MULTIPURPOSE OPTICAL READER

• US 20080296393A1
• Filed: 08/12/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brian L. Jovanovski, Edward C. Bremer, Timothy P. Meier, William H. Havens, Ynjiun P. Wang
• Original Assignee: Brian L. Jovanovski, Edward C. Bremer, Timothy P. Meier, William H. Havens, Ynjiun P. Wang
• Inventors: Havens, William H., Bremer, Edward C., Wang, Ynjiun P., Meier, Timothy P., Jovanovski, Brian L.
• Application Number:
  US12/190,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20080296393A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning

Abstract

An optical reading device for collecting and processing symbology data comprising: an image sensor array of pixels for converting light reflected from a target containing a machine readable indicia into output signals representative thereof, the image sensor being operated in a global shutter mode wherein all or substantially all of the pixels in the array are exposed simultaneously during an exposure time; receive optics for directing light from the target to the image sensor array, the optics having a receive optics optical axis; a processor for decoding the output signals; an illumination source for generating illumination light illuminating the target and illumination optics for directing the illumination light onto the target; a housing encapsulating the image sensor array, receive optics and illumination source; wherein the processor decodes in a first mode to continuously process available output signals automatically and a second mode to output signal in response to an activation event.

Claims

1. An optical reading device for collecting and processing symbology data comprising:

an image sensor array of pixels for converting light reflected from a target containing a machine readable indicia into output signals representative thereof, the image sensor being operated in a global shutter mode wherein all or substantially all of the pixels in the array are exposed simultaneously during an exposure time;

receive optics for directing light from the target to the image sensor array, the optics having a receive optics optical axis;

a processor for decoding the output signals;

an illumination source for generating illumination light illuminating the target and illumination optics for directing the illumination light onto the target;

a housing encapsulating the image sensor array, receive optics and illumination source;

wherein the processor decodes in a first mode to continuously process available output signals automatically and a second mode to output signal in response to an activation event.

2. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the exposure time is less than 1 ms.

3. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination source provides illumination of ≧

6.5 w/m² with an aperture one centimeter square on axis at about 5 inches from the front of the image reader.

4. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination source provides illumination of on the order of between 6.5 w/m² and 9 w/m² or more with an aperture one centimeter square on axis at about 5 inches from the front of the image reader.

5. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the processor is capable of decoding symbology on a target moving on the order of ≧

20 inches per second.

6. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an operator operated trigger associated with the optical reading device and wherein the second operating mode is enabled by the trigger.

7. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the image sensor array is a complementary metal oxide (CMOS) sensor array.

8. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the processor utilizes a time out limit for decoding, and the time out limit for the first mode of operation is longer than the time out limit for the second mode of operation.

9. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the processor switches between the first and second modes depending on the type of symbology detected.

10. An image reader in accordance with claim 1, wherein the processor stops attempting to decode a symbol after a predetermined time limit.

11. An image reader in accordance with claim 1, wherein the processor limits the types of symbols to decode when in the first mode.

12. An image reader in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination optics has an illumination optical axis and wherein the angular difference between the illumination optical axis and receive optical axis is greater than on the order of 4 degrees.

13. An image reader in accordance with claim 1, wherein the optical reading device is adapted for hand held operation.

14. An image reader in accordance with claim 1, wherein the optical reading device is portable.

15. An image reader in accordance with claim 1, wherein the optical reading device is battery powered.

31. An image reader in accordance with claim 1 wherein the illumination source comprises one or more light source(s) and a programmable switching power supply synchronized with the global shutter to pulse the light source(s) at high current and low duty cycle during exposure.

32. An image reader in accordance with claim 31 wherein the low duty cycle is variable.

16. A method of operating an optical reading device for collecting and processing indicia data comprising the steps of:

converting light reflected from a target into output signals representative thereof, utilizing an image sensor having an array of pixels, the image sensor being operated in a global shutter mode wherein all or substantially all of the pixels in the array are exposed simultaneously during an exposure time;

directing light from the target to the image sensor array utilizing receive optics, the optics having a receive optics optical axis;

decoding information contained in machine readable indicia within the target derived from the output signals utilizing a processor;

illuminating the target utilizing an illumination source and illumination optics for directing the illumination light onto the target;

encapsulating the image sensor array, receive optics and illumination source in a housing;

wherein the processor decodes in a first mode to continuously process available output signals automatically and a second mode to process available output signals in response to an activation event.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein the exposure time is less than 1 ms.

18. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 16, wherein the illumination source provides illumination of ≧

6.5 w/m² with an aperture one centimeter square on axis at about 5 inches from the front of the image reader.

19. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 16, wherein the illumination source provides illumination of on the order of between 6.5 w/m² and 9 w/m² or more with an aperture one centimeter square on axis at about 5 inches from the front of the image reader.

20. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 16, wherein the processor is capable of decoding symbology on a target moving on the order of ≧

20 inches per second.

21. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 16, further comprising an operator operated trigger associated with the optical reading device and wherein the second operating mode is enabled by the trigger.

22. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 16, wherein the image sensor array is a complementary metal oxide (CMOS) sensor array.

23. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 16, wherein the processor utilizes a time out limit for decoding, and the time out limit for the first mode of operation is longer than the time out limit for the second mode of operation.

24. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 16, wherein the processor switches between the first and second modes depending on the type of symbology detected.

25. An image reader in accordance with claim 16, wherein the processor stops attempting to decode a symbol after a predetermined time limit.

26. An image reader in accordance with claim 16, wherein the processor limits the types of symbols to decode when in the first mode.

27. An image reader in accordance with claim 16, wherein the illumination optics has an illumination optical axis and wherein the angular difference between the illumination optical axis and receive optical axis is greater than on the order of 4 degrees.

28. An image reader in accordance with claim 16, wherein the optical reading device is adapted for hand held operation.

29. An image reader in accordance with claim 16, wherein the optical reading device is portable.

30. An image reader in accordance with claim 16, wherein the optical reading device is battery powered.

33. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the illumination source comprises one or more light source(s) and the light sources are synchronized with the global shutter to pulse the light source(s) at high current and low duty cycle during exposure.

34. A method in accordance with claim 33 wherein the low duty cycle is variable.