Method and apparatus for optically reading information
First Claim
1. A method of optically reading information occupying an information area and wherein information content may be represented by varying optical reflectivity along respective orthogonal axes of the information area, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning a user-supported optical reader containing a photosensor which reads along row and column pixel axes, so that the optical reader is within a range of distances from the information area, and so that the orthogonal axes of the information area occupy a range of angular relationships to the pixel axes along which the photosensor reads;
(b) marking the information area with at least one beam of light;
(c) imaging, for said range of distances and said range of angular relationships, the information area onto the photosensor so that the information content of the information area is imaged onto the photosensor without requiring prior angular movement of the user-supported optical reader; and
(d) generating a digital representation of the information content imaged from the information area onto the photosensor for any position of the information area relative to the user-supported optical reader within said range of distances and for any angular relationship between said orthogonal axes of the information area and the pixel axes along which the photosensor images.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and appartus for optically reading information is disclosed. The apparatus includes a photosensor, and a reading system capable of generating a decoded signal regardless of the orientation of the optical indicia relative to the photosensor. The method includes steps of positioning a user-supported optical reader containing a photosensor, imaging an information area onto the photosensor without requiring prior angular movement of the reader, and generating a digital representation of content imaged from the information area onto the photosensor for any angular relationship between orthogonal axes of the information area and the pixel axes of the photosensor.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method of optically reading information occupying an information area and wherein information content may be represented by varying optical reflectivity along respective orthogonal axes of the information area, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning a user-supported optical reader containing a photosensor which reads along row and column pixel axes, so that the optical reader is within a range of distances from the information area, and so that the orthogonal axes of the information area occupy a range of angular relationships to the pixel axes along which the photosensor reads;
(b) marking the information area with at least one beam of light;
(c) imaging, for said range of distances and said range of angular relationships, the information area onto the photosensor so that the information content of the information area is imaged onto the photosensor without requiring prior angular movement of the user-supported optical reader; and
(d) generating a digital representation of the information content imaged from the information area onto the photosensor for any position of the information area relative to the user-supported optical reader within said range of distances and for any angular relationship between said orthogonal axes of the information area and the pixel axes along which the photosensor images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of optically reading information occupying an information area and wherein information content may be represented by varying optical reflectivity along respective orthogonal axes of the information area, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning a user-supported optical reader containing a photosensor that reads along row and column pixel axes so that the orthogonal axes of the information area occupy a range of angular relationships to the pixel axes along which the photosensor reads;
(b) automatically focussing the user-supported optical reader on the information area;
(c) marking the information area with at least one beam of light;
(d) imaging, for said range of angular relationships, the information area onto the photosensor so that the information content of the information area is imaged onto the photosensor without requiring prior angular movement of the user-supported optical reader; and
(e) generating a digital representation of the information content imaged from the information area onto the photosensor for any angular relationship between said orthogonal axes of the information area and the pixel axes along which the photosensor images. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of optically reading information occupying an information area and wherein information content may be represented by varying optical reflectivity along respective orthogonal axes of the information area, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning a user-supported optical reader containing a photosensor which reads along row and column pixel axes, so that the optical reader is within a range of distances from the information area, and so that the orthogonal axes of the information area occupy a range of angular relationships to the pixel axes along which the photosensor reads;
(b) automatically focussing the user-supported optical reader on the information area;
(c) imaging, for said range of distances and said range of angular relationships, the information area onto the photosensor so that the information content of the information area is imaged onto the photosensor without requiring prior angular movement of the user-supported optical reader; and
(d) generating a digital representation of the information content imaged from the information area onto the photosensor for any position of the information area relative to the user-supported optical reader within said range of distances and for any angular relationship between said orthogonal axes of the information area and the pixel axes along which the photosensor images. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A user-supported optical indicia reader, comprising:
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(a) a photosensor area array, located in the user-supported optical indicia reader, positioned to capture an image of an imaging area located externally of the user-supported optical indicia reader, said photosensor area array outputting a signal descriptive of the imaging area;
(b) a marker generating component, located in said user-supported optical indicia reader, to generate at least one beam of light energy to mark the imaging area; and
(c) a reading system having an input accepting the signal output by said photosensor area array, said reading system further having an analysis system capable of converting the inputted signal into a decoded signal representative of information contained within an imaged optical indicia;
the reading system being capable of generating a decoded signal regardless of the orientation of the optical indicia relative to said photosensor area array. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A user-supported optical indicia reader, comprising:
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(a) a photosensor area array, located in the user-supported optical indicia reader, positioned to capture an image of an imaging area located externally of the user-supported optical indicia reader, said photosensor area array outputting a signal descriptive of the imaging area;
(b) an autofocus system, located in said user-supported optical indicia reader, to automatically focus the imaging area onto said photosensor area array; and
(c) a reading system having an input accepting the signal output by said photosensor area array, said reading system further having an analysis system capable of converting the inputted signal into a decoded signal representative of information contained within an imaged optical indicia;
the reading system being capable of generating a decoded signal regardless of the orientation of the optical indicia relative to said photosensor area array. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A user-supported optical indicia reader, comprising:
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(a) a photosensor area array, located in the user-supported optical indicia reader, positioned to capture an image of an imaging area located externally of the user-supported optical indicia reader, said photosensor area array outputting a signal descriptive of the imaging area;
(b) a marker generating component, located in said user-supported optical indicia reader, to generate at least one beam of light energy to mark the imaging area;
(c) an autofocus system, located in said user-supported optical indicia reader, to automatically focus the imaging area onto said photosensor area array; and
(d) a reading system having an input accepting the signal output by said photosensor area array, said reading system further having an analysis system capable of converting the inputted signal into a decoded signal representative of information contained within an imaged optical indicia;
the reading system being capable of generating a decoded signal regardless of the orientation of the optical indicia relative to said photosensor area array. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification