Combined code reader and digital camera using a common photodetector

• US 6,330,975 B1
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, James D., Bunte, Alan G., Danielson, Arvin D., Durbin, Dennis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US09/170,689
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 235/470, 235/472.01
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions 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 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00334 with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

An image capture system (100) having an image capture module (102) and a terminal unit (104) captures both photo images and coded images. An alterable optical path of the system (100) operates in a first configuration when capturing coded images and in a second configuration when capturing photo images. Captured images are presented on a display (114) as they are captured. A user of the system (100) may parse through captured images to select one or more of the captured images for permanent storage and/or transmission to a remote location. The system (100) operates to identify coded targets within captured images, to prompt the user to select one or more of the identified coded targets and to decode the selected coded targets. The image capture system (100) may direct a user to reposition the system (100) so that a decodable coded image will be captured. The image capture system (100) communicates over wireless and wired networks with remote computer systems (307), personnel, and mobile units (307).

Claims

1. An image capture system having a capture mode and a decode mode, the image capture system comprising:

an image capture module;

a buffer communicatively coupled to the image capture module for storing an image captured by the image capture module;

a first circuitry communicatively coupled to the buffer, the first circuitry storing the image during the capture mode; and

a second circuitry communicatively coupled to the buffer, the second circuitry decoding the image during the decode mode.

2. The image capture system of claim 1, the image capture module comprising:

a first optical path for capturing coded images; and

a second optical path for capturing photo images.

3. The image capture system of claim 2, wherein the first optical path comprises a first shutter and the second optical path comprises a second shutter.

4. The image capture system of claim 1, the image capture module comprising a single optical path for capturing both coded images and photo images.

5. The image capture system of claim 4, wherein the optical path is alterable depending on the type of image to be captured.

6. The image capture system of claim 1, the image capture module comprising:

a laser scanner; and

a photo-detector.

7. The image capture system of claim 6, the laser scanner configurable to capture either one-dimensional or two-dimensional coded images.

8. The image capture system of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless interface coupled to the first circuitry and the second circuitry, the wireless interface configurable to selectively transmit decoded image data and captured image data.

9. The image capture system of claim 8, further comprising a wireless access device, the wireless interface configured to support communication with the wireless access device.

10. The image capture system of claim 8, further comprising a mobile access device, the wireless interface configured to support communication with the mobile access device.

11. The image capture system of claim 1, further comprising coded image detection circuitry coupled to the buffer.

12. The image capture system of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the buffer for displaying images captured by the image capture module.

13. The image capture system of claim 1, further comprising a keypad interface coupled to the image capture module for altering the functionality of the image capture module.

14. An image capture system, comprising:

a first optical path for capturing coded images;

a second optical path for capturing photo images;

a buffer communicatively coupled to the first optical path and the second optical path for storing the captured images.

15. The image capture system of claim 14, wherein the first optical path comprises a laser scanner.

16. The image capture system of claim 15, the laser scanner configurable to capture either one-dimensional or two-dimensional coded images.

17. The image capture system of claim 14, further comprising decode circuitry coupled to the buffer for decoding captured coded images.

18. The image capture system of claim 17, further comprising a wireless interface coupled to the buffer and the decode circuitry, the wireless interface configurable to transmit decoded image data.

19. An image capture system, comprising:

an optical path for capturing both coded images and photo images;

a buffer communicatively coupled to the optical path for storing captured images; and

lens drive circuitry coupled to the optical path for selectively altering the optics of the optical path depending on the type of image to be captured.

20. The image capture system of claim 19, further comprising a wireless interface coupled to the buffer, the wireless interface configurable to transmit data relating to captured image data.