Adaptive optical image reader
First Claim
1. A process for obtaining an acceptable image with an image reader, comprising:
- a) acquiring an initial image at a given frame rate of the image reader;
b) determining whether a signal level of the acquired image is in an acceptable range, and wherein, if not, c) calculating a new frame rate;
d) acquiring an image at the new frame rate; and
e) decoding the image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital image reading system including an image sensor and a computer that is programmed to adjust the frame rate of the image sensor, and to obtain a maximum frame rate of the image sensor for obtaining an acceptable image. An algorithm for adjusting the frame rate evaluates image parameters and calculates new exposure times, gain values, and exposure settings to support a maximum frame rate of the image sensor. A process for obtaining an acceptable image with an image reader evaluates an image signal level and adjusts the frame rate if the signal level is outside of a predetermined range. The process adjusts the image sensor to run at a maximum operational frame rate. A digital image reading system including multiple separate digitizers for use in various read environments and under various read conditions.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A process for obtaining an acceptable image with an image reader, comprising:
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a) acquiring an initial image at a given frame rate of the image reader;
b) determining whether a signal level of the acquired image is in an acceptable range, and wherein, if not, c) calculating a new frame rate;
d) acquiring an image at the new frame rate; and
e) decoding the image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A process for obtaining an acceptable image at a maximum frame rate of an image reader, comprising:
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a) acquiring an initial image at a given frame rate and an exposure setting with the image reader;
b) determining whether a signal level of the acquired image is in an acceptable range, and wherein, if not;
c) calculating an exposure time sufficient to obtain an acceptable image;
d) determining a highest frame rate that will support the calculated exposure time;
e) calculating a new exposure setting that, at the highest frame rate, supports the exposure time; and
f) decoding the acceptable image.
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6. An algorithm for use by a digital image reader/decoder, comprising the steps:
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(i) acquire an image at an initial frame rate parameter, gain parameter, and exposure time parameter, (ii) evaluate the image, (iii) determine whether the system is operating at a fastest frame rate, and, if not, (iv) calculate a new exposure time parameter to provide a desired image illumination, (v) calculate a maximum frame rate parameter that will support the new exposure time, (vi) calculate a new exposure setting parameter that will support the new exposure time at the maximum frame rate, (vii) determine whether the image is acceptable and, if yes, (viii) output and decode the image, and provide the parameters in (iv-vi) to the imager as new initial parameters, and (ix) return to (i).
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7. An algorithm for use by a digital image reader/decoder, comprising the steps:
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(i) acquire the image, (ii) evaluate the image, (iii) determine whether the system is operating at a fastest frame rate, and, if not, (iv) calculate a new exposure time parameter to provide a desired image illumination, (v) calculate a maximum frame rate parameter that will support the new exposure time, (vi) calculate a new exposure setting parameter that will support the new exposure time at the maximum frame rate, (vii) determine whether the image is acceptable and, if not, (viii) provide the parameters in (iv-vi) to the imager as new initial parameters, and (ix) return to (i).
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8. An algorithm for use by a digital image reader/decoder, comprising the steps:
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(i) acquire the image, (ii) evaluate the image, (iii) determine whether the system is operating at a fastest frame rate, and, if yes, (iv) determine an illumination level of the image and whether the image was acquired at a maximum exposure setting and a maximum gain setting and, if no, (v) calculate a new exposure parameter and a new gain parameter that are, at most, maximum respective values for the initial frame rate, which produce a desired image illumination, (vi) determine whether the image is acceptable and, if not, (vii) provide the parameters in (iv-vl) to the imager as new initial parameters, and (viii) return to (i).
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9. An algorithm for use by a digital image reader/decoder, comprising the steps:
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(i) acquire the image, (ii) evaluate the image, (iii) determine whether the system is operating at a fastest frame rate, and, if yes, (iv) determine an illumination level of the image and whether the image was acquired at a maximum exposure setting and a maximum gain setting and, if no, (v) calculate a new exposure parameter and a new gain parameter that are, at most, maximum respective values for the initial frame rate, which produce a desired image illumination, (vi) determine whether the image is acceptable and, if yes, (vii) output and decode the image, and provide the parameters in (iv-vi) to the imager as new initial parameters, and (ix) return to (i).
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10. An algorithm for use by a digital image reader/decoder, comprising the steps:
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(i) acquire the image, (i) evaluate the image, (iii) determine whether the system is operating at a fastest frame rate, and, if yes, (iv) determine an illumination level of the image and whether the image was acquired at a maximum exposure setting and a maximum gain setting and, if yes, (v) calculate a new exposure time parameter that will provide a desired image illumination, (vi) calculate a maximum frame rate parameter that will support the new exposure time parameter, (vii) calculate a new exposure setting parameter that will support the new exposure time at the maximum frame rate, (viii) determine whether the image is acceptable and, if yes, (ix) output and decode the image, and provide the parameters in (v-vii) to the imager as new initial parameters, and (x) return to (i).
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11. An algorithm for use by a digital image reader/decoder, comprising the steps:
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(i) acquire the image, (ii) evaluate the image, (iii) determine whether the system is operating at a fastest frame rate, and, if yes, (iv) determine an illumination level of the image and whether the image was acquired at a maximum exposure setting and a maximum gain setting and, if yes, (v) calculate a new exposure time parameter that will provide a desired image illumination, (vi) calculate a maximum frame rate parameter that will support the new exposure time parameter, (vii) calculate a new exposure setting parameter that will support the new exposure time at the maximum frame rate, (viii) determine whether the image is acceptable and, if yes, (ix) output and decode the image, and provide the parameters in (v-vii) to the imager as new initial parameters, and (x) return to (i).
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12. A digital image reading system, comprising:
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a) an image sensing component adapted to acquire an image at an initial frame rate parameter, gain parameter, and exposure time parameter; and
b) a computer coupled to the image sensing component, wherein the computer is programmed to adjust the frame rate such that the image sensing component can operate at a maximum frame rate to capture an acceptable image. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A digital image reading system, comprising:
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a) an image reading component including a digitizer; and
b) an image decoding component, wherein the image reading component includes a plurality of separate digitizers. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A process for obtaining an acceptable image, comprising:
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providing a digital image reader having an integrated plurality of digitizers;
making an image acquisition attempt utilizing one of the plurality of digitizers; and
making a subsequent image acquisition attempt utilizing a different one of the plurality of digitizers. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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Specification