Code reader having replaceable optics assemblies supporting multiple illuminators

• US 6,034,379 A
• Filed: 02/27/1997
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Danielson, Arvin D., Bunte, Alan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US08/807,653
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 250/234, 250/235, 250/205, 250/566, 235/455, 235/437, 235/472, 235/462, 235/454, 382/313
• US Class Current: 250/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10801 Multidistance reading

Abstract

A code reader configured with a plurality of types of illuminators is disclosed. Having access to the plurality of illuminator types, the code reader controls a reading attempt by first selecting and using one of the available illuminators. If the use of that illuminator fails to yield a valid read, the code reader selects a second of the available illuminators and reattempts the read. Again, upon failure to obtain a valid read, the coder reader selects yet another illuminator and so on until a valid read is obtained else all illuminator options have been exhausted. Illuminator selection order is set as a factory default, but adapts based on actual performance in a users environment. Alternately, illuminator order selection is based on range from the target. Such range may be proximity based, or based on marker beam distance calculations. Additionally, the illuminators are mounted on a single assembly along with read control program memory for ease in upgrade replacement. The illuminators share one or more detectors in performing read operations.

Claims

1. A code reader utilized by a user to read optical indicia on a target surface, said code reader comprising:

a first type of illuminator;

a second type of illuminator, the first and second types of illuminators utilizing different illumination technologies;

at least one detector that receives light reflected by the optical indicia and originating from either one of said first and second types of illuminators and that provides signals indicative thereof;

a processor coupled to said first and second types of illuminators and said at least one detector;

said processor selecting said first type of illuminator to illuminate the optical indicia and decoding said signals from the at least one detector to conduct at least one read attempt; and

said processor selecting said second type of illuminator to illuminate the optical indicia and decoding said signals from the at least one detector to conduct at least one subsequent read attempt if said processor is unable to successfully decode said signals from said at least one detector during said at least one read attempt by said first type of illuminator.

2. The code reader of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one additional detector that receives light originating at one of said first type of illuminator or said second type of illuminator.

3. The code reader of claim 1 wherein said processor first chooses said second type of illuminator to conduct at least one read attempt and then chooses said first type of illuminator to conduct at least one subsequent read attempt if said processor determines via preference calculations that said second type of illuminator is more likely to result in a successful read attempt.

4. The code reader of claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a photodetector array.

5. The code reader of claim 1 wherein said first and second types of illuminators are mounted on a single circuit board assembly which can be removed and replaced with other single circuit board assemblies having other types and combinations of illuminators mounted thereon.

6. A code reader utilized by a user to read optical indicia on a target surface, said code reader comprising:

a first type of illuminator for illuminating optical indicia located within a first range from said code reader;

a second type of illuminator for illuminating optical indicia located within a second range from said code reader, the first and second tries of illuminators utilizing different illumination technologies;

at least one detector that receives light reflected by optical indicia located within either one of the first and second ranges and originating from either one of said first and second types of illuminators and that provides signals indicative thereof;

a processor coupled to said first and second types of illuminators and said at least one detector; and

said processor selecting said first type of illuminator to illuminate the optical indicia located within the first range and decoding said signals from the at least one detector to conduct read attempts for optical indicia located within the first range, and selecting said second type of illuminator to illuminate the optical indicia located within the second range and decoding said signals from the at least one detector to conduct read attempts for optical indicia located within the second range.

7. The code reader of claim 6 wherein either one of the first and second ranges is determined using at least one marker beam originating from either said first or second illuminator.

8. The code reader of claim 6, wherein either one of the first and second ranges is determined using a proximity detection performed by said processor based on reflected light received by said at least one detector.

9. The code reader of claim 7 wherein said at least one detector comprises a two-dimensional photodetector array.

10. The code reader of claim 6 wherein said first and second types of illuminators are mounted on a single circuit card assembly which can be removed and replaced with other single circuit board assemblies having other types and combinations of illuminators mounted thereon.

11. A code reader utilized by a user to read optical indicia on a target surface, said code reader comprising:

a first type of illuminator that simultaneously illuminates the entire optical indicia to enable reading the optical indicia;

a second type of illuminator that illuminates the optical indicia over time while scanning the optical indicia to enable reading the optical indicia;

at least one detector that receives light reflected by the optical indicia and originating from either one of said first and second types of illuminators; and

a processors coupled to said at least one detector and to said first and second types of illuminators, that selects either one of said first and second types of illuminators to illuminate the optical indicia and that processes signals from said at least one detector.

12. The code reader of claim 11, said at least one detector further comprising:

a first type of detector for receiving light originating at said first type of illuminator; and

a second type of detector for receiving light originating at said second type of illuminator.

13. The code read of claim 12 wherein said first type of detector comprises a photodetector array and wherein said second type of detector comprises a photodetector.

14. A code reader for use as a terminal device and to read optical indicia on a target surface, said code reader comprising:

a housing sized for portability having a display and input means disposed thereon;

a battery power supply disposed within said housing;

a control processing circuit disposed within said housing which interactively controls the display and input means;

a detector circuit disposed within said housing which receives and processes reflections from optical indicia;

a plurality of different types of illuminator assemblies utilizing different illumination technologies each of the illuminator assemblies having at least one type of illuminator disposed thereon;

a connector disposed within said housing that receives and removeably couples any one of the plurality of different types of illuminator assemblies; and

said connector communicatively coupling one of said plurality of different types of illuminator assemblies with said control processing circuit when said one of said plurality of different types of illuminator assemblies is removeably coupled to said connector.

15. The code reader of claim 14 wherein said detector circuit comprising a two-dimensional photodetector array.

16. The code reader of claim 14 wherein each of the plurality of different types of illuminator assemblies contains program memory which stores instructions relating to read processing.

17. The code reader of claim 14 wherein said detector circuit comprising a two-dimensional photosensor array.

18. The code reader of claim 15 wherein said connector is configured to PCMCIA standards.

19. The code reader of claim 14 wherein at least one of the plurality of different types of illuminator assemblies contains two different types of illuminators.

20. The code reader of claim 19 wherein said control processing circuit chooses one of said two different types of illuminators for use in first read attempts, and chooses the other of said two different types of illuminators for use in second read attempts.

21. The code reader of claim 20 wherein said control processing circuit first chooses the other of said two types of illuminators for use in first read attempts and then chooses said one of said two types of illuminators for use in second read attempts.

22. The code reader of claim 19 wherein said control processing circuit selects one of the two types of illuminators to conduct read attempts for optical indicia located within the first range, and selects the other of the two types of illuminators to conduct read attempts for optical indicia located within the second range.

23. The code reader of claim 22, wherein either one of the first and second ranges is determined using a proximity detection performed by said processor based on reflected light received by said at least one detector.

24. The code reader of claim 22 wherein either one of the first and second ranges is determined using at least one marker beam originating from either said first or second illuminator.