ADAPTIVE DATA READER AND METHOD OF OPERATING

• US 20120111944A1
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datalogic Adc, Inc. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Datalogic Scanning Incorporated (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Gao, WenLiang, Guess, Alan J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,514,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10752 Exposure time control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image

Abstract

Systems and methods for data reading are disclosed wherein one or more images of an item bearing an optical code are captured and the captured images are analyzed to determine whether the item has a reflective surface or not. Based on such a determination, operating parameters of the system, such as one or more of: the amount of time dedicated to 1D code decoding and the amount of time dedicated to 2D code decoding, the order in which 1D code and 2D code decoding are performed, termination of a decoding operation, restarting an image capture and decoding operation, and image preprocessing may be automatically adjusted by the system to decode an optical code.

Claims

1. A method for data reading comprising the steps of:

capturing, via a data reader, a first set of images of an item bearing an optical code;

analyzing the first set of images to determine whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface;

establishing a decode setting based on whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface; and

decoding the optical code appearing in the first set of images using the decode setting.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of capturing includes capturing, via the data reader, the first set of images of the item comprising an electronic display surface displaying the optical code.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein establishing the decode setting includes:

configuring the decode setting to use a majority of a decoding time for decoding a 1D optical code and a minority of the decoding time for decoding a 2D optical code if it is determined that the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of establishing the decode setting includes:

configuring the decode setting to use a minority of a decoding time for decoding a 1D optical code and a majority of the decoding time for decoding a 2D optical code if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a reflective surface.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of establishing the decode setting includes:

configuring the decode setting to first attempt to decode a 1D optical code prior to attempting to decode a 2D optical code if it is determined that the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of establishing the decode setting includes:

configuring the decode setting to first attempt to decode a 2D optical code prior to attempting to decode a 1D optical code if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a reflective surface.

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

preprocessing the first set of images based on whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of preprocessing the first set of images includes:

passing image data from the first set of images through a high-pass filter if it is determined that the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface.

9. A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of preprocessing the first set of images includes:

passing image data from the first set of images through a low-pass filter if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a reflective surface.

10. A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of preprocessing the first set of images includes:

if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a reflective surface, comparing pixel values to a predetermined threshold; and

for pixel values equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, setting the pixel values to a predetermined value.

11. A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of preprocessing the first set of images includes:

if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a reflective surface, comparing pixel values to a predetermined threshold; and

for pixel values equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, setting the pixel values to a predetermined value.

12. A method for data reading comprising the steps of:

capturing, via a data reader, a first set of images of an item bearing an optical code;

decoding the optical code in the first set of images;

analyzing the first set of images to determine whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface;

determining whether the first set of images was captured using a normal operating mode or a reflective operating mode;

terminating the decoding of the optical code in the first set of images if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a reflective surface and the first set of images was captured using a normal operating mode;

automatically adjusting the data reader to use the reflective operating mode;

capturing via the data reader, a second set of images of the item bearing the optical code; and

decoding the optical code in the second set of images.

13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

determining whether the first set of images are of sufficient quality for optical code decoding; and

terminating the decoding of the optical code in the first set of images if it is determined that the first set of images are not of sufficient quality for optical code decoding.

14. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

determining whether the second set of images are of sufficient quality for optical code decoding;

terminating the decoding of the optical code in the second set of images if it is determined that the second set of images are not of sufficient quality for optical code decoding;

capturing via the data reader, a third set of images of the item bearing the optical code; and

decoding the optical code in the third set of images.

15. A computer-readable medium for carrying instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions for capturing, via a data reader, a first set of images of an item bearing an optical code;

instructions for analyzing the first set of images to determine whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface;

instructions for establishing a decode setting based on whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface; and

instructions for decoding the optical code appearing in the first set of images using the decode setting.

16. A system for data reading comprising:

an imager configured to capture an image of an item bearing an optical code;

an illumination source configured to illuminate the item; and

a controller configured to operate the imager and the illumination source, wherein the controller is programmed to;

initiate a capture of a first set of images of the item bearing the optical code;

analyze the first set of images to determine whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface;

establish a decode setting based on whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface; and

decode the optical code appearing in the first set of images using the decode setting.

17. A system for data reading according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

configure the decode setting to use a majority of a decoding time for decoding a 1D optical code and a minority of the decoding time for decoding a 2D optical code if the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface.

18. A system for data reading according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

configure the decode setting to use a minority of a decoding time for decoding a 1D optical code and a majority of the decoding time for decoding a 2D optical code if the optical code is borne by a reflective surface.

19. A system for data reading according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

configure the decode setting to attempt to decode a 1D optical code prior to attempting to decode a 2D optical code if the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface.

20. A system for data reading according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

configure the decode setting to attempt decoding of a 2D optical code prior to attempting to decode a 1D optical code if the optical code is borne by a reflective surface.

21. A system for data reading according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

preprocess the first set of images based on whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface.

22. A system for data reading according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

pass image data from the first set of images through a high-pass filter if the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface; and

pass image data from the first set of images through a low-pass filter if the optical code is borne by a reflective surface.

23. A system for data reading according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

compare pixel values to a first predetermined threshold and a second predetermined threshold;

modify the pixel values to a first predetermined value for pixel values equal to or less than the first predetermined threshold; and

modify the pixel values to a second predetermined value for pixel values equal to or greater than the second predetermined threshold.

24. A system for data reading according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

terminate a decode operation in response to determining the optical code is borne by a reflective surface and the first set of images was captured using a normal operating mode.

25. A system for data reading according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

terminate a decode operation in response to determining the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface and the first set of images was captured using a reflective operating mode.