Optical reader having improved interactive image sensing and control circuitry
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical reader for reading data from an indicia of the two dimensional type including, in combination:
- an illumination system for directing light against said indicia;
an optical system for receiving light scattered from said indicia and forming said light into an image;
an image sensor circuit for receiving said image, for converting said image into a set of electrical signals and for processing said electrical signals in accordance with a plurality of sensor operating parameters to generate an image data signal that contains said data, said image sensor circuit comprising an integrated circuit including at least an on-chip two-dimensional array of picture elements, an on-chip timing control circuit, and an on-chip exposure control circuit and having a plurality of control inputs for receiving control signals for controlling said control circuits and an output for outputting said image data signal;
an image sensor control circuit including a data input for receiving said image data signal;
a plurality of control outputs through which said control signals may be supplied to the control inputs of said image sensor circuit to interactively control said control circuits; and
a stored program for determining the magnitudes of said sensor operating parameters, and for controlling the generation of said control signals in accordance with information derived from said image data signal to assure that said image data signal meets predetermined image quality standards.
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Abstract
A hand-held optical reader for reading 2D bar code symbols. The reader includes an illuminating system for illuminating the symbol and an optical system for focusing an image thereof on a 2D image sensor. The image sensor is of the type which allows its imaging parameters, such as exposure, to be controlled by external circuitry. The reader also includes an image sensor processor which sets and changes the imaging parameters used by the image sensor as necessary to meet predetermined image quality criteria and to reduce the time necessary to complete a read operation.
361 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An optical reader for reading data from an indicia of the two dimensional type including, in combination:
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an illumination system for directing light against said indicia; an optical system for receiving light scattered from said indicia and forming said light into an image; an image sensor circuit for receiving said image, for converting said image into a set of electrical signals and for processing said electrical signals in accordance with a plurality of sensor operating parameters to generate an image data signal that contains said data, said image sensor circuit comprising an integrated circuit including at least an on-chip two-dimensional array of picture elements, an on-chip timing control circuit, and an on-chip exposure control circuit and having a plurality of control inputs for receiving control signals for controlling said control circuits and an output for outputting said image data signal; an image sensor control circuit including a data input for receiving said image data signal;
a plurality of control outputs through which said control signals may be supplied to the control inputs of said image sensor circuit to interactively control said control circuits; and
a stored program for determining the magnitudes of said sensor operating parameters, and for controlling the generation of said control signals in accordance with information derived from said image data signal to assure that said image data signal meets predetermined image quality standards. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15)
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8. An optical reader for reading data from an indicia of the two dimensional type including, in combination;
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an illumination system for directing light against said indicia; an optical system for receiving light scattered from said indicia and forming said light into an image of said indicia; image sensing means for receiving said image, for converting said image into a set of electrical signals, and for processing said electrical signals in accordance with a plurality of mode control signals to generate an image data signal that contains said data, said image sensing means including at least a two-dimensional array of picture elements, a timing control circuit, and an exposure control circuit, and having a plurality of control inputs for receiving said mode control signals and thereby controlling said control circuits and an output for outputting said image data signal; a programmable control circuit including a data input for receiving said image data signal, a plurality of outputs for outputting said mode control signals, and a stored program for controlling the generation of said mode control signals, said program storing at least one image quality criteria and being responsive to information derived from said image data signal to assure that said image sensing means and said programmable control circuit operate cooperatively and interactively to assure that said image data signal meets said at least one image quality criteria. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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Specification