Patent ID: 6554189
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: G02B,G06K,G07G

Abstract:
An automated package identification and dimensioning system comprising:an omni-directional scanning tunnel subsystem for producing a plurality of laser scanning beams for reading bar code symbols on packages entering said omni-directional scanning tunnel subsystem, and producing package identification data representative of each package identified by the bar code symbol read on said package; a package dimensioning subsystem for capturing package measurement information about each said package prior to said package entering said omni-directional scanning tunnel subsystem, and producing package measurement data representative of said captured package measurement information; a computer subsystem for collecting and queuing package identification data and package measurement data, and creating mathematical models for both the geometry of said package and the position of the laser scanning beam used to read the bar code symbol on said package; wherein said mathematical models are analyzed using a vector-based ray-tracing method, coordinate transformations, and decision logic to determine if collected and queued package identification data is spatially and/or temporally correlated with package measurement data so as to enable simultaneous tracking of multiple packages being transported through said omni-directional scanning tunnel subsystem.