Optical reader having a plurality of imaging modules

• US 20040020990A1
• Filed: 06/03/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Havens, William H., Barber, Charles P., Gardiner, Robert C., Hennick, Robert J., Gannon, Colleen, Pettinelli, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,219,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10574 Multiple sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10801 Multidistance reading
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09072 Hole or recess under component or special relationship between hole and component
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09463 Partial lands, i.e. lands or conductive rings not completely surrounding the hole landless plated-through hole or via H05K2201/09545
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0949 Pad close to a hole, not surrounding the hole if used for surface mounting H05K1/114
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09645 Patterning on via walls; Plural lands around one hole
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09809 Coaxial layout reduction of cross-talk, noise or interference by printed shielding conductors for shielding around a single via or around a group of vias H05K1/0222
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10121 Optical component, e.g. opto-electronic component
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/244 Finish plating of conductors, especially of copper conductors, e.g. for pads or lands selective plating methods H05K3/243; finish plating of conductors made by printing techniques H05K3/246; solder as finish H05K3/3457, e.g. by plating H05K3/3473

Abstract

The invention is an optical reader having a plurality of imaging modules. In one method for operating a multiple imaging module reader of the invention, a second frame of image data captured via actuation of a second imaging module is automatically captured and subjected to decoding in the case an attempt to decode using a frame of image data captured via actuation of a first imaging module fails. In another embodiment, a frame of image data captured via actuation of an image sensor of a first module and actuation of illumination of a second imaging module is subjected to decoding. In another embodiment, frames of image data captured via actuation of image sensors of spaced apart modules are combined. The various modules of a multiple imaging module reader can be adapted to have different best focus positions so that a field depth of the reader is improved.

Claims

1. An optical reader comprising:

a first imaging module having a first imaging axis and a first best focus distance;

a second imaging module having a second imaging axis and a second best focus distance, said second best focus distance being at least one inch a part from said first best focus distance;

wherein each of said first and second imaging modules includes an image sensor having an array of photosensitive elements, a support assembly, and at least one illumination LED;

wherein one of said imaging modules is a one dimensional imaging module including a linear array of photosensitive elements and one of said imaging modules is a two dimensional imaging module including a two dimensional array of photosensitive elements;

a control circuit in communication with each of said first and second imaging modules;

a hand held housing encapsulating said first imaging module, said second imaging module, and said control circuit;

wherein said control circuit is programmed, in response to receipt of a trigger signal, to;

(a) capture a first frame of image data via actuation of said at least one illumination LED and said image sensor of said first imaging module;

(b) determine whether said first frame of image data includes decodable indicia;

(c) automatically subject to a decode attempt a second frame of image data if said determination step (b) indicates that decodable indicia is not or is likely not represented in said first frame of image data, wherein said second frame of image data is captured via actuation of said at least one LED and said image sensor of said second imaging module.

2. The reader of claim 1, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data attempts to decode decodable indicia represented in said first frame of image data.

3. The reader of claim 1, wherein said first and second imaging modules are disposed in vertical relation to one another.

4. The reader of claim 1, wherein said first and second imaging modules are disposed in horizontal relation to one another.

5. The reader of claim 1, wherein said imaging modules are disposed so that said first and second imaging axes converge toward one another forward of said reader.

6. The reader of claim 1, wherein said imaging modules are disposed so that said first and second imaging axes diverge apart from one another forward of said reader.

7. The reader of claim 1, wherein said control circuit captures said second frame of image data contemporaneously while capturing said first frame of image data.

8. The reader of claim 1, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data preliminarily evaluates image data of said first frame without attempting to decode decodable indicia represented therein.

9. The reader of claim 8, wherein said control circuit in preliminarily evaluating said image data evaluates said image data to determine whether a saturation condition is present.

10. The reader of claim 1, wherein said trigger signal is an automatically generated trigger signal generated by decodable indicia being moved in a field of view of said reader.

11. The reader of claim 1, further comprising a trigger, wherein said trigger signal is generated when said trigger is pulled.

12. The reader of claim 1, wherein said housing is a gun-style housing.

25. The reader of claim 12, wherein said housing is a gun-style housing.

13. An optical reader comprising:

a first imaging module having a first imaging axis;

a second imaging module having a second imaging axis;

wherein each of said first and second imaging modules includes an image sensor having an array of photosensitive elements, a support assembly, and at least one illumination LED;

a control circuit in communication with each of said first and second imaging modules;

a hand held housing encapsulating said first imaging module, said second imaging module, and said control circuit;

wherein said control circuit is programmed, in response to receipt of a trigger signal, to;

(a) capture a first frame of image data via actuation of said at least one illumination LED and said image sensor of said first imaging module;

(b) determine whether said first frame of image data includes decodable indicia;

(c) automatically subject to a decode attempt a second frame of image data if said determination step (b) indicates that decodable indicia is not or is likely not represented in said first frame of image data, wherein said second frame of image data is captured via actuation of said at least one LED and said image sensor of said second imaging module.

14. The reader of claim 13, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data attempts to decode decodable indicia represented in said first frame of image data.

15. The reader of claim 13, wherein said first and second imaging modules are disposed in vertical relation to one another.

16. The reader of claim 13, wherein said first and second imaging modules are disposed in horizontal relation to one another.

17. The reader of claim 13, wherein said imaging modules are disposed so that said first and second imaging axes converge toward one another forward of said reader.

18. The reader of claim 13, wherein said imaging modules are disposed so that said first and second imaging axes diverge apart from one another forward of said reader.

19. The reader of claim 13, wherein said control circuit captures said second frame of image data contemporaneously while capturing said first frame of image data.

20. The reader of claim 13, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data preliminarily evaluates image data of said first frame without attempting to decode decodable indicia represented therein.

21. The reader of claim 19, wherein said control circuit in preliminarily evaluating said image data evaluates said image data to determine whether a saturation condition is present.

22. The reader of claim 13, wherein said first imaging module is a 1D imaging module and wherein said second imaging module is a 2D imaging module.

23. The reader of claim 13, wherein said first and second imaging modules are configured to have first and second best focus distances, wherein said first best focus distance is at least 1 inch apart from said second best focus distance.

24. The reader of claim 13, wherein said trigger signal is an automatically generated trigger signal generated by decodable indicia being moved in a field of view of said reader.

26. The reader of claim 13, further comprising a trigger, wherein said trigger signal is generated when said trigger is pulled.

27. An optical reader comprising:

a portable housing;

a first imaging module having a first imaging axis;

a second imaging module having a second imaging axis, wherein said first and second imaging modules are disposed so that said first and second imaging axes converge toward one another;

wherein each of said first and second modules includes an image sensor having an array of photosensitive elements, a support assembly, and at least one illumination LED;

a control circuit in communication with each of said first and second imaging modules;

wherein said first and second imaging modules are encapsulated in said portable gun style housing, and

wherein said control circuit is programmed, in response to receipt of a trigger signal to;

(a) capture a first frame of image data via actuation of said illumination LED and said image sensor of said first imaging module;

(b) determine whether said first frame of image data includes decodable indicia;

(c) automatically subject to a decode attempt a second frame of image data if said determination step (b) indicates that decodable indicia is not or is likely not represented in said first frame, wherein said second frame of image data is captured via actuation of said at least one LED of said second imaging module and said image sensor of said first imaging module, wherein no illumination LED of said first imaging module is actuated when said second frame of image data is captured.

28. The reader of claim 27, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data attempts to decode decodable indicia represented in said first frame of image data.

29. The reader of claim 27, wherein said control circuit captures said second frame of image data contemporaneously while capturing said first frame of image data.

30. The reader of claim 27, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data preliminarily evaluates image data of said first frame without attempting to decode decodable indicia represented therein.

31. The reader of claim 27, wherein said control circuit in preliminarily evaluating said image data evaluates said image data to determine whether a saturation condition is present.

32. The reader of claim 27, wherein said first imaging module is a 1D imaging module and wherein said second imaging module is a 2D imaging module.

33. The reader of claim 27, wherein said first and second imaging modules are configured to have first and second best focus distances, wherein, said first best focus distance is at least 1 inch apart from said second best focus distance.

34. The reader of claim 27, wherein said trigger signal is an automatically generated trigger signal generated by decodable indicia being moved in a field of view of said reader.

35. The reader of claim 27, further comprising a trigger, wherein said trigger signal is generated when said trigger is pulled.

36. The reader of claim 27, wherein said first portable housing is a gun-style housing.