Method and apparatus for detecting and decoding information bearing symbols encoded using multiple optical codes

• US 5,510,603 A
• Filed: 09/30/1994
• Issued: 04/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hess, William D., Skinger, Gregory P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FILIPEK, JEFFER
• Application Number:
  US08/316,716
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/440, 235/435, 235/463, 235/464, 235/494, 235/495, 235/436, 235/437, 235/384, 235/471, 235/462, 382/47, 382/61, 382/48, 382/298, 382/282, 382/317
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1093 sensing, after transfer of the image of the data-field to an intermediate store, e.g. storage with cathode ray tube

Abstract

A stationary optical scanning system for the decoding of a plurality of optically readable information bearing symbols encoded using at least first and second different optical codes, and for the detection of a plurality of optical targets having at least first and second different target configurations and target data signals representative of the differing target configurations, includes a single optical sensor for optically sensing the different target configurations and optical codes as objects affixed with the information bearing symbols continuously pass within a field of view and for generating the target data signals from the sensed field of view. A first target processor receives the target data signals and detects the first target configuration in accordance with the target data signals to provide a first processor detection signal, and a second target processor separate from the first target processor receives the target data signals and detects the second target configuration in accordance with the target data signals to provide a second processor detection signal. A decoder receives the first and second target processor detection signals and selectively decodes the information bearing symbols in accordance with the received detection signals, wherein the first and second target processors and the decoder are coupled to the single optical sensor.

Claims

1. A stationary optical scanning system for the decoding of a plurality of optically readable information bearing symbols encoded using at least first and second different optical codes, and for the detection of a plurality of optical targets having at least first and second different target configurations and target data signals representative of said differing target configurations, said first target configuration being associated with said first optical code and said second target configuration being associated with said second optical code, said optically readable information bearing symbols being affixed to a plurality of objects continuously passing within the field of view of said stationary scanning system, comprising:

single optical sensing means for optically sensing said first and second different target configurations and said first and second different optical codes as said plurality of objects continuously pass within said field of view and for generating said target data signals from said sensed field of view, said first and second differing target configurations and said first and second differing optical codes being omnidirectionally oriented within said sensed field of view;

first target processor means for receiving said target data signals and detecting said first target configuration in accordance with said target data signals to provide a first processor means detection signals;

second target processor means separate from said first target processor means for receiving said target data signals and detecting said second target configuration in accordance with said target data signals to provide a second processor means detection signal, wherein said first and second target processor means each receive and process identical target data signals from said single optical sensing means; and

decoding means for receiving said first and second target processor means detection signals and for selectively decoding said information bearing symbols in accordance with said received detection signals;

wherein said first and second target processor means and said decoding means are coupled to said single optical sensing means, and further comprising;

a plurality of template images representative of one of said plurality of target configurations; and

,

means for selecting a template image of said plurality of template images in accordance with the distance between one of said objects and said single sensing means.

2. The optical target acquisition system of claim 1, further comprising target signal transmission means coupled to said first and second target processor means for receiving said target data signals and transmitting said target data signals to said first and second target processor means.

3. The optical target acquisition system of claim 2, wherein said first and second target processor means each receive and process identical target data signals from said target signal transmission means simultaneously.

4. The optical target acquisition system of claim 2, further comprising system bus means independent of said target signal transmission means for coupling said first and second target processor means to said detection means.

5. The optical target acquisition system of claim 4, further comprising system processor means separate from said first and second target processor means and coupled to said system bus means for receiving system data signals from said system bus means and executing system functions in accordance with said received system data signals.

6. The optical target acquisition system of claim 5, wherein said detecting of said first and second target configurations and said executing of said system functions occur simultaneously.

7. The optical target acquisition system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second differing target configurations comprises a rectangular target configuration.

8. The optical target acquisition system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second differing target configurations comprises a circular target configuration.

9. The optical target recognition system of claim 1, wherein said first and second differing target configurations comprise a rectangular target configuration and a circular target configuration.

10. The optical target acquisition system of claim 9, wherein said rectangular target configuration is formed of a bar code.

11. The optical target acquisition system of claim 10, wherein said circular target configuration is formed of a plurality of concentric rings.

12. The optical target acquisition system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for comparing said selected template image and said target data signals to provide a detection signal in accordance with said comparing; and

,

means for acquiring said target in accordance with said detection signal.

13. The optical target acquisition system of claim 12, further comprising:

means for diverting one of said objects in accordance with said decoding means.

14. An optical target acquisition system for the detection of a plurality of at least first and second differing optical target configurations represented by image data signals provided by an optical scanning device, said system having system data signals independent of said image data signals for controlling system functions, comprising:

first system processor means including means for receiving said system data signals for executing said system functions by said first system processor means in accordance with said system data signals;

first target processor means separate from said first system processor means for receiving said image data signals and detecting said first optical target configuration to provide a first detection signal in accordance with said image data signals;

said first target processor means having means for transmitting said first detection signal to said first system processing means;

second target processor means separate from said first system processor means and said first target processor means for receiving said image data signals and detecting said second optical target configuration to provide a second detection signal in accordance with said image data signals;

said second target processor means having means for transmitting said second detection signal to said first system processing means;

first system bus means coupled to said first system processor means for directly applying said first detection signal to said first system processor means by said first target processor means and for directly applying said second detection signal to said first system processor means by said second target processor means; and

first image data bus means separate from said first system bus means, coupled to said first target processor means and said second target processor means, for receiving said image data signals from said optical scanning device and applying said image data signals to said first target processor means and said second target processor means, wherein identical image data signals from said optical scanning device are continuously applied to said first and second target processor means by said first image data bus means, and further comprising;

a plurality of template images representative of one of said plurality of target configurations; and

,

means for selecting a template image of said plurality of template images in accordance with the distance between an object and image means.

15. The optical target acquisition system of claim 14, wherein said differing target configurations comprise a rectangular target configuration and a circular target configuration.

16. The optical target acquisition system of claim 15, wherein said differing target configurations include a bar code configuration and a concentric ring configuration.

17. The optical target acquisition system of claim 14, wherein said first target processor means comprises first pre-recognition processor means for preliminary detection of said optical target and first digital signal processor means for further determining said optical target, said first digital signal processor means being independent of said first pre-recognition processor means.

18. The optical target acquisition system of claim 14, further comprising a conveyor surface for disposing said object upon said conveyor surface to scan said object with said image means and to process said object according to optically encoded information disposed upon said object.

19. The optical target acquisition system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for decoding information disposed upon said object; and

,

means for diverting said object in accordance with said decoded information.

20. A method for the acquisition and detection of a plurality of at least first and second differing target configurations by a single optical scanning device in an optical target acquisition system having system data signals independent of said image data signals, said system data signals being adapted for controlling system functions, comprising the steps of:

(a) executing said system functions by first system processor means in accordance with said system data signals;

(b) receiving said image data signals by first target processor means separate from said first system processor means;

(c) detecting said first optical target configuration by said first image data signals to provide a first detection signal in accordance with said detecting of said first optical target configuration;

(d) receiving said image data signals by second target processor means separate from said first system processor means and said first target processor means;

(e) detecting said second optical target configuration by said second target processor means in accordance with said image data signals to provide a second detection signal in accordance with said detecting of said second optical target configuration;

(f) directly applying said first detection signal to said first system processor means by first system bus means and directly applying said second detection signal to said first system processor means by said first system bus means;

(g) receiving said image data signals from said single optical scanning device;

(h) applying said image data signals to said first target processor means and said second target processor means by second image data bus means separate from said first system bus means, wherein identical image data signals from said optical scanning device are continuously applied to said first and second target processor means by said first image data bus means;

(i) providing a plurality of template images representative of one of said plurality of target configurations; and

(j) selecting a template image of said plurality of template images in accordance with the distance between an object and image means.

21. The optical target acquisition method of claim 20, wherein said first and second differing target configurations comprise a rectangular target configuration and a circular target configuration.

22. The optical target acquisition method of claim 20, wherein said first target processor means comprises first pre-recognition processor means for preliminary detecting of said optical target and first digital signal processor means for further detecting of said optical target, said first digital signal processor means being independent of said first pre-recognition processor means.

23. The optical target acquisition method of claim 20, further including a conveyor surface for disposing said object upon said conveyor surface to scan said object with said image means and process said object according to optically encoded information disposed upon said object.

24. The optical target acquisition method of claim 23, comprising the further steps of:

(k) decoding said encoded information disposed upon said object in accordance with signals from said image means; and

,

(l) diverting said object in accordance with said decoded information.

25. A method for the acquisition and detection of a target configuration in an optical target acquisition system, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating, with image means, image data signals of an object having the target configuration;

(b) selecting an image template from a plurality of image templates based on a distance between the image means and the object; and

(c) comparing the selected image template with the image data signals to generate a detection signal indicating detection of the target configuration.

26. An apparatus for the acquisition and detection of a target configuration in an optical target acquisition system, comprising:

(a) image means for generating image data signals of an object having the target configuration;

(b) means for selecting an image template from a plurality of image templates based on a distance between the image means and the object; and

(c) means for comparing the selected image template with the image data signals to generate a detection signal indicating detection of the target configuration.