SCANNER INCLUDING A SWITCHABLE MIRROR AND METHOD FOR USING SAME

• US 20170011243A1
• Filed: 07/09/2015
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Hammer, Steven Joel
• Granted Patent: US 9,842,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/31 Digital deflection, i.e. optical switchingG02F1/33 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10683 Arrangement of fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10831 Arrangement of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms optical elements per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1096 the scanner having more than one scanning window, e.g. two substantially orthogonally placed scanning windows for integration into a check-out counter of a super-market

Abstract

A scanner for scanning an item positioned in a scan volume can include: an electronically switchable mirror configured to switch between a reflective state and a transmissive state, a plurality of mirrors, and a camera having a sensor. In a method for scanning the item, the scanner can repeatedly: switch the switchable mirror from the reflective state to the transmissive state, image a first field of view of the item onto the sensor with light that reflects from at least one mirror and transmits through the switchable mirror, switch the switchable mirror from the transmissive state to the reflective state, and image a second field of view of the item onto the sensor with light that reflects from at least one mirror and reflects from the switchable mirror. In some examples, the scanner can synchronize the switching of the switchable mirror to a frame rate of the sensor.

Claims

1. A method for scanning an item positioned in a scan volume, the method comprising:

switching a switchable mirror from a reflective state to a transmissive state;

imaging a first field of view of the item with light that reflects from at least one first field of view mirror and transmits through the switchable mirror;

switching the switchable mirror from the transmissive state to the reflective state; and

imaging a second field of view of the item with light that reflects from at least one second field of view mirror and reflects from the switchable mirror.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

repeatedly;

switching the switchable mirror from the reflective state to the transmissive state;

imaging the first field of view of the item with light that reflects from the at least one first field of view mirror and transmits through the switchable mirror;

switching the switchable mirror from the transmissive state to the reflective state; and

imaging the second field of view of the item with light that reflects from the at least one second field of view mirror and reflects from the switchable mirror;

wherein the first and second fields of view of the item are imaged, alternately, onto a sensor of a camera.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the switching of the switchable mirror is synchronized to a frame rate of the sensor.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

using at least one processor to perform data processing operations, the data processing operations comprising;

receiving image data from the sensor of the camera;

determining that an optical code is present in the image data; and

identifying an entity represented by the optical code.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

illuminating the scan volume with light from a plurality of light emitting diodes of the same color.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

illuminating the first field of view of the item with white light from a first white light emitting diode, of the plurality of light emitting diodes; and

illuminating the second field of view of the item with white light from a second white light emitting diode, of the plurality of light emitting diodes.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

when the switchable mirror is switched from the reflective state to the transmissive state;

switching the first white light emitting diode from an off state to an on state; and

switching the second white light emitting diode from an on state to an off state; and

when the switchable mirror is switched from the transmissive state to the reflective state;

switching the first white light emitting diode from the on state to the off state; and

switching the second white light emitting diode from the off state to the on state.

8. A method for scanning an item positioned in a scan volume, the method comprising:

illuminating the scan volume with white light from a plurality of white light emitting diodes;

repeatedly;

switching a switchable mirror from a reflective state to a transmissive state;

imaging a first field of view of the item onto a sensor of a camera with light that reflects from the item, reflects from at least one mirror, and transmits through the switchable mirror;

switching the switchable mirror from the transmissive state to the reflective state; and

imaging a second field of view of the item onto the sensor of the camera with light that reflects from the item, reflects from at least one mirror, and reflects from the switchable mirror; and

using at least one processor to perform data processing operations, the data processing operations comprising;

receiving image data from the sensor of the camera;

reading an optical code in the image data; and

identifying an entity represented by the optical code.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the switching of the switchable mirror is synchronized to a frame rate of the sensor.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the data processing operations further comprise:

illuminating the first field of view of the item with white light from a first white light emitting diode, of the plurality of white light emitting diodes; and

illuminating the second field of view of the item with white light from a second white light emitting diode, of the plurality of white light emitting diodes.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data processing operations further comprise:

when the switchable mirror is switched from the reflective state to the transmissive state;

switching the first white light emitting diode from an off state to an on state; and

switching the second white light emitting diode from an on state to an off state; and

when the switchable mirror is switched from the transmissive state to the reflective state;

switching the first white light emitting diode from the on state to the off state; and

switching the second white light emitting diode from the off state to the on state.

12. A scanner for scanning an item positioned in a scan volume, the scanner comprising:

a switchable mirror configured to switch between a reflective state and a transmissive state;

a plurality of mirrors; and

a camera having a sensor, the camera being positioned to;

image a first field of view of the item onto the sensor with light that reflects from at least one mirror, of the plurality of mirrors, and transmits through the switchable mirror when the switchable mirror is in the transmissive state, and

image a second field of view of the item onto the sensor with light that reflects from at least another mirror, of the plurality of mirrors, and reflects from the switchable mirror when the switchable mirror is in the reflective state.

13. The scanner of claim 12, further comprising:

a mirror controller configured to controllably switch the switchable mirror between the reflective state and the transmissive state.

14. The scanner of claim 13, wherein the mirror controller is configured to alternately switch the switchable mirror between the reflective state and the transmissive state at a rate synchronized to a frame rate of the sensor.

15. The scanner of claim 12,

wherein the light that transmits through the switchable mirror traverses a first optical path between the scan volume and the sensor of the camera;

wherein the light that reflects from the switchable mirror traverses a second optical path between the scan volume and the sensor of the camera; and

further comprising;

a first scanning window positioned along the first optical path adjacent the scan volume between the switchable mirror and the scan volume; and

a second scanning window positioned along the second optical path adjacent the scan volume between the switchable mirror and the scan volume, the second scanning window being oriented perpendicular to the first scanning window.

16. The scanner of claim 12, further comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes of the same color positioned to illuminate the scan volume.

17. The scanner of claim 16,

wherein a first white light emitting diode, of the plurality of light emitting diodes, is positioned to illuminate the first field of view of the item;

and

wherein a second white light emitting diode, of the plurality of light emitting diodes, is positioned to illuminate the second field of view of the item.

18. The scanner of claim 17, further comprising an illumination controller configured to:

when the switchable mirror is switched from the reflective state to the transmissive state;

switch the first white light emitting diode from an off state to an on state; and

switch the second white light emitting diode from an on state to an off state; and

when the switchable mirror is switched from the transmissive state to the reflective state;

switch the first white light emitting diode from the on state to the off state; and

switch the second white light emitting diode from the off state to the on state.

19. The scanner of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to perform data processing operations, the data processing operations comprising;

receiving image data from the sensor of the camera;

determining that an optical code is present in the image data; and

identifying an entity represented by the optical code.

20. The scanner of claim 12, further comprising:

a second switchable mirror configured to switch between a reflective state and a transmissive state, the second switchable mirror being positioned to image a third field of view onto the sensor with light that reflects from the second switchable mirror when the second switchable mirror is in the reflective state and when the switchable mirror is in the transmissive state.