Image capture device for and method of electro-optically reading indicia at low ambient light levels

• US 7,014,114 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Maiman, Mitchell H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US10/679,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20050072845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/472.01, 235/462.31, 235/462.1, 235/375, 235/462.43, 235/462.01, 235/462.26, 235/455, 235/462.45, 235/462.06, 235/462.42, 235/462.11, 235/462.2, 250/208.6, 250/553, 250/566, 455/556.1, 455/575.1, 359/663, 359/821, 382/141
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources

Abstract

External lighting on a data collection terminal provides additional illumination in which to capture an image of an optical code to be electro-optically read by the terminal.

Claims

1. An image capture device for electro-optically reading indicia, comprising:

a) a housing bounding an interior and having an exterior front wall facing the indicia, and a light-transmissive window mounted on the exterior front wall;

b) an imaging module located within the interior of the housing and having an array of spaced-apart sensors for detecting incident light reflected from the indicia through the window over a field of view, and an internal light source for providing background illumination; and

c) a single pair of external light emitting diodes (LEDs) flanking the window and mounted on the exterior front wall of the housing, the LEDs being mounted in sleeves perpendicularly projecting past the window for additionally illuminating the indicia with additional illumination to generate a broad, brightly illuminated area in which the indicia is imaged.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a keyboard and a display and constitutes a data collection terminal.

3. The device of claim 1, and further comprising control means for detecting the ambient illumination, and for energizing the LEDs when the detected ambient illumination is below a threshold level.