Image capture system and method

• US 6,976,629 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2003
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Carlson, Bradley S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Diane I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kimberly D.
• Application Number:
  US10/385,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20040032527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 23546201-46249, 235/24, 235/454, 382/140, 382/321, 382/317, 250/200, 250/200.1, 250/206, 250/214.R, 250/214.1, 250/216, 2502081-2086, 250/239
• US Class Current: 235/462.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning

Abstract

A full color image of a target and/or a monochrome image of an optical code are captured by an imaging array in which each sensor measures red, green and blue signals. Optical codes are electro-optically read with higher resolution, sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio, thereby improving performance of optical code readers.

Claims

1. An image capture system, comprising:

a) an imaging array of pixel sensors spaced apart at respective locations in the array for detecting light incident on the sensors, each pixel sensor being operative for measuring each of three primary colors of the incident light at the same location as the respective sensor to obtain a measured red signal, a measured blue signal and a measured green signal;

b) means for combining a plurality of the measured signals to produce a composite signal from each pixel sensor; and

c) means for selecting between a target imaging mode of system operation in which a full color image of a target is captured by the array by processing the measured signals from a plurality of the pixel sensors, and an optical code reading mode of system operation in which a monochrome image of an optical code is captured by the array by processing the composite signal from a plurality of the pixel sensors.

2. The image capture system of claim 1, wherein the combining means is operative for combining the measured red and blue signals to yield the composite signal.

3. The image capture system of claim 1, wherein the combining means includes a voltage summation amplifier.

4. The image capture system of claim 1, wherein the combining means includes a transconductance amplifier.

5. The image capture system of claim 1, wherein the measured signals are analog signals, and wherein the combining means is operative for producing the composite signal as an analog signal.

6. The image capture system of claim 1, wherein the measured signals are analog signals, and wherein the combining means includes a converter for converting the analog signals into respective digital signals, and wherein the combining means is operative for producing the composite signal as a digital signal.

7. The image capture system of claim 1, wherein the means for selecting between modes includes an actuator.

8. The image capture system of claim 7, wherein the actuator includes a manually-operated switch switchable between positions corresponding to the respective modes.

9. The image capture system of claim 1, wherein each sensor is operative for detecting differences in absorption length in silicon of different wavelengths of the incident light.

10. The image capture system of claim 1;

and a support for supporting the array, the means for combining, and the means for selecting.

11. An image capture method, comprising the steps of:

a) detecting light incident on an imaging array of pixel sensors spaced apart at respective locations in the array, each pixel sensor being operative for measuring each of three primary colors of the incident light at the same location as the respective sensor to obtain a measured red signal, a measured blue signal and a measured green signal;

b) combining a plurality of the measured signals to produce a composite signal from each pixel sensor; and

c) selecting between a target imaging mode of operation in which a full color image of a target is captured by the array by processing the measured signals from a plurality of the pixel sensors, and an optical code reading mode of operation in which a monochrome image of an optical code is captured by the array by processing the composite signal from a plurality of the pixel sensors.

12. The image capture method of claim 11, wherein the combining step is performed by combining the measured red and blue signals to yield the composite signal.

13. The image capture method of claim 11, wherein the measured signals are analog signals, and wherein the combining step is performed by producing the composite signal as an analog signal.

14. The image capture method of claim 11, wherein the measured signals are analog signals, and wherein the combining step includes the step of converting the analog signals into respective digital signals, and wherein the combining step is performed by producing the composite signal as a digital signal.

15. The image capture method of claim 11, wherein the selecting step is manually performed.

16. The image capture method of claim 11, wherein the detecting step is performed by detecting differences in absorption length in silicon of different wavelengths of the incident light on each sensor.

17. An image capture system, comprising:

a) an imaging array of pixel sensors spaced apart at respective locations in the array for detecting light incident on the sensors, each pixel sensor being operative for measuring each of three primary colors of the incident light at the same location as the respective sensor to obtain a measured red signal, a measured blue signal and a measured green signal;

b) means for using at least one of the measured signals to produce a composite signal from each pixel sensor; and

c) means for selecting between a target imaging mode of system operation in which a full color image of a target is captured by the array by processing the measured signals from a plurality of the pixel sensors, and an optical code reading mode of system operation in which a monochrome image of an optical code is captured by the array by processing the composite signal from a plurality of the pixel sensors.

18. The image capture system of claim 17, wherein the using means is operative for combining a plurality of the measured signals to produce the composite signal.