Method and apparatus employing imaging and/or scanning for reading machine-readable symbols such as barcode symbols
First Claim
1. A processor-readable medium storing instructions for causing a machine-readable symbol reader to read machine-readable symbols, by:
- determining if a level of light received from a target exceeds an intensity threshold;
attempting to process information captured by an image sensor array without the aid of a scanning beam, if the level of light received from the target exceeds the intensity threshold;
attempting to process information captured by a light sensitive element with the aid of the scanning beam, if the level of light received from the target does not exceed the intensity threshold; and
attempting to process information captured by a portion of the image sensor array with the aid of the scanning beam, if the attempt to process information captured by a light sensitive element with the aid of the scanning beam is unsuccessful.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A machine-readable symbol reader is operable to read one and two-dimensional machine-readable symbols such as barcode or matrix code symbols. The reader includes an imaging subsystem and a scanning subsystem. The reader initially attempts to acquire a symbol operating as a conventional imager. If unsuccessful, the reader then attempts to acquire a symbol operating as operating as a conventional scanner. If unsuccessful, the reader then employs an image sensor array of the imaging subsystem along with a scanning beam produced by the scanning subsystem, operating as a neither a conventional imager nor a conventional scanner.
40 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A processor-readable medium storing instructions for causing a machine-readable symbol reader to read machine-readable symbols, by:
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determining if a level of light received from a target exceeds an intensity threshold;
attempting to process information captured by an image sensor array without the aid of a scanning beam, if the level of light received from the target exceeds the intensity threshold;
attempting to process information captured by a light sensitive element with the aid of the scanning beam, if the level of light received from the target does not exceed the intensity threshold; and
attempting to process information captured by a portion of the image sensor array with the aid of the scanning beam, if the attempt to process information captured by a light sensitive element with the aid of the scanning beam is unsuccessful. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating a machine-readable symbol reader to read machine-readable symbols, the machine-readable symbol reader comprising an image sensor array and a scanner mechanism, the method comprising:
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emitting a scanning beam of light from the machine-readable symbol reader toward a target;
receiving light including at least a portion of the scanning beam of light returned from the target; and
attempting to decode information modulated in the received light including the scanning beam of light returned from the target. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A machine-readable symbol reader operable to read machine-readable symbols, the machine-readable symbol reader comprising:
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an image sensor array;
a scanning subsystem operable to emit a scanning beam of light from the machine-readable symbol reader;
a photodetector;
at least one processor coupled to receive information captured by the image sensor array and the photodetector and coupled to control the scanning subsystem, the at least one processor operable to, at various times, determine if a level of light received from a target exceeds an intensity threshold;
attempt to process information captured by the image sensor array without the aid of the scanning subsystem, if the level of light received from the target exceeds the intensity threshold;
attempt to process information captured by a light sensitive element with the aid of the scanning subsystem, if the level of light received from the target does not exceed the intensity threshold; and
attempt to process information captured by a portion of the image sensor array with the aid of the scanning subsystem, if the attempt to process information captured by the light sensitive element with the aid of the scanning subsystem is unsuccessful. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification