Reader for decoding two-dimensional optically readable information

• US 20040089722A1
• Filed: 11/04/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1992
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Durbin, Dennis A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10524 Hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00334 with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

An apparatus and method for reading optical information including a photosensitive system oriented to capture optical information. Also included is an optical system focusing optical information onto the photosensitive system, and a display oriented to display optical information captured by the photosensitive system. The apparatus also includes a portable, hand-held housing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for reading two-dimensional optical information, comprising:

a housing having a light-transmissive portal;

a photosensitive array, located within said housing to capture two-dimensional optical information;

an optical system, positioned relative to said photosensitive array and said light-transmissive portal so as to focus two-dimensional optical information onto said photosensitive array;

a memory system, coupled with said photosensitive array to store output from said photosensitive array; and

a display system, coupled with said memory system, to display an image of optical information captured by said photosensitive array.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a photosensitive array control system, coupled with said photosensitive array.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user feedback system to assist reading of two-dimensional optical information.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a pattern recognition system configured to assist a user in recognizing two-dimensional optical information; and

wherein said display system is associated with said housing to display two-dimensional optical information as processed by said pattern recognition facility.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing is of a size and shape suited for hand-held operation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said photosensitive array comprises a one-dimensional array.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a rastering device configured to raster one-dimensional image segments of two-dimensional optical information onto said photosensitive array.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a zoom system.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a focusing system configured to variably focus two-dimensional optical information onto said photosensitive array.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a decoding system configured to decode two-dimensional optical information.

11. A method for reading two-dimensional optical information, comprising:

directing a reader at optical information to be read, wherein said reader includes;

a housing having a light-transmissive portal;

a photosensitive array, located within said housing to capture two-dimensional optical information;

an optical system, positioned relative to said photosensitive array and said light-transmissive portal so as to focus two-dimensional optical information onto said photosensitive array;

a memory system, coupled with said photosensitive array to store output from said photosensitive array; and

a display system, coupled with said memory system, to display an image of optical information captured by said photosensitive array;

displaying an image of captured two-dimensional optical information on said display system; and

aiming said reader at a specific two-dimensional optical information indicia to be read at least partially with the aid of information displayed on the display system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said housing is of a size and shape suited for hand-held operation.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said photosensitive array comprises a one-dimensional array.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said reader further comprises a rastering device configured to raster one-dimensional image segments of two-dimensional optical information onto the photosensitive array.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said photosensitive array comprises a two-dimensional array.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising a zoom system.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising a focusing system configured to variably focus two-dimensional optical information onto the photosensitive array.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the reader further comprises a photosensitive array control system, coupled with said photosensitive array.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the reader further comprises a user feedback system to assist reading of two-dimensional optical information.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the reader further comprises:

a pattern recognition system configured to assist a user in recognizing two-dimensional optical information; and

wherein the display system is associated with the housing to display two-dimensional optical information as processed by the pattern recognition system.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the pattern recognition system comprises a neural network.

22. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of removing user hand jitter from two-dimensional information displayed to the user.

23. The method of claim 11, wherein the reader further comprises a decoding system configured to decode two-dimensional optical information.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of decoding captured two-dimensional optical information.

25. An apparatus for reading optical information, comprising:

a photosensitive system oriented to capture optical information;

an optical system associated with said photosensitive system for directing optical information onto said photosensitive system;

a display coupled with said photosensitive system and oriented to display optical information captured by said photosensitive system; and

a portable, hand-held housing supporting said photosensitive system, said optical system and said display.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a power supply for providing operating power.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a pattern recognition system configured to assist a user in recognizing optical information; and

wherein said display is associated with said pattern recognition system to display optical information as processed by said pattern recognition system.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a user feedback system to facilitate user control over the apparatus.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said photosensitive system comprises a one-dimensional array of photosensitive regions.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a raster device configured to raster one-dimensional image segments of two-dimensional optical indicia onto said one-dimensional array.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said photosensitive system is a two-dimensional array of photosensitive regions.

32. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a zoom system.

33. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a focusing system configured to variably focus optical information onto said photosensitive system.

34. A two-dimensional optical information reading apparatus, comprising:

means for housing having a light-transmissive portal;

means for sensing two-dimensional optical information, located within said means for housing;

means for directing two-dimensional optical information onto said means for sensing two-dimensional optical information;

means for providing a memory, coupled with said means for sensing two-dimensional optical information, to store output from said means for sensing two-dimensional optical information; and

means for displaying optical information, coupled with said means for providing a memory, to display optical information captured by said means for sensing two-dimensional optical information.