SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO READ MACHINE-READABLE SYMBOLS

• US 20130306728A1
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Thuries, Serge, Gillet, Alain
• Granted Patent: US 9,158,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/455
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10831 Arrangement of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms optical elements per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks

Abstract

Systems and methods of reading machine-readable symbols are provided. A method of reading a machine-readable symbol includes emitting by a first source outgoing electromagnetic energy comprising wavelengths in a first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum towards a target comprising the machine-readable symbol. Incoming electromagnetic energy comprising wavelengths in a second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum reflected or emitted by the machine-readable symbol are discerned by a global shutter sensor after transmission through at least a first portion of a color filter array having a plurality of portions.

Claims

1. A machine-readable symbol reader, comprising:

a housing;

a first source operable to emit outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in a first portion of an electromagnetic spectrum, out of the housing toward a target, the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum consisting essentially of at least one of a blue portion or an ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, inclusive;

at least one switch coupled to control at least the first source to selectively cause the first source to emit the outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum;

a global shutter sensor positioned in the housing to receive incoming electromagnetic energy returned from the target; and

a color filter array disposed in the housing relative to the global shutter sensor to filter the incoming electromagnetic energy, the color filter array including at least a first portion of which substantially passes incoming electromagnetic energy of wavelengths in a second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to at least one portion of the global shutter sensor and which first portion substantially limits the passage of incoming electromagnetic energy of wavelengths outside of the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to the global shutter sensor, the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum consisting essentially of at least one of a red portion or an infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, inclusive.

2. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the magnetic spectrum includes at least a portion of the blue portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and at least a portion of the ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

3. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 1 wherein the first source is operable to emit the electromagnetic energy at an intensity level substantially greater than an intensity level of light in an ambient environment.

4. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 1 wherein the first source is operable to emit the outgoing electromagnetic energy at wavelengths of about 495 nanometers (nm) or less.

5. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 1:

wherein the color filter array comprises a Bayer filter; and

wherein the first portion of the color filter array comprises an aggregate area of at least about 25% of a color filter array area relative to the global shutter sensor.

6. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 1 wherein the first source comprises at least one blue light emitting diode (LED).

7. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one switch coupled to control the global shutter sensor to selectively place the global shutter sensor in an image capture mode without emission of the first outgoing electromagnetic radiation by the first source; and

the filter includes at least a second portion which substantially passes the incoming electromagnetic energy of wavelengths in the about 380 nm to about 760 nm portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to the global shutter sensor.

8. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 1 wherein the global shutter sensor comprises at least one output to provide a signal to the at least one switch, the at least one switch configured to cause the first source to emit the outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum as image data is acquired from at least a portion of the global shutter sensor.

9. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 8 wherein the emission by the first source of the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum includes a pulsed emission having a duration substantially equal to an image acquisition duration of at least a portion of the global shutter sensor.

10. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 1, further comprising:

a wide band source operable to emit outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in a third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum out of the housing toward the target, the third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum consisting essentially of wavelengths from about 380 nanometers (nm) to about 760 nm, wherein;

the at least one switch is coupled to control at least the wide band source to selectively emit the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and the at least one switch selectively controls the wide band source to not emit the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum when the first source emits the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; and

the filter includes at least a second portion that substantially passes incoming electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to at least one portion of the global shutter sensor.

11. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 10 wherein the at least one switch further selectively controls the first source to not emit the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum when the wide band source emits the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

12. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 10 wherein the wide band source is operable to emit the electromagnetic energy at an intensity level substantially greater than an intensity level of light in an ambient environment.

13. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 10 wherein the second source comprises at least one of a red light emitting diode (LED) and a white light emitting diode (LED).

14. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 10 wherein the global shutter sensor further includes at least one output that provides a signal to the at least one switch to cause either the first source to emit outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum or the wide band source to emit outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum as image data is acquired from at least a portion of the global shutter sensor.

15. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 14 wherein the at least one switch causes the first source or the broad band source to emit the outgoing electromagnetic energy as one or more pulses, the one or more pulses having a duration substantially equal to the image acquisition duration of at least a portion of the global shutter sensor.

16. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 1, further comprising:

a narrow band source operable to emit outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum out of the housing toward the target, and wherein;

the at least one switch is coupled to control the narrow band source to selectively emit the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and the at least one switch selectively controls the narrow band source to not emit the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum when the first source emits the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; and

the first portion of the filter substantially passes the incoming electromagnetic energy of wavelengths in at least part of the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to at least one portion of the global shutter sensor.

17. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 16 wherein the narrow band source comprises at least one infrared light emitting diode (LED).

18. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 16 wherein the global shutter sensor comprises at least one output that provides a signal to the at least one switch to cause either the first source to emit outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum or the narrow band source to emit outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum the third outgoing electromagnetic energy as image data is acquired from at least a portion of the global shutter sensor.

19. The machine-readable symbol reader of claim 18 wherein the at least one switch causes the first source or the narrow band source to emit the outgoing electromagnetic energy as one or more pulses, the one or more pulses having a duration substantially equal to the image acquisition duration of at least a portion of the global shutter sensor.

20. An image detection method, comprising:

supplying a signal to control at least a first source;

responsive to supplying the control signal to the first source, emitting by the first source an outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in a first portion of an electromagnetic spectrum toward a target;

the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum consisting essentially of at least one of a blue portion or an ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, inclusive; and

responsive to the emitting the outgoing electromagnetic energy towards the target, acquiring data from a global shutter sensor that receives, through a color filter array, an incoming electromagnetic energy returned from the target, the color filter array including at least a first portion that substantially passes the incoming electromagnetic energy of wavelengths in a second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to at least one portion of the global shutter sensor and which first portion substantially limits the passage of incoming electromagnetic energy of wavelengths outside of the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to the global shutter sensor, the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum consisting essentially of at least one of a red portion or an infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, inclusive.

21. The image detection method of claim 20 wherein supplying a signal to at least a first source comprises:

detecting actuation of an actuator disposed at least partially on an exterior surface of a housing, the actuator to provide an input to the global shutter sensor; and

generating the signal as an output from the global shutter sensor upon receipt of the input to the global shutter sensor.

22. The image detection method of claim 20 wherein emitting by the first source the outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the first portion of an electromagnetic spectrum toward the target includes emitting a pulsed emission of the outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum as the data is acquired from the global shutter sensor.

23. The image detection method of claim 20, further comprising:

decoding at least a portion of the data acquired from the global shutter sensor, the decoding including at least one of;

determining a validity associated with the target;

determining a monetary value associated with the target;

determining an origination point associated with the target;

determining a destination point associated with the target; and

determining a class of service associated with the target.

24. The image detection method of claim 20, further comprising:

supplying a signal to control a wide band source;

responsive to supplying the signal to control the wide band source, emitting by the wide band source an outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in a third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum toward the target, the third portion consisting essentially of wavelengths from about 380 nanometers (nm) to about 760 nm, wherein the signal selectively inhibits the wide band source from emitting the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum when the first source is emitting the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, the color filter array includes at least a second portion that substantially passes incoming electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to a second portion of the global shutter sensor.

25. The image detection method of claim 24 wherein in response to the signal controlling the first source to not emit the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum when the wide band source emits the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

26. The image detection method of claim 24 wherein emitting by the first source the outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the first portion of an electromagnetic spectrum toward the target includes emitting a pulsed emission of the outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum as the data is acquired from the global shutter sensor, wherein emitting by the wide band source the outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the third portion of an electromagnetic spectrum toward the target includes emitting a pulsed emission of the outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum as the data is acquired from the global shutter sensor.

27. The image detection method of claim 20, further comprising:

supplying the signal to control a narrow band source;

responsive to supplying the signal to control the narrow band source, emitting by the narrow band source an outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum out of the housing toward the target, wherein the signal selectively inhibits the narrow band source from emitting the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum when the first source is emitting the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, the first portion of the color filter array substantially passes incoming electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to the first portion of the global shutter sensor.

28. The image detection method of claim 27 wherein the signal further selectively controls the first source to not emit the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum when the narrow band source emits the outgoing electromagnetic energy of wavelengths substantially in the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

29. The image detection method of claim 27 wherein emitting by the first source the outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the first portion of an electromagnetic spectrum toward the target includes emitting a pulsed emission of the outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum as the data is acquired from the global shutter sensor, emitting by the narrow band source the outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the second portion of an electromagnetic spectrum toward the target comprises a pulsed emission of the outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum as the data is acquired from the global shutter sensor.

30. An image detection system, comprising:

a first source communicatively coupled to an output on a global shutter sensor;

the first source operable to emit outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in a first portion of an electromagnetic spectrum toward a target, the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum consisting essentially of at least one of a blue portion or an ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, inclusive;

the global shutter sensor configured to receive incoming electromagnetic energy returned from the target communicatively coupled to at least one switch disposed on an exterior surface of a housing;

the global shutter sensor configured to provide a signal via the output to the first source to;

emit outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; and

acquire data associated with an incoming electromagnetic energy of wavelengths in a second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum incident upon at least one portion of the global shutter sensor, the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum consisting essentially of at least one of a red portion or an infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, inclusive; and

a color filter array including a Bayer filter having;

a first portion comprising an aggregate area of at least about 25% of the color filter array area, the first portion configured to block at least a portion of the incoming electromagnetic energy of wavelengths outside of the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum from the first portion of the global shutter sensor; and

a second portion comprising an aggregate area of at least 50% of the color filter array area, the second portion configured to pass all or a portion of the incoming electromagnetic energy of wavelengths within the visible electromagnetic spectrum to a second portion of the global shutter sensor.

31. The image detection system of claim 30, further comprising:

a wide band source communicatively coupled to the output on the global shutter sensor;

the wide band source operable to emit outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in a third portion of an electromagnetic spectrum toward the target, the third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum consisting essentially of wavelengths from about 380 nanometers (nm) to about 760 nm, inclusive;

the global shutter sensor configured to receive incoming electromagnetic energy returned from the target communicatively coupled to at least one switch disposed on an exterior surface of a housing;

the global shutter sensor configured to provide a signal via the output to control either of the first source or the wide band source, the signal to;

emit outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum from the first source or emit outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum from the wide band source; and

acquire data associated with the incoming electromagnetic energy of wavelengths in the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum incident upon the at least one portion of the global shutter sensor when the first source emits the outgoing electromagnetic energy, or acquire data associated with the incoming electromagnetic energy of wavelengths in the third portion of the electromagnetic spectrum incident upon the second portion of the global shutter sensor when the wide band source emits the outgoing electromagnetic energy.

32. The image detection system of claim 30, further comprising:

a narrow band source communicatively coupled to the output on the global shutter sensor;

the narrow band source operable to emit outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the second portion of an electromagnetic spectrum toward the target;

the global shutter sensor configured to receive incoming electromagnetic energy returned from the target communicatively coupled to at least one switch disposed on an exterior surface of a housing;

the global shutter sensor configured to provide a signal via the output to control either of the first source or the narrow band source, the signal to;

emit outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum from the first source or emit outgoing electromagnetic energy substantially at wavelengths in the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum from the narrow band source; and

acquire data associated with the incoming electromagnetic energy of wavelengths in the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum incident upon the at least one portion of the global shutter sensor when the first source or emits the outgoing electromagnetic energy, or acquire data associated with the incoming electromagnetic energy of wavelengths in the second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum incident upon the at least one portion of the global shutter sensor when the narrow band source emits the outgoing electromagnetic energy.