IMAGING DUAL WINDOW SCANNER WITH PRESENTATION SCANNING

• US 20090020612A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Drzymala, Mark, Barkan, Edward D.
• Application Number:
  US12/241,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20090020612A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.320
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided comprising a dual window scanner (10, 200, 400) for imaging a target bar code (30) on a target object (32). The dual window scanner comprises a housing (20) supporting two transparent windows (V, H) and defining an interior region (18). The dual window scanner further comprises an imaging system including a plurality of cameras (C1-C6) wherein each camera is positioned within the housing interior region (18) and defines a field-of-view which is different than a field-of-view of each other camera of the plurality of cameras, each camera includes a sensor array (40). Each camera in the plurality of cameras located within the housing for directing the respective field-of-views such that the field-of-views substantially fill the surface of the two transparent windows.

Claims

1. A dual window scanner for imaging a target bar code on a target object, the dual window scanner comprising:

a housing supporting two transparent windows and defining an interior region, a target object being presented in relation to the housing for imaging a target bar code;

an imaging system including a plurality of cameras wherein each camera is positioned within the housing interior region and defines a field-of-view which is different than a field-of-view of each other camera of the plurality of cameras, each camera including a sensor array; and

each camera in said plurality of cameras located within in the hosing for directing the respective field-of-views that the field-of-views substantially fill the surface of said two transparent windows.

2. The dual window scanner of claim 1 wherein said two transparent windows includes a least one substantially vertically oriented window and one substantially horizontally oriented window, the field of views being projected beyond said substantially vertical and horizontal windows in directions for scanning various sides of a package as it is swiped through a scan field formed by the fields-of-view.

3. The dual window scanner of claim 1 wherein the plurality of cameras are adapted to a single printed circuit board located within said housing.

4. The dual window scanner of claim 3 wherein each camera of said plurality of cameras and their associated optics are oriented in an upward direction away from said printed circuit board with their respective field-of-view oriented toward at least one mirror.

5. The dual window scanner of claim 1 further comprising a scale assembly for measuring the weight of an object presented to the dual window scanner, the scale assembly being located between a horizontal platter and a lower housing.

6. A method of operating dual window scanner for imaging a target bar code comprising:

locating a plurality of imaging based cameras within a housing of a dual window scanner each scanner having a respective field-of-view;

extending the field-of-view of each camera beyond at least one window located in the housing;

facilitating the extending of the field-of-views by at least one mirror associated to each camera; and

forming scan patterns on the surface of the at least one window located in the housing by the field-of-views such that the scan patterns cover substantially the entire surface of the window or windows.

7. The bar code reader method of claim 6 further comprising locating at least one window in a substantially horizontal position in said housing and locating at least one window in a substantially vertical position in said housing.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising coupling the plurality of imaging based cameras to a single printed circuit board located within said housing.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising orienting each of said cameras of said plurality of cameras and their associated optics in an upward direction away from said printed circuit board with their respective field-of-view oriented toward said at least one mirror

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing a scale assembly for measuring the weight of an object presented to the dual window scanner and locating the scale assembly between a horizontal platter and a lower housing.

11. A dual window scanner for imaging a target bar code on a target object, the dual window scanner comprising:

housing means supporting two transparent windows and defining an interior region, a target object being presented in relation to the housing means for imaging a target bar code;

imaging means including a plurality of camera assembly means wherein each camera assembly means is positioned within the housing means interior region and defines a field-of-view which is different than a field-of-view of each other camera assembly means of the plurality of camera assembly means,

sensing means for each camera assembly means including a sensor array and an imaging lens assembly for focusing the field-of-view of the camera assembly means onto the sensor array; and

reflective means associated with each camera assembly means for directing the respective field-of-views such that the field-of-views of some of the cameras in the plurality of cameras substantially fill the surface of one of said transparent windows and the field-of-views of the remaining cameras in the plurality of cameras substantially fill the surface of the other of said transparent windows.

12. A dual window scanner for imaging a target bar code on a target object, the dual window scanner comprising:

a housing comprising a substantially vertical window supported in an upper housing portion and a substantially horizontal window supported in a lower housing portion, the upper and lower housing portions defining an interior region of the dual window scanner;

an imaging system including a plurality of cameras positioned on a single printed circuit board within the housing interior region, each camera is positioned within the housing interior region and defines a field-of-view which is different than a field-of-view of each other camera of the plurality of cameras, each camera including a sensor array;

at least one mirror associated with at least one camera in said plurality of cameras; and

the field-of-views forming an imaging pattern substantially filling the surface of said horizontal and vertical windows, the field-of-views being projected beyond said substantially vertical and horizontal windows in directions for scanning various sides of a package as it is swiped through a scan field formed by the fields-of-view.

13. The dual window scanner of claim 12 wherein each camera of said plurality of cameras and their associated optics are oriented in an upward direction away from said printed circuit board with their respective field-of-view oriented toward said at least one mirror.

14. The dual window scanner of claim 12 further comprising a scale assembly for measuring the weight of an object presented to the deal window scanner, the scale assembly being located below a horizontal platter in said lower housing portion.

15. The dual window scanner of claim 12 wherein said plurality of cameras comprise three lower cameras, each lower camera having a field-of-view extending from said lower window and three upper cameras having a field-of-view extending from said upper window.

16. The dual window scanner of claim 13 wherein said plurality of cameras comprise three lower cameras, each lower camera having a field-of-view extending from said lower window and three upper cameras having a field-of-view extending from said upper window.

17. The dual window scanner of claim 15 wherein said three lower cameras comprises two outwardly located lower cameras and one relatively centrally located lower camera about said outwardly located lower cameras on said printed circuit board, and said three upper cameras comprises two outwardly located upper cameras and one relatively centrally located upper camera about said outwardly located upper cameras on said printed board.

18. The dual window scanner of claim 17 wherein said at least one mirror associated with at least one camera comprises three mirrors for each of said outwardly located outer lower and upper cameras.

19. The dual window scanner of claim 17 wherein said at least one mirror associated with at least one camera comprises two mirrors or said centrally located lower camera.

20. The dual window scanner of claim 17 wherein said imaging patter is a composite of three individual imaging patters formed on said vertical window formed by said three upper cameras and three individual imaging patterns formed on said horizontal window by said three lower cameras.