Automatic Region of Interest Focusing for an Imaging-Based Bar Code Reader
First Claim
1. A variable focus imaging lens assembly for an imaging system of an imaging-based bar code reader for imaging and decoding a target bar code, the imaging system generating image frames of a field of view of the imaging system and including an imaging sensor array and a decoder for decoding an image of the target bar code, the variable focus imaging lens assembly comprising:
- a lens assembly focusing light from the field of view onto the sensor array, the lens assembly including a lens movable along a path of travel;
a drive mechanism driving the movable lens from a predetermined position along the path of travel;
an automatic focusing system;
energizing the drive mechanism and imaging system to move the movable lens from the predetermined position along its path of travel and generate a series of image frames;
analyzing one or more image frames of the series of image frames to determine a region of interest, the region of interest including an image of a target bar code;
analyzing the region of interest in subsequent image frames of the series of image frames to determine an amount of blurring in each image frame;
selecting an image frame from the subsequent image frames of the series of image frames having an amount of blurring less than a predetermined threshold; and
utilizing the decoder to decode the image of the target bar code in the selected image frame.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A variable focus imaging lens assembly for an imaging system of an imaging-based bar code reader for imaging and decoding a target bar code. The lens assembly includes an automatic focusing system for energizing a drive mechanism and imaging system to move a movable lens from the predetermined position along its path of travel and generate a series of image frames; analyzing one or more image frames of the series of image frames to determine a region of interest, the region of interest including an image of a target bar code; analyzing the region of interest in subsequent image frames of the series of image frames to determine an amount of blurring; selecting an image frame from the series of image frames having blurring less than a threshold amount of blurring; and utilizing a decoder to decode the image of the target bar code in the selected image frame.
83 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A variable focus imaging lens assembly for an imaging system of an imaging-based bar code reader for imaging and decoding a target bar code, the imaging system generating image frames of a field of view of the imaging system and including an imaging sensor array and a decoder for decoding an image of the target bar code, the variable focus imaging lens assembly comprising:
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a lens assembly focusing light from the field of view onto the sensor array, the lens assembly including a lens movable along a path of travel; a drive mechanism driving the movable lens from a predetermined position along the path of travel; an automatic focusing system; energizing the drive mechanism and imaging system to move the movable lens from the predetermined position along its path of travel and generate a series of image frames; analyzing one or more image frames of the series of image frames to determine a region of interest, the region of interest including an image of a target bar code; analyzing the region of interest in subsequent image frames of the series of image frames to determine an amount of blurring in each image frame; selecting an image frame from the subsequent image frames of the series of image frames having an amount of blurring less than a predetermined threshold; and utilizing the decoder to decode the image of the target bar code in the selected image frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An imaging-based bar code reader for imaging and decoding a target bar code, the bar code reader comprising:
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an imaging system generating image frames of a field of view of the imaging system and including an imaging sensor array and a decoder; and a variable focus imaging lens assembly for focusing light from the field of view onto the sensor array, the variable focus imaging lens assembly including; a lens assembly focusing light from the field of view onto the sensor array, the lens assembly including a lens movable along a path of travel; a drive mechanism driving the movable lens along the path of travel; an automatic focusing system; energizing the drive mechanism and imaging system to move the movable lens from the predetermined position along its path of travel and generate a series of image frames; analyzing one or more image frames of the series of image frames to determine a region of interest, the region of interest including an image of a target bar code; analyzing the region of interest in subsequent image frames of the series of image frames to determine an amount of blurring in each image frame; selecting an image frame from the subsequent image frames of the series of image frames having an amount of blurring less than a predetermined threshold; and utilizing the decoder to decode the image of the target bar code in the selected image frame. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of imaging and decoding a target bar code reading, the steps of the method comprising:
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providing an imaging system generating image frames of a field of view of the imaging system and including an imaging sensor array and a decoder;
a variable focus imaging lens assembly for focusing light from the field of view onto the sensor array, the variable focus imaging lens assembly including a lens assembly focusing light from the field of view onto the sensor array, the lens assembly including a lens movable along a path of travel;
a drive mechanism driving the movable lens along the path of travel; and
an automatic focusing system;energizing the drive mechanism and imaging system to move the movable lens from the predetermined position along its path of travel and generate a series of image frames; analyzing one or more image frames of the series of image frames to determine a region of interest, the region of interest including an image of a target bar code; analyzing the region of interest in subsequent image frames of the series of image frames to determine an amount of blurring in each image frame; selecting an image frame from the series of image frames having an amount of blurring less than a predetermined threshold value; and utilizing the decoder to decode the image of the target bar code in the selected image frame. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of imaging and decoding a target bar code reading, the steps of the method comprising:
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providing an imaging system generating image frames of a field of view of the imaging system and including an imaging sensor array and a decoder;
a variable focus imaging lens assembly for focusing light from the field of view onto the sensor array, the variable focus imaging lens assembly including a lens assembly focusing light from the field of view onto the sensor array, the lens assembly including a movable lens movable along a path of travel; and
an automatic focusing system;energizing the imaging system to generate an image frame with the lens in a predetermined, stationary position; analyzing the image frame to determine a region of interest, the region of interest including an image of a target bar code; analyzing the region of interest to determine an amount of blurring; if the amount of blurring is less than a predetermined threshold value, utilizing the decoder to decode the image of the target bar code in the image frame; if the amount of blurring is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, determining a new position along the movable lens path of travel PT wherein the region of interest RI in a captured image frame would be more in-focus; and moving the movable lens to one or more new positions and generating one or more image frames until an amount of blurring is less than the predetermined threshold value.
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17. A variable focus imaging lens assembly for an imaging system of an imaging-based bar code reader for imaging and decoding a target bar code, the imaging system generating image frames of a field of view of the imaging system and including an imaging sensor array and a decoder for decoding an image of the target bar code, the variable focus imaging lens assembly comprising:
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a lens assembly focusing light from the field of view onto the sensor array, the lens assembly providing for a best focus position that is movable between a far working range and a near working range of the imaging system; an automatic focusing system; energizing the imaging system and the lens assembly to move the best focus position of the lens assembly from a predetermined focus position between the near working range and the far working range and generate a series of image frames; analyzing one or more image frames of the series of image frames to determine a region of interest, the region of interest including an image of a target bar code; analyzing the region of interest in subsequent image frames of the series of image frames to determine an amount of blurring in each image frame; selecting an image frame from the subsequent image frames of the series of image frames having an amount of blurring less than a predetermined threshold; and utilizing the decoder to decode the image of the target bar code in the selected image frame. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification