Handheld code reader having a motion sensor

• US 10,127,422 B1
• Filed: 06/24/2013
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cognex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cognex Corporation
• Inventors: Jouβen, Mario, Kesten, Jorg, Nunnink, Laurens
• Primary Examiner(s): Gudorf, Laura
• Application Number:
  US13/925,366
• Time in Patent Office: 1,968 Days
• Field of Search: 235435, 235454
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1091 means to wake up the scanner from a sleep mode, e.g. using an acceleration sensor indicating that the scanner is being picked up by a user

Abstract

A code reader includes an image acquisition system to acquire a plurality of images. A sensor detects motion of the code reader, and a processor is operatively coupled to the image acquisition system and the sensor. The processor performs a plurality of steps including associating a first detected motion data with one of the plurality of acquired images; associating a second detected motion data with a subsequent one of the plurality of acquired images; attempting to decode the one of the plurality of acquired images; determining if the second detected motion data is preferred over the first detected motion data; and attempting to decode the subsequent one of the plurality of acquired images when the second detected motion data is preferred over the first detected motion data.

Claims

1. A code reader comprising:

an image acquisition system, the image acquisition system to acquire a plurality of images;

a sensor to detect motion of the code reader; and

a processor operatively coupled to the image acquisition system and the sensor, the processor to perform the steps of;

acquiring one of the plurality of images;

associating a first detected motion data with the one of the plurality of acquired images;

attempting to decode the one of the plurality of acquired images;

simultaneously acquiring a subsequent one of the plurality of images;

associating a second detected motion data with the subsequent one of the plurality of acquired images;

determining if the second detected motion data is preferred over the first detected motion data, wherein the second detected motion data is preferred over the first detected motion data based on a motion level threshold, the motion level threshold based on an acceptable exposure time; and

attempting to decode the subsequent one of the plurality of acquired images when the second detected motion data is preferred over the first detected motion data.

2. The code reader of claim 1, wherein attempting to decode the subsequent one of the plurality of acquired images includes aborting the attempting to decode the one of the plurality of acquired images.

3. The code reader of claim 1, wherein the code reader is a handheld code reader.

4. The code reader of claim 1, further including associating detected motion data with each of the plurality of acquired images.

5. The code reader of claim 1, further including determining if the detected motion data is below a predetermined detected motion data threshold;

and

instructing the image acquisition system to acquire the plurality of images when the detected motion is below the predetermined threshold.

6. The code reader of claim 1, further including determining if image decoding is in process on the one of the plurality of acquired images.

7. The code reader of claim 6, further including instructing the image acquisition system to acquire at least one additional image when at least one of the first detected motion data and the second detected motion data is below a predetermined threshold.

8. A system comprising:

an image acquisition system, the image acquisition system to acquire a plurality of images;

a sensor to detect motion of the image acquisition system; and

a processor operatively coupled to the image acquisition system and the sensor, the processor to perform the steps of;

acquiring one of the plurality of acquired images;

associating a first detected motion data with the one of the plurality of acquired images;

initiating image decoding of the one of the plurality of acquired images;

simultaneously acquiring a subsequent one of the plurality of acquired images;

associating a subsequent detected motion data with the subsequent one of the plurality of acquired images;

determining if image decoding is in progress on the one of the plurality of acquired images;

if image decoding is in process, comparing the first detected motion data associated with the one of the plurality of acquired images to the subsequent detected motion data associated with the subsequent one of the plurality of acquired images to determine which image has a preferred motion score, wherein the preferred motion score is based on a motion level threshold, the motion level threshold based on an acceptable exposure time; and

processing at least one of the plurality of acquired images.

9. The system of claim 8, further including:

aborting the image decoding if the subsequent detected motion data is preferred.

10. The system of claim 8, further including:

if image decoding is in process, indicating at least one of a progress value and a likelihood of successful processing.

11. The system of claim 10, further including:

considering the at least one of a progress value and a likelihood of successful processing value to determine if the image decoding should be aborted.

12. The system of claim 8, further including:

determining if the subsequent detected motion data is lower than the first detected motion data; and

attempting to decode the subsequent one of the plurality of acquired images when the subsequent detected motion data is preferred over the first detected motion data.

13. The system of claim 8, further including:

continuing image decoding of the one of the plurality of acquired images if the subsequent detected motion data is not preferred.

14. A code reader comprising:

an image acquisition system for acquiring a plurality of images;

a sensor which detects motion of the code reader; and

a processor operatively coupled to both the image acquisition system and the sensor, the processor being programmed to perform the steps of;

instructing the image acquisition system to acquire an initial image;

associating a first motion value with the initial image, wherein the first motion value is based on the motion of the code reader detected by the sensor during the acquisition of the initial image;

attempting to decode the initial image; and

while attempting to decode the initial image, performing the process of;

instructing the image acquisition system to acquire a subsequent image;

associating a second motion value with the subsequent image, wherein the second motion value is based on the motion of the code reader detected by the sensor during the acquisition of the subsequent image;

determining if the second motion value is preferred over the first motion value; and

attempting to decode the subsequent image if the second motion value is preferred over the first motion value, the second detected motion value is preferred over the first detected motion value based on a motion level threshold, the motion level threshold based on an acceptable exposure time.

15. The code reader of claim 14, wherein the code reader is a handheld code reader.

16. The code reader of claim 14, wherein attempting to decode the subsequent image includes aborting attempting to decode the initial image.

17. The code reader of claim 14, wherein the processor is further programmed to perform the step of:

associating a motion value with each of the plurality of acquired images, wherein the motion value is based on the motion of the code reader detected by the sensor during the acquisition of each of the plurality of acquired images.

18. The code reader of claim 17, wherein the processor is further programmed to perform the steps of:

determining if the motion value is below a predetermined motion value threshold; and

instructing the image acquisition system to acquire images when the detected motion is below the predetermined threshold.

19. The code reader of claim 14, wherein the processor is further programmed to perform the step of:

determining if image decoding is in process on the initial image.

20. The code reader of claim 19, wherein the processor is further programmed to perform the step of:

instructing the image acquisition system to acquire at least one additional image when at least one of the first motion value and the second motion value is below a predetermined threshold.