Barcode-reading enhancement system for a computing device that comprises a camera and an illumination system

• US 10,192,086 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2014
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Powell, George, Hoobler, Ryan, Russell, Garrett, Lei, Ming, Ashby, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Suezu
• Application Number:
  US14/527,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20150053765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/089 hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10831 Arrangement of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms optical elements per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A barcode reading enhancement system for a mobile device may include an optic system aligning with a camera lens of the mobile device to define a barcode reading lens system. The barcode reading lens system may be defined by a combination of the camera lens and the optic system. The barcode reading lens system may provide a system field of view that is different from a camera field of view of the camera lens. The barcode reading enhancement system may also include an illumination optic system aligning with an illumination torch of the mobile device to define an exposure illumination system. The exposure illumination system may emit a system illumination field with a system angular size that is different from a torch angular size of a torch illumination field emitted by the illumination torch. The system field of view and the system illumination field may substantially overlap.

Claims

1. A barcode reading enhancement system for a mobile device, the mobile device being selected from the group consisting of smartphones, tablets, and combinations thereof, the mobile device comprising a processor, a display screen, memory, an illumination torch, and a camera comprising a camera lens and an image sensor, the barcode reading enhancement system comprising:

an optic system aligning with the camera lens to define a barcode reading lens system, the barcode reading lens system being defined by a combination of the camera lens and the optic system, the barcode reading lens system providing a system field of view which is different from a camera field of view of the camera lens; and

an illumination optic system aligning with the illumination torch of the mobile device to define an exposure illumination system, wherein the illumination optic system comprises an illumination lens that is positioned within a torch illumination field of the illumination torch, and wherein the illumination lens modifies the torch illumination field such that the exposure illumination system emits a system illumination field with a system angular size that is different from a torch angular size of the torch illumination field emitted by the illumination torch;

wherein the system field of view and the system illumination field substantially overlap;

wherein the optic system is housed in a first chamber of an attachment securable to an external surface of the mobile device; and

wherein the illumination optic system is housed in a second chamber of the attachment, the second chamber being optically isolated from the first chamber to prevent illumination from the illumination torch from entering the camera without first reflecting from an object within the system field of view.

2. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 1, further comprising:

a mobile barcode reading application comprising executable code stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor;

activates the illumination torch to emit illumination through the illumination optic system into the system illumination field;

causes the camera to capture an image of a barcode within the system field of view; and

decodes the image of the barcode.

3. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the memory of the mobile device comprises an operating system executable by the processor, the barcode reading enhancement system further comprising:

a mobile barcode reading application comprising executable code stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor;

instructs the operating system to activate the illumination torch to emit illumination through the illumination optic system into the system illumination field;

instructs the operating system to cause the camera to capture an image of a barcode within the system field of view; and

decodes the image of the barcode.

4. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 1, wherein:

the attachment comprises a first interior surface, wherein the first interior surface cooperates with a second interior surface to define a cavity, wherein the cavity is dimensioned such that the first and second interior surfaces frictionally engage the mobile device to retain at least a portion of the mobile device within the cavity.

5. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 1, further comprising:

a mobile barcode reading application comprising executable code stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor;

activates the illumination torch to emit illumination through the illumination optic system into the system illumination field;

causes the camera to capture an image of a barcode within the system field of view; and

decodes the image of the barcode.

6. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the memory of the mobile device comprises an operating system executable by the processor, the barcode reading enhancement system further comprising:

a mobile barcode reading application comprising executable stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor;

instructs the operating system to activate the illumination torch to emit illumination through the illumination optic system into the system illumination field;

instructs the operating system to cause the camera to capture an image of a barcode within the system field of view; and

decodes the image of the barcode.

7. A barcode reading enhancement system for a mobile device, the mobile device being selected from the group consisting of smartphones, tablets, and combinations thereof, the mobile device comprising a processor, a display screen, an illumination torch, a camera, and memory, the camera comprising a camera lens positioned parallel to a back surface of the mobile device and having a camera field of view extending orthogonally from the back surface, the back surface being opposite the display screen on a face surface of the mobile device, the barcode reading enhancement system comprising:

an optic system aligning with the camera lens to define a barcode reading lens system, the barcode reading lens system being defined by a combination of the camera lens and the optic system, the barcode reading lens system providing a system field of view which is different in both angular size and optical pathway direction from the camera field of view; and

an illumination optic system aligning with the illumination torch of the mobile device to define an exposure illumination system, wherein the illumination optic system comprises an illumination lens that is positioned within a torch illumination field of the illumination torch, and wherein the illumination lens modifies the torch illumination field such that the exposure illumination system emits a system illumination field with a system angular size that is different from a torch angular size of the torch illumination field emitted by the illumination torch;

wherein the system illumination field is directed into the system field of view;

wherein the optic system is housed in a first chamber of an attachment securable to an external surface of the mobile device; and

wherein the illumination optic system is housed in a second chamber of the attachment, the second chamber being optically isolated from the first chamber to prevent illumination from the illumination torch from entering the camera without first reflecting from an object within the system field of view.

8. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 7, further comprising:

a mobile barcode reading application comprising executable code stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor;

activates the illumination torch to emit illumination through the illumination optic system into the system illumination field;

causes the camera to capture an image of a barcode within the system field of view; and

decodes the image of the barcode.

9. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 7, wherein the memory of the mobile device comprises an operating system executable by the processor, the barcode reading enhancement system further comprising:

a mobile barcode reading application comprising executable code stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor;

instructs the operating system to activate the illumination torch to emit illumination through the illumination optic system into the system illumination field;

instructs the operating system to cause the camera to capture an image of a barcode within the system field of view; and

decodes the image of the barcode.

10. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 7, wherein:

the attachment comprises a first interior surface, wherein the first interior surface cooperates with a second interior surface to define a cavity, wherein the cavity is dimensioned such that the first and second interior surfaces frictionally engage the mobile device to retain at least a portion of the mobile device within the cavity.

11. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 7, further comprising:

a mobile barcode reading application comprising executable code stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor;

activates the illumination torch to emit illumination through the illumination optic system into the system illumination field;

causes the camera to capture an image of a barcode within the system field of view; and

decodes the image of the barcode.

12. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 7, wherein the memory of the mobile device comprises an operating system executable by the processor, the barcode reading enhancement system further comprising:

a mobile barcode reading application comprising executable code stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor;

instructs the operating system to activate the illumination torch to emit illumination through the illumination optic system into the system illumination field;

instructs the operating system to cause the camera to capture an image of a barcode within the system field of view; and

decodes the image of the barcode.