Optical reader processing two-dimensional electronic representations

• US 7,124,948 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Longacre, Andrew Jr., Hussey, Robert M., Ehrhart, Michael A., Koziol, Thomas J., Parker, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US10/801,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20040262392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 23546201-46247, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03, 235/454, 235/455, 235/494, 235/470
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1017 Programmable
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10544 by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10821 further details of bar or optical code scanning devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1491 the method including a reconstruction step, e.g. stitching two pieces of bar code together to derive the full bar code

Abstract

A reading apparatus is provided for reading indicia. In one embodiment a reading apparatus can include a menuing program and an input/output device. A data source external to the apparatus having a menuing program and an input/output device can transmit reprogram requests and program data through the input/output device. In another embodiment a reading apparatus can have a trigger and first and second operating modes that can be selected by a user. The apparatus having the first and second operating modes can be configured so that a number of image representations that the apparatus stores within a certain time period after a trigger is actuated can be changed from a fixed to variable number when the apparatus is switched from the first to the second operating mode.

Claims

1. In a reading apparatus for scanning and decoding image data that is encoded in one of a plurality of types of optically readable indicia, in combination:

scanning means for scanning said indicia and generating image data indicative of the data encoded therein;

a parameter memory space for storing a list of parameters including a plurality of parameters that define the operating modes of said apparatus, said list of parameters including a plurality of code options that identify the decoding programs that are and are not enabled for use during decoding;

a menuing memory space for storing a menuing program which enables a user at least to modify said list of parameters;

an I/O device through which a data source external to the reading apparatus may transmit reprogram requests and program data to said apparatus;

processing means for executing a plurality of decoding programs in an attempt to decode said image data, said processing means being programmed to respond to a reprogram request initiated by said external data source and to receive program data communicated by said external data source;

whereby said external data source may modify at least one of said list of parameters, said menuing program and said decoding programs.

2. The reading apparatus of claim 1, in which said decoding programs form parts of a 1D/2D autodiscrimination program, and in which said reading apparatus is adapted to receive from said external data source program data which modifies at least one of said decoding programs.

3. The reading apparatus of claim 2, in which said list of parameters includes parameters specifying which of a plurality of scanning-decoding relationships are to exist between the scanning and decoding activities of said reading apparatus during the execution of said 1D/2D autodiscrimination program.

4. In a reading apparatus for scanning and decoding image data that is encoded in one of a plurality of types of optically readable indicia, in combination:

an imaging assembly including a solid state image sensor reading said indicia and generating image data indicative of the data encoded therein;

a parameter memory space storing a list of parameters including a plurality of parameters that define the operating modes of said apparatus, said list of parameters including a plurality of code options that identify the decoding programs that are and are not enabled for use during decoding;

a menuing memory space storing a menuing program which enables a user at least to modify said list of parameters;

an I/O device through which a data source external to the reading apparatus may transmit reprogram requests and program data to said apparatus;

processing means for executing a plurality of decoding programs in an attempt to decode said image data, said processing means being programmed to respond to a reprogram request initiated by said external data source and to receive program data communicated by said external data source;

whereby said external data source may modify at least one of said list of parameters, said menuing program and said decoding programs.

5. The reading apparatus of claim 4 in which said decoding programs form parts of a 1D/2D autodiscrimination program, and in which said reading apparatus is adapted to receive from said external data source program data which modifies at least one of said decoding programs.

6. The reading apparatus of claim 5 in which said list of parameters includes parameters specifying which of a plurality of scanning-decoding relationships are to exist between the scanning and decoding activities of said reading apparatus during the execution of said 1D/2D autodiscrimination program.

24. The reading apparatus of claim 4 in which said menuing program allows a user to modify said parameter table by presenting to the reading apparatus optically readable menu symbols selected by the user.

25. The reading apparatus of claim 24 further including a random access memory (RAM) and an erasable read only memory (EROM), in which the parameter table and the menuing program are stored in said (EROM) when the reading apparatus is scanning and decoding data, and in which user selected modification to said parameter table are made by transferring the parameter table to said RAM, modifying the parameter table in RAM, and then transferring the modified parameter table back to said EROM.

26. The reading apparatus of claim 4, further including a random access memory (RAM) and an erasable read only memory space (EROM), in which the parameter table and the menuing program are stored in said EROM when the reading apparatus is scanning and decoding data, and in which parameter and menuing program data transmitted by said external data source are stored in said RAM before being transferred to said EROM.

27. The reading apparatus of claim 26 in which program data received from said external data source is organized into program data blocks, and in which said data blocks are transferred to said EROM on a block by block basis, whereby part of said EROM may be reprogrammed without reprogramming the whole of said EROM.

28. The reading apparatus of claim 27 in which the parts of said EROM that store said program data blocks are erased immediately prior to the time that program data blocks are stored therein.

29. The reading apparatus of claim 4 in which said parameter table includes a plurality of code options that identify the decoding programs that are and are not enabled for use during decoding.

30. The reading apparatus of claim 29 in which said decoding programs form parts of a 1D/2D autodiscrimination program, and in which said reading apparatus is adapted to receive from said external data source program data which modifies at least one of said decoding programs.

31. The reading apparatus of claim 30 in which said parameter table includes parameters specifying which of a plurality of scanning-decoding relationships are to exist between the scanning and decoding activities of said reading apparatus during the execution of said 1D/2D autodiscrimination program.

32. The reading apparatus of claim 4 in which said parameter table includes a plurality of scanning-decoding options that specify the relationships that may exist between the scanning and decoding activities of said apparatus.

33. The reading apparatus of claim 32 in which said scanning-decoding options include at least one tracking option.

34. The reading apparatus of claim 32 in which said scanning decoding options include at least one non-tracking option.

35. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said external data source comprises a remote host processor that is coupled to said I/O device through a data transmission link.

36. The reading apparatus of claim 32 in which said scanning-decoding options include at least one of a One Shot option and a Repeat Until Done option.

37. The reading apparatus of claim 36 in which said scanning-decoding options include at least one of a Scan On Demand Option and a Skip Scan option.

7. In a reading apparatus for scanning and decoding image data that is encoded in one of a plurality of types of optically readable indicia, in combination:

an imaging assembly including a two-dimensional solid state image sensor reading said indicia and generating image data indicative of the data encoded therein;

a parameter memory storing a list of parameters including a plurality of parameters that define the operating modes of said apparatus, said list of parameters including a plurality of code options that identify the decoding programs that are and are not enabled for use during decoding;

a menuing memory space storing a menuing program which enables a user at least to modify said list of parameters;

an I/O device through which a data source external to the reading apparatus may transmit reprogram requests and program data to said apparatus;

processing circuit for executing a plurality of decoding programs in an attempt to decode said image data, said processing circuit being programmed to respond to a reprogram request initiated by said external data source and to receive program data communicated by said external data source;

whereby said external data source may modify at least one of said list of parameters, said menuing program and said decoding programs.

8. The reading apparatus of claim 7 in which said decoding programs form parts of a 1D/2D autodiscrimination program, and in which said reading apparatus is adapted to receive from said external data source program data which modifies at least one of said decoding programs.

9. The reading apparatus of claim 8 in which said list of parameters includes parameters specifying which of a plurality of scanning-decoding relationships are to exist between the scanning and decoding activities of said reading apparatus during the execution of said 1D/2D autodiscrimination program.

10. The reading apparatus of claim 7 in which said menuing program allows a user to modify said parameter table by presenting to the reading apparatus optically readable menu symbols selected by the user.

11. The reading apparatus of claim 10 further including a random access memory (RAM) and an erasable read only memory (EROM), in which the parameter table and the menuing program are stored in said (EROM) when the reading apparatus is scanning and decoding data, and in which user selected modification to said parameter table are made by transferring the parameter table to said RAM, modifying the parameter table in RAM, and then transferring the modified parameter table back to said EROM.

12. The reading apparatus of claim 7, further including a random access memory (RAM) and an erasable read only memory space (EROM), in which the parameter table and the menuing program are stored in said EROM when the reading apparatus is scanning and decoding data, and in which parameter and menuing program data transmitted by said external data source are stored in said RAM before being transferred to said EROM.

13. The reading apparatus of claim 12 in which program data received from said external data source is organized into program data blocks, and in which said data blocks are transferred to said EROM on a block by block basis, whereby part of said EROM may be reprogrammed without reprogramming the whole of said EROM.

14. The reading apparatus of claim 13 in which the parts of said EROM that store said program data blocks are erased immediately prior to the time that program data blocks are stored therein.

15. The reading apparatus of claim 7, in which said parameter table includes a plurality of code options that identify the decoding programs that are and are not enabled for use during decoding.

16. The reading apparatus of claim 15 in which said decoding programs form parts of a 1D/2D autodiscrimination program, and in which said reading apparatus is adapted to receive from said external data source program data which modifies at least one of said decoding programs.

17. The reading apparatus of claim 16 in which said parameter table includes parameters specifying which of a plurality of scanning-decoding relationships are to exist between the scanning and decoding activities of said reading apparatus during the execution of said 1D/2D autodiscrimination program.

18. The reading apparatus of claim 7 in which said parameter table includes a plurality of scanning-decoding options that specify the relationships that may exist between the scanning and decoding activities of said apparatus.

19. The reading apparatus of claim 18 in which said scanning-decoding options include at least one tracking option.

20. The reading apparatus of claim 18 in which said scanning decoding options include at least one non-tracking option.

21. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said external data source comprises a remote host processor that is coupled to said I/O device through a data transmission link.

22. The reading apparatus of claim 7 in which said scanning-decoding options include at least one of a One Shot option and a Repeat Until Done option.

23. The reading apparatus of claim 22 in which said scanning-decoding options include at least one of a Scan On Demand Option and a Skip Scan option.

38. A reading apparatus for scanning and decoding bar code image data that is encoded in one of a plurality of types of bar code symbologies, said reading apparatus comprising:

an imaging assembly including a solid state two dimensional image sensor, said imaging assembly including optics for focusing an image of a bar code symbol onto said solid state two dimensional image sensor;

a housing shaped to fit into a human hand, said reading apparatus being constructed so that components of said imaging assembly are supported within said housing;

a trigger for actuation by a user of said reading apparatus;

a memory for storing image representations of said bar code symbol corresponding to said image focused onto said solid state image sensor, said memory further storing a plurality of bar code symbology decoding programs;

a processing circuit configured to execute said plurality of bar code symbology decoding programs for attempting to decode said image representations;

a user interface facilitating selection by user between a first and second operating modes,

wherein said reading apparatus is configured so that when said first operating mode is selected by a user, said apparatus is configured to store a fixed number, M, of said image representations into said memory within a time period T after actuation of said trigger;

wherein said reading apparatus is further configured to control said imaging assembly so that when said second operating mode is selected by a user, said apparatus is configured to store a variable number, N, of said image representations into said memory within said time period T after actuation of said trigger.

39. The reading apparatus of claim 38, wherein said user interface includes circuitry enabling said reading apparatus to read and recognize a menu symbol for selecting one of said first and second operating modes.

40. The reading apparatus of claim 38, wherein said user interface includes circuitry enabling said reading apparatus to receive a parameter designating one of said first and second operating modes from a spaced apart host processor.

41. The reading apparatus of claim 38, wherein said two dimensional image sensor is a CMOS image sensor.

42. The reading apparatus of claim 38, wherein said reading apparatus is configured to successively store into said memory a plurality of equal sized image representations into said memory in response to actuation of said trigger.

43. The reading apparatus of claim 38, further including at least one LED for illuminating said bar code symbol.

44. A reading apparatus for scanning and decoding bar code image data that is encoded in one of a plurality of types of bar code symbologies, said reading apparatus comprising:

an imaging assembly including a solid state two dimensional image sensor, said imaging assembly including optics for focusing an image of a bar code symbol onto said solid state two dimensional image sensor;

a housing shaped to fit into a human hand, said reading apparatus being constructed so that components of said imaging assembly are supported within said housing;

a trigger for actuation by user of said reading apparatus;

a memory for storing image representations of said bar code symbol corresponding to said image focused onto said solid state image sensor, said memory further storing a plurality of bar code symbology decoding programs;

a processing circuit configured to execute said plurality of bar code symbology decoding programs for attempting to decode said image representations;

a user interface facilitating selection by user between a first and second operating mode,

wherein said reading apparatus is configured so that when said first operating mode is selected by a user said apparatus stores a fixed number, M, of said image representations into said memory within a time period T after actuation of said trigger independent of a speed with which reading apparatus attempts to decode said image representations;

wherein said reading apparatus is further configured so that when said second operating mode is selected by a user a number of said image representations that said apparatus stores into said memory within said time period T after actuation of said trigger varies depending on a speed with which said apparatus attempts to decode said image representations.

45. The reading apparatus of claim 44, wherein said user interface includes circuitry enabling said reading apparatus to read and recognize a menu symbol for selecting one of said first and second operating modes.

46. The reading apparatus of claim 44, wherein said user interface includes circuitry enabling said reading apparatus to receive a parameter designating one of said first and second operating modes from a spaced apart host processor.

47. The reading apparatus of claim 44, wherein said two dimensional image sensor is a CMOS image sensor.

48. The reading apparatus of claim 44, wherein said reading apparatus is configured to successively store into said memory a plurality of equal sized image representations into said memory in response to actuation of said trigger.

49. The reading apparatus of claim 44, further including at least one LED for illuminating said bar code symbol.