal image is different than the distinguishable feature in the second optimal image. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one item includes at least two features that are distinguishable in the obtained image and the supplemental process includes identifying the at least two feature in the image. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the supplemental process further includes identifying a plurality of characteristics of the at least two features in the obtained image. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the supplemental process further includes providing feedback regarding at least a subset of the plurality of features. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the step of providing feedback includes providing feedback via the portable device. 
     
     
         38 - 57 . (canceled)