US 12,014,513 B2
System and methods for automatic determination of item dimensions based on a stored known dimension of a standard size element
Ryan J. Simpson, Vienna, VA (US)
Assigned to United States Postal Service, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by United States Postal Service, Washington, DC (US)
Filed on Feb. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/186,512.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/983,377, filed on Feb. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0272309 A1, Sep. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. G06T 7/62 (2017.01); G01B 11/02 (2006.01); G01B 11/04 (2006.01); G06T 7/70 (2017.01)
CPC G06T 7/62 (2017.01) [G01B 11/026 (2013.01); G01B 11/043 (2013.01); G01B 11/046 (2013.01); G06T 7/70 (2017.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for automatically determining a three dimensional size of an item, the system comprising:
an optical sensor configured to scan a surface of the item facing the optical sensor while the item is being transported on a conveyor, the conveyor spaced apart from the optical sensor by a conveyor distance, the surface of the item including a standard size element having a first dimension;
a memory configured to store the first dimension and the conveyor distance prior to the optical sensor scanning the surface of the item; and
a processor in data communication with the optical sensor and the memory and configured to:
calculate a second dimension of the surface of the item based on pixel data of a scanned image of the surface of the item and pixel data of a scanned image of the standard size element and the previously stored first dimension, the second dimension greater than the first dimension;
obtain an item distance between the optical sensor and the surface of the item; and
determine a height of the item based on the obtained item distance and the previously stored conveyor distance.