Optical code reading device having more than one imaging engine

• US 20040129783A1
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Patel, Mehul
• Granted Patent: US 7,195,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1013 Multi-focal
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10801 Multidistance reading
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• 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 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00286 with studio circuitry, devices or equipment, e.g. television cameras television studio circuitry, devices or equipment per se H04N5/222
• 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 2201/007 Selecting or switching between a still picture apparatus or function and another apparatus or function H04N2201/0022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

A mobile computing device is provided having more than one imaging engine, and preferably, two imagining engines. Switching circuitry is provided for switching between the two imaging engines. Each imaging engine is optimized for use in specific applications and includes different specifications from the other imaging engine. Preferably, one imaging engine is optimized to provide higher resolution images than the other imaging engine, and one imaging engine is optimized to focus an object located 7.50 to 12.50 cm from the mobile computing device (near-to-mid range imaging), while the other imaging engine is optimized to focus an object located from 12.50 cm to infinity from the mobile computing device (mid-to-far range imaging). One imaging engine preferably includes a color image sensor, while the other imaging engine includes a black and white image sensor. The imaging engines are preferably supported by a housing of an optical code reading device configured for imaging and decoding optical codes and performing other functions, such as video teleconferencing, capturing and storing digital images, creating and transmitting video e-mail, and performing video surveillance.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a first imaging engine having an image sensor for sensing light and outputting a first plurality of signals corresponding to the sensed light;

a second imaging engine having an image sensor for sensing light and outputting a second plurality of signals corresponding to the sensed light;

switching circuitry for operatively switching between the first and second imaging engines; and

a processor for controlling the switching circuitry for receiving one of the first and second plurality of signals.

2. The computing device according to claim 1, further comprising interface circuitry coupled to the switching circuitry and the processor for receiving the first and second plurality of signals from the switching circuitry and transmitting the signals to the processor.

3. The computing device according to claim 1, further comprising an automatically focusing lens assembly for automatically controlling movement of at least one lens of a lens assembly of at least one of the imaging engines.

4. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein the first imaging engine has a near-to-mid imaging range and the second imaging engine has a mid-to-far imaging range.

5. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging engines have at least one different depth of field and field of view.

6. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the image sensors is a color image sensor.

7. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein the first image sensor includes a higher resolution photo detector array than the second image sensor.

8. The computing device according to claim 1, further comprising an aiming and illumination assembly controlled by the processor.

9. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein the switching circuitry includes a multiplexer.

10. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second imaging engines are configured and dimensioned to fit within a predetermined form factor.

11. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor includes a set of programmable instructions for processing the plurality of signals to recognize and analyze data provided therein.

12. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of an optical code reader, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a digital camera, a pager, a video telephone, a cellular telephone, a hand held computer, and a hand held data capture device.

13. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second imaging engines are supported by a housing.

14. The computing device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the imaging engines is movably mounted to the housing.

15. The computing device according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the imaging engines is removably mounted to the housing.

16. The computing device according to claim 1, further comprising a user selection assembly having a first control for manually selecting at least one operating mode of the computing device, and a second control for manually selecting either the first or second imaging engine.

17. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second imaging engines are one of two individual imaging engines and one integrated imaging engine.

18. A computing device comprising:

at least two imaging engines each having an image sensor for sensing light and outputting a plurality of signals corresponding to the sensed light;

switching circuitry for operatively switching between the at least two imaging engines; and

a processor for controlling the switching circuitry and for processing the plurality of signals.

19. The computing device according to claim 18, further comprising interface circuitry coupled to the switching circuitry and the processor for receiving the plurality of signals from the switching circuitry and transmitting the signals to the processor.

20. The computing device according to claim 18, further comprising an automatically focusing lens assembly for controlling movement of at least one lens of a lens assembly of at least one of the at least two imaging engines.

21. The computing device according to claim 18, at least one of the at least two imaging engines has one of a near-to-mid imaging range and a mid-to-far imaging range.

22. The computing device according to claim 18, wherein the at least two imaging engines have at least one different depth of field and field of view.

23. The computing device according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the at least two imaging engines includes a color image sensor.

24. The computing device according to claim 18, further comprising an aiming and illumination assembly controlled by the processor.

25. The computing device according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the at least two imaging engines is configured and dimensioned to fit within a predetermined form factor.

26. The computing device according to claim 18, wherein the at least two imaging engines are supported by a housing.

28. The computing device according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the at least two imaging engines is movably mounted to the housing.

29. The computing device according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the at least two imaging engines is removably mounted to the housing.

30. The computing device according to claim 18, further comprising a user selection assembly having a first control for manually selecting at least one operating mode of the computing device, and a second control for manually selecting at least one of the at least two imaging engines.

31. The computing device according to claim 18, wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of an optical code reader, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a digital camera, a pager, a video telephone, a cellular telephone, a hand held computer, and a hand held data capture device.

32. A computing device comprising:

a first imaging engine having an image sensor for sensing light and outputting a first plurality of signals corresponding to the sensed light;

a second imaging engine having an image sensor for sensing light and outputting a second plurality of signals corresponding to the sensed light; and

a processor for receiving at least one of the first and second plurality of signals.

33. The computing device according to claim 32, further comprising switching circuitry for operatively switching between the first and second imaging engines.

34. The computing device according to claim 33, further comprising interface circuitry coupled to the switching circuitry and the processor for receiving the first and second plurality of signals from the switching circuitry and transmitting the signals to the processor.

35. The computing device according to claim 32, further comprising an automatically focusing lens assembly for controlling movement of at least one lens of a lens assembly of at least one of the imaging engines.

36. The computing device according to claim 32, wherein the first imaging engine has a near-to-mid imaging range and the second imaging engine has a mid-to-far imaging range.

37. The computing device according to claim 32, wherein the imaging engines have at least one different depth of field and field of view.

38. The computing device according to claim 32, wherein at least one of the image sensors is a color image sensor.

39. The computing device according to claim 32, wherein the first image sensor includes a higher resolution photo detector array than the second image sensor.

40. The computing device according to claim 32, further comprising an aiming and illumination assembly controlled by the processor.

41. The computing device according to claim 33, wherein the switching circuitry includes a multiplexer.

42. The computing device according to claim 32, wherein the first and second imaging engines are configured and dimensioned to fit within a predetermined form factor.

43. The computing device according to claim 32, wherein the processor includes a set of programmable instructions for processing the plurality of signals to recognize and analyze data provided therein.

44. The computing device according to claim 32, wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of an optical code reader, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a digital camera, a pager, a video telephone, a cellular telephone, a hand held computer, and a hand held data capture device.

45. The computing device according to claim 32, wherein the first and second imaging engines are supported by a housing.

46. The computing device according to claim 45, wherein at least one of the imaging engines is movably mounted to the housing.

47. The computing device according to claim 45, wherein at least one of the imaging engines is removably mounted to the housing.

48. The computing device according to claim 32, further comprising a user selection assembly having a first control for manually selecting at least one operating mode of the computing device, and a second control for manually selecting either the first or second imaging engine.

49. The computing device according to claim 32, wherein the first and second imaging engines are one of two individual imaging engines and one integrated imaging engine.

50. A method for performing digital imaging, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least two imaging engines each having an image sensor for sensing light and outputting a plurality of signals corresponding to the sensed light;

selecting at least one of the at least two imaging engines; and

processing the plurality of signals corresponding to the at least one selected imaging engine.

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein the step of selecting is performed either automatically or manually.

52. The method according to claim 50, further comprising the step of automatically controlling movement of a lens assembly of at least one of the at least two imaging engines.

53. The method according to claim 50, wherein the step of providing at least two imaging engines includes the step of providing at least one imaging engine configured and dimensioned to fit within a predetermined form factor.

54. The method according to claim 50, wherein the step of processing includes the step of decoding at least one optical code provided by the plurality of signals.