Image capture device with projected display

• US 7,071,931 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Inventors: Tegreene, Clarence T., Lewis, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US10/687,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20040075624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 345/48, 345/7, 345/9, 345/89, 345/98, 345/32, 345/207, 345/426, 235/461, 235/462, 235/463, 235/467, 235/473, 359/213, 359/215, 359/216, 359/237
• US Class Current: 345/207
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0858 the reflecting means being moved or deformed by piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/101 with both horizontal and vertical deflecting means, e.g. raster or XY scanners colour television using laser beams scanning a display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0276 for the purpose of adaptation to the characteristics of a display device, i.e. gamma correction
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0285 using tables for spatial correction of display data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/043 Preventing or counteracting the effects of ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/02 by tracing or scanning a light beam on a screen

Abstract

An image capture device includes provision for projecting indicia onto an object surface. For a scanned beam image capture device, the image may be projected from the scan engine. The light source includes provision for modulating the intensity of its output. A controller modulates the output of the light source according to its position, forming a projected pattern. When the image capture device is an indicia reader such as a linear or 2D bar code scanner, the results of a decode attempt may be used to determine the contents of projected information. When a “no decode” is returned, the user may be prompted to scan again. When a decoded symbol includes directly useful data, all or a portion of the data may be projected. When the data refers to a look-up table, information from the look-up table may be projected. The device may additionally project finder patterns to aid aiming.

Claims

1. A scanned beam image capture device, comprising:

a visible light source;

a beam director aligned to receive a beam of light from the visible light source and direct it in a scan pattern across a field of view;

a detector aligned to receive light reflected from the field of view;

a decoder containing first computer instructions for decoding a two-dimensional symbol represented by patterns of light received by the detector; and

a display controller coupled to the decoder and containing second computer instructions for modulating the visible light source to produce a variable displayed pattern of light on the field of view.

2. A scanned beam image capture device, comprising:

a visible light source;

a beam director aligned to receive a beam of light from the visible light source and direct it in a scan pattern across a field of view;

a detector aligned to receive light reflected from the field of view;

a decoder containing first computer instructions for decoding a two-dimensional symbol represented by patterns of light received by the detector; and

a display controller coupled to the decoder and containing second computer instructions for modulating the visible light source to produce a variable displayed pattern of light on the field of view;

wherein the variable displayed pattern of light includes a finder pattern.

3. A scanned beam image capture device, comprising:

a visible light source;

a beam director aligned to receive a beam of light from the visible light source and direct it in a scan pattern across a field of view;

a detector aligned to receive light reflected from the field of view;

a decoder containing first computer instructions for decoding a two-dimensional symbol represented by patterns of light received by the detector; and

a display controller coupled to the decoder and containing second computer instructions for modulating the visible light source to produce a variable displayed pattern of light on the field of view;

wherein the variable displayed pattern of light includes human readable indicia.

4. A scanned beam image capture device, comprising:

a visible light source;

a beam director aligned to receive a beam of light from the visible light source and direct it in a scan pattern across a field of view;

a detector aligned to receive light reflected from the field of view;

a decoder containing first computer instructions for decoding a two-dimensional symbol represented by patterns of light received by the detector; and

a display controller coupled to the decoder and containing second computer instructions for modulating the visible light source to produce a variable displayed pattern of light on the field of view;

wherein the variable displayed pattern of light includes human readable text.

5. A scanned beam image capture device, comprising:

a visible light source;

a beam director aligned to receive a beam of light from the visible light source and direct it in a scan pattern across a field of view;

a detector aligned to receive light reflected from the field of view;

a decoder containing first computer instructions for decoding a two-dimensional symbol represented by patterns of light received by the detector; and

a display controller coupled to the decoder and containing second computer instructions for modulating the visible light source to produce a variable displayed pattern of light on the field of view;

wherein the variable displayed pattern of light is responsive to data decoded by the decoder.

6. A scanned beam image capture device, comprising:

a visible light source;

a beam director aligned to receive a beam of light from the visible light source and direct it in a scan pattern across a field of view;

a detector aligned to receive light reflected from the field of view;

a decoder containing first computer instructions for decoding a two-dimensional symbol represented by patterns of light received by the detector; and

p1 a display controller coupled to the decoder and containing second computer instructions for modulating the visible light source to produce a variable displayed pattern of light on the field of view;

wherein the second computer instructions include a bitmap corresponding to the variable displayed pattern of light.

7. A scanned beam image capture device, comprising:

a visible light source;

a beam director aligned to receive a beam of light from the visible light source and direct it in a scan pattern across a field of view;

a detector aligned to receive light reflected from the field of view;

a decoder containing first computer instructions for decoding a two-dimensional symbol represented by patterns of light received by the detector; and

a display controller coupled to the decoder and containing second computer instructions for modulating the visible light source to produce a variable displayed pattern of light on the field of view;

wherein the step of determining a set of presentation data includes determining that a decode did not occur.

8. A scanned beam image capture device, comprising:

a visible light source;

a beam director aligned to receive a beam of light from the visible light source and direct it in a scan pattern across a field of view;

a detector aligned to receive light reflected from the field of view;

a decoder containing first computer instructions for decoding a two-dimensional symbol represented by patterns of light received by the detector; and

a display controller coupled to the decoder and containing second computer instructions for modulating the visible light source to produce a variable displayed pattern of light on the field of view;

wherein the presentation data includes indicia indicating the need to optically interrogate the surface again.