Portable data file readers

• US 5,992,751 A
• Filed: 12/21/1995
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Norand Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Laser, Vadim
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US08/576,207
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/462, 235/463, 235/454, 235/455, 235/467, 348/218
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10524 Hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1013 Multi-focal
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10574 Multiple sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10752 Exposure time control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1092 sensing by means of TV-scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes

Abstract

The present invention utilizes photosensitive arrays for decoding optically readable portable data files. The invention accomplishes focusing, controlling image exposure, capturing data files, and processing information contained within optically readable portable data files.

Claims

1. A process for decoding a portable data file with a data file reader, comprising:

(a) aiming one or more beams of photons at a data file to be read;

(b) capturing the reflected light image of a data file to be read for preprocessing;

(c) determining whether said data file is within focal range;

(d) prompting a user to position said data file reader at a distance from a portable data file to be read which is within decoding range;

(f) controlling the exposure of said data file;

(g) triggering the capture of said data file when said data file reader has been positioned by a user a decodable distance from said data file;

(h) capturing said data file with a photosensitive array;

(i) digitizing said captured data file;

(j) processing said captured data file; and

(k) indicating to a user said data file has been captured.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the method for aiming one or more beams of photons includes utilizing one or more light emitting diodes such that said beams produce corresponding images on a plane of paid data file.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein toe method for capturing an image for preprocessing includes obtaining an image field containing a fraction of an information contained within a complete image field such that faster processing may be accomplished.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the method for determining whether said data file is within focal range includes obtaining the images produced by said aiming beams and detecting convergence of said aiming beams such that said data file is within focal range upon convergence of said aiming beams.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the method for determining whether said data file is within focal range includes obtaining the images produced by sand aiming beams and analyzing the shape of the fiducial marks produced by said aiming beams whereby the overlap of the image produced by said aiming beams correlates to the displacement of said data file from focal range.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the method for determining whether staid data file is within focal range includes obtaining the images produced by said aiming beams and detecting the distance of separation of the images produced by sod aiming beams such that the distance of separation of the images produced by said aiming beams correlates to a displacement of said data file from focal range.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the method for determining whether said data file is within focal range includes obtaining the images produced by said aiming beams and varying the power of one or more of said aiming beams for determining which image is produced by which of said beams for further determining the direction of the displacement of said data file from focal range.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the method for determining whether said data file is within focal range includes obtaining the image produced by said beams and turning off one or more of said beams for determining which image is produced by which of said beams for further determining the direction of the displacement of said data file from focal range.

9. The process according to claim 1, wherein the method for focusing said data file image upon a photosensitive array includes moving a focusing lens along a line normal to the plane of said photosensitive array.

10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the method for focusing said data file image upon a photosensitive array includes moving a focusing lens along a line transverse to a line normal to the plane of said photosensitive array.

11. The process according to claim 1, wherein the method for focusing said data file image upon a photosensitive array includes moving a focusing lens along a line transverse to a line normal to the plane of said photosensitive array whereby the image upon said array remains a constant percentage of the total image zone.

12. The process according to claim 1, wherein the method for prompting whether said data file is within focal range includes producing a line of variable length such that the length of said line correlates to the displacement of said data file from focal range.

13. The process according to claim 1, wherein the method for prompting whether said data file is within focal range includes producing a tone of variable waveform and frequency whereby said tone correlates to the displacement of said data file from focal range.

14. The process according to claim 1, wherein the method for controlling the exposure of said data file including preprocessing comprises:

(a) obtaining an image at a first exposure for preprocessing;

(b) processing said image by analyzing the illumination from the ambient light conditions;

(c) determining whether auxiliary illumination of said data file is required whereby an image of said data file may be obtained at a second exposure;

(d) obtaining a subsequent image at a third exposure for further preprocessing; and

(e) determining whether said exposure is sufficient or whether obtaining an image at subsequent exposures is necessary until sufficient exposure is obtained.

15. The process according to claim 1, wherein the triggering of the capture of said data file occurs upon a determination by preprocessing that said data file is within focal range.

16. The process according to claim 1, wherein the triggering of the capture of said data file occurs upon convergence of said aiming beams.

17. The process according to claim 1, wherein the triggering of the capture of said data file occurs upon overlap of the images produced by said aiming beams whereby said overlap correlates to a displacement of said data file within focal range.

18. The process according to claim 1, wherein the triggering of the capture of said data file occurs upon separation of the images produced by said aiming beams whereby the distance of said separation correlates to a displacement of said data file within focal range.

19. The process according to claim 1, wherein the capturing of said data file image includes focusing said data file image on a photosensitive array such that photons incident upon said array are converted to electrical charges whereby such electrical charges produce analog voltage signals corresponding to said data file image.

20. The process according to claim 1, wherein the capturing of said data file includes utilizing the storage capability of a photosensitive array so that said photosensitive array implements an analog memory storage device.

21. The process according to claim 1, wherein the digitizing of said captured data file includes converting said captured data file image to a discrete-time digital signal using an analog-to-digital converter.

22. The process according to claim 1, wherein the processing of said captured data file includes processing said data file using a digital signal processor.

23. A portable data file reader, comprising:

(a) a frame having a window;

(b) a photosensitive array mounted within said frame and behind said window, said array for converting images into corresponding electrical signals;

(c) an optical string between said frame window and said array for focusing an image of optically readable information on said array;

(d) at least two electromagnetic beam generators mounted on said frame such that the beams of said generators cross near the point of best focus of said optical string;

(e) computer means for processing said electrical signals from said array; and

(f) capturing means for obtaining an image for preprocessing whereby focusing and exposure control may be achieved.

24. The reader of claims 23 further comprising triggering means for initiating the capture of said data file.

25. The reader of claims 23 further comprising image capturing means for obtaining an electrical representation of said data file image.

26. The reader of claims 23 further comprising analog to digital signal conversion means for obtaining a digital discrete-time representation of said data file.

27. The reader of claims 23 further comprising signal control means for electronic processing and manipulation of said data file.

28. The reader of claims 23 further comprising electronic memory means for temporary storage of said data file.

29. A portable data file reader, comprising:

(a) a frame having a window;

(b) a photosensitive array mounted within said frame and behind said window, said array for converting images into corresponding electrical signals;

(c) an optical string between said frame window and said array for focusing an image of optically readable information on said array;

(d) at least two electromagnetic beam generators mounted on said frame such that the beams of said generators cross near the point of best focus of said optical string;

(e) computer means for processing said electrical signals from said array; and

(f) range means for determining whether said data file is within focal range.

30. A portable data file reader, comprising:

(a) a frame having a window;

(b) a photosensitive array mounted within said frame and behind said window, said array for converting images into corresponding electrical signals;

(c) an optical string between said frame window and said array for focusing an image of optically readable information on said array;

(d) at least two electromagnetic beam generators mounted on said frame such that the beams of said generators cross near the point of best focus of said optical string;

(e) computer means for processing said electrical signals from said array; and

(f) focusing indicating means for signaling that said data file is within focal range.

31. A portable data file reader, comprising:

(a) a frame having a window;

(b) a photosensitive array mounted within said frame and behind said window, said array for converting images into corresponding electrical signals;

(c) an optical string between said frame window and said array for focusing an image of optically readable information on said array;

(d) at least two electromagnetic beam generators mounted on said frame such that the beams of said generators cross near the point of best focus of said optical string;

(e) computer means for processing said electrical signals from said array; and

(f) exposure control means for adjusting the sensitivity of said sensor to varying ambient light conditions.

32. A portable data file reader, comprising:

(a) a two-dimensional sensor array;

(b) an optical lens, said optical lens being moveable relative to the optical axis of said two-dimensional sensor array;

(c) means for reciprocating said optical lens relative to said two-dimensional sensor array; and

(d) means for accurately positioning the portable data file reader relative to a portable data file to be read.

33. The reader of claims 32 further comprising aiming means for determining the position of said data file relative to the focal range.

34. The reader of claims 32 further comprising capturing means for obtaining an image for preprocessing whereby focusing and exposure control may be achieved.

35. The reader of claims 32 further comprising means for determining whether said data file is within focal range.

36. The reader of claims 32 further comprising focusing means for capturing a focused image of said data file.

37. The reader of claims 32 further comprising focusing indicating means for signaling that said data file is within focal range.

38. The reader of claims 32 further comprising exposure control means for adjusting the sensitivity of said sensor to varying ambient light conditions.

39. The reader of claims 32 further comprising triggering means for initiating the capture of said data file.

40. The reader of claims 32 further comprising image capturing means for obtaining an electrical representation of said data file image.

41. The reader of claims 32 further comprising analog to digital signal conversion means for obtaining a digital discrete-time representation of said data file.

42. The reader of claims 32 further comprising signal control means for electronic processing and manipulation of said data file.

43. The reader of claims 32 further comprising electronic memory means for temporary storage of said data file.