Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080277473 | Digital image capture and processing system employing an image formation and detection system having an area-type image detection array supporting single snap-shot and periodic snap-shot modes of image acquisition during object illumination and imaging operations - A digital image capture and processing system including a housing having an imaging window, and an image formation and detection subsystem, disposed in the housing, having an area-type image detection array supporting a single snap-shot mode of image acquisition and a periodic snap-shot mode of image acquisition during object illumination and imaging operations. The system also includes an illumination subsystem, with an illumination array, for producing a field of illumination within the FOV, and illuminating the object detected in the FOV, so that the illumination reflects off the object and is transmitted back through the light transmission aperture and onto the image detection array to form the 2D digital image of the object. By virtue of its single and periodic snap-shot modes of operation, the digital image capture and processing system of the present invention has the capacity to support pass-through as well as presentation type methods of digital image capture and processing at demanding POS environments without the use of traditional video modes of image acquisition. | 11-13-2008 |
20080277474 | Hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system capable of illuminating the entire field of view (FOV) of said system using a linear LED-based illumination array mounted behind an illumination-focusing lens component integrated within the imaging window of said system - A digital image capture and processing system capable of illuminating the entire field of view (FOV) of the system using a linear LED-based illumination array. The system includes a housing having an imaging window with a refractive-type illumination-focusing lens component integrated therewithin. The area-type image formation and detection subsystem, also disposed in the housing, has image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through the imaging window and onto an area-type image detection array, for forming and detecting 2D digital images of an object in the FOV, during object illumination and imaging operations. The linear LED-based illumination array is disposed immediately behind the refractive-type illumination-focusing lens component, for producing a field of wide-area illumination illuminating substantially the entire FOV over the working distance of the system. During object illumination and imaging operations, the illumination reflects off an object within the FOV and is transmitted back through the imaging window and onto the area-type image detection array to form one or more 2D digital images of the object. | 11-13-2008 |
20080277475 | Digital image capture and processing system supporting a presentation mode of system operation which employs a combination of video and snapshot modes of image detection array operation during a single cycle of system operation - A digital image capture and processing system including a housing having an imaging window; and an image formation and detection subsystem supporting a snap-shot mode of the operation and a video mode of operation. The system includes image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through said imaging window and upon an object within the FOV, and forming an image of the object on an area-type image detection array having a plurality of rows of image detection elements, and detecting 2D digital images of the object while object illumination and imaging operations. The system also includes an illumination subsystem, with an illumination array, for producing a field of illumination within the FOV, and illuminating the object detected in the FOV, so that the illumination reflects off the object and is transmitted back through the light transmission aperture and onto the image detection array to form the 2D digital image of the object. The digital image capture and processing system supports a presentation mode employing a combination of video and snap-shot modes of image detection array operation during a single cycle of system operation. | 11-13-2008 |
20080277476 | Method of blocking a portion of illumination rays generated by a countertop-supported digital imaging system, and preventing illumination rays from striking the eyes of the system operator or nearby consumer during operation of said countertop-supported digital image capture and processing system installed at a retail point of sale (POS) station - A method of illuminating objects on a countertop surface using an automatically-triggered digital image capture and processing system installed thereupon, and having a single array of LEDs disposed behind the upper edge portion of its imaging window, above which a light ray blocking shroud portion is provided. During object detection, illumination and imaging operations above the countertop surface, typically at a retail point of sale (POS) station, visible illumination rays are generated by the LEDs and projected substantially within the field of view (FOV) of the system, while the light ray blocking shroud blocks a portion of illumination rays generated from the single array of LEDs and projected above and beyond the FOV of the system, and thus prevents such blocked illumination rays from striking the eyes of the system operator or nearby consumers during system operation. | 11-13-2008 |
20080277478 | Digital image capture and processing system employing an image formation and detection subsystem having image formation optics providing a field of view (FOV) on an area-type image detection array, and a multi-mode illumination subsystem having near and far field LED-based illumination arrays for illuminating near and far field portions of said FOV - A digital image capture and processing system including a housing having an imaging window. An area-type image formation and detection subsystem is disposed in the housing, and has image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through the imaging window and onto an area-type image detection array, for forming and detecting 2D digital images of an object in the FOV, during object illumination and imaging operations. The housing also includes a multi-mode LED-based illumination subsystem having (i) a near-field LED array for producing a field of wide-area narrow-band illumination over a near field region of said FOV, and (ii) a far-field LED array for producing a field of wide-area narrow-band illumination over a far field region of the FOV. During object illumination and imaging operations, illumination from illumination arrays reflects off the object and is transmitted back through the imaging window and onto the area-type image detection array to form 2D digital images of the object. | 11-13-2008 |
20080277479 | Countertop-based digital image capture and processing system having an illumination subsystem employing a single array of LEDS disposed behind an illumination focusing lens structure integrated within the imaging window, for generating a field of visible illumination highly confined below the field of view of the system operator and customers who are present during object illumination and imaging operations - A countertop-mounted digital image capture and processing system that includes a housing having an imaging window with an illumination-focusing lens component integrated therewithin. The area-type image formation and detection subsystem, also disposed in the housing, has image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through the imaging window and onto an area-type image detection array, for forming and detecting 2D digital images of an object in the FOV, during object illumination and imaging operations. The single array of LEDs is disposed immediately behind the illumination-focusing lens structure, for generating a field of visible illumination that reflects off an object within said FOV and is transmitted back through said imaging window and onto said area-type image detection array. | 11-13-2008 |
20080283606 | Digital image capture and processing system supporting a periodic snapshot mode of operation wherein during each image acquistion cycle, the rows of image detection elements in the image detection array are exposed simultaneously to illumination - A digital image capture and processing system including a housing having an imaging window; and an image formation and detection subsystem supporting a periodic snap shot mode of the operation. The system includes image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through said imaging window and upon an object within the FOV, and forming an image of the object on an area-type image detection array having a plurality of rows of image detection elements, and detecting 2D digital images of the object while object illumination and imaging operations. The system also includes an LED-based illumination subsystem, with a LED illumination array, for producing a field of narrow-band illumination within the FOV, and illuminating the object detected in the FOV, so that the illumination reflects off the object and is transmitted back through the light transmission aperture and onto the image detection array to form the 2D digital image of the object. During the periodic snap shot mode of the operation, the image detection array supports periodic image acquisition cycles, and during each image acquisition cycle, substantially all image detection elements in the image detection array are exposed simultaneously to the illumination. In the illustrative embodiment, each image acquisition cycle has a predetermined time duration followed by a decode-processing cycle having a time duration approximately equal to the duration of the image acquisition cycle so that at least ten (10) image frames can be acquired per second. | 11-20-2008 |
20080283607 | Hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system employing visible targeting illumination beam projected from an array of visible light sources on the rear surface of a printed circuit (PC) board having a light transmission aperture, and reflected off multiple folding mirrors and projected through the light transmission aperture into a central portion of the field of view of said system - A hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system including a hand-supportable housing having an imaging window. A printed circuit (PC) board is mounted in the hand-supportable housing, and has front and rear surfaces and a light transmission aperture formed centrally therethrough. An image formation and detection subsystem has image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through the imaging window and upon an object within the FOV, and an area-type image detection array for forming and detecting 2D digital images of the object during object illumination and imaging operations. A first FOV folding mirror is supported above the rear surface of the PC board over the light transmission aperture, and a second FOV folding mirror is supported above the rear surface of the PC board and over the area-type image detection array. These mirrors fold and project the FOV through the light transmission aperture and the imaging window. An automatic targeting illumination subsystem is disposed in the hand-supportable housing, and has a plurality of visible light sources mounted on the rear surface of the PC board for generating a targeting illumination beam, which reflects off at least one beam folding mirror, and then off the first FOV mirror and then projects the targeting illumination beam through the light transmission aperture and the imaging window, into a portion of said FOV extending outside of the hand-supportable housing and onto the object therein. | 11-20-2008 |
20080283608 | Method of illuminating objects on a countertop surface using an automatically-triggered digital image capture and processing system which maintains illumination rays substantially within the field of view (FOV) of said system, above which the field of view (FOV) of human operator and spectating customers are positioned - A method of illuminating objects on a countertop surface using an automatically-triggered digital image capture and processing system having a single array of LEDs disposed near and behind the upper edge portion of its imaging window, which is provided with an illumination-focusing lens structure integrated therein. During object detection, illumination and imaging operations on the countertop surface, typically at a retail point of sale (POS) station, visible illumination generated by the LEDs is focused and projected by the illumination-focusing lens structure so that the system maintains its illumination rays substantially within the field of view (FOV) of said system, and above which the field of view (FOV) of human operator and spectators are positioned, so that the field of illumination extends substantially across the working distance of the FOV of the system, and in a way to illuminate objects located anywhere within the working distance of said system, while minimizing annoyance to the system operator, as well as others in the vicinity thereof during system operation. | 11-20-2008 |
20080290170 | SCANNER SWITCHED TO ACTIVE STATE BY SENSED MOVEMENT IN QUIESCENT SCANNING MECHANISM - The disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for determining if an optical scanner is moving. In one embodiment the method for sensing movement of an optical scanner comprises the steps of providing an oscillating system comprising a flexible member, a magnet coupled to the flexible member, a coil disposed within a magnetically effective distance from the magnet, and sense circuitry coupled to the coil; generating a first electrical signal from the oscillations of the flexible member; amplifying the generated electrical signal; analyzing the first electrical signal to determine if the generated signal is indicative of movement of the optical scanner. | 11-27-2008 |
20080290172 | Hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system employing manual trigger switching to control generation of a linear targeting illumination beam within the field of view (FOV), and to initiate illumination of the detected object and the capturing and processing of digital images thereof - A hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system including a hand-supportable housing having an imaging window, and an area-type image formation and detection subsystem having image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through the imaging window and an area type image detection array having a snap-shot mode of operation for forming and detecting a 2D digital image of the object during each image acquisition cycle of the image detection array. The system includes a manual trigger switch integrated with the hand-supportable housing, for generating a trigger event, indicative that a code symbol on the detected object is aligned with the visible targeting illumination beam and is ready for illumination and imaging. The system includes an object targeting illumination subsystem for generating and projecting a visible targeting illumination beam within the FOV, in response to the generation of the trigger event signal. The system further includes an LED-based illumination subsystem which is responsive to the second triggering event, for generating and projecting a field of illumination through the imaging window and within the FOV so that light transmitted through the imaging window towards the object is reflected off the object and detected by the area-type image detection array within the hand-supportable housing. An automatic illumination control subsystem controls the operation of the LED-based illumination subsystem during object illumination and imaging operations, so that the targeting illumination beam is momentarily ceased when the LED-based illumination subsystem produces the field of illumination within the FOV. | 11-27-2008 |
20080290173 | Hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system employing automatic object presence detection to control automatic generation of a linear targeting illumination beam within the field of view (FOV), and manual trigger switching to initiate illumination of the detected object and capturing and processing of digital images thereof - A hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system including a hand-supportable housing having an imaging window, and an area-type image formation and detection subsystem having image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through the imaging window and upon an object within the FOV, and forming and detecting 2D digital images of the object on an area-type image detection array. The system includes an object presence detection subsystem for automatically detecting an object within the FOV, and generating a first trigger event indicative of automatic object detection within the FOV. The system also includes an object targeting illumination subsystem for generating and projecting a visible targeting illumination beam within the FOV, in response to the generation of the first trigger event signal. A manual trigger switch is integrated with the hand-supportable housing, for generating a second trigger event, indicating that a code symbol on the detected object is aligned with the visible targeting illumination beam and is ready for illumination and imaging. Also, the system includes an LED-based illumination subsystem, responsive to the second triggering event, for generating and projecting a field of illumination through the imaging window and within the FOV so that light transmitted through the imaging window and reflected/scattered off the object and detected by the area-type image detection array within the hand-supportable housing. | 11-27-2008 |
20080296384 | Hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system having a printed circuit board with a light transmission aperture, through which the field of view (FOV) of the image detection array and visible targeting illumination beam are projected using a FOV-folding mirror - A hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system including a hand-supportable housing having an imaging window. A printed circuit (PC) board is mounted in the hand-supportable housing, and has front and rear surfaces and a light transmission aperture formed centrally therethrough. An image formation and detection subsystem has image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through the imaging window and upon an object within the FOV, and an area-type image detection array for forming and detecting 2D digital images of the object during object illumination and imaging operations. A first FOV folding mirror is supported above the rear surface of the PC board over the light transmission aperture, and a second FOV folding mirror is supported above the rear surface of said PC board and over said area-type image detection array. These mirrors fold and project the FOV through the light transmission aperture and the imaging window. An automatic targeting illumination subsystem is disposed in the hand-supportable housing, and has a plurality of visible light sources mounted on the rear surface of the PC board for generating a targeting illumination beam, and reflecting the targeting illumination beam off the first FOV folding mirror and through the light transmission aperture and the imaging window, and into a portion of the field of view (FOV) extending outside of the hand-supportable housing. | 12-04-2008 |
20080302873 | Digital image capture and processing system supporting automatic communication interface testing/detection and system configuration parameter (SCP) programming - A digital image capture and processing system supporting automatic communication interface testing/detection and system configuration parameter programming. The digital image capture and processing system includes a housing having a port for receiving a standard connector associated with a flexible communication interface cable, and a multi-interface I/O subsystem disposed in the housing, and having an I/O port. The multi-interface I/O subsystem supports a software-controlled automatic communication interface test/detection process carried out over the flexible communication interface cable physically connecting the I/O ports of the digital image capture and processing subsystem and the designated host system. The digital image capture and processing system also supports automatic programming of multiple system configuration parameters (SCPs), associated with a particular communication interface (CI) detected by the multi-interface I/O subsystem, without reading programming-type bar codes. | 12-11-2008 |
20080314986 | Digital image capture and processing system having a printed circuit (PC) board with light transmission aperture, wherein a first linear array of visible light emitting diodes (LEDS) are mounted on the rear side of the PC board for producing a linear targeting illumination beam, and wherein a second linear array of visible LEDs are mounted on the front side of said PC board for producing a field of visible illumination within the field of view (FOV) of the system - A digital image capture and processing system having single printed circuit (PC) board with light transmission aperture, wherein a first linear array of visible light emitting diodes (LEDs) are mounted on the rear side of the PC board for producing a targeting illumination beam, and wherein a second linear array of visible light emitting diodes (LEDs) are mounted on the front side of the PC board for producing a field of visible illumination within the field of view (FOV) of the system. The targeting illumination beam is centrally disposed within the field of visible illumination. | 12-25-2008 |
20090020610 | Digital image capture and processing system employing an image formation and detection subsystem having an area-type image detection array supporting periodic occurrance of snap-shot type image acquisition cycles at a high-repetition rate during object illumination and imaging operations - A digital image capture and processing system including a housing having an imaging window; and an image formation and detection subsystem with an area-type image detection array having a periodic snap shot mode of the operation supporting the periodic occurrence of snap-shot type image acquisition cycles at a high-repetition rate, during object illumination and imaging operations. The system also includes an illumination subsystem, with a LED illumination array, for producing a field of illumination within the FOV, and illuminating the object detected in the FOV. In the illustrative embodiment, the time duration of illumination of an object within the FOV by the illumination subsystem while the area-type image detection array detects each 2D digital image frame of the object formed on the area-type image detection array, is substantially equal to the time duration that the digital image processing subsystem is allowed to process the detected 2D digital image frame and read a 1D and/or 2D code symbol graphically represented therein. | 01-22-2009 |
20090057410 | Digital image capture and processing system having a single printed circuit (PC) board with a light transmission aperture, wherein a first linear array of visible light emitting diodes (LEDS) are mounted on the rear side of the PC board for producing a linear targeting illumination beam, and wherein a second linear array of visible LEDS are mounted on the front side of said PC board for producing a field of visible illumination within the field of view (FOV) of the system - A digital image capture and processing system having single printed circuit (PC) board with light transmission aperture, wherein a first linear array of visible light emitting diodes (LEDs) are mounted on the rear side of the PC board for producing a linear targeting illumination beam, and wherein a second linear array of visible light emitting diodes (LEDs) are mounted on the front side of the PC board for producing a field of visible illumination within the field of view (FOV) of the system. The linear targeting illumination beam is centrally disposed within the field of visible illumination. | 03-05-2009 |
20120097743 | OPTICAL SCANNING SYSTEM HAVING AN EXTENDED PROGRAMMING MODE AND METHOD OF UNLOCKING RESTRICTED EXTENDED CLASSES OF FEATURES AND FUNCTIONALITIES EMBODIED THEREWITHIN - A method of unlocking restricted extended classes of features and functionalities embodied within an optical scanning system having an extended programming mode. The method involves providing an optical scanning system supporting baseline classes of features and functionalities, and having an extended feature class programming mode for programming extended classes of features and functionalities, in addition to the baseline classes of features and functionalities. A license key is assigned to the optical scanning system, for unlocking at least one of the extended classes of features and functionalities, and programming the optical scanning system to operate with at least one of the extended classes of feature and functionalities, in addition to the baseline classes of features and functionalities. A license is procured to unlock and use at least one of the extended classes of feature and functionalities, and obtaining said license key assigned to the optical scanning system. The said optical scanning system is caused to operate in the extended feature class programming. While the optical scanning system is operating in the extended feature class programming, the license key is used to unlock at least one of the extended classes of features and functionalities, and program the optical scanning system to operate with at least one of the extended classes of feature and functionalities, in addition to the baseline classes of features and functionalities. | 04-26-2012 |
20120168511 | OPTICAL CODE SYMBOL READING SYSTEM EMPLOYING AN ACOUSTIC-WAVEGUIDE STRUCTURE FOR COUPLING SONIC ENERGY, PRODUCED FROM AN ELECTRO-TRANSDUCER, TO SOUND WAVE PORTS FORMED IN THE SYSTEM HOUSING - An optical code symbol reading system including a housing having a light transmission aperture, and at least one sound port formed in the housing. The system includes an optical code symbol reading subsystem for optically reading a code symbol in the field external to the light transmission aperture, and generating symbol character data representative of the read code symbol. An electro-acoustic transducer is disposed in the housing for producing sonic energy. Also, an acoustic-waveguide structure is disposed in the housing, for coupling the sonic energy produced from the electro-acoustic transducer, to the at least sound wave port formed the housing, to audibly signal the reading of a code symbol to the operator of the optical code symbol reading system. | 07-05-2012 |
20120168512 | OPTICAL CODE SYMBOL READING SYSTEM EMPLOYING A LED-DRIVEN OPTICAL-WAVEGUIDE STRUCTURE FOR ILLUMINATING A MANUALLY-ACTUATED TRIGGER SWITCH INTEGRATED WITHIN A HAND-SUPPORTABLE SYSTEM HOUSING - An optical code symbol reading system including a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture. A manually-actuated trigger switch is integrated within the housing. An optical code symbol reading subsystem is disposed in the housing for optically reading a code symbol in the field external to the light transmission aperture, and generating symbol character data representative of the read code symbol. One or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) are disposed in the housing, for producing a visible illumination. Also, an optical-waveguide structure is disposed in the housing for coupling visible illumination produced from the one or more LEDs, so as to illuminate the region about the manually-actuated trigger switch, thereby causing the optically-translucent region about the manually-actuated trigger switch to glow and visually indicate where it is located on the hand-supportable housing. | 07-05-2012 |
20120318868 | BAR CODE SYMBOL READING SYSTEM EMPLOYING AN EXTREMELY ELONGATED LASER SCANNING BEAM CAPABLE OF READING POOR AND DAMAGED QUALITY BAR CODE SYMBOLS WITH IMPROVED LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE - A laser scanning bar code symbol reading system for scanning and reading poor quality or damaged bar code symbols. The system includes a housing having a light transmission window; an extremely-elongated laser beam production module for producing an extremely-elongated laser beam having (i) a direction of propagation extending along a z reference direction, (ii) a height dimension being indicated by the y reference direction, and (iii) a width dimension being indicated by the x reference direction, where x, y and z directions are orthogonal to each other. Each extremely-elongated laser beam is characterized by an elongation ratio (ER) that is defined as Y/X>4.5 for any point within the working range of the laser scanning bar code symbol reading system, extending along the z direction; where (i) Y indicates the beam height of the extremely-elongated laser beam measured in the Y reference direction, and X indicates the beam width of the extremely-elongated laser beam measured in the X reference direction, and (iii) the beam height (Y) and the laser beam width (X) are measured at 1/e | 12-20-2012 |
20130214048 | LASER SCANNING BAR CODE SYMBOL READING SYSTEM HAVING INTELLIGENT SCAN SWEEP ANGLE ADJUSTMENT CAPABILITIES OVER THE WORKING RANGE OF THE SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZED BAR CODE SYMBOL READING PERFORMANCE - Method of and system for reading bar code symbols a laser scanning bar code symbol reading system having the capacity to intelligently control the scan sweep angle of a laser scanning beam in a user-transparent and intuitive manner. In the event that two or more bar code symbol indications are represented in a buffered line of scan data, then the scan sweep angle of the laser scanning beam is automatically reduced so that the resulting laser scanning beam will be shortened and only a single bar code symbol will be scanned, most likely with the center portion of the laser scanning beam. | 08-22-2013 |
20130292475 | CODE SYMBOL READING SYSTEM - An optical code symbol reading system includes a housing having a light transmission aperture, and at least one sound port formed in the housing. The system includes an optical code symbol reading subsystem for optically reading a code symbol in the field external to the light transmission aperture, and generating symbol character data representative of the read code symbol. An electro-acoustic transducer is disposed in the housing for producing sonic energy. Also, an acoustic-waveguide structure is disposed in the housing, for coupling the sonic energy produced from the electro-acoustic transducer, to the at least sound wave port formed the housing, to audibly signal the reading of a code symbol to the operator of the optical code symbol reading system. | 11-07-2013 |
20130313325 | LASER SCANNING CODE SYMBOL READING SYSTEM EMPLOYING PROGRAMMABLE DECODE TIME-WINDOW FILTERING - A method and system for reading code symbols using a code symbol reading system having a programmable decode time-window filter mode of operation. During this mode of operation, only decoded code symbols that have been scanned within a selected (e.g. central) portion of the laser scan line field are processed according to a special decode time-window filtering function. In particular, if the decoded bar code symbol is a programming-type bar code symbol, then the system controller applies the function represented by the programming-type bar code symbol; and if the decoded bar code symbol is a non-programming-type bar code symbol, then the system controller either transmits symbol character data associated therewith to the host system or stores the symbol character data within memory aboard the bar code symbol reading system. | 11-28-2013 |
20140061305 | SYMBOL READING SYSTEM HAVING PREDICTIVE DIAGNOSTICS - A retail information network includes one or more POS scanning and checkout systems, each including (i) a bar code symbol reading subsystem, and (ii) a cash register computer subsystem interfaced with the bar code symbol reading subsystem and a network infrastructure, and each having access to product and price data maintained in a product/price database. The bar code symbol reading subsystem includes a local predictive error event (PEE) data store for logging and storing predictive error events (PEEs) detected within the bar code symbol reading system, wherein said PEEs are subsequently sent to POS information servers used to create predictive error alerts (PEAs) and corresponding instructions to maintain and/or repair certain aspects of the bar code symbol reading system. | 03-06-2014 |