use Web Camera as a bar code scanner

[API]

Hi all,

          Today,  an interesting tip came to my mind, since we know, Web camera can capture not bad image as jpeg or bmp file, and use IMAQ toolkit, can Web Camera do a function as bar code scanner ? I think it is possible, anybody has your opinion ? please show us.

[pallen]

Hello API,

If you have IMAQ, have a look under Machine Vision/Insturment Readers

If you have Vision Assistant, it would probably make developing your code a little easier.  For something of this nature, your lighting and camera position are going to be critical.  Glare would be a big problem.

Good luck

Message Edited by pallen on 05-11-2007 11:06 AM

[krispiekream]

thank you guys for posting this.

i do have one more question. 

what other cool things can we do besides bar code scanning?

[ST5]

You can take a picture of a http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubiks_kubus and then control the robot to solve it.

[krispiekream]

hmmm, i dont know if i can do that. i cant even solve the rubinks kubus myself, let alone control the robot to solve it.

but that means i would have to have a robot to solve it. 

i think thats too diffucult since my major is in communications and not robotics.

[JohannS]

Most Web cameras have a very wide field of view. Ideally you would want a narrow(er) field of view to scan bar codes. If you can find a camera with a suitable lens you could use it as a bar code scanner. If you use the JPG image, then try to turn down the compression as to reduce the JPG artifacts. You can use the bitmap image, but it takes longer to transfer data from the web camera to the computer.

You can use the image calibration functions in the Visino toolkit to perform perspective correction on your distorted web images. It should make it easier to scan bar codes.

Hope this helps,

JohannS

[RossClark]

Hello API,

Along the lines of what JohannS said, you may want to try converting the webcam lens so that it has the field of view that you want. I've seen a few "how-to's" on the internet ranging from converting a webcam to a microscope all the way to taking photos of jupiter. It might be overkill for what you're doing, but by sticking a different lens on the webcam you could maintain the resolution quality of the image while getting the FOV you want. The link below is to a great one on converting a webcam to a telescope.

http://ghonis2.ho8.com/fusionmod.html 

Sorry to post it here API, but JohannS we're currently performing some research using a modification of your (and Craya's) wiimote VI's to assess balance using a balance board, and would like to make sure that it is alright if we post our modified program on the forum. We'd also be happy to acknowledge you on any publications that come out of our research.

It would be great if they had a private message function on this forum. 

Ross 

[Yukee]

http://ghonis2.ho8.com/fusionmod.html WOW，that guy is so smart, DIY ability is so strong !