Target generating structure for an accessory for a mobile device

• US 10,248,821 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Russell, Garrett, Hoobler, Ryan, Utykanski, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Suezu
• Application Number:
  US14/581,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20150220766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 2354622, 23546221
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/002 Protective covers
• 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 7/10732 Light sources
• 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: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

This patent specification describes an attachment for a mobile device. The attachment may have an attachment feature designed to be attached to a mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet, or smartphone/tablet with a camera. The attachment may also include an optics system and/or an illumination system that cooperates with the camera to facilitate the capture of decodable barcodes. The illumination system may include a targeting illumination system that facilitates proper positioning of the article and/or an exposure illumination system that helps illuminate the article during capture. The optics system may include a lens that modifies the depth of field and/or the size of the field of view of the camera, an aperture that helps define the field of view, a filter that prevents light of undesired wavelengths from reaching the camera, and/or a mirror that redirects the camera'"'"'s optical pathway.

Claims

1. An accessory for a mobile device, 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 accessory comprising:

a target generating structure for emitting a targeting pattern of illumination into a field of view of the camera of the mobile device, when the accessory is secured to the mobile device, wherein the target generating structure is secured to the accessory such that the target generating structure can be repositioned between a first position aligned with the illumination torch and a second position outside an illumination field of the illumination torch.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the target generating structure is aligned with the illumination torch of the mobile device;

the illumination torch is configured to project illumination into the target generating structure; and

the target generating structure is configured to shape the illumination from the illumination torch and emit the targeting pattern into the field of view of the camera of the mobile device.

3. The accessory of claim 2, wherein the target generating structure includes a collimating lens for focusing the illumination from the illumination torch;

and

the targeting pattern is a quadrilateral within a central portion of the field of view.

4. The accessory of claim 2, wherein the target generating structure further includes a first filter for passing a first band of illumination within a visible spectrum, the first band of illumination within the visible spectrum being wavelengths of illumination appearing blue.

5. The accessory of claim 4, further including a second filter within the field of view of the camera, the second filter passing a second band of illumination within the visible spectrum, the second band of illumination being exclusive of the first band of illumination.

6. The accessory of claim 2, wherein the target generating structure further includes a first filter for passing illumination with a wavelength below a threshold and attenuating the illumination with a wavelength above the threshold.

7. The accessory of claim 6, further including a second filter within the field of view of the camera, the second filter attenuating the illumination passed by the first filter.

8. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the target generating structure is secured to the accessory such that it can be laterally repositioned and illumination from the illumination torch is projected into the field of view of the camera of the mobile device without modification by the accessory if the target generating structure is laterally repositioned out of the illumination field of the illumination torch.

9. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the target generating structure is pivotally attached to the accessory such that illumination from the illumination torch is projected into the field of view of the camera of the mobile device without modification by the accessory if the target generating structure is pivoted out of the illumination field of the illumination torch.

10. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the target generating structure is configured to focus illumination to the field of view of the camera such that there is a distinctive contrast between intense illumination of the targeting pattern and weak illumination of regions of the field of view around the targeting pattern.

11. An accessory for a mobile device, 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 accessory comprising:

a target generating structure positioned within a field of illumination of the illumination torch and for narrowing the field of illumination of the illumination torch into a targeting pattern of intense illumination in a central portion of a field of view of the camera, when the accessory is secured to the mobile device, and wherein the target generating structure is secured to the accessory such that the target generating structure can be repositioned between a first position aligned with the illumination torch and a second position outside an illumination field of the illumination torch.

12. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the target generating structure includes a collimating lens and the targeting pattern in the central portion of the field of view is a quadrilateral.

13. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the target generating structure includes a first filter for passing a first band of illumination within a visible spectrum, the first band of illumination within the visible spectrum being wavelengths of illumination appearing blue.

14. The accessory of claim 13, further including a second filter within the field of view of the camera, the second filter passing a second band of illumination within the visible spectrum, the second band of illumination being exclusive of the first band of illumination.

15. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the target generating structure includes a first filter for passing illumination with a wavelength below a threshold and attenuating illumination with a wavelength above the threshold.

16. The accessory of claim 15, further including a second filter within the field of view of the camera for attenuating the illumination passed by the first filter.

17. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the target generating structure is secured to the accessory such that it can be laterally repositioned and illumination from the illumination torch is projected into the field of view without modification by the accessory if the target generating structure is laterally repositioned out of the illumination field of the illumination torch.

18. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the target generating structure is pivotally attached to the accessory such that illumination from the illumination torch is projected into the field of view without modification by the accessory if the target generating structure is pivoted out of the illumination field of the illumination torch.

19. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the target generating structure is configured to focus illumination to the field of view of the camera such that there is a distinctive contrast between the intense illumination of the targeting pattern and weak illumination of regions of the field of view around the targeting pattern.