User configurable search methods for an area imaging indicia reader

• US 20090159684A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Barber, Charles P., Hussey, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,308,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.410
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners

Abstract

A method of operating an optical reading device for collecting and processing indicia data comprising the steps of: converting light with an image sensor into output signals representative of an image in a field of view (FOV) of the image sensor; user programming a processor to search the output signals according to a search strategy; searching the output signals for an information bearing indicia (IBI) within the FOV according to the user programmed search strategy; and, decoding information contained in the IBI.

Claims

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

converting light with an image sensor into output signals representative of an image in a field of view (FOV) of the image sensor;

user programming a processor to search the output signals according to a search strategy;

searching the output signals for an information bearing indicia (IBI) within the FOV according to the user programmed search strategy; and

,

decoding information contained in the IBI.

2. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the search strategy comprises locating one or more IBIs within the FOV according to one or more user programmed search strategy.

3. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the search strategy comprises locating a second IBI according to the IBI position relative to a first IBI.

4. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the search strategy comprises locating an IBI relative to the IBI position within the FOV.

5. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the search strategy comprises locating an IBI relative to the IBI position to a point in the FOV.

6. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the search strategy comprises locating an IBI relative to the IBI position within a sub-region of the FOV.

7. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the search strategy comprises locating an IBI relative to a starting point in the FOV.

8. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the user programming comprises utilizing an external processor tool.

9. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the user programming comprises scanning an IBI.

10. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the user programming comprises utilizing a GUI.

11. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the user programming comprises capturing an image in a training mode similar to a future image captured in an operating mode.

12. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the user programming comprises capturing an image in an operating mode similar to a future image captured in an operating mode.

13. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the user programming comprises the user manually inputting the positions of each IBI during a training mode.

14. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 13, wherein the user programming comprises storing the IBI positions found in the training mode for use to identify IBI positions during an operating mode.

15. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the search strategy utilizes one or more of the following IBI characteristics:

position;

orientation;

type of symbology; and

quantity of IBIs within the FOV, or combinations of these IBI characteristics.

16. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the search strategy utilizes whether an IBI is a linear, stacked or matrix type of symbology.

17. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the search strategy comprises decoding IBIs in a desired order.

18. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the search strategy comprises providing the operator with the option to ignore one or more located IBI.

19. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, further comprising the step of ignoring information within a located IBI.

20. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the search strategy comprises marking the position of IBI'"'"'s that are found one or more times, and adapting subsequent searching as a function of the marked positions.

21. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the user programming comprises defining a search strategy based on a user specified number of scans.

22. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the user programming comprises programming different profiles for different applications.

23. A method of operating an optical reading device according to claim 22, comprising storing multiple profiles in a memory and recalling different profiles during an operating mode.

26. An optical reading device according to claim 18, wherein the user programming comprises at least one of the following:

utilizing an external processor tool;

scanning an IBI;

utilizing a GUI;

capturing an image in a training mode similar to a future image captured in an operating mode;

capturing an image in an operating mode similar to a future image captured in an operating mode;

the user manually inputting the positions of each IBI during a training mode;

storing the IBI positions found in a training mode for use to identify IBI positions during an operating mode;

defining a search strategy based on a user specified number of scans;

programming different profiles for different applications;

storing multiple profiles in a memory and recalling different profiles during an operating mode.

24. An optical reading device for collecting and processing indicia data comprising:

an image sensor for converting light into output signals representative of an image in a field of view (FOV) of the image sensor;

a processor adapted for;

user programming to search the output signals according to a search strategy;

searching the output signals for an information bearing indicia (IBI) within the FOV according to the user programmed search strategy; and

,

decoding information contained in the IBI.

25. An optical reading device according to claim 24, wherein the search strategy comprises at least one of the following:

locating one or more IBIs within the FOV according to one or more user programmed search strategy;

locating a second IBI according to the IBI position relative to a first IBI;

locating an IBI relative to the IBI position within the FOV;

locating an IBI relative to the IBI position to a point in the FOV;

locating an IBI relative to the IBI position within a sub-region of the FOV;

locating an IBI relative to a starting point in the FOV;

utilizing one or more of the following IBI characteristics;

position;

orientation;

type of symbology; and

quantity of IBIs within the FOV, or combinations of these IBI characteristics;

utilizing whether an IBI is a linear, stacked or matrix type of symbology;

decoding IBIs in a desired order;

providing the operator with the option to ignore one or more located IBI;

ignoring information within a located IBI; and

, marking the position of IBI'"'"'s that are found one or more times, and adapting subsequent searching as a function of the marked positions.