INDICIA READING TERMINAL PROCESSING PLURALITY OF FRAMES OF IMAGE DATA RESPONSIVELY TO TRIGGER SIGNAL ACTIVATION

• US 20090026267A1
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gannon, Colleen P., Feng, Chen, Havens, William H., Bremer, Edward C., Wang, Ynjiun P., Li, Jianhua, Meier, Timothy P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,794,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1096 the scanner having more than one scanning window, e.g. two substantially orthogonally placed scanning windows for integration into a check-out counter of a super-market
• 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: G06K 7/1465 using several successive scans of the optical code
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00331 with an apparatus performing optical character recognition character recognition G06V30/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00334 with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00

Abstract

There is described a decodable indicia reading terminal which in one embodiment can capture and process a certain (e.g., a first) and a subsequent (e.g., a second) frame of image data, wherein the certain and the subsequent frames have different imaging attributes. In one embodiment the attributes between certain and subsequent frames are differentiated in that the certain frame represents light incident on pixels of a first image sensor and the subsequent frame of image data represents light incident on pixels of a second image sensor spaced apart from the first image sensor. Additionally, or in the alternative, the attributes between certain and subsequent frames can be differentiated in that the first frame represents light incident on an image sensor under a first illumination profile and the subsequent frame represents light incident on pixels of an image sensor under a second illumination profile. In one embodiment imaging attributes of a frame subject to decoding are maintained constant for each frame subject to processing during a time that a trigger signal remains active. In one embodiment the certain and subsequent frames can be processed to yield partial decoding results and the partial decoding results can be combined to form a complete decoding result.

Claims

1. A hand held indicia reading terminal for reading a decodable indicia disposed on a substrate, said hand held indicia reading terminal comprising:

an imaging assembly comprising an image sensor generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said image sensor, the imaging assembly having a field of view defined on said substrate when an imaging axis of said imaging assembly is directed toward said substrate;

a working memory receiving image data corresponding to said image signals;

a first illumination assembly having a first light source bank directing light toward said field of view;

a second illumination assembly having a second light source bank directing light toward said field of view;

wherein said terminal is adapted so that when a trigger signal is active said terminal receives into said working memory a certain and a subsequent frame of image data, wherein each of the certain and subsequent frames has a corresponding exposure period, wherein said certain frame of image data has a first illumination profile and said subsequent frame of image data has a second illumination profile, the first illumination profile being different than said second illumination profile, the first illumination profile being characterized by said first light source bank being ON and said second light source bank being OFF during said exposure period corresponding to said certain frame, said second illumination profile being characterized by said first light source bank being OFF and said second light source bank being ON during said exposure period corresponding to said subsequent frame of image data;

wherein said terminal is adapted so that said terminal can process said certain frame of image data to determine a first set of code words, process said subsequent frame of image data to determine said second set of code words and combine said first and second set of code words.

2. A hand held indicia reading terminal for reading a decodable indicia disposed on a substrate, said hand held indicia reading terminal comprising:

an imaging assembly comprising an image sensor generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said image sensor, the imaging assembly having a field of view defined on said substrate when an imaging axis of said imaging assembly is directed toward said substrate;

a working memory receiving image data corresponding to said image signals;

a first illumination assembly having a first light source bank directing light toward said field of view;

a second illumination assembly having a second light source bank directing light toward said field of view;

a trigger button;

wherein said terminal is adapted so that when a trigger signal is active said terminal operates in a first mode until a timeout period has expired and then switches to a second mode, wherein said terminal is adapted so that said timeout period is satisfied conditionally on the condition that said terminal does not determine a decoded message corresponding to said decodable indicia prior to said timeout period;

wherein said terminal in said first mode receives into said working memory for decoding processing a plurality of frames, each frame subject to decoding processing in said first mode having a common illumination profile;

wherein said terminal in said second mode varies an illumination profile of received frames received for decoding processing in such manner that in said second mode said terminal receives into a said working memory a certain and a subsequent frame of image data, wherein each of the certain and subsequent frames has a corresponding exposure period, wherein said certain frame of image data has a first illumination profile and said subsequent frame of image data has a second illumination profile, the first illumination profile being different than said second illumination profile, the first illumination profile being characterized by said first light source bank being ON and said second light source bank being OFF during said exposure period corresponding to said certain frame, said second illumination profile being characterized by said first light source bank being OFF and said second light source bank being ON during said exposure period corresponding to said subsequent frame of image data;

wherein said terminal is adapted to subject to decoding processing each of said certain and subsequent frames of image data received in said second mode.

3. A hand held indicia reading terminal for reading a decodable indicia disposed on a substrate, said hand held indicia reading terminal comprising:

a first imaging assembly comprising a first image sensor generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said first image sensor, the imaging assembly having a first field of view defined on said substrate when an imaging axis of said first imaging assembly is directed toward said substrate;

a second imaging assembly comprising a second image sensor generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said second image sensor, the imaging assembly having second field of view defined on said substrate overlapping said first field of view when an imaging axis of said second imaging assembly is directed toward said substrate;

a working memory, wherein said terminal is adapted so that said terminal can receive image data corresponding to image signals generated either by said first image sensor or said second image sensor into said working memory;

a first illumination assembly having a first light source bank directing light toward said first and second fields of view;

a second illumination assembly having a second light source bank directing light toward said first and second fields of view;

wherein said terminal is adapted so that when a trigger signal is active said terminal receives into a said working memory for decoding processing a certain and a subsequent frame of image data, wherein each of the certain and subsequent frames has a corresponding exposure period, wherein said certain frame of image data has a first set of imaging attributes and said subsequent frame of image data has a second set of imaging attributes;

wherein said first set of imaging attributes are characterized by the following;

said first light source bank is OFF during said exposure period corresponding to said certain frame;

said second light source bank is ON during said exposure period corresponding to said certain frame, and said certain frame of image data comprises image data corresponding to image signals generated by said first image sensor; and

wherein said second set of imaging attributes are characterized by the following;

said first light source bank is ON during said exposure period corresponding to said subsequent frame;

said second light source bank is OFF during said exposure period corresponding to said subsequent frame, and said subsequent frame of image data comprises image data corresponding to image signals generated by said second image sensor.

4. The hand held indicia reading terminal of claim 3 wherein said first imaging assembly and said second imaging assembly have different fixed best focus distances.

5. The hand held indicia reading terminal of claim 3, wherein one of said first and second image sensors is a linear monochrome image sensor and a remaining of said first and second image sensors is a two dimensional color image sensor.

6. A hand held indicia reading terminal for reading a decodable indicia disposed on a substrate, said hand held indicia reading terminal comprising:

a first imaging assembly comprising a first image sensor generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said first image sensor, the imaging assembly having a first field of view defined on said substrate when an imaging axis of said imaging assembly is directed toward said substrate;

a second imaging assembly comprising a second image sensor generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said second image sensor, the imaging assembly having second field of view defined on said substrate overlapping said first field of view when an imaging axis of said imaging assembly is directed toward said substrate;

a working memory, wherein said terminal is adapted so that said terminal can receive image data corresponding to image signals generated either by said first image sensor or said second image sensor into said working memory;

a first illumination assembly having a first light source bank directing light toward said first and second fields of view;

a second illumination assembly having a second light source bank directing light toward said first and second fields of view;

wherein said terminal is adapted so that when a trigger signal is active said terminal operates in a first mode until a timeout period has expired and then switches to a second mode, wherein said terminal is adapted so that said timeout period is satisfied conditionally on the condition that said terminal does not determine a decoded message corresponding to said decodable indicia prior to said timeout period;

wherein said terminal in said first mode receives a plurality of frames of image data for decoding processing, each of said plurality of frames of image data received in said first mode having an illumination profile characterized by said first and second light source banks being ON during each exposure period corresponding to one of said plurality of frames;

wherein said terminal in said second mode varies an illumination profile of received frames received for decoding processing in such manner that in said second mode said terminal receives into a said working memory a certain and a subsequent frame of image data, wherein each of the certain and subsequent frames has a corresponding exposure period, wherein said certain frame of image data has a first illumination profile and said subsequent frame of image data has a second illumination profile, the first illumination profile being different than said second illumination profile, the first illumination profile being characterized by said first light source bank being ON and said second light source bank being OFF during said exposure period corresponding to said certain frame, said second illumination profile being characterized by said first light source bank being OFF and said second light source bank being ON during said exposure period corresponding to said subsequent frame of image data.

7. The hand held indicia reading terminal of claim 6, wherein one of said first and second image sensors is a linear image sensor and a remaining of said first and second image sensors is a two dimensional image sensor.

8. A hand held indicia reading terminal for reading a decodable indicia disposed on a substrate, said hand held indicia reading terminal comprising:

a first imaging assembly comprising a first image sensor generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said first image sensor, the imaging assembly having a first field of view defined on said substrate when an imaging axis of said imaging assembly is directed toward said substrate;

a second imaging assembly comprising a second image sensor generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said second image sensor, the imaging assembly having second field of view defined on said substrate overlapping said first field of view when an imaging axis of said imaging assembly is directed toward said substrate;

a working memory, wherein said terminal is adapted so that said terminal can receive image data corresponding to image signals generated either by said first image sensor or said second image sensor into said working memory;

a first illumination assembly having a first light source bank directing light toward said first and second fields of view;

a second illumination assembly having a second light source bank directing light toward said first and second fields of view;

wherein said terminal is adapted so that when a trigger signal is active said terminal operates in a first mode until a timeout period has expired and then switches to a second mode, wherein said terminal is adapted so that said timeout period is satisfied conditionally on the condition that said terminal does not determine a decoded message corresponding to said decodable indicia prior to said timeout period;

wherein said terminal in said first mode receives a plurality of frames of image data for decoding processing, each of said plurality of frames of image data received in said first mode representing light incident on said first image sensor;

wherein said terminal in said second mode varies a source of received frames received for decoding processing in such manner that in said second mode said terminal receives into a said working memory for decoding processing a certain and a subsequent frame of image data, wherein said certain frame represents light incident on said first image sensor, and wherein said subsequent frame represents light incident on said second image sensor.

9. The hand held indicia reading terminal of claim 8, wherein one of said first and second image sensors is a linear monochrome image sensor and a remaining of said first and second image sensors is a two dimensional color image sensor.

10. A hand held indicia reading terminal for reading a decodable indicia disposed on a substrate, said hand held indicia reading terminal comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a first imaging assembly comprising a first image sensor generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said first image sensor, the imaging assembly having a first field of view defined on said substrate when an imaging axis of said imaging assembly is directed toward said substrate, said first image sensor being provided by a first integrated circuit chip, said first integrated circuit chip being mounted to said printed circuit board;

a support assembly for carrying said imaging lens of said first imaging assembly, said imaging lens of said first imaging assembly having a plurality of lens elements said support assembly carrying each of said plurality of lens element;

a second imaging assembly comprising a second image sensor generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said second image sensor, the imaging assembly having second field of view defined on said substrate overlapping said first field of view when an imaging axis of said imaging assembly is directed toward said substrate, said second image sensor being provided by a second integrated circuit chip, said second integrated circuit chip being mounted to said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board being a single printed circuit board commonly carrying said first integrated circuit chip and said second integrated circuit chip;

wherein said support assembly carrying said imaging lens of said first imaging assembly further carries said imaging lens of said second imaging assembly, said imaging lens of said second imaging assembly having a plurality lens elements, said support assembly being a one piece support assembly commonly supporting a first set of lens elements forming a lens assembly of said first imaging assembly and a second set of lens elements forming a lens assembly of said second imaging assembly;

wherein said terminal is adapted so that when a trigger signal is active said terminal receives into said working memory for decoding processing a certain and a subsequent frame of image data, the certain frame of image data representing light incident on said first image sensor, the subsequent frame of image data representing light incident on said second image sensor; and

wherein said terminal is adapted so that said terminal can process said certain frame of image data to determine a first set of code words, process said subsequent frame of image data to determine said second set of code words and combine said first and second set of code words.

11. A hand held indicia reading terminal for reading a decodable indicia disposed on a substrate, said hand held indicia reading terminal comprising:

a first imaging assembly comprising a first image sensor generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said first image sensor, the imaging assembly having a first field of view defined on said substrate;

a second imaging assembly comprising a second image sensor generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said second image sensor, the imaging assembly having a second field of view defined on said substrate overlapping said first field of view when an imaging axis of said imaging assembly is directed toward said substrate;

wherein said terminal is adapted so that when a trigger signal is active said terminal receives into said working memory for decoding processing a certain and a subsequent frame of image data, the certain frame of image data representing light incident on said first image sensor, the subsequent frame of image data representing light incident on said second image sensor; and

wherein said terminal is adapted so that said terminal can process said certain frame of image data to determine a first set of code words, process said subsequent frame of image data to determine said second set of code words and combine said first and second set of code words.

12. The hand held indicia reading terminal of claim 11, wherein said first imaging assembly and said second imaging assembly have different fixed best focus distances.

13. A hand held indicia reading terminal for reading a decodable indicia disposed on a substrate, said hand held indicia reading terminal comprising:

a first imaging assembly comprising a first image sensor having a plurality of pixels and generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said first image sensor, the imaging assembly having a first field of view defined on said substrate, wherein said first image sensor is a monochrome image sensor;

a second imaging assembly comprising a second image sensor having a plurality of pixels generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said second image sensor, the imaging assembly having second field of view defined on said substrate overlapping said first field of view when an imaging axis of said imaging assembly is directed toward said substrate, wherein said second image sensor is a color image sensor having color filter elements formed over pixels of said plurality of pixels;

a color processing module for processing an input raw color frame of image data into a monochrome frame of image data;

wherein said terminal is adapted so that when a trigger signal is active said terminal receives into said working memory for decoding processing a certain and a subsequent frame of image data, the certain frame of image data representing light incident on said first image sensor, the subsequent frame of image data representing light incident on said second image sensor; and

wherein said terminal is adapted so that said terminal selectively avoids activating said color processing module when said certain frame of image data is received into said working memory and selectively activates said color processing module when said subsequent frame of image data is received into said working memory.

14. The hand held indicia reading terminal of claim 13, wherein one of said first and second image sensors is a monochrome image sensor and a remaining of said first and second image sensors is a color image sensor.

15. A hand held indicia reading terminal for reading a decodable indicia disposed on a substrate, said hand held indicia reading terminal comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a first imaging assembly comprising a first image sensor generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said first image sensor, the imaging assembly having a first field of view defined on said substrate when an imaging axis of said imaging assembly is directed toward said substrate, said first image sensor being provided by a first integrated circuit chip, said first integrated circuit chip being mounted to said printed circuit board;

a support assembly for carrying said imaging lens of said first imaging assembly, said imaging lens of said first imaging assembly having a plurality of lens elements said support assembly carrying each of said plurality of lens element;

a second imaging assembly comprising a second image sensor generating image signals and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said second image sensor, the imaging assembly having second field of view defined on said substrate overlapping said first field of view when an imaging axis of said imaging assembly is directed toward said substrate, said second image sensor being provided by a second integrated circuit chip, said second integrated circuit chip being mounted to said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board being a single printed circuit board commonly carrying said first integrated circuit chip and said second integrated circuit chip;

wherein said support assembly carrying said imaging lens of said first imaging assembly further carries said imaging lens of said second imaging assembly, said imaging lens of said second imaging assembly having a plurality of lens elements, said support assembly being a one piece support assembly commonly supporting a first set of lens elements forming a lens assembly of said first imaging assembly and a second set of lens elements forming a lens assembly of said second imaging assembly;

wherein said terminal is adapted so that when a trigger signal is active said terminal receives into a working memory for decoding processing a certain and a subsequent frame of image data, the certain frame of image data representing light incident on said first image sensor, the subsequent frame of image data representing light incident on said second image sensor;

a direct memory access unit (DMA unit), wherein said terminal is adapted so that image data representing light incident on said first image sensor is routed through said DMA unit for receipt of said certain frame of image data into said working memory, the terminal further being adapted so that image data representing light incident on said second image sensor is routed through said DMA unit for receipt of said subsequent frame of image data.

16. An indicia reading terminal comprising:

an imaging module having one or more image sensors, a printed circuit board and at least one imaging lens assembly, wherein circuitry of said imaging module outputs digitized multi-bit image data;

an image capture and processing circuit having a processor and an addressable memory addressable by said processor, the memory for retaining frames of image data corresponding to image signals generated by said imaging module;

a parallel to serial converter disposed on said imaging module and receiving said digitized multi-bit image data;

wherein said image capture and processing circuit includes a serial to parallel converter, the terminal further including a connector facilitating communication between said parallel to serial and said serial to parallel converter, the parallel to serial converter outputting a complementary differential pair signal, the serial to parallel converter recovering said multi-bit image data being input to said parallel to serial converter and outputting data for retaining in said memory; and

a hand held housing incorporating both of said imaging module and said image capture and processing circuit.

17. The terminal of claim 16, wherein said connector is a complementary differential-pair connector.

18. The terminal of claim 16, wherein said connector is provided by a set of twisted-pair signal lines.

19. The terminal of claim 16, wherein said image capture and processing circuit is disposed on a motherboard spaced apart from said imaging module.

20. The terminal of claim 16, wherein said parallel to serial converter is integrated into an integrated circuit forming an image sensor of said imaging module.

21. An image capture and processing circuit for use in an indicia reading terminal, the image capture and processing circuit comprising:

a memory and a processor;

the memory for retaining frames of image data that can be processed by said processor;

the image capture and processing circuit being adapted to receive either of a first imaging module or a second imaging module;

first resources stored in said memory for supporting operation of said image capture and processing circuit when said first imaging module is connected to said image capture and processing circuit;

second resources stored in said memory for supporting operation of said image capture and processing circuit when said second imaging module is connected to said image capture and processing circuit;

said terminal being adapted so that either of said first resources and said second resources can be activated; and

wherein said first imaging module is a first type of a plural image sensor imaging module and wherein said second imaging module is second type of a plural image sensor imaging module, and wherein each of said first resources and second resources when active adapt said image capture and processing circuit to support operation of a plural image sensor imaging module.

22. The circuit of claim 21, wherein said terminal is adapted so that resources corresponding to a particular imaging module can be activated responsively to an imaging module being connected thereto.

23. An imaging module comprising:

a first image sensor;

a second image sensor;

a printed circuit board for carrying at least one of said first and second image sensor;

optics for focusing images onto said first image sensor and said second image sensor;

a connector port for outputting image data, the connector port having a plurality of video contacts;

wherein said imaging module is adapted so that said first image sensor, said second image sensor, and said connector port are held in certain positions relative to one another; and

wherein said imaging module is adapted so that said imaging module can output through certain contacts of said plurality of video contacts image data corresponding to image signals generated by either one of said first image sensor or said second image sensor so that a number of said plurality of video contacts is less than a sum of a bit resolution of image data corresponding to image signals generated by said first image sensor and a bit resolution of image data corresponding to image signals generated by said second image sensor.

24. The imaging module of claim 23, wherein said imaging module is adapted to send identifying information of said module to an external circuit when connected to said external circuit.

25. A kit for use in manufacturing indicia reading terminals, said kit comprising:

an image capture and processing circuit including a memory for retaining frames of image data and a processor that can address said memory for processing of said frames;

a first imaging module having first and second image sensors and optics for focusing images onto said first and second image sensors, the first imaging module having a plurality of video contacts, said first imaging module having a multiplexer receiving image data representing light incident on said first and second image sensors of said first imaging module and outputting image data for transmission through said plurality of video contacts of said first imaging module;

a second imaging module having a single image sensor and optics for focusing images onto said single image sensor, the second imaging module also having a plurality of video data contacts;

wherein said image capture and processing circuit is adapted to receive one of said first imaging module and said second imaging module at a given time; and

wherein said first imaging module is adapted so that said first imaging module can output through certain contacts of said plurality of video contacts of said first imaging module image data corresponding to image signals generated by either one of said first image sensor and said second image sensor of said first imaging module.

26. The kit of claim 25, wherein a number of said plurality of video contacts of said first imaging module is equal to a number of said plurality of video contacts of said second image sensor.

27. An imaging module for use in decoding a decodable indicia disposed on a substrate, said imaging module comprising:

a printed circuit board commonly carrying a first image sensor and a second image sensor;

a first imaging lens assembly for focusing images onto said first image sensor;

a second imaging lens assembly for focusing images onto said second image sensor;

a single piece support assembly for supporting components of both said first imaging lens assembly and said second imaging lens assembly, the single piece support assembly being supported on said circuit board;

wherein said first image sensor and said first imaging lens assembly define a first imaging assembly having a first field of view;

wherein said second image sensor and said second imaging lens assembly define a second imaging assembly having a second field of view;

wherein said imaging module is adapted so that said first field of view and said second field of view can be defined in at least partially overlapping relation on said substrate;

wherein said imaging module includes a first light source bank, the imaging module being adapted so that light emitted by said first light source bank is projected into positions on said substrate within each of said first and second fields of view; and

wherein said imaging module includes a second light source bank, the imaging module being adapted so that light emitted by said second light source bank is projected into positions on said substrate within each of said first and second fields of view.

28. The imaging module of claim 27 wherein each of said first light source bank and said second light source bank are mounted on said circuit board carrying said first and second image sensor.