Optical reader having two-dimensional solid state image sensor and light generator
First Claim
1. A reader for electro-optically reading a bar code contained within a target, said reader comprising:
- a matrix type two-dimensional image sensor having a matrix of picture elements, said matrix type two-dimensional image sensor being of solid state construction and developing signals responsive to light incident on said matrix type two-dimensional image sensor;
a light generator including a laser directing light toward said target, said target including a visible indicia, wherein at least some light rays directed by said light generator are incident on said target;
optics positioned forward of said matrix type two-dimensional image sensor projecting an image of said target onto said matrix type two-dimensional image sensor;
an electronic circuit including a microprocessor, said electronic circuit being in communication with said matrix type two-dimensional image sensor and said light generator, said electronic circuit outputting a plurality of two state pulse signals, one of said plurality of two state pulse signals being a light generator two state pulse signal for control of said light generator;
signal processing electronics, wherein signals developed by said matrix type two-dimensional image sensor responsive to light incident thereon are conducted through said signal processing electronics;
a memory coupled to said microprocessor;
a decoding program stored in said memory;
an input/output port enabling communication with an external device; and
a manual trigger, wherein said reader is configured to automatically successively obtain a series of electronic representations of indicia on said target when said manual trigger is actuated, and wherein said reader is further configured to pulse said light generator on and off utilizing said two state light generator pulse signal so that pulsed laser light is directed toward said target during a time that said manual trigger is actuated.
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Abstract
An apparatus is provided for reading a bar code of a target. The apparatus can include a matrix type two-dimensional image sensor and a light generator directing light toward the target. Optics can be included to project an image onto the matrix type two-dimensional image sensor. Further, the matrix type two-dimensional image sensor can develop signals responsive to light incident thereon. A memory and a manual trigger can also be provided. The apparatus can be configured so that when the manual trigger is actuated, the apparatus obtains an electronic representation. The apparatus can be configured so that more than one electronic representation can be obtained in response to the manual trigger being actuated.
360 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A reader for electro-optically reading a bar code contained within a target, said reader comprising:
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a matrix type two-dimensional image sensor having a matrix of picture elements, said matrix type two-dimensional image sensor being of solid state construction and developing signals responsive to light incident on said matrix type two-dimensional image sensor;
a light generator including a laser directing light toward said target, said target including a visible indicia, wherein at least some light rays directed by said light generator are incident on said target;
optics positioned forward of said matrix type two-dimensional image sensor projecting an image of said target onto said matrix type two-dimensional image sensor;
an electronic circuit including a microprocessor, said electronic circuit being in communication with said matrix type two-dimensional image sensor and said light generator, said electronic circuit outputting a plurality of two state pulse signals, one of said plurality of two state pulse signals being a light generator two state pulse signal for control of said light generator;
signal processing electronics, wherein signals developed by said matrix type two-dimensional image sensor responsive to light incident thereon are conducted through said signal processing electronics;
a memory coupled to said microprocessor;
a decoding program stored in said memory;
an input/output port enabling communication with an external device; and
a manual trigger, wherein said reader is configured to automatically successively obtain a series of electronic representations of indicia on said target when said manual trigger is actuated, and wherein said reader is further configured to pulse said light generator on and off utilizing said two state light generator pulse signal so that pulsed laser light is directed toward said target during a time that said manual trigger is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A bar code reading device comprising:
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light generator including at least one light source, the light generator being configured to direct light toward a target;
a charge-coupled device (CCD) two-dimensional matrix image sensor, the CCD two-dimensional matrix image sensor being configured to develop signals corresponding to an optical symbol disposed on a target;
a manual trigger coupled to the CCD two-dimensional matrix image sensor, the CCD two-dimensional matrix image sensor being enabled in response to a trigger actuation;
an optical element coupled to the CCD two-dimensional matrix image sensor, the optical element being configured to direct light reflected from the target onto the CCD two-dimensional matrix image sensor;
a clock generator coupled to the CCD two-dimensional matrix image sensor, the clock generator providing the CCD two-dimensional matrix image sensor with at least one clocking signal, the CCD two-dimensional matrix image sensor transmitting an analog representation of the image in response to the at least one clocking signal;
signal processing circuitry coupled to the CCD two-dimensional matrix image sensor, the signal processing circuitry being configured to convert the analog representation of the image into digitized form;
a memory coupled to the signal processing circuitry, the memory being configured to store an electronic representation of said optical symbol in a first memory location and computer executable instructions in a second memory location; and
at least one processing device coupled to the first memory location, the second memory location, and the CCD two-dimensional matrix image sensor, the at least one processing device being configured to initiate the directing of light toward said target area, image capture, and digital image decoding, wherein the bar code reading device in response to a trigger actuation performs a first scan and a second scan, wherein said bar code reading device is further configured so that initiation of the second scan is prevented until decoding of the first scan is completed. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A bar code reading device comprising:
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a light generator including at least one light source, said light generator directing light toward a target;
a two-dimensional matrix image sensor, the two-dimensional matrix image sensor being configured to generate signals corresponding to an optical symbol disposed on a target;
a manual trigger, the two-dimensional matrix image sensor being enabled in response to a trigger actuation;
an optical element coupled to the two-dimensional matrix image sensor, the optical element being configured to project an image of said optical symbol onto the two-dimensional matrix image sensor;
a clock generator coupled to the two-dimensional matrix image sensor, the clock generator providing the two-dimensional matrix image sensor with at least one clocking signal, the two-dimensional matrix image sensor being responsive to the at least one clocking signal;
a memory coupled to the signal processing circuitry, the memory being configured to store electronic representations of said optical symbol in a first memory location and computer executable instructions in a second memory location; and
at least one processing device coupled to the first memory location, the second memory location, and the two-dimensional matrix image sensor, wherein the at least one processing device is configured to initiate the directing of light toward said target, capture electronic representations of said optical symbol, and processing of said electronic representations in response to said trigger actuation, and further wherein the at least one processing device is configured so that optical symbol electronic representation capture is halted in response to processing of an electronic representation of said optical symbol. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A bar code reading device for reading a bar code symbol disposed on a target, said bar code reading device comprising:
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a light generator including at least one light source directing light toward a target;
a two-dimensional matrix image sensor, the two-dimensional matrix image sensor being configured to develop signals representing said bar code symbol;
a manual trigger, the two-dimensional matrix image sensor being enabled in response to a trigger actuation;
an optical element coupled to the two-dimensional matrix image sensor, the optical element being configured to project an image of said bar code symbol onto the two-dimensional matrix image sensor;
a clock generator coupled to the two-dimensional matrix image sensor, the clock generator providing the two-dimensional matrix image sensor with at least one clocking signal, the two-dimensional matrix image sensor being responsive to the at least one clocking signal;
a memory coupled to the signal processing circuitry, the memory being configured to store electronic representations of said bar code symbol in a first memory location and computer executable instructions in a second memory location; and
at least one processing device coupled to the first memory location, the second memory location, and the two-dimensional matrix image sensor, wherein the at least one processing device is configured to initiate the directing of light toward said target, capture of said electronic representations, and processing of said electronic representations in response to said trigger actuation, wherein said at least one processing device is configured to initiate capture of first and second electronic representations of said bar code symbol in response to a single actuation of said manual trigger in such manner that capture of said second electronic representation of said bar code symbol is initiated, after delay of variable duration, subsequent to an initiation of a capture of said first electronic representation, and wherein said at least one processing device is configured so that said variable duration is dependent on a processing of said first electronic representation of said bar code symbol. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification