Triggering illumination for a data reader
First Claim
1. A method of triggering a source of visible light for a data reader including an imaging reader having a scan zone, comprising:
- illuminating at least a substantial portion of the scan zone with infrared illumination;
placing in the scan zone an item bearing a symbol, thereby reflecting at least a portion of the infrared illumination;
sensing the reflected infrared illumination via the imaging reader;
attempting to read the symbol utilizing the sensed reflected infrared illumination;
in response to sensing the reflected infrared illumination, triggering a source of visible light and illuminating the scan zone with the visible light; and
reading the symbol via the imaging reader.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods are disclosed for triggering a source of visible light in connection with a data reader in response to a sensed proximity of an item. In one configuration, a data reader includes an imaging reader, such as a CMOS imager, that is sensitive to both infrared illumination and visible light. The imaging reader may be operable to read a symbol, such as a barcode or other optical code, via reflected infrared illumination, reflected visible light, or both. When characteristics of reflected illumination received by the imaging reader indicate the presence or movement of an item in the visible scan zone, the visible light source may be triggered to illuminate the item and thereby facilitate reading of the symbol using the same imaging reader as is used to sense the presence of the item. The visible light source may also be triggered to provide visual feedback.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of triggering a source of visible light for a data reader including an imaging reader having a scan zone, comprising:
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illuminating at least a substantial portion of the scan zone with infrared illumination;
placing in the scan zone an item bearing a symbol, thereby reflecting at least a portion of the infrared illumination;
sensing the reflected infrared illumination via the imaging reader;
attempting to read the symbol utilizing the sensed reflected infrared illumination;
in response to sensing the reflected infrared illumination, triggering a source of visible light and illuminating the scan zone with the visible light; and
reading the symbol via the imaging reader. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of triggering illumination for a data reader having a scan zone, comprising:
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illuminating at least a substantial portion of the scan zone with infrared illumination;
placing in the scan zone an item, thereby reflecting at least a portion of the infrared illumination;
sensing the reflected infrared illumination;
in response to sensing the reflected infrared illumination, activating a source of visible light;
sensing a reflected visible illumination;
moving the item out of the scan zone, thereby causing a change in the reflected visible illumination;
sensing the change in the reflected visible illumination; and
in response to sensing the change in the reflected visible illumination, deactivating the source of visible light. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A symbol reading device, comprising:
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a data reader having a scan zone, the data reader being sensitive to visible illumination and infrared illumination;
an infrared illumination source that directs infrared illumination at the scan zone;
a visible light source coupled to the data reader and adapted to selectively direct visible illumination at the scan zone, the data reader responsive to receipt of infrared illumination reflected by an item placed in the scan zone to trigger the visible light source and thereby illuminate the item. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of triggering a source of visible light for a data reader having a scan zone illuminated by ambient illumination, comprising:
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placing an item in the scan zone, thereby imparting a change in the ambient illumination reaching the data reader, the item bearing a symbol;
at the data reader, sensing the change in the ambient illumination;
in response to sensing the change in the ambient illumination, triggering a source of infrared illumination to illuminate the item with infrared illumination, the item thereby reflecting at least a portion of the infrared illumination; and
at the data reader, attempting to read the symbol via the reflected infrared illumination. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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Specification