Long range optical reader
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical reader for reading a decodable indicia disposed on a substrate, said optical reader comprising:
- an imaging assembly including an image sensor having a plurality of photodetectors, said imaging assembly further including optics focusing an image onto said image sensor, said image sensor being selected from the group consisting of a 1D image sensor and a 2D image sensor, said imaging assembly further having an imaging axis;
a hand held housing encapsulating said image sensor;
a manual trigger disposed proximate a periphery of said hand held housing;
a targeting system including at least one laser diode assembly, said targeting system being configured to direct laser light toward said substrate; and
a control circuit communicatively coupled to said imaging assembly, said manual trigger and said targeting system, said control circuit being configured so that in response to said manual trigger being actuated said control circuit (a) repetitively captures frames of image data and attempts to decode decodable indicia represented therein, (b) counts a delay, wherein said control circuit further in response to said manual trigger being actuated (c) maintains said laser diode assembly in an OFF state if said control circuit successfully decodes an indicia prior to a time at which said delay is equal to or exceeds a threshold delay, and (d) drives said laser diode assembly into an ON state if said delay becomes equal to or greater than said threshold delay prior to a time at which said control circuit successfully decodes a decodable indicia.
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Abstract
An indicia decoding device can have an image sensor and a laser diode assembly configured to project laser light onto a substrate. When a trigger signal is received by the indicia decoding device, the device can calculate a delay and enable the laser diode assembly if a delay threshold is satisfied. The indicia decoding device, in one embodiment, can include a hand held housing and an imaging module carrying the image sensor.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. An optical reader for reading a decodable indicia disposed on a substrate, said optical reader comprising:
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an imaging assembly including an image sensor having a plurality of photodetectors, said imaging assembly further including optics focusing an image onto said image sensor, said image sensor being selected from the group consisting of a 1D image sensor and a 2D image sensor, said imaging assembly further having an imaging axis; a hand held housing encapsulating said image sensor; a manual trigger disposed proximate a periphery of said hand held housing; a targeting system including at least one laser diode assembly, said targeting system being configured to direct laser light toward said substrate; and a control circuit communicatively coupled to said imaging assembly, said manual trigger and said targeting system, said control circuit being configured so that in response to said manual trigger being actuated said control circuit (a) repetitively captures frames of image data and attempts to decode decodable indicia represented therein, (b) counts a delay, wherein said control circuit further in response to said manual trigger being actuated (c) maintains said laser diode assembly in an OFF state if said control circuit successfully decodes an indicia prior to a time at which said delay is equal to or exceeds a threshold delay, and (d) drives said laser diode assembly into an ON state if said delay becomes equal to or greater than said threshold delay prior to a time at which said control circuit successfully decodes a decodable indicia. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An optical reader comprising:
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an imaging assembly having a plural photodetector image sensor and an imaging axis; an illumination assembly comprising at least one illumination LED and at least one laser diode assembly, wherein said illumination assembly is adapted to project an aiming pattern onto a substrate; and a control circuit in communication with said imaging assembly and said illumination assembly, wherein said reader has an operating mode in which said control circuit, in response to receipt of a trigger signal; calculates a delay; captures at least one frame of image data; subjects said at least one frame of image data to an indicia decode attempt; and enables said laser diode assembly to project said aiming pattern onto said substrate provided that said indicia decode attempt is not successful and said delay is equal to or greater than a threshold delay. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An indicia decoding device comprising:
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an imaging assembly having a plural photodetector image sensor, an optics focusing target indicia onto said plural photodetector image sensor, and an imaging axis; a hand held housing encapsulating said image sensor; at least one laser diode assembly, wherein said laser diode assembly is adapted to project visible laser light onto a substrate in a predetermined pattern; and a control circuit in communication with said imaging assembly and said illumination assembly, wherein said reader has an operating mode in which said control circuit, in response to receipt of a trigger signal; calculates a delay; captures at least one frame of image data; subjects said at least one frame of image data to an indicia decode attempt; and enables said laser diode assembly to project said visible laser light onto said substrate in said predetermined pattern provided that said decode attempt is not successful and a delay threshold has been satisfied, whereby enabling of said laser diode assembly is avoided if said control circuit successfully decodes a first frame of image data that is subject to a decode attempt subsequent to said receipt of said trigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An indicia decoding device capable of decoding decodable indicia disposed on a substrate, said indicia decoding device comprising:
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an imaging assembly having a plural photodetector two dimensional image sensor, optics focusing target indicia onto said plural photodetector two dimensional image sensor, and an imaging axis; a hand held housing encapsulating said plural photodetector two dimensional image sensor; at least one laser diode assembly, wherein said laser diode assembly is adapted to project visible laser light onto said substrate in a predetermined pattern; and a control circuit in communication with said imaging assembly and said illumination assembly, wherein said indicia decoding device has an operating mode in which said control circuit, in response to receipt of a trigger signal; calculates a delay; captures at least one frame of image data; subjects said at least one frame of image data to an indicia decode attempt; and enables said laser diode assembly to project said visible laser light onto said substrate in said predetermined pattern provided that said decode attempt is not successful and a delay threshold has been satisfied, whereby said laser diode assembly is enabled subsequent to receipt of a trigger signal only under difficult reading conditions. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification