Digital picture taking optical reader having hybrid monochrome and color image sensor array

• US 20060274171A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Ynjiun
• Granted Patent: US 7,780,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/294
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• 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: H04N 2209/042 having a single pick-up sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/843 Demosaicing, e.g. interpolating colour pixel values
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/13 characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements

Abstract

A portable hand held optical reader having a specially constructed two-dimensional image sensor array is operational in a bar code decoding mode and in a picture taking mode. The specially constructed image sensor array, in one embodiment, is a hybrid monochrome and color image sensor pixel array, wherein a first subset of the pixels are monochrome pixels devoid of wavelength selective color filter elements and a second subset of the pixels are color sensitive pixels including wavelength selective color filter elements.

Claims

1. A portable data collection device comprising:

(a) an imaging assembly comprising a two-dimensional solid state image sensor array and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array, said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array having a plurality of pixels, said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array being a hybrid monochrome and color sensitive image sensor array constructed such that a first subset of pixels of said image sensor array are monochrome pixels without color filter elements and a second subset of pixels of said image sensor array that are color sensitive pixels, each of which includes a wavelength selective filter elements;

(b) an illumination assembly including at least one light source projecting light outwardly from said optical reader;

(c) a hand held housing encapsulating and supporting said solid state image sensor;

(d) an operator interface enabling selection by an operator between an indicia decode mode of operation and a picture taking mode of operation;

(e) wherein said optical reader, when said indicia decode mode of operation is selected and a trigger signal is received, controls said solid state image sensor array to obtain a decode frame of image data and automatically transfers said frame of image data to an indicia decode circuit; and

(f) wherein said optical reader, when said picture taking mode is selected and a trigger signal is received, controls said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array to obtain a visual display color frame of image data, and automatically outputs said visual display color frame of image data.

2. The portable data collection device of claim 1, wherein said image sensor array is constructed so that said monochrome pixels are selectively addressable independent of said color sensitive pixels such that image data corresponding to said monochrome pixels are selectively read out independent of image data corresponding to said color sensitive pixels.

3. The portable data collection device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of pixels are selectively addressable, and wherein said optical reader when in said indicia decode mode selectively addresses said monochrome pixels and selectively reads out image data from said monochrome pixels.

4. The portable data collection device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of pixels are selectively addressable, and wherein said optical reader when in said picture taking mode selectively addresses said monochrome pixels and selectively reads out image data from said color sensitive pixels.

5. The portable data collection device of claim 1, wherein said color sensitive pixels of said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array are uniformly distributed throughout said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array.

6. The portable data collection device of claim 1, wherein said image sensor array includes a checkerboard pattern of pixels, and wherein pixels of said color sensitive second subset of pixels are at spaced apart positions of said image sensor array and uniformly or substantially uniformly distributed throughout said image sensor array.

7. The portable data collection device of claim 1, wherein said color sensitive color filter elements of said color sensitive pixels are selected from the group consisting of cyan filter elements and magenta filter elements.

8. The portable data collection device of claim 1, wherein said optical reader includes a display device, and wherein said optical reader in outputting said frame of image data sends said frame of image data to said display of said optical reader.

9. The portable data collection device of claim 1, wherein said optical reader in outputting said frame of image data in said picture taking mode outputs said frame of image data to an output destination selected from the group consisting of a display device, a memory address, or a spaced apart device.

10. The portable data collection device of claim 1, wherein said optical reader is configured so that said optical reader is both configured to operate in said decode mode and to receive said trigger signal when a single control button of said optical reader is actuated.

11. The portable data collection device of claim 1, wherein said image sensor array is configured so that said monochrome pixels can be driven into reset while said color sensitive pixels are exposed for image data read out.

12. The portable data collection device of claim 1, wherein a subset of said plurality of pixels of said two dimensional solid state image sensor array are light polarizing pixels, each of said light polarizing pixels having a light polarizing filter element.

13. A portable bar code reading device comprising:

(a) an imaging assembly including an area solid state image sensor array and an imaging lens focusing an image onto said solid state image sensor array, wherein said solid state image sensor array includes a plurality of color sensitive pixels, each of said plurality of color sensitive pixels having an optically shielded charge storage region and a wavelength selective filter element, wherein said image sensor array is integrated onto an image sensor integrated circuit chip;

(b) a memory;

(c) circuitry for readout out of image data from said area solid state image sensor array and capturing frames of image data into said memory;

(d) an operator interface enabling selection by an operator between an indicia decode mode of operation and a picture taking mode of operation;

(e) a hand held housing encapsulating said image sensor array, said memory and said circuitry;

(f) an illumination assembly projecting light outwardly from said portable bar code reading device onto a substrate bearing a bar code symbol;

(g) wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured so that in response to receipt of a trigger signal with said portable bar code reading device in said decode mode of operation, said portable bar code reading device obtains a decode frame of image data and transfers said decode frame of image data to a bar code decode circuit;

(h) wherein said portable bar code reading device is further configured so that in response to receipt of a trigger signal with said portable bar code reading device in said picture taking mode of operation, said portable bar code reading device obtains a visual display color frame of image data; and

(i) wherein said portable bar code reading device in at least one operating mode selectively addresses and selectively reads out a windowed frame of image data from subset of pixels of said image sensor array, and wherein said portable data collection device in at least one operating mode applies an exposure control timing pulse to said image sensor array to expose pixels from a plurality of rows of said solid state image sensor array simultaneously.

14. The portable bar code reading device of claim 13, wherein said image sensor array includes a first subset of pixels each having a first surface area dimension, and a second subset of pixels having a second surface area dimension, said first surface area dimension not equal to said second surface area dimension.

15. The portable bar code reading device of claim 13, wherein a plurality of pixels of said area solid state image sensor array include light polarizing filter elements.

16. The portable bar code reading device of claim 13, wherein a plurality of pixels of said area solid state image sensor array are monochrome pixels without wavelength selective color filter elements, and wherein said portable bar code reading device when obtaining said decode frame of image data reads out monochrome image data from said monochrome pixels of said area solid state image sensor array.

17. The portable bar code decoding device of claim 13, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured so that said portable bar code reading device receives a trigger signal and is driven into said decode mode when a single actuator of said portable bar code reading device is actuated.

18. A portable bar code reading device comprising:

(a) an imaging assembly comprising a two-dimensional solid state image sensor array and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array, said solid state two-dimensional image sensor array having a plurality of pixels, said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array being a hybrid monochrome and color sensitive image sensor array constructed such that a first subset of pixels of said image sensor array are monochrome pixels without wavelength selective color filter elements and a second subset of pixels of said image sensor array are color sensitive pixels, each of which includes a wavelength selective color filter element;

(b) an illumination assembly including at least one light source projecting light outwardly from said portable bar code reading device;

(c) a hand held housing encapsulating and supporting said solid state image sensor array;

(d) first circuitry coupled to said imaging assembly being configured to transfer image data to a bar code decode circuit; and

(e) second circuitry coupled to said imaging assembly being configured to obtain a visual display color frame of image data utilizing said solid state image sensor array.

19. The bar code reading apparatus of claim 18, wherein said hand held housing incorporates a bar code decode circuit.

20. The bar code reading apparatus of claim 18, wherein said first circuitry and said second circuitry are incorporated in said hand held housing.

21. The bar code decode apparatus of claim 18, wherein said apparatus includes a bar code decode circuit spaced apart from said hand held housing.

22. The optical reader of claim 18, wherein said plurality of pixels are selectively addressable, and wherein said bar code reading apparatus in at least one operating mode selectively addresses said monochrome pixels and selectively reads out image data from said monochrome pixels.

23. The optical reader of claim 18, wherein said plurality of pixels are selectively addressable, and wherein said bar code reading apparatus in at least one operating mode selectively addresses said color sensitive pixels and selectively reads out image data from said color sensitive pixels.

24. The optical reader of claim 18, wherein said color sensitive pixels of said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array are uniformly or substantially uniformly distributed throughout said two-dimensional solid state image sensor at spaced apart pixel positions.

25. The bar code reading device of claim 18, wherein said image sensor array is configured so that said monochrome pixels can be driven into reset while said color sensitive pixels are exposed for image data readout.

26. The bar code reading device of claim 18, wherein said monochrome pixels of said first subset are smaller dimensioned than said color sensitive pixels of said second subset.

27. The bar code reading device of claim 18, wherein said monochrome pixels of said first subset are formed in a monochrome zone of pixels extending at least one complete row of pixels of said solid image sensor array.

28. The portable bar code reading device of claim 18, wherein a subset of said plurality of pixels of said two dimensional solid state image sensor array are light polarizing pixels, each of said light polarizing pixels having a light polarizing filter element.

29. A two-dimensional solid state image sensor array for incorporation into an optical reader device, said image sensor array comprising:

(a) a first subset of pixels formed in a checkerboard pattern, wherein corners of pixels of said first subset of pixels form voids, and wherein voids of a combination of four pixels of said pixels of said first subset in said checkerboard pattern define open areas, said first subset of pixels in said checkerboard pattern being monochrome pixels that are devoid of wavelength selective filter elements;

(b) a second subset of pixels formed in said open areas defined by said first subset of pixels such that each pixel of said second subset of pixels is bordered by four pixels of said first subset of pixels, said pixels of said second subset being color sensitive pixels that include wavelength selective filter elements.

30. The two-dimensional solid state image sensor array of claim 29, wherein said wavelength selective filter elements of said color sensitive pixels are selected from the group consisting of cyan filters and magenta filters.

31. The two-dimensional solid state image sensor array of claim 29, wherein said color sensitive pixels are uniformly or substantially uniformly distributed throughout said image sensor array at spaced apart pixel positions.

32. The two-dimensional solid state image sensor array of claim 29, wherein said two-dimensional image sensor array is constructed so that pixels of said array are independently addressable, such that said monochrome pixels of said first set of pixels are addressable from said color sensitive pixels of said second set.

33. The two-dimensional solid state image sensor array of claim 29, wherein a first subset of pixels of said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array have a higher transistor count than a second subset of pixels of said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array.

34. The two-dimensional solid state image sensor array of claim 29, wherein said color sensitive pixels of said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array have a lower transistor count than said monochrome pixels of said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array.

35. A bar code reading device comprising:

(a) an imaging assembly including an imaging lens and a solid state image sensor array having a plurality of pixels, said imaging lens focusing an image of a bar code symbol onto said solid state image sensor array, said solid state image sensor array including a first set of reset control lines for controlling a first subset of said plurality of pixels and a second subset of reset control lines for use in resetting a second set of said plurality of pixels, wherein said bar code reading device operates in a mode in which said bar code reading device resets said first subset of pixels without resetting said second subset of pixels;

(b) a hand held housing supporting said imaging assembly;

(c) wherein said bar code reading device is configured so that in response to receipt of a trigger signal by said bar code reading device, said bar code reading device obtains a decode frame of image data and transfers said decode frame to an indicia decode circuit.

36. The bar code reading device of claim 35, wherein said bar code reading device operates in a mode in which said bar code reading device exposes selectively addressed pixels of said second subset of pixels for read out of said second subset of pixels while resetting said first subset of pixels.

37. The bar code reading device of claim 35, wherein said solid state image sensor array includes a plurality of color sensitive pixels having wavelength selective filter elements and a plurality of monochrome pixels without wavelength selective filter elements.

38. The bar code reading device of claim 35, wherein said solid state image sensor array includes a plurality of light polarizing pixels, each of said light polarizing pixels having a light polarizing filter element.

39. A portable optical reader having a plurality of user-selectable operating modes including an indicia decode mode of operation and a picture taking mode of operation, said portable optical reader comprising:

(a) an imaging assembly having a two-dimensional solid state image sensor array and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array, said solid state two-dimensional image sensor array having a plurality of pixels, said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array being constructed such that a first subset of said plurality of pixels have a first transistor count, and a second subset of said plurality of pixels have a second transistor count, and wherein said first transistor count is different from said second transistor count;

(b) an illumination assembly including at least one light source projecting light outwardly from said optical reader, said illumination assembly being operational to project at least one of an illumination pattern and an aiming pattern onto a substrate;

(c) a hand held housing encapsulating and supporting said solid state image sensor;

(d) an operator interface enabling selection by an operator between an indicia decode mode of operation and a picture taking mode of operation;

(e) wherein said optical reader, when operating in said decode mode, controls said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array to obtain a frame of image data and automatically transfers said frame of image data to an indicia decode circuit;

(f) wherein said optical reader, when operating in said picture taking mode, controls said solid state two-dimensional image sensor array to obtain a visual display color frame of image data, and automatically outputs said frame of image data to an output destination selected from the group consisting of a display device a memory address location or a spaced apart device.

40. The portable optical reader of claim 39, wherein said pixels of said second subset of pixels having said smaller transistor count are color sensitive pixels including wavelength selective color filters.

41. The portable optical reader of claim 39, wherein said pixels of said second subset of pixels having said smaller transistor count are color sensitive pixels including wavelength selective color filters, said wavelength selective filters being selected from the group consisting of cyan filters and magenta filters.

42. A multimode portable optical reader having an indicia decode mode of operation and a picture taking mode of operation, said portable optical reader comprising:

(a) an imaging assembly having a two-dimensional solid state image sensor array and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array, said solid state two-dimensional image sensor array having a plurality of pixels, said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array being constructed such that a first subset of said plurality of pixels consume a first larger surface area, and a second subset of said plurality of pixels consume a second smaller surface area that is smaller relative a surface area consumed by said pixels of said first subset of pixels;

(b) an illumination assembly including at least one light source projecting light outwardly from said optical reader, said illumination assembly being operational to project at least one of an illumination pattern and an aiming pattern onto a substrate;

(c) a hand held housing encapsulating and supporting said solid state image sensor;

(d) an operator interface enabling selection by an operator between an indicia decode mode of operation and a picture taking mode of operation;

(e) wherein said optical reader, when said indicia decode mode of operation is selected and a trigger signal is received, controls said two-dimensional solid state image sensor array to capture a frame of image data and automatically transfers said frame of image data to an indicia decode circuit;

(f) wherein said optical reader, when said picture taking mode is selected and a trigger signal is received, controls said solid state two-dimensional image sensor array to capture a frame of image data, and automatically outputs said frame of image data.

43. The portable optical reader of claim 42, wherein said pixels of said second subset of pixels having said smaller surface area are color sensitive pixels including wavelength selective color filters.

44. The portable optical reader of claim 42, wherein said pixels of said second subset of pixels having said smaller surface area are color sensitive pixels including wavelength selective color filters, said wavelength selective filters being selected from the group consisting of cyan filters and magenta filters.

45. A portable bar code reading device comprising:

(a) a hand held housing;

(b) a solid state area image sensor array including a first subset of selectively addressable monochrome pixels being devoid of wavelength selective filter elements and a second subset of color sensitive pixels including wavelength selective filter elements, the monochrome pixels being formed in a monochrome zone of pixels, wherein the monochrome pixels of the monochrome zone of pixels define a line of pixels;

(c) an imaging lens focusing an image onto said solid state image sensor array;

(d) a manual trigger;

(e) a control circuit communicatively coupled to said solid state image sensor array and said manual trigger;

(f) wherein said control circuit is configured to operate in a mode of operation in which said control circuit selectively reads out a decode frame of image data from said monochrome zone of pixels and automatically transfers said decode frame of image data to a bar code decoding indicia decode circuit.

46. The portable bar code reading device of claim 45 wherein said line of pixels comprises pixels of a horizontal row of pixels.

47. The portable bar code reading device of claim 45, wherein said line of pixels comprise pixels from at least one of a top or bottom of said image sensor array.

48. The portable bar code reading device of claim 45, wherein said line of pixels comprise pixels from at least one row of pixels at or approximately at a center of said image sensor array.

49-56. -56. (canceled)