Method of and system for reading visible and/or invisible code symbols in a user-transparent manner using visible/invisible illumination source switching during data capture and processing operations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system, comprising:
- an imaging-based symbol reading subsystem having a field of view for reading a symbol within the field of view;
a visible illumination source for producing visible illumination within the field of view;
an invisible illumination source for producing invisible illumination with the field of view;
a control subsystem for controlling the symbol reading subsystem, the visible illumination source, and the invisible illumination source;
wherein, after a triggering event, the control subsystem initiates the production of visible illumination within the field of view by the visible illumination source and an attempt by the symbol reading subsystem to read the symbol within the field of view based on visible illumination reflected from the field of view and, if the symbol is not read the control subsystem initiates the production of visible illumination within the field of view by the visible illumination source and another attempt by the symbol reading subsystem to read the symbol within the field of view based on visible illumination reflected from the field of view; and
wherein, if the symbol is not read after a number of attempts that exceeds a maximum scan attempt threshold to read the symbol based on visible illumination reflected from the field of view, the control subsystem initiates the production of invisible illumination within the field of view by the invisible illumination source and an attempt by the symbol reading subsystem to read the symbol within the field of view based on invisible illumination reflected from the field of view.
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Abstract
A digital imaging based symbol reading system has the capacity to automatically read both visible and invisible symbols in the same application environment. Typically, the system reads the symbols in a user-transparent manner. The system may employ visible/invisible illumination switching during operation. The system may include LED illumination sources. A method for reading both visible and invisible symbols using a single device is also disclosed.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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an imaging-based symbol reading subsystem having a field of view for reading a symbol within the field of view; a visible illumination source for producing visible illumination within the field of view; an invisible illumination source for producing invisible illumination with the field of view; a control subsystem for controlling the symbol reading subsystem, the visible illumination source, and the invisible illumination source; wherein, after a triggering event, the control subsystem initiates the production of visible illumination within the field of view by the visible illumination source and an attempt by the symbol reading subsystem to read the symbol within the field of view based on visible illumination reflected from the field of view and, if the symbol is not read the control subsystem initiates the production of visible illumination within the field of view by the visible illumination source and another attempt by the symbol reading subsystem to read the symbol within the field of view based on visible illumination reflected from the field of view; and wherein, if the symbol is not read after a number of attempts that exceeds a maximum scan attempt threshold to read the symbol based on visible illumination reflected from the field of view, the control subsystem initiates the production of invisible illumination within the field of view by the invisible illumination source and an attempt by the symbol reading subsystem to read the symbol within the field of view based on invisible illumination reflected from the field of view. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system, comprising:
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a visible laser source for producing a visible laser beam; an invisible laser source for producing an invisible laser beam; a laser-based symbol reading subsystem for scanning the visible laser beam and the invisible laser beam across a scanning field and reading a symbol within the scanning field; a control subsystem for controlling the symbol reading subsystem, the visible laser source, and the invisible laser source; wherein, after a triggering event, the control subsystem initiates the production of the visible laser beam by the visible laser source, the scanning of the visible laser beam across the scanning field by the symbol reading subsystem, and an attempt by the symbol reading subsystem to read the symbol within the scanning field based on visible light reflected from the scanning field and, if the symbol is not read the control subsystem initiates the production of the visible laser beam by the visible laser source, the scanning of the visible laser beam across the scanning field by the symbol reading subsystem, and another attempt by the symbol reading subsystem to read the symbol within the scanning field based on visible light reflected from the scanning field; and wherein, if the symbol is not read after a number of attempts that exceeds a maximum scan attempt threshold to read the symbol based on visible light reflected from the scanning field, the control subsystem initiates the production of the invisible laser beam by the invisible laser source, the scanning of the invisible laser beam across the scanning field by the symbol reading subsystem, and an attempt by the symbol reading subsystem to read the symbol within the scanning field based on invisible light reflected from the scanning field. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of reading symbols, comprising:
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producing visible light within a field of view; attempting to read a symbol within the field of view while the field of view is illuminated by the visible light based on visible light reflected from the field of view; if the attempt to read the symbol fails, producing visible light within the field of view and attempting to read a symbol within the field of view while the field of view is illuminated by the visible light based on visible light reflected from the field of view; if the symbol is not read after a number of attempts that exceeds a maximum scan attempt threshold to read the symbol based on visible light reflected from the field of view, producing invisible light within the field of view; and attempting to read a symbol within the field of view while the field of view is illuminated by the invisible light based on invisible light reflected from the field of view. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification