CAMERA APPLICATIONS IN A HANDHELD DEVICE

• US 20120118972A1
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bran Ferren, Nishihara H. Keith
• Original Assignee: Bran Ferren, Nishihara H. Keith
• Inventors: Ferren, Bran, Nishihara, H. Keith
• Application Number:
  US13/358,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20120118972A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.21
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0065 having a beam-folding prism or mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/009 having zoom function
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 3/00 Focusing arrangements of general interest for cameras, projectors or printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/40 by quorum, i.e. whereby two or more security principals are required
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04186 Touch location disambiguation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 : Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 : Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 : Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 : Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/165 : using facial parts and geometric relationships
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 : Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 : Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/45 : Detection of the body part being alive
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 : using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 : with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 : including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 : using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 : using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 : for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 : by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 : Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 : Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A small handheld device may perform multiple functions, including those of a camera, a display, a processor, and a radio. In various embodiments, the camera may be used to read a bar code, and the processor may be used to decode the bar code. Additionally, the device may contain a focusing aid to enable the device to properly focus on an up-close bar code image.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing a bar code image, comprising:

an optical sensor to sense an image of a bar code as a rectangular array of pixels;

a lens coupled to the optical sensor to focus the image on the optical sensor;

a storage element coupled to the optical sensor to store the image as values for the rectangular array of pixels; and

a processor coupled to the storage element to analyze the stored image to decode the bar code.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display to display the image of the bar code.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is to display the bar code on the display.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a radio coupled to the processor to wirelessly communicate a message representing the decoded bar code to another device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one light projector to project at least one image on a surface containing the bar code to aid in placing the apparatus at a particular distance from the bar code to focus the image on the optical sensor.

6. A method of recording a bar code, comprising:

taking a picture of the bar code with a camera, the picture being retained as a stored image representing a rectangular array of pixels; and

analyzing the stored image to decode the bar code.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing a focusing aid prior to taking the picture to enable a user to place the camera at a correct focus distance from the bar code.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said providing a focusing aid comprises projecting at least one visible-light image onto a surface containing the bar code.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said providing a focusing aid comprises using reflected sound waves to determine a distance between the camera and a surface containing the bar code.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising wirelessly transmitting information about the bar code to another device.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving information from the other device about an object identified with the bar code.

12. An article comprising

a computer-readable storage medium that contains instructions, which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising:

taking a picture of a bar code with a camera, the picture being retained as a stored image representing a rectangular array of pixels; and

analyzing the stored image to decode the bar code.

13. The article of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise the operation of providing a focusing aid prior to taking the picture to enable a user to place the camera at a correct focus distance from the bar code.

14. The article of claim 13, wherein the operation of providing a focusing aid comprises projecting at least one visible-light image onto a surface containing the bar code.

15. The article of claim 13, wherein the operation of providing a focusing aid comprises using reflected sound waves to determine a distance between the camera and a surface containing the bar code.

16. The article of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise the operation of wirelessly transmitting information about the bar code to another device.

17. The article of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise the operation of receiving information from the other device about an object identified with the bar code.