Apparatus comprising multiple sets of optics to facilitate capturing barcode and non-barcode images
First Claim
1. An apparatus capable of scanning barcodes and capturing non-barcode images through use of a mobile device comprising a processor, a display screen, an image sensor, and memory containing executable code configured to cause the image sensor to capture image data, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a first set of imaging optics that receives, from within a first field of view, first light defining a first portion of image data captured by the image sensor, the first portion comprising a barcode image, wherein the first field of view is centered on a first optical pathway, wherein the first set of imaging optics is movable into alignment with the image sensor such that when the first set of imaging optics is aligned with the image sensor, the image sensor receives the first light; and
a second set of imaging optics that receives, from within a second field of view, second light defining a second portion of the image data captured by the image sensor, the second portion comprising a non-barcode image, wherein the second field of view is centered on a second optical pathway nonparallel to the first optical pathway, wherein the second set of imaging optics is movable into alignment with the image sensor such that, when the second set of imaging optics is aligned with the image sensor, the image sensor receives the second light;
wherein the first set of imaging optics is positioned to direct the first light at the image sensor of the mobile device and the second set of imaging optics is positioned to direct the second light at the image sensor of the mobile device, wherein the image sensor simultaneously receives the first light from the first set of imaging optics and the second light from the second set of imaging optics, and wherein the mobile device is selected from the group consisting of smartphones, tablets, and combinations thereof.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus may be capable of scanning barcodes and capturing non-barcode images. The apparatus may comprise a first set of imaging optics that receives, from within a first field of view, first light defining a first portion of image data captured by an image sensing system. The apparatus may also comprise a second set of imaging optics that receives, from within a second field of view, second light defining a second portion of the image data. The first field of view may be centered on a first optical pathway, and the second field of view may be centered on a second optical pathway that is nonparallel to the first optical pathway. The first set of imaging optics may be positioned to direct the first light to the image sensing system, and the second set of imaging optics may be positioned to direct the second light to the image sensing system.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An apparatus capable of scanning barcodes and capturing non-barcode images through use of a mobile device comprising a processor, a display screen, an image sensor, and memory containing executable code configured to cause the image sensor to capture image data, wherein the apparatus comprises:
-
a first set of imaging optics that receives, from within a first field of view, first light defining a first portion of image data captured by the image sensor, the first portion comprising a barcode image, wherein the first field of view is centered on a first optical pathway, wherein the first set of imaging optics is movable into alignment with the image sensor such that when the first set of imaging optics is aligned with the image sensor, the image sensor receives the first light; and a second set of imaging optics that receives, from within a second field of view, second light defining a second portion of the image data captured by the image sensor, the second portion comprising a non-barcode image, wherein the second field of view is centered on a second optical pathway nonparallel to the first optical pathway, wherein the second set of imaging optics is movable into alignment with the image sensor such that, when the second set of imaging optics is aligned with the image sensor, the image sensor receives the second light; wherein the first set of imaging optics is positioned to direct the first light at the image sensor of the mobile device and the second set of imaging optics is positioned to direct the second light at the image sensor of the mobile device, wherein the image sensor simultaneously receives the first light from the first set of imaging optics and the second light from the second set of imaging optics, and wherein the mobile device is selected from the group consisting of smartphones, tablets, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A mobile device, comprising:
-
a housing shaped to enable the mobile device to function as a selection from the group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet, and a combination thereof; a processor contained within the housing; a display screen retained by the housing; an image sensor contained within the housing, wherein the image sensor captures a first portion of image data from a first field of view and captures a second portion of the image data from a second field of view; a memory contained within the housing, the memory containing executable code configured to cause the image sensor to capture the image data; a first set of imaging optics, at least a portion of which is contained within the housing, wherein the first set of imaging optics receives, from within the first field of view, first light defining the first portion of the image data, the first portion of the image data comprising a barcode image, wherein the first field of view is centered on a first optical pathway that comprises the first set of imaging optics and the image sensor; a second set of imaging optics, at least a portion of which is contained within the housing, wherein the second set of imaging optics receives, from within the second field of view, second light defining the second portion of the image data, the second portion of the image data comprising a non-barcode image, wherein the second field of view is centered on a second optical pathway that comprises the second set of imaging optics and the image sensor, wherein the second optical pathway is nonparallel to the first optical pathway, and wherein the first optical pathway and the second optical pathway are simultaneously present; and wherein the first set of imaging optics directs the first light to the image sensor and the second set of imaging optics directs the second light to the image sensor, wherein the image sensor comprises a first portion that receives the first light and a second portion that receives the second light such that the image data define a composite image comprising a first image portion comprising the barcode image, and a second image portion comprising the non-barcode image. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for decoding a barcode through use of an apparatus comprising a processor, a display screen, an image sensor, memory, a first set of imaging optics, and a second set of imaging optics, the method comprising:
-
executing executable code on the processor to run an application, wherein the processor is incorporated into a mobile device selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet, and a combination thereof, wherein the mobile device comprises the display screen and the image sensor, and wherein the mobile device comprises a housing that retains the processor, the display screen, the image sensor, the memory, the first set of imaging optics, and the second set of imaging optics, wherein the apparatus further comprises a non-transitory storage medium on which the executable code is encoded; with the application, receiving first user input selecting to scan a barcode; with the first set of imaging optics, directing first light defining a first portion of image data at the image sensor, wherein the first portion of the image data comprises a barcode image, wherein the first set of imaging optics defines a first field of view centered on a first optical pathway that comprises the first set of imaging optics and the image sensor, wherein the second set of imaging optics defines a second field of view centered on a second optical pathway that comprises the second set of imaging optics and the image sensor, wherein the second optical pathway is nonparallel to the first optical pathway, and wherein the first optical pathway and the second optical pathway are simultaneously present in the apparatus; capturing the image data with the image sensor; and in response to receipt of the first user input, initiating decoding of the barcode image to initiate generation of decoded barcode data; and prior to executing the executable code on the processor, copying the executable code to the memory from the non-transitory storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification