CODE SYMBOL READING SYSTEM

• US 20130287258A1
• Filed: 07/09/2013
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Kearney, Sean Philip
• Granted Patent: US 9,569,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image

Abstract

A digital-imaging based system reads graphical indicia, including code symbols, on objects such as, but not limited to, code symbol menus by the user pointing his or her finger at the particular code symbol on the code symbol menu to be read, while digital images of the code symbol menu and the pointing finger are automatically captured, buffered and processed.

Claims

1. An indicia reading system, comprising:

an imaging subsystem for capturing images of a field of view; and

an image processor configured for;

determining if an elongated object is in a captured image;

if there is not an elongated object in the captured image;

determining if an indicia is in the captured image;

if there is an indicia in the captured image, determining if more than one indicia is in the captured image; and

if there is only one indicia in the captured image, processing the captured image to read the indicia;

if there is an elongated object in the captured image;

determining if there is more than one elongated object in the captured image; and

if there is only one elongated object in the captured image, detecting a region of interest to which the elongated object is pointing and processing the captured image to read indicia within the region of interest.

2. The indicia reading system of claim 1, wherein the image processor is configured for, if there is only one elongated object in the captured image, detecting a region of interest to which the elongated object is pointing and processing the captured image to read indicia only within the region of interest.

3. The indicia reading system of claim 1, comprising an illumination subsystem for illuminating the field of view.

4. The indicia reading system of claim 1, wherein the imaging subsystem detects the presence of an object within the field of view.

5. The indicia reading system of claim 1, comprising an object detection subsystem for detecting the presence of an object within the field of view.

6. The indicia reading system of claim 1, wherein the image processor is configured for processing captured images to read barcodes.

7. An object recognition system, comprising:

an imaging subsystem for capturing images of a field of view; and

an image processor configured for;

determining if there is more than one elongated object in a captured image; and

if there is only one elongated object in the captured image, detecting a region of interest to which the elongated object is pointing and processing the captured image to recognize an object within the region of interest.

8. The object recognition system of claim 7, wherein the image processor is configured for processing the captured image to recognize an object only within the region of interest.

9. The object recognition system of claim 7, wherein the image processor is configured for:

detecting a region of interest to which an elongated object is pointing in a plurality of captured images; and

processing at least one of the plurality of captured images to recognize an object within the region of interest.

10. The object recognition system of claim 7, comprising an array of LEDs for illuminating the field of view.

11. The object recognition system of claim 7, wherein the imaging subsystem detects the presence of an object within the field of view.

12. The object recognition system of claim 7, comprising an object detection subsystem for detecting the presence of an object within the field of view.

13. The object recognition system of claim 7, comprising a hand-supportable housing, wherein the imaging subsystem and image processor are disposed within the hand-supportable housing.

14. A code symbol reading system, comprising:

an imaging subsystem for capturing images of a field of view; and

an image processor configured for;

detecting a region of interest to which an elongated object is pointing in a captured image; and

processing the captured image to read a code symbol within the region of interest.

15. The code symbol reading system of claim 14, wherein the image processor is configured for processing the captured image to read a code symbol only within the region of interest.

16. The code symbol reading system of claim 14, wherein the image processor is configured for:

detecting a region of interest to which an elongated object is pointing in a plurality of captured images; and

processing at least one of the plurality of captured images to read a code symbol within the region of interest.

17. The code symbol reading system of claim 14, comprising an illumination subsystem for illuminating the field of view.

18. The code symbol reading system of claim 14, wherein the imaging subsystem detects the presence of an object within the field of view.

19. The code symbol reading system of claim 14, comprising an object detection subsystem for detecting the presence of an object within the field of view.

20. The code symbol reading system of claim 14, comprising an input/output subsystem for outputting signals from the system.

21. The code symbol reading system of claim 14, comprising a hand-supportable housing, wherein the imaging subsystem and image processor are disposed within the hand-supportable housing.

22. The code symbol reading system of claim 14, wherein the elongated object comprises a finger.