Decoding of real time video imaging

• US 6,015,088 A
• Filed: 11/04/1997
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Parker, James A., Ehrhart, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Diane I.
• Application Number:
  US08/964,341
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/375, 235/384, 235/382, 235/385, 382/183, 382/291, 382/292
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/002 Special television systems not provided for by H04N7/007 - H04N7/18 still pictures via a television channel H04N1/00098

Abstract

A process allows an image capturing apparatus to be integrated with a personal computer to continuously display a video image of the imaging apparatus. Upon proper input by a user, or automatically after a timed interval, a snapshot of the video image is captured. An autodiscrimination process of the captured video image automatically decodes any bar-coded information present in the captured image and outputs the information.

Claims

1. A process for capturing and decoding bar-code information in real time from a continuously displayed image video signal, comprising the steps of:

aiming an imaging apparatus at a target of interest, said target having at least one of optically readable and bar coded information contained thereupon;

continually displaying a real time image of said target from said imaging apparatus;

selectively capturing and storing an instantaneous image of said target into the memory of a computer;

determining if bar-coded information is present in said stored image;

decoding bar-code information if bar-code readable information is contained on said instantaneous stored image while maintaining the display of said real-time image; and

outputting the decoded bar-coded information.

2. A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said selective capturing step is performed automatically after a predetermined time interval.

3. A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said capturing step is selectively performed by input supplied through input means linked to said imaging apparatus.

4. A process as recited in claim 3, wherein said input means is a keyboard.

5. A process as recited in claim 3, wherein said input means is a mouse.

6. A process as recited in claim 3, wherein said input means is a signal from one of at least one of an external, remote and host device.

7. A process as recited in claim 1, including the step of outputting said decoded information adjacent said real-time displayed image.

8. A process as recited in claim 1, including the step of outputting said decoded information to a computer file.

9. A process as recited in claim 1, including the step of outputting said decoded information to a computer keyboard buffer.

10. A process as recited in claim 1, including the step of outputting wherein said decoded information to a pop-up dialogue box.

11. A process as recited in claim 1, including the step of outputting said decoded information to an application'"'"'s clipboard.

12. A process as recited in claim 1, including the step of integrating said process with an external software application and outputting said decoded information to said application.

13. A process as recited in claim 1, including the step of storing captured images in which at least some of said images include bar code information.

14. A process for capturing and decoding bar-coded information in real time from a continuously displayed video signal of a target of interest, said process comprising the steps of:

aiming an imaging apparatus at a target of interest;

continually displaying a real time image of said target obtained from said imaging apparatus;

selectively capturing an instantaneous displayed image of said target and storing said image into computer memory;

determining if bar-coded information is present in said captured and stored image;

decoding all bar-coded information present in said captured and stored image while continually displaying said real time image of said target; and

outputting the decoded bar-code information onto said real time displayed image.

15. A process as recited in claim 14, wherein said selective capturing step further includes the step of automatically capturing said instantaneous image after a predetermined time interval.

16. A process as recited in claim 14, wherein said target contains an indeterminate number of bar-coded segments disposed indiscriminately throughout, said process including the further steps of:

identifying all bar-coded information in the field of view of said captured image;

decoding all bar-coded information segments found in said captured image; and

outputting the decoded bar-coded information of each segment onto said real-time displayed image, wherein the bar-coded information can include distinct 1D and 2D symbologies.

17. A process as recited in claim 14, wherein said capturing step includes the step of selectively inputting a capture signal to said imaging apparatus.

18. A process as recited in claim 14, including the step of outputting said decoded information to a computer file.

19. A process as recited in claim 14, including the step of outputting said decoded information to a pop-up dialogue box which is displayed.

20. A process as recited in claim 14, including the step of additionally storing said captured images and decoded bar-coded information into memory after said outputting step.

21. A process as recited in claim 20, wherein said storing step includes the storing of images regardless of whether bar-coded information has been determined during said determining step.

22. Apparatus for capturing and decoding bar-coded information from a target of interest comprising:

imaging means for imaging a target of interest, said target having at least one of optically readable and bar-coded information contained therein;

processing means for processing an imaged target;

display means for continually displaying a real-time image of said target from said imaging and processing means;

image capture means for selectively capturing at least one image displayed by said display means;

scanning means for scanning said at least one captured image and for determining the presence of bar-coded information in the field of view of said at least one captured image;

decoding means for decoding any bar-coded information detected by said scanning means; and

output means for outputting the decoded bar-coded information to said display means.

23. Apparatus as recited in claim 22, including discrimination means for discriminating the type of bar-coded information present in said at least one captured image.

24. Apparatus as recited in claim 22, including input means connected to said image capture means for inputting a signal to operate said scanning means and said decoding means when an image is captured.

25. Apparatus as recited in claim 22, including storage means for selectively storing images captured by said image capture means regardless of whether bar-coded information is present.