This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-173636, filed Sep. 3, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a working support technique for warehouse management or the like. Specifically, the embodiments may be related to an easy hands-free verification technique used in a storage-item picking operation performed by a warehouse operator or a warehouse worker who wears an eyeglass-type wearable device.
In a warehouse storing a large number of items (goods, products, parts, and the like), whereabouts of target items are required to be clear to operators or workers who perform the picking operation (operation to select particular storage items). As a way of practical warehouse management, serial numbers put on racks may be adopted such that the operators or workers can aim to their target racks. However, if a management condition of a warehouse is unstable, a picking operator who is unfamiliar to the warehouse may not easily find a rack with target item. In consideration of such a problem, there is proposed a picking operation support system using eyeglass-type display devices, by which picking operators are guided to storage locations of items.
In this system, a human body communication tag is applied to each storage space with item storage racks, and a server device stores location data of each storage space. When a picking operator approaches a storage space, data read from the human body communication tag of the space are sent to the server device. The server device receives the data of the human body communication tag, and guides the operator to the storage space with picking target items through an eyeglass-type display device of the operator based on a positional relationship between the operator and the storage space. Then, the operator can pick the target items from the racks of the space.
Here, item verification is necessary during a picking operation in a warehouse. A hand-held terminal with a barcode read function may be utilized in the item verification. When such a hand-held terminal is utilized, however, an operator needs to use at least one of his/her hands to hold the terminal, to thereby decrease the efficiency of the picking operation. Therefore, a hands-free item verification is demanded in the picking operation.
Conventional eyeglass-type displays may be useful to guide an operator to a rack storing target items. However, when performing the item verification to determine whether or not desired item(s) (product(s), part(s), etc.) is/are picked from the racks, such conventional displays may not be useful.
On the other hand, operation management systems using a sensor network are proposed for the management of operators.
In this system, motion data and position data of an operator are acquired through a first sensor node, and at least one of condition data and position data of items are acquired by a second sensor node (position data of the first and second sensor nodes can be acquired by a third sensor node). Furthermore, environmental condition data can be acquired by a fourth sensor node. Data detected by the sensor nodes are used for record and analysis of the operation contents.
As sensor nodes SN, conventionally, there are a sensor node MSN which is put on an operator to detect motions of the operator (first sensor node), a sensor node GSN which is put on an item such as a product or a machine to detect motions of the item (second sensor node), a positioning sensor node LSN which is put on a rack storing products to detect the positions of the sensor nodes MSN and GSN (third sensor node), and a environmental measurement sensor node ESN which measures environment conditions such as a temperature and humidity in a warehouse (fourth sensor node).
If such a tool with the sensor nodes is not a hand-held type, the operator can perform hands-free picking operation using the functions of the tool. However, such sensor nodes do not have a function to identify individual items, and the item verification of picking targets is not possible.
As a target of the present application, embodiments present easier and hands-free item verification performed by a warehouse operator during a storage item picking operation.
According to the method of an embodiment, an eyeglass-type wearable device having right and left eye frames can be put on an operator or worker who picks items in a warehouse. The eyeglass-type wearable device includes a display disposed in at least one of the right and left eye frames, a camera which takes an image of a unique pattern (barcode, QR code, or the like), and a sensor which detects a position of the eyeglass-type wearable device in the warehouse or detects a facing direction of the right and left eye frames in the warehouse.
In the method using the eyeglass-type wearable device, data related to an item existing in a line of sight of the operator with the eyeglass-type wearable device are displayed on the display, and the unique pattern (barcode, QR code, or the like) taken by the camera is recognized.
The recognized unique pattern and the data related to the item displayed on the display are compared for the item verification of the item which is a picking target.
A picking operator does not need to handle a hand-held tool such as a hand-held terminal for the item verification of the picking target item. Therefore, the operator can perform a hands-free picking operation without any bother.
A general architecture that implements the various features of the embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate the embodiments and not to limit the scope of the invention.
Hereinafter, various embodiments will be explained with reference to accompanying drawings. These embodiments may relate to various wearable devices including any of an eyeglasses-type wearable device, a glasses-type wearable device, a spectacle-type wearable device, and the like. In this specification (including detailed description and claims) these various wearable devices are simply represented by the term “eyeglasses-type wearable device” unless otherwise noted. In other words, the term “eyeglasses-type wearable device” should be broadly interpreted as a wearable device regarding an eye or eyes.
The term “picking operation (used in the embodiments)” corresponds to a more general term “selection operation (used in the original claims).” The selection operation or picking operation may have the meaning of “order picking” or “order preparation operation.” The order picking or order preparation operation is one of a logistic warehouse's process, and it consists in taking and collecting articles in a specified quantity before shipment to satisfy customer's orders.
The “user” used in this specification may have the meaning of “operator” or “worker” in a warehouse.
A data processor 11 (an integrated circuit of a few millimeter square) is embedded in a part of the eye frame 101 near the right hinge 105 (or inside the right temple bar 107). The data processor 11 is an LSI in which a microcomputer, memory, communication processor, and the like are integrated (the data processor 11 will be detailed later with reference to
Although this is not depicted in
A left camera 13L is attached to the end of the left eye frame 102 near the left hinge 104, and a right camera 13R is attached to the end of the right eye frame 101 near the right hinge 105. A micro CCD image sensor can be used for the cameras.
The cameras (13L and 13R) may be used as a stereo camera. Or, an infrared camera (13R) and a laser (13L) may be provided with the camera positions as a distance sensor using a combination of the infrared camera and the laser. The distance sensor may be composed of a micro semiconductor microphone (13R) which collects ultrasonic waves and a micro piezoelectric speaker (13L) which generates ultrasonic waves.
Note that, a center camera (not shown) may be provided with the bridge 103 instead of or in addition to the right and left cameras 13R and 13L. Or, the device may not include any camera at all. (The cameras are shown as a camera 13 in
A left display 12L is fit in the left eye frame 102, and a right display 12R is fit in the right eye frame 101. The display is provided with at least one of the right and left eye frames and is formed of film liquid crystal or the like. Specifically, a film liquid crystal display device adopting polymer diffusion liquid crystal (PDLC) without a polarizer can be used as one or both of the right and left displays 12R and 12L (the display is depicted as a display 12 in
The bridge 103 is connected to a transmitter electrode 140 and the transmitter electrode 140 is electrically and mechanically connected to the eye frame 101 (and 102). Four receiver electrodes 141 to 144 are provided with the periphery of the right eye frame 101. Specifically, a north receiver electrode (upper electrode) 141 is disposed at the upper side of the right eye frame 101 via (i.e., insulated from the transmitter electrode) a dielectric layer which is not shown. Similarly, a south receiver electrode (lower electrode) 142 is disposed at the lower side of the right eye frame 101, a west receiver electrode (right electrode) 143 is disposed at the right side of the same, and an east receiver electrode (left electrode) 144 is disposed at the left side of the same. (Generally speaking, the metal bridge 103 which is connected to the transmitter electrode 140 is electrically connected to the entirety of the metal eye frame 101 and the electrodes 141 to 144 face the four parts of the eye frame 101 through a dielectric insulating layer.) The electrodes 140 to 144 are electrically separated from each other and are connected to the data processor 11 through insulating interconnection members (not shown). The electrodes 140 to 144 are used as capacitance sensors and are structural components of a gesture detector 14 shown in
Note that, the electrodes 141 to 144 are depicted conspicuously in
Furthermore, capacitance sensor electrodes (141 to 144) are provided with only the right eye frame 101 side in
A nose pad is disposed between the right and left eye frames 101 and 102 and below the bridge 103. The nose pad includes a left nose pad 150L and a right nose pad 150R. Although this is not depicted in
The electrodes 151a, 151b, 152a, and 152b are electrically separated from each other and are connected to three AD converters (ADC 1510, 1520, and 1512) via insulating interconnection members (not shown). Outputs from the ADCs have different signal waveforms corresponding to motions of user's eyes adjacent to the right and left eye frames and are supplied to the data processor 11 in
The eyeglass-type wearable device 100 of
Note that, if the gesture detection is not used in a picking operation, the capacitance sensor electrodes (141 to 144/141* to 144*) may be omitted. Furthermore, a center electrode may be provided with a part of the bridge 103 in the eyeglass-type wearable device 100 for the picking operation (the center electrode could be felt uncomfortable for some operators but it should be ignored since the device is simply a working tool). In that case, various eye motions of the user can be detected by the electrode at the right nose pad 150R side (for example, 151b in
Here, one receiver electrode (one of 141 to 144, e.g., 141) is between the transmitter electrode 140 and the GND (a hand or finger of the user, for example) and a capacitance between the transmitter electrode 140 and the receiver electrode 141 is Crxtx. Furthermore, a capacitance between the transmitter electrode 140 and the GND is Ctxg, a capacitance between the receiver electrode 141 and the GND is Crxg, and a capacitance between the hand or finger of the user (GND) which performs a gesture to be detected and the receiver electrode is Ch (Ch varies corresponding to a gesture of the user). In consideration of the capacitance Ch made by the hand of the user, Crxg+Ch is the total capacitance between the receiver electrode 141 and the GND. When a high-frequency voltage Vtx is applied between the transmitter electrode 140 and the GND, the signal voltage obtained from the receiver electrode 141 will be expressed as follows.
Vrxbuf=Vtx×{(Crxtx)/(Crxtx+Crxg+Ch)} (1)
The capacitances (Crxtx and Crxg) are different in each of the receiver electrodes 141 to 144, and the capacitance (Ch) varying corresponding to the gesture of the user is different in each of the receiver electrodes 141 to 144. Therefore, the voltage signals (Vrxbuf1 to Vrxbuf4) obtained from respective receiver electrodes 141 to 144 will be different. However, each of the different voltage signals (Vrxbuf1 to Vrxbuf4) can be obtained by the formula (1).
From the four receiver electrodes 141 to 144, four voltage signals (Vrxbuf1 to Vrxbuf4) each varying corresponding to the gesture of the user can be obtained. A change manner in the voltage signals corresponds to a gesture of the user (for example, if the four voltage signals are represented by bar graphs, the heights of the four bars are independent and different from each other but a pattern of changes in the four bar-heights should correspond to the gesture of the user). The four voltage signals (Vrxbuf1 to Vrxbuf4) change corresponding to the movements of a hand or a finger such as up-and-down and right-to-left swings, clockwise or counterclockwise rotations, and movements closer to or distant from the receiver electrodes. Thus, if corresponding relationships between the gesture patterns of users (hand or finger up-and-down movement, rotation, and the like) and change patterns of the four voltage signals (Vrxbuf1 to Vrxbuf4) are checked or examined in advance, the gestures of users can be identified and detected. Consequently, a gesture of swiping up a finger from the below (south side) to the above (north side) can be translated into a command of screen scroll from the below to the above, for example.
Note that, a 3D gesture sensor using the formula (1) is commercially available as MGC3130 (Single-Zone 3D Tracking and Gesture Controller) of Microchip Technology Inc. and its detailed data sheet can be obtained through the Internet. The principle of the 3D gesture sensor using the formula (1) is a publically-known technique. However, the embodiment in which a combination of the 3D gesture sensor and an eye motion sensor is used with an AR display by images IM1/IM2 (cf.
Note that, in the example of
In
In
Ch1 signals which change corresponding to up-and-down motions of the right eye of the user can be obtained through the ADC 1510. Ch2 signals which change corresponding to up-and-down motions of the left eye of the user can be obtained through the ADC 1520. Ch0 signals which change corresponding to motions of the right and left eyes of the user can be obtained through the ADC 1512. The up-and-down motions of the right and left eyes of the user can be evaluated by Ch1+2 signals representing an average of outputs of the ADCs 1510 and 1520. (A relationship between signal waveforms of Ch0, Ch1, Ch2, and Ch1+2 and eye motions will be described later with reference to
Film liquid crystal of the right display 12R in
The display images IM1 and IM2 can be used to provide the augmented reality (AR) in which data including numbers and letters is added to the real world viewed through the glasses. The contents of the display image IM1 and the contents of the display image IM2 can be the same (IM1=IM2) or different (IM1 IM2) depending on the type of embodiments. Furthermore, the display image IM1 (or IM2) can be displayed in the right display 12R and/or the left display 12L. If the contents of the AR display are required to be shown in a 3D image (with a depth) overlapping the real world viewed through the glasses, the display images IM1 and IM2 are different images for 3D display.
Furthermore, if the displays (12R and 12L) are positioned right and left, the images on the right and left displays (IM1 and IM2) can be shifted in opposite directions by, for example, adjusting an angle of convergence. This will reduce the workload of eyes viewing a target in the real world and the AR display alternately. However, normally, the same images are displayed in the right and left displays (12R and 12L).
The display control of the displays 12R and 12L can be performed by the data processor 11 embedded in the right temple bar 107. (Displaying letters and icons on a display is a well-known technique.) Power required for the operation of the data processor 11 and the like can be obtained from a battery BAT embedded in the left temple bar 106.
Note that, if a designer may wear a test product corresponding to the example of
As in the example of
If two pairs of capacitance sensor electrodes (140 to 144 and 141* to 144*) for the gesture detection are disposed at both right and left sides, the number of the receiver electrodes of capacitance sensor is eight in total at the both sides. Then, eight kinds of detection signals (Vrxbuf) each changing corresponding to 3D gestures of right and left hands (or two or more fingers) are obtained. Data input A (
Furthermore, with the two pairs of capacitance sensor electrodes (140 to 144 and 141* to 144*) for the gesture detection disposed at both right and left sides, a detectable range of the gesture movement (especially in the horizontal direction) can be increased. For example, in the example of
A section in which a gesture is performed in the five sections can be determined based on a change condition of eight signal levels from the eight receiver electrodes of the capacitance sensors. (For example, if a finger is swung from right to left between the right end of the right eye frame to the left end of the left eye frame, eight electrode signal levels all change individually.) With the gesture movable range divided as above, a section in which a gesture is performed can be identified even if gestures in the same pattern are performed in any sections. Thus, determination results as to the sections in which the gestures are performed can be used to substantially increase the types of the commands input by data input A (as compared to a case where movable range is not identified).
Note that, in the example of
If the device is made for a left-hand user only, only the electrodes 141* to 144* at the left eye frame 102 side may be used as the capacitance sensors for the gesture detection, and only the display image IM2 may be used for the gesture operation. That is, the electrodes 141 to 144 at the right eye frame 101 side and the display image IM1 may be omitted from a certain embodiment (the display contents of the display image IM2 may be the same as or different from the contents to be displayed by the display image IM1).
Note that, in the example of
Tabs may be attached to the temple bars through the following manners, for example. That is, the tab 14T (or 14T*) may be mechanically fixed to the temple bar 107 (or 106) undetachably. Or, the tab 14T (or 14T*) may be detachably attached to a connector receiver (not shown) provided with the temple bar 107 (or 106) using a snap-lock multipoint connector or the like. A connector which detachable attaches the tab and the temple bar may be a micro USB or a micro HDMI (registered trademark) in consideration of a mechanical design for the sufficient mechanical strength after the connection.
In the example of
In the example of
Note that, although this is not shown, the structure of two data processors 11 and 11* provided with the right and left temple bars 107 and 106 and/or the structure of the two batteries BAT and BAT* provided with the right and left end covers 109 and 108 can be applied to the example of
In the example of
The electrodes 151a, 151b, 152a, and 152b of
In the examples of
Furthermore, a potential difference between the lower electrode 152b of the left nose pad 150L and the lower electrode 151b of the right nose pad 150R is received by high input impedance of the ADC 1512 and Ch0 potential difference between the right and left electrodes which may vary with time is detected as digital data. (Or, a potential difference between the upper electrode 152a of the left nose pad 150L and upper electrode 151a of the right nose pad 150R may be received by high input impedance of the ADC 1512 and Ch0 potential difference between the right and left electrodes which may vary with time may be detected as digital data.)
Note that ADCs 1510, 1520, and 1512 of
Types of the eye motion and ranges of eye motion related to the eye motion detection of
<Types of Eye Motion>
(01) Compensative Eye Motion
Non-voluntary eye motion developed for stabilizing an external image on a retina regardless of motions of the head or body.
(02) Voluntary Eye Motion
Eye motion developed to set a target image to the center of the retina and controlled voluntarily.
(03) Impulsive Eye Motion (Saccade)
Eye motion made when a focus point is changed to see an object (easy to detect).
(04) Slide Eye Motion
Smooth eye motion made when tailing an object moving slowly (hard to detect).
<Motion Range of Eyes (of an Ordinary Adult)>
(11) Horizontal Directions
Left direction: 50° or less
Right direction: 50° or less
(12) Vertical Directions
Lower direction: 50° or less
Upper direction: 30° or less
(The range of angles voluntarily movable in the vertical directions is narrower in the upper direction. Since the Bell phenomenon in which eye rotate upward when eyes are closed, the eye motion range in the vertical directions shifts to the upper direction when the eyes are closed.)
(13) Others
Angle of convergence: 20° or less
The sensor 11e includes a sensor group to detect a position and/or direction of the eyeglass-type wearable device 100. Specifically, the sensor group includes an acceleration sensor which detects motions in three-axis directions (x-y-z directions), gyro which detects the rotation in the three-axis direction, geomagnetism sensor (compass function) which detects an absolute direction, and beacon sensor which obtains position data and the like by receiving radio waves or infrared. To obtain position data and the like, iBeacon (registered trademark) and Bluetooth (registered trademark) 4.0 can be used.
An LSI used in the data processor 11 is commercially available. For example, TZ1000 series for wearable devices of Toshiba Semiconductor and Storage can be cited. One of the series: TZ1011MBG has a CPU (11a and 11c), flash memory (11b), Bluetooth Low Energy (registered trademark) (11d), sensor group (acceleration sensor, gyro, and geomagnetism sensor) (11e), 24 bit delta sigma ADC, and I/O (USB and the like).
Commands to be executed by the processor 11 can be obtained via the communication processor 11d from an external server (or a personal computer) which is not shown. (For example, a picking command may be sent from a server computer of a storage management system to an eyeglass-type device 100 put on a picking operator). The communication processor 11d can use available communication schemes such as ZigBee (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and Wi-Fi (registered trademark). A process result from the processor 11a can be sent to the storage management server (e.g., WMS server computer 1000 of
A system bus of the data processor 11 is connected to a display 12 (12R and 12L of
The gesture detector 14 of
The eye motion detector 15 of
Specific commands corresponding to the types of eye motions may be, for example, selecting a data item in the line of sight if the eye motion is closing eyes (similar to a click of a computer mouse), starting a process of the selected data item if the eye motion is continuous blinks or a wink (similar to double clicks of a computer mouse). The command is an example of data input B using the eye motion detector 15.
Now, a method of detecting (estimating) an eyesight direction of a user will be explained.
The user sees the direct front with his/her both eyes, instantly moves the sight upward and maintain the upward stare for one second, and then instantly returns the stare in the front. This is repeated for five times and changes of the detection signal levels are shown in
If the detection results of
Note that, although this is not shown, a wide pulse shows in Ch1 when the user closes the right eye only and a wide pulse shows in Ch2 when the user closes the left eye only. Thus, a right eye closing and a left eye closing can be detected separately.
As shown in
Note that, if the potential change of the + input and − input of the ADC 1512 cannot be set even because of the distortion of the face of the user or the skin condition, a calibration to set the output of the ADC of Ch0, detected when the user wears the eyeglass-type wearable device 100 and brinks both eyes, to minimum (to set a cancel amount between + input components and − input components maximum) should be performed in advance.
Furthermore, if a peak ratio SL1a/SL2a of the detection signals Ch1/Ch2 at the time of a both eye wink is used as a reference, a peak ratio SL1b/SL2b at the time of a left eye wink changes (SL1b/SL2b is not equal to SL1a/SL2a). From this point, a left wink can be detected.
As stated above, the position of the ADC 1512 of
Furthermore, if a peak ratio SR1a/SR2a of the detection signals Ch1/Ch2 at the time of a both eye wink is used as a reference, a peak ratio SR1b/SR2b at the time of a right eye wink changes (SR1b/SR2b is not equal to SR1a/SR2a). Furthermore, the peak ratio SL1b/SL2b of a left wink and the peak ratio SR1b/SR2b of a right wink may be different (how different they are can be confirmed by an experiment).
From this point, a right wink can be detected separately from the left wink (an example of right and left wink detections using Ch1 and Ch2).
Using Ch0 or Ch1/Ch2 for detecting the right and left winks can be arbitrarily determined by a device designer. Results of right and left wink detections using Ch0 to Ch2 can be used as operation commands.
For example, the eyeglass-type wearable device 100 of
If an item list related to a plurality of items is sent from a server to the device 100 through, for example, Wi-Fi, data of the item list are stored in the memory 11c of
If currently necessary item data (name of the item and an ID code thereof) are not being displayed in the displayed list, the user with the device 100 moves, for example, his/her right index finger swiping up in front of the right eye frame 12R with the electrodes (141 to 144) of the gesture detector 14. Then, the type of the motion (one of the gestures) is determined (ST12), and the data input A corresponding to the motion is generated in the gesture detector 14 (ST14). The data input A is sent to the processor 11a through the system bus of
If desired item data are not found through the scroll, the right index finger, for example, is swiped down. The type of the motion (one of the gestures) is determined (ST12), and data input A corresponding to the motion is generated in the gesture detector 14 (ST14). The data input A is sent to the processor 11a, and the item data in the image IM1 (or IM2) displayed in the right display 12R (or in the left display 12L) are scrolled downward (ST16). By repeating the finger swiping down gesture, the item data in the image IM1 (or IM2) can be scrolled down to the end.
If a plurality of item lists are displayed in the image IM (or IM2), the item list seen by the user can be detected by the sightline detection sensor of the eye motion detector 15. Now, for a simplified explanation, a case where three item data lines (upper, middle, and lower lines) are displayed in the image IM1 (or IM2) is given.
When the user stares in front and stays still, signal waveforms of the three ADCs (Ch0 to Ch2) of
When the user stares in front and looks up, signal waveforms of the three ADCs (Ch0 to Ch2) of
When the user stares in front and looks down, signal waveforms of the three ADCs (Ch0 to Ch2) of
When the user stares in front and closes both eyes for a short period (0.5 to 1.0 seconds), upward pulses having waveforms different from that of
After the selection of the item data, if the user looks in front and instant blinks (0.2 to 0.3 seconds) for a few times by both eyes, a few sharp pulses occur (
After the selection of the item data, if a left wink is performed (
As can be understood from the above, the eye motions of the user including the eye direction of the user (up-and-down and right-and-left motions, blinks, closed eyes, winks, and the like) can be determined using combination of various signal waveforms obtained from the sightline detection sensor of the eye motion detector 15 (ST22).
After the determination of the eye motion of the user including the eye direction of the user (ST22), a data input B corresponding a determination result is generated by the eye motion detector 15 (ST 24). The data input B is sent to the processor 11a, and the processor 11a performs the process corresponding to the data input B (ST26). For example, the processor 11a determines that an item (not shown) corresponding to the selected item data is picked up by the user from the storage rack in the warehouse, and modifies the item list stored in the memory 11c. Then, the modified list is informed to the server (not shown) through Wi-Fi (ST26). Or, the user can add a desired value code or the like to the selected item data using a ten-key in the image IM1 (or IM2) displayed in the right display 12R (or left display 12L) of
The process of
Steps ST12 to ST16 of
Furthermore, the eyeglass-type wearable device 100 of the embodiments can be operated without touching by hands, and even if fingers are dirty, data input can be performed without dirtying the device 100.
Note that the device may be structured such that the user can touch any of the electrodes 141 to 144 (with clean fingers). In that case, the capacitance sensor 14 can be used as a pointing device like a touch pad (a variation of ST12 to ST16 of
In the combination data input operation (combination of data input A and data input B), an image process of an image taken by a camera or a recognition process of audio caught by a microphone can be unnecessary. Therefore, even in a dark environment unsuitable for a proper image process or in a noisy environment unsuitable for a proper audio input, various data inputs can be performed without touching a specific object. In other words, various data inputs can be performed regardless of the brightness or the darkness of the operation environment or of the noise of the operation environment.
Furthermore, the eyeglass-type wearable device of an embodiment includes a plurality of eye motion detection electrodes 151a, 151b, 152a, and 152b directly contacting the user, but these electrodes are only provided with the nose pads (150R and 150L) (the electrodes 140 to 144 of the gesture detector do not directly contact the user). Since the nose pads are used in ordinary glasses, the eyeglass-type wearable device of the embodiment can be worn by a person who wears glasses ordinarily without feeling uncomfortable. (If a directly-touching detection electrode is provided with a part which does not conventionally contact a user such as a bridge part between the right and left eye frames, some user may feel uncomfortable or may be irritated. However, since the detection electrodes are provided with only the part which contacts the user in the ordinary glasses (with the nose pads or the temple bars), the eyeglass-type wearable device of the embodiments can be worn without feeling uncomfortable.)
For example, in the storage management data of
Similarly, a marker (beacon) code of code A312 is arranged to the second step (middle step) of section 1 of rack number A3, and 5 sets of wine glasses with management coded 011, 3 wine servers with management code 012, and 30 coffee cups with management code 013 are described in the step as the current storage data. Management codes 011 to 013 correspond to the barcodes or QR codes attached to the items or packages of the items. Additional data (fragile, this side up, or the like) can be added arbitrarily or optionally. Furthermore, the latest in-storage date and the latest out-of-storage date (picking date) are described. As to items which are not at all shipped out after the storage, shipping-out date is blanked.
Similarly, a marker (beacon) code of code A313 is arranged to the third step (lower step) of section 1 of rack number A3, and 20 cushions with management coded 021, 10 blankets with management code 022, and 10 pairs of slippers with management code 023 are described in the step as the current storage data. Management codes 021 to 023 correspond to the barcodes or QR codes attached to the items or packages of the items. Additional data can be added arbitrarily. Furthermore, the latest in-storage date and the latest out-of-storage date (picking date) are described. As to items which are not at all shipped out after the storage, shipping-out date is blanked.
The storage management data of section 2 of rack number A3 (corresponding to the second section from the left end of
Before starting the picking operation, data related to the picking (a list of picking target items corresponding to an outgoing slip) are sent from the WMS server computer 1000 to the data processor 11 of the camera equipped eyeglass-type wearable device 100 through Wi-Fi or the like. The data correspond to a part of the storage data stored in the storage management data base WMDB of
The data sent from the WMS server computer 1000 to the device 100 include data items such as names of picking target items (abbreviation if the name is long), storage location (rack number, section, step, and the like), additional data (notice for handling or the like), and stored number. The data items are downloaded to the memory 11b in the data processor 11 of the device 100. The downloaded data items can be arbitrarily displayed in the display 12 of the device 100.
The operator PW receives in the device 100 the data related to the picking from the WMS server computer 1000, and moves with a cart to the location of the rack containing the target items based on the list of the picking target items (outgoing slip) displayed on the display 12 of the device 100, using a rack number, etc. as a guide (ST100).
For example, if the picking target items are 10 table cloths and 5 pairs of wine glasses shown in
The picking operator PW sees the image marker MK of step 1 and/or step 2 through the eyeglass-type wearable device 100, the marker A311 and/or A312 is recognized by the camera 13 (13R/13L) of the device 100 (or a beacon indicative of the position of A311 and/or A312 is received by the data processor 11 of the device 100). Thereby, the current location of the picking operator PW in the proximity of marker A311 and/or A312 can be detected (ST102).
If the operator PW in the current locations faces the front (sight of the operator PW is parallel to the floor surface), the position of the eyeglass-type device of the operator may be used as a reference position. The movement of the eyeglass-type device 100 from the reference position in the three-axis direction (x-y-z directions) can be detected by the acceleration sensor, the rotation thereof in the three-axis directions can be detected by the gyro, and an absolute direction thereof can be freely detected by the geomagnetism sensor. (The acceleration sensor, gyro, and geomagnetism sensor are included in the sensor 11e of the data processor 11.)
The reference position may be, although it depends on a height of an operator or worker, assumed to be 150±20 cm from the floor surface. If the current reference position of the operator is given 160 cm from the floor surface and the head is lowered by 40 cm by a position change, the acceleration sensor can detect the eye height of the operator now being 120 cm. Or, if the operator looks down to check the lower step of the rack without changing the reference position, the degree of looking down (a change in a solid angle) can be detected by the gyro. The direction of the face of the operator when the operator does not move from the reference position (when either the acceleration sensor or the gyro does not detect anything) can be detected by the geomagnetism sensor. If the reference position and the movement from the reference position (changed in position and/or angle) are known, the direction of the face of the operator PW (or the viewing direction of the operator) can be calculated geometrically.
That is, how much the eyeglass-type device 100 moves and rotates from the reference position detected by the marker(s) and/or by beacon(s) (i.e., to which direction the surface of the display 12 (12R/12L) of the eyeglass-type device 100 faces in a third-dimensional space in a warehouse) can be detected. From the result of detection, what part of the rack (A3) is currently viewed by the operator with the eyeglass-type device 100 is estimated (ST104).
From the estimation result as to what part of the rack is viewed by the operator with the eyeglass-type device 100, data of the items (data of table cloths, table napkins, and towels, and/or wine glass sets, wine servers, and coffee cups in the example of
The data downloaded here are narrowed down to the data of the item to be in the specific area (the first step of rack section 1 and/or the second step of rack section 1 of rack A3). If the operator PW looks the first step and the second step of rack section 1 at the same time standing slightly apart from rack A3, the specific area is widened, and data of the items to be in the widened specific area (the first and second steps of section 1 of rack A3) is downloaded in the memory 11b. If the operator looks only the first step of section 1 standing close to rack A3, the specific area is narrowed, and data of the items to be in the narrowed specific area (the first step of section 1 of rack A3) is downloaded (overwriting in the memory 11b).
The specific area is narrowed steeply in proportion to a square number of a distance change between the area and the device 100 of the operator PW. That is, when the operator PW approaches closer to the specific area, extracted data of the items to be in the specific area decreases steeply.
Items to be in a narrowed specific area are relatively less, the data of the items to be downloaded decrease accordingly. Then, right data of picking target items can be narrowed in a small data frame (narrow down of data). By using the item data in a small data frame, the possibility of success of the item verification of the picking target items can be high, and time required for the item verification can be reduced. (The image reading accuracy in the same distance becomes high corresponding to the degree of the narrow down of data).
If the operator PW reaches much closer to the specific area (such that the sight of the operator PW is filled with the item image), the data of the picking item targets is narrowed to only one. In that case, the item in front of the eyes is selected as a picking target item without any specific selection by the operator PW.
Note that the part currently being viewed by the operator PW can be estimated by detecting the movement from the reference position when the operator PW stares in a specific area (the first step of rack section 1 and/or the second step of rack section 1 of rack A3) (cf. ST104).
Based on the data downloaded in ST106, candidates of picking target items are displayed in the display 12 (12R and/or 12L) of the eyeglass-type device 100 facing a specific area of a specific rack (the first step and/or the second step of rack section 1 of rack A3). Here, the candidates are narrowed to the number easily recognizable and are displayed in the AR (Augmented Reality) in the display image IM1 and/or IM2 (ST108).
Through the AR display, the operator PW can see the items of picking targets over the display images (IM1 and/or IM2) in which the candidates of the items to be verified are displayed.
The picking operator PW sees a management code (a unique pattern such as barcode or QR code) of a specific item in a specific area in a specific rack, and takes an image of the management code of the item by the camera 13 of the eyeglass-type device. (For example, a left wink of the operator detected by the sightline detection sensor 15 may be used as a trigger to take a picture of the management code). The taken management code (barcode or QR code) can be converted into management code data by a known image recognition process, and the management code is temporarily stored in the memory 11b of the data processor 11 (ST110).
Note that, if a barcode cannot be recognized because, for example, a barcode label is broken or a barcode image is unclear to be read in a dim environment, the operator PW approaches the item and arbitrarily fix the barcode label (or lights up the barcode part by a headlight which is not shown), and again takes the image by the camera. If the barcode cannot be recognized still, the picking of the item may be aborted as unverifiable. Furthermore, if there is no target item in the rack, the picking is stopped. The item out of the picking target may be displayed in the display 12 (12R/12L) with a display indicative of picking abortion (although not shown, indicated by letters or an icon for the picking abortion).
If the eye balls of the picking operator PW face one of the candidates of the item data displayed in the AR in the eyeglass-type device 100, item data of the one candidate in the eyesight direction of the eyeballs is selected by the sightline detection sensor 15 (ST112).
Note that, item data candidates can be arbitrarily changed by eye motions within the display screen by the eye motion and the display screen scroll based on the commands using the eye motion (data selection and display control of using the eye motion are described above with reference to
The selected management code of the item data candidates is compared to temporarily stored management code data of the image recognition result (image recognition result from barcode, QR code, and the like) (ST114). The comparison operation can be started by detecting, for example, a right wink of the operator by the sightline detection sensor 15.
As a result of the comparison, if the codes do not match (NO in ST116), a different candidate displayed in the AR of the eyeglass-type device 100 is selected (ST112), and the same comparison is performed.
If the codes match (YES in ST116), the items of which management code matches are removed from the rack to the cart CRT by the number described in the list (outgoing slip) of the picking target items (for example, 10 table cloths) and the contents of the picking target item list are updated (ST118). By this update, the data of the items after the picking process are erased from the memory 11b (or switched to be a ghost display without erasing the data from the memory 11b).
If the item data after the picking process are erased from the memory 11b (or all the item data are displayed in ghost), whether or not the picking process of all target items is completed except unverifiable items or unavailable items on a rack. If the picking operation of all target items except the unverifiable and unavailable items is not completed (NO in ST120), the process returns to the start (ST100) and is repeated (for example, a picking operation of the other items is performed moving to rack B3).
If the picking operation of all target items except the unverifiable and unavailable items is completed (YES in ST120), picking operation data (updated picking target item list) are sent to the storage management system (ST122). A trigger of the start of the transmission is performed by detecting an intentional eye motion (for example, continuous eye closing for a few times) by the sightline detection sensor 15.
There may be a case where an accurate pattern recognition cannot be performed during the item verification because an image is taken in a dark environment and a camera has a low image contrast. In that case, an auto gain controller (AGC) which amplifies the CCD sensor output to the level required for the accurate pattern recognition may be provide with the amplifier circuit of the CCD sensor output.
Furthermore, there may be a case where an accurate pattern recognition cannot be performed during the item verification because a unique pattern (barcode or QR code) taken by the camera is too small. In that case, an electrical zoom-up process is performed in the CCD sensor output. (For example, if a small pattern is in the display area of 1600×900 pixels, the display area is switched to 800×450, and the small image of the unique pattern is doubled (four times in area).) Instead of the electrical zoom-up, or in addition to the electrical zoom-up, an optical zoom-up performed by the operator PW closing to the unique pattern can be used.
There may be a possibility that the eyeglass-type wearable device may become too large and heavy by gathering all various functions in a single device (including a battery). In that case, the processes such as communication/item verification/location detection can be performed in an external processor having a size of a smartphone or the like. The necessary processes are handled by an application of a smartphone of each operator PW. If a large amount of data processing is performed, data are sent from the device 100 to the server computer 1000 to perform the necessary processes therein. Data performed by each eyeglass-type wearable device 100 are gathered in the server computer 1000 for storage management as to what item has been picked up from which rack by how many.
Conventional techniques such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and ZigBee are used for the communication of the eyeglass-type wearable device 100. For example, the location data of the operator PW can be obtained using Bluetooth or iBeacon arranged in each rack. Furthermore, based on the movement, rotation, and direction of the eyeglass-type wearable device 100 and the location data of the operator, data of candidates of the picking target items to be in the visual of the operator PW are obtained form the server computer 1000 of the storage management system through, for example, Wi-Fi.
If the acceleration sensor, gyro, and geomagnetism sensor are provide with the eyeglass-type wearable device 100, the facing direction of the eyeglass-type wearable device can be estimated by measuring a movement in the XYZ directions by the acceleration sensor, detecting the rotation with respect to the XYZ axes by the gyro, and measuring the orientation by the geomagnetism sensor.
From the location data of the operator PW, the direction of the eyeglass-type wearable device 100 (the direction of the face of the operator PW), and arrangement data in a warehouse managed by the server computer 1000 of the storage management system, a range of the picking target items can be narrowed down to the sight of the eyeglass-type wearable device 100. (The location data of the operator can be obtained by taking an image of an image marker MK attached to each step of each rack and subjecting the marker to an image recognition process, or the location data of the operator can be obtained by receiving a beacon provide with each step of each rack.) That is, based on the location data of the operator PW, the data of the direction of the eyeglass-type wearable device 100 (the eyesight direction of the operator PW), and arrangement data in the warehouse (data of warehouse management system: WMS), the area in which the target items will be stored can be limited to the sight of the eyeglass-type wearable device 100 even in a wide warehouse. Thereby, reading accuracy of the identification data (unique pattern such as barcode and two-dimensional barcode) in the area of the sight can be improved.
If the eyeglass-type wearable device 100 includes the gesture detector 14 of
If the eyeglass-type wearable device 100 includes the eye motion detector 15 of
[1] According to an embodiment, an eyeglass-type wearable device (100) having right and left eye frames can be put on an operator or worker (PW) who picks an item(s) in a warehouse. The eyeglass-type wearable device includes a display (12 or 12R/12L) disposed in at least one of the right and left eye frames (101 and 102), a camera (13 or 13R/13L) which takes an image of a unique pattern (barcode, QR code, or the like), and a sensor (11e) which detects a position of the eyeglass-type wearable device in the warehouse or detects a facing direction of the right and left eye frames in the warehouse.
The data (part of
The unique pattern (barcode, QR code, or the like) taken by the camera is recognized. The unique pattern recognition can be done by a known pattern recognition method.
The recognized unique pattern and the data related to the item displayed on the display are compared for the item verification of the item which is a picking target. Thereby, the item verification of the picking target item can be performed in a hands-free manner.
[2] The eyeglass-type wearable device (100 of
[3] The data base (WMDB of
[4] A rack(s) with an image marker(s) (MK of
[5] The sensor (11e of
[6] The sensor (11e of
[7] The eyeglass-type wearable device (100) may further comprise an eye motion detector (15 of
[8] The eyeglass-type wearable device (100) may further comprise a gesture detector (14 of
[9] According to a method of an embodiment (
In the method using the eyeglass-type wearable device (100) (
The unique pattern (barcode, QR code, or the like) taken by the camera is recognized (ST110).
The recognized unique pattern and the data related to the item displayed on the display are compared for the item verification of the item which is a picking target. Thereby, the item verification of the picking target item can be performed in a hands-free manner (ST112 to ST116).
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions.
For example, the embodiments are described to be used in the eyeglass-type wearable device having a frame shape of ordinary glasses. However, the embodiments can be applied to devices having a shape and structure other than such a frame shape of ordinary glasses. Specifically, a gesture detector and an eye motion detector can be provided with eyeglass-type wearable devices such as goggles used in skiing or snowboarding for blocking harmful ultraviolet and securing visibility in rough conditions. Or, goggles may be used to cover the eyeglass-type wearable device of the embodiments as shown, e.g., in
The embodiments and their variations are encompassed by the scope and outline of the invention and by the inventions recited in claims and their equality. Note that a part or the whole of an embodiment of the disclosed embodiments combined to a part or the whole of another embodiment of the disclosed embodiments will be encompassed by the scope and outline of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2015-173636 | Sep 2015 | JP | national |