OPTICAL READER HAVING A COLOR IMAGER
First Claim
1. An optical reader comprising:
- a color imaging assembly for acquiring an image of an object, the color imaging assembly generating color imaging data corresponding to the image;
an image analysis circuit coupled to the color imaging assembly, the image analysis circuit being configured to determine if the color imaging data includes at least one graphical symbol, whereby the image is classified as a graphical symbol image if the color imaging data includes at least one graphical symbol, or the image is classified as a color photograph if the color imaging data does not include at least one graphical symbol; and
a processing circuit coupled to the image analysis circuit, the processing circuit being operative to process the color imaging data based on the classification of the image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an optical reader that includes a color imaging assembly that generates color imaging data. An image analysis circuit determines if the acquired image should be characterized as a color photograph or as including a graphical symbol. A processing circuit processes the imaging data based on the image analysis circuit'"'"'s determination of whether the image is a graphical symbol or a color photograph. The present invention allows a user to acquire and process both color images and graphical symbols, such as bar codes, text, OCR symbols or signatures. The optical reader of the present invention is also configured to associate an acquired image with at least one other acquired image.
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Citations
83 Claims
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1. An optical reader comprising:
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a color imaging assembly for acquiring an image of an object, the color imaging assembly generating color imaging data corresponding to the image;
an image analysis circuit coupled to the color imaging assembly, the image analysis circuit being configured to determine if the color imaging data includes at least one graphical symbol, whereby the image is classified as a graphical symbol image if the color imaging data includes at least one graphical symbol, or the image is classified as a color photograph if the color imaging data does not include at least one graphical symbol; and
a processing circuit coupled to the image analysis circuit, the processing circuit being operative to process the color imaging data based on the classification of the image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An optical reader for capturing an image of an object, the optical reader comprising:
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a color imaging assembly for converting the image of the object into color digital data corresponding to the image;
an automatic mode selection circuit coupled to the color imaging assembly, the mode selection circuit using at least a portion of the color digital data to select one of a plurality of operational modes of the optical reader, the operational modes including at least graphical symbol mode and a color photography mode; and
a processing circuit coupled to the mode selection circuit, the processing circuit being configured to process the color digital data based on the selected operational mode. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An optical reader for capturing an image of an object, the optical reader comprising:
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a color imaging assembly for capturing the image as color imaging data;
a classification circuit coupled to the color imaging assembly, the classification circuit being configured to process at least a portion of the color imaging data to thereby select one of a plurality of classifications, whereby the image is classified as a color photographic image, or as an image that includes at least one graphical symbol;
an automatic mode selector coupled to the classification circuit, the automatic mode selector being configured to select an optical reader mode in accordance with the selected classification; and
a processor coupled to the classification circuit, the processor being programmed to process the color imaging data in accordance with the optical reader mode selected by the automatic mode selector. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An optical reader for capturing an image of an object, the optical reader comprising:
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a color imaging assembly for capturing the image as color imaging data;
a user mode selector coupled to the color imaging assembly, the user mode selector being switchable between at least one automatic user mode, or a manual user mode for manually selecting one of a plurality of imaging modes of the optical reader, whereby the plurality of imaging modes includes at least one graphical symbol mode and a color photography mode;
an automatic imaging mode selector coupled to the user mode selector and the color imaging assembly, the automatic imaging mode selector being operative to automatically select one of the plurality of imaging modes when in the automatic user mode; and
a processing circuit coupled to the user mode selector and the automatic mode selector, the processing circuit being programmed to process the color imaging data based on the selected one of the plurality of operational modes. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for acquiring an image of an object with an optical reader, the method comprising:
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acquiring first color imaging data representing the image;
analyzing the color imaging data to provide an image classification, whereby the image is classified as a color photograph, or as including at least one graphical symbol; and
processing the color imaging data in accordance with the image classification. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:
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acquiring color imaging data;
analyzing the color imaging data to provide an image classification, whereby the image is classified as a color photograph, or the image is classified as including at least one graphical symbol; and
processing the color imaging data in accordance with the image classification.
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49. In an optical reader having a color imaging assembly for acquiring color imaging data, and a graphical user interface including a display and a selection device, a method for selecting at least one optical reader operating mode, the method comprising:
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displaying at least one icon on the graphical user interface, the at least one icon corresponding to the at least one optical reader operating mode;
clicking on the at least one icon with the selection device to thereby select the at least one optical reader operating mode corresponding to the selected at least one icon; and
processing the color imaging data based on the selected at least one icon, whereby the color imaging data is processed as a color photographic image, or as an image that includes at least one graphical symbol.
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50. In an optical reader having a color imaging assembly for acquiring color imaging data, and a graphical user interface including a display and a selection device, a method of providing and selecting from a menu on the display, the method comprising:
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retrieving a set of menu entries for the menu, each of the menu entries representing at least one operational mode of the optical reader;
displaying the set of menu entries on the display;
selecting a menu entry;
emitting a menu selection signal indicative of a selected operational mode; and
processing the imaging data based on the selected menu entry, whereby the imaging data is processed as a color photographic image or as an image that includes at least one graphical symbol.
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51. A method for acquiring an image of an object with an optical reader, the method comprising:
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providing a color imaging assembly;
converting the image into color imaging data;
classifying the image as either a color photograph, or as a color image that includes at least one graphical symbol; and
processing the color imaging data in accordance with the step of classifying.
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52. A method for acquiring an image of an object with an optical reader, the optical reader having a plurality of imaging modes including at least one graphical symbol mode, and a color photography mode, the method comprising:
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capturing the image by acquiring color imaging data;
analyzing at least a portion of the color imaging data to provide an image classification, whereby the image classification includes at least one graphical symbol classification and a color photography classification;
automatically selecting one of a plurality of image processing modes based on the image classification provided in the step of analyzing; and
processing the color imaging data based on the selected one of the plurality of image processing modes.
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53. A method for acquiring an image of an object with an optical reader, the optical reader having a plurality of imaging modes including at least one graphical symbol mode, and a color photography mode, the method comprising:
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capturing the image by acquiring color imaging data;
automatically selecting one of the plurality of imaging modes based on an analysis of the color imaging data; and
processing the color imaging data in accordance with a selected one of the plurality of imaging modes.
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54. A system for processing at least one image, the system including at least one network element, the system comprising:
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an optical reader including a color imager and a processor, the color imager being configured to capture the at least one image by generating color imaging data corresponding to the at least one image, the processor being configured to provide a classification of the color imaging data based on whether the color imaging data includes at least one graphical symbol, the processor being programmed to process the color imaging data in accordance with the classification; and
a network coupled to the color optical reader and the at least one network element, whereby processed image data is transmitted between the network and the at least one network element. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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Specification