Bar code reading device having image processing mode

• US 7,222,789 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1997
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US11/096,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20050167504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.08, 235/462.24, 235/462.06, 235/462.21, 235/450
• US Class Current: 235/450
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1017 Programmable
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10712 Fixed beam scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10792 Special measures in relation to the object to be scanned
• 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 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• 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 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1456 determining the orientation of the optical code with respect to the reader and correcting therefore

Abstract

The invention relates to a bar code reading device of the type having an imaging assembly including a two dimensional image sensor and which may be moved between varying positions, orientations and angles relative to a substrate. In one embodiment a bar code reading device can be used to obtain an area electronic representation of a substrate including bar code indicia and a signature, and can output an area representation including a representation of a signature. In another embodiment, the bar code reading device can process and output a processed area electronic representation to an output destination. In one embodiment an output destination to which a bar code reading device outputs a processed area electronic representation is a display.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing a portable bar code reading device of the type having an imaging assembly including two dimensional solid state image sensor, said portable bar code reading device being moveable between varying positions, orientations, and angles relative to a substrate, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing on said substrate a signature field in association with bar code indicia, said signature field being at a predetermined position relative to said bar code indicia;

(b) obtaining an area electronic representation of said substrate utilizing said portable bar code reading device, said area electronic representation including a representation of said signature field and said bar code indicia;

(c) processing said area electronic representation obtained in step (b) to determine at least a distortion characteristic of a representation of said bar code indicia in said area electronic representation obtained in step (b), said distortion characteristic being of the type resulting from said portable bar code reading device being at an angle with respect to said substrate when an area electronic representation is obtained;

(d) utilizing said distortion characteristic relating to said bar code indicia determined in step (b) to correct a distortion of a representation of said signature field in an area electronic representation obtained by said portable bar code reading device; and

(e) outputting to an output destination a corrected area electronic representation corrected at step (d), said corrected area electronic representation corresponding to said signature field, and representing a smaller area of said substrate than is represented in said area electronic representation obtained in step (b).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing step (a) includes the step of disposing a single bar code symbol on said substrate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing step (a) includes the step of disposing on said substrate bar code indicia including a plurality of aligned adjacent rows of encoded indicia, each row comprising a series of dark and light spaces.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said outputting step (e) includes the step of outputting said corrected image representation to a display device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said outputting step (e) includes the step of outputting a corrected area electronic representation having a pixel resolution different from a pixel resolution of said area electronic representation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said utilizing said distortion characteristic to correct step (d) includes the step of processing said area electronic representation obtained at step (b).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing step includes the step of providing on said substrate a line segment indicating a location of said signature field on said substrate, and wherein said providing step (a) further includes the step of providing on said substrate bar code indicia consisting of a plurality of rows of dark and light spaces, each of said plurality of rows being aligned with said line segment.

8. The portable bar code reading device of claim 1, wherein said providing step (a) includes the step of providing a signature field having a generally rectangular configuration and being delimited by four edges, and wherein said providing step (a) further includes the step of disposing on said substrate bar code indicia at a concentrated location of said substrate adjacent to one of said edges and spaced apart from each of said three remaining edges.

9. A portable bar code reading device of the type which may be moved between various distances, orientations, and angles with respect to a substrate that carries a bar code symbol, said portable bar code reading device comprising:

an imaging assembly, said imaging assembly having a two dimensional solid state image sensor and an optical assembly focusing an image onto said two dimensional solid state image sensor, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to operate in a first bar code reading mode and in a second user-selected picture output mode in which said portable bar code reading device outputs an area electronic representation for visual observation on a display;

wherein said portable bar code reading device in said first bar code reading mode

(a) obtains an area electronic representation of said substrate carrying said bar code symbol;

(b) processes said area electronic representation obtained in step (a) to decode a decodable bar code symbol represented in said area electronic representation;

(c) outputs decoded bar code data resulting from said execution of processing function (b); and

wherein said portable bar code reading device in said second picture output mode outputs to an output destination an area electronic representation having a certain image depth, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured so that said portable bar code reading device determines said certain image depth of said output area electronic representation by reading of specially encoded programming bar code indicia, said portable bar code reading device and said specially encoded programming bar code indicia being configured in a complementary manner so that when said portable bar code reading device reads said specially encoded programming bar code indicia, said portable bar code reading device determines said certain image depth.

10. The portable bar code reading device of claim 9, wherein said portable bar code reading device has an on-device display.

11. The portable bar code reading device of claim 9, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to be driven into said second picture output mode by a reading of specially encoded programming bar code indicia, said portable bar code reading device and said specially encoded bar code indicia being configured in a complementary manner so that when said portable bar code reading device reads said specially encoded programming bar code indicia, said portable bar code reading device operates in accordance with said second picture output mode.

12. The portable bar code reading device of claim 9, wherein said certain image depth of said area electronic representation output by said portable bar code reading device when in said second picture output mode is an 8 bit gray scale image depth.

13. The portable bar code reading device of claim 9, wherein said certain image depth of said area electronic representation output by said portable bar code reading device when in said second picture output mode is a binary image depth.

14. The portable bar code reading device of claim 9, wherein said specially encoded programming bar code indicia encodes data indicating a value of said certain image depth.

15. The portable bar code reading device of claim 9, wherein said bar code reading device is configured to be driven into said picture output mode by a single-step bar code reading process consisting of the step of reading a single programming bar code symbol.

16. The portable bar code reading device of claim 9, wherein said portable bar code reading device when operating in said second picture output mode further crops a predetermined number of positionally contiguous pixel values from an obtained area electronic representation prior to outputting of an area electronic representation.

17. The portable bar code reading device of claim 9, wherein said portable bar code reading device when operating in said second picture output mode further crops a predetermined number of positionally contiguous pixel values from an obtained area electronic representation prior to outputting of an area electronic representation, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to determine a number of positionally contiguous pixel values to crop from an obtained area electronic representation by reading of specially encoded programming bar code indicia, wherein said portable bar code reading device and said specially encoded programming bar code indicia are configured so that said portable bar code reading device determines a number of positionally contiguous pixel values to crop from an obtained area electronic representation by reading of said specially encoded programming bar code indicia.

18. The portable bar code reading device of claim 17, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to determine a number of positionally contiguous pixel values to crop from an obtained area electronic representation by execution of a single step bar code reading process in which said portable bar code reading device reads a single specially encoded programming bar code symbol.

19. The portable bar code reading device of claim 9, wherein said portable bar code reading device further includes an aiming light source, and wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured so that said portable bar code decoding device disables said aiming light source in response to a receipt by said portable bar code reading device of a user-input signal input by a user to disable said aiming light source.

20. The portable bar code reading device of claim 9, wherein said portable bar code reading device further includes an aiming light source, and wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured so that said portable bar code reading device disables said aiming light source in response to receipt by said portable bar code reading device of a user-initiated signal input into said portable bar code reading device by a reading of a specially encoded programming bar code symbol encoded in a manner complementary with a configuration of said portable bar code reading device so that said aiming light source is disabled when said portable bar code reading device reads said specially encoded programming bar code symbol.

21. The portable bar code reading device of claim 9, wherein said portable bar code reading device further includes an aiming light source, and wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured so that said portable bar code reading device disables said aiming light source in response to receipt by said portable bar code reading device of a user-initiated signal transmitted to said portable bar code reading device from an external device spaced apart from said portable bar code reading device via a communication link including at least one of an RF transmission link or a flexible cable.

22. The bar code reading device of claim 9, wherein said area electronic representation output in said picture output mode includes a representation of said substrate carrying said bar code symbol represented in said area electronic representation obtained during execution of said obtaining function (a).

23. A portable bar code reading device of the type which may be moved between various distances, orientations, and angles with respect to a substrate that carries a bar code symbol, said portable bar code reading device comprising:

an imaging assembly, said imaging assembly having a two-dimensional solid state image sensor and an optical assembly focusing an image onto said two dimensional solid state image sensor, wherein said portable bar code reading device has a user-initiated operating mode in which said portable bar code reading device, in response to a trigger actuation

(a) obtains an area electronic representation having a first pixel resolution, said area electronic representation including a representation of said substrate carrying said bar code symbol;

(b) processes said area electronic representation obtained in step (a) to decode a decodable bar code symbol representation represented in said area electronic representation obtained in step (a);

(c) processes an area electronic representation obtained by said bar code reading device having said first pixel resolution into such form that a processed area electronic representation is produced having a second pixel resolution that is different from said first pixel resolution; and

(d) outputs to an output destination said processed area electronic representation produced at step (c) that includes a second pixel resolution different from said first pixel resolution, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to be driven into said user initiated operating mode by reading specially encoded programming bar code indicia.

24. The portable bar code reading device of claim 23, wherein said bar code reading device in executing processing function (c) processes said area electronic representation obtained by said portable bar code reading device in executing obtaining function (a).

25. The portable bar code reading device of claim 23, wherein said bar code reading device in executing processing function (c), processes an area electronic representation obtained by said portable bar code reader device subsequent to said portable bar code reading device executing obtaining function (a).

26. The portable bar code reading device of claim 23, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to execute functions (c) and (d) conditionally on the condition that in executing processing function (b) said specially encoded programming bar code symbol is recognized by said portable bar code reading device.

27. The portable bar code reading device of claim 23, wherein said output function (d) includes the function of outputting to said output destination an area electronic representation representing a smaller portion of said substrate than said area electronic representation obtained at step (a).

28. The portable bar code reading device of claim 23, wherein said portable bar code reading device when executing said output function (d) outputs said area electronic representation to a display.

29. The portable bar code reading device of claim 28, wherein said portable bar code reading device includes a display.

30. The portable bar code reading device of claim 23, wherein said portable bar code reading device when executing output function (d) outputs said area electronic representation to a memory device.

31. The portable bar code reading device of claim 23, wherein said portable bar code reading device further includes an aiming light source, and wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured so that said portable bar code reading device disables said aiming light source in response to receipt by said portable bar code reading device of a user-initiated signal input into said portable bar code reading device to disable said aiming light source.

32. The portable bar code reading device of claim 23, wherein said portable bar code reading device further includes an aiming light source, and wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured so that said portable bar code reading device disables said aiming light source in response to receipt by said portable bar code decoding device of a user-initiated signal input into said portable bar code reading device by a reading of a specially encoded programming bar code symbol encoded in a manner complementary with a configuration of said portable bar code reading device so that said aiming light source is disabled when said portable bar code reading device reads said specially encoded programming bar code symbol.

33. The portable bar code reading device of claim 23, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured so that said portable bar code reading device determines a value of said pixel resolution of said processed area electronic representation processed in accordance with processing function (c) by reading of a specially encoded programming bar code symbol encoded so that, on reading said specially encoded programming bar code symbol, said portable bar code reading device establishes a certain pixel resolution for said processed area electronic representation.

34. The portable bar code reading device of claim 33, wherein said portable bar code reading device determines said pixel resolution of said processed image processed in accordance with processing function (c) by reading encoded data of said specially encoded programming bar code symbol.

35. The portable bar code reading device of claim 33, wherein said portable bar code reading device when recognizing said specially encoded bar code symbol determines said pixel resolution of said processed image representation by reading pixel resolution data stored on said portable bar code reading device.

36. The portable bar code reading device of claim 23, wherein said portable bar code reading device in executing processing function (c) processes an area electronic representation of said substrate carrying said bar code symbol.

37. A portable bar code reading device of the type which may be moved between various distances, orientations, and angles with respect to a substrate that carries a bar code symbol, said portable bar code reading device comprising:

an imaging assembly, said imaging assembly having a two-dimensional solid state image sensor and an optical assembly focusing an image onto said two dimensional solid state image sensor, wherein said portable bar code reading device has a user-initiated operating mode in which said portable bar code reading device, in response to a trigger actuation

(a) obtains an area electronic representation having a first pixel resolution, said area electronic representation including a representation of said substrate carrying said bar code symbol;

(b) processes said area electronic representation obtained in step (a) to decode a decodable bar code symbol representation represented in said area electronic representation obtained in step (a);

(c) processes an area electronic representation obtained by said bar code reading device having said first pixel resolution into such form that a processed area electronic representation is produced having a second pixel resolution that is different from said first pixel resolution; and

(d) outputs to an output destination said processed area electronic representation produced at step (c) that includes a second pixel resolution different from said first pixel resolution, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured so that said portable bar code reading device determines a value of said pixel resolution of said processed area electronic representation processed in accordance with processing function (c) by reading of a specially encoded programming bar code symbol encoded so that, on reading said specially encoded programming bar code symbol, said portable bar code reading device establishes a certain pixel resolution for said processed area electronic representation.

38. The portable bar code reading device of claim 37, wherein said portable bar code reading device determines said pixel resolution of said processed image processed in accordance with processing function (c) by reading encoded data of said specially encoded programming bar code symbol.

39. The portable bar code reading device of claim 37, wherein said portable bar code reading device when recognizing said specially encoded bar code symbol determines said pixel resolution of said processed image representation by reading pixel resolution data stored on said portable bar code reading device.

40. The portable bar code reading device of claim 37, wherein said portable bar code reading device when recognizing said specially encoded bar code symbol determines said pixel resolution of said processed image representation by reading pixel resolution data stored in memory.

41. A portable bar code reading device of the type which may be moved between various distances, orientations, and angles with respect to a substrate that carries a bar code symbol, said portable bar code reading device comprising:

an imaging assembly, said imaging assembly having a two dimensional solid state image sensor and an optical assembly focusing an image onto said two dimensional solid state image sensor, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to operate in a first bar code reading mode and in a second user-selected picture output mode in which said portable bar code reading device outputs an area electronic representation for visual observation on a display;

wherein said portable bar code reading device in said first bar code reading mode

(a) obtains an area electronic representation of said substrate carrying said bar code symbol, said area electronic representation having a first pixel resolution;

(b) processes said area electronic representation obtained in step (a) to decode a decodable bar code symbol represented in said area electronic representation; and

(c) outputs decoded bar code data resulting from said execution of processing function (b); and

wherein said portable bar code reading device in said second picture output mode

(i) processes an area electronic representation obtained by said bar code reading device having said first pixel resolution into such form that a processed area electronic representation is produced having a second pixel resolution that is different from said first pixel resolution; and

(ii) outputs for visual display on a display said processed area electronic representation produced by execution of processing function (i) including said second pixel resolution different from said first pixel resolution, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to be driven into said second picture output mode by reading of specially encoded programming bar code indicia, said portable bar code reading device and said specially encoded bar code indicia being configured in a complementary manner so that when said portable bar code reading device reads said specially encoded programming bar code indicia, said portable bar code reading device operates in accordance with said second picture output mode.

42. The portable bar code reading device of claim 41, wherein said portable bar code reader device has an on-device display.

43. The portable bar code reading device of claim 41, wherein said bar code reading device is configured to be driven into said picture output mode by a single-step bar code reading process consisting of the step of reading a single programming bar code symbol.

44. The portable bar code reading device of claim 41, wherein said portable bar code reading device when operating in said second picture output mode further crops a predetermined number of positionally contiguous pixel values from an obtained area electronic representation prior to outputting of an area electronic representation according to execution of output function (ii).

45. The portable bar code reading device of claim 41, wherein said portable bar code reading device when operating in said second picture output mode further crops a predetermined number of positionally contiguous pixel values from an obtained area electronic representation prior to outputting of an area electronic representation according to output function (ii), wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to determine a number of positionally contiguous pixel values to crop from an obtained area electronic representation by reading of specially encoded programming bar code indicia, wherein said portable bar code reading device and said specially encoded programming bar code indicia are configured so that said portable bar code reading device determines a number of positionally contiguous pixel values to crop from an obtained area electronic representation by reading of said specially encoded programming bar code indicia.

46. The portable bar code reading device of claim 45, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to determine a number of positionally contiguous pixel values to crop from an obtained area electronic representation by execution of a single step bar code reading process in which said portable bar code reading device reads a single specially encoded programming bar code symbol.

47. The portable bar code reading device of claim 41, wherein said portable bar code reading device when operating in said second picture output mode further converts pixel values of an obtained area electronic representation to gray scale values having a predetermined gray scale depth prior to outputting an area electronic representation according to output function (ii).

48. The portable bar code reading device of claim 41, wherein said portable bar code reading device, when operating in said second picture output mode further converts pixel values of an obtained area electronic representation to gray scale values having a predetermined gray scale depth, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to determine a gray scale depth of an output area electronic representation by reading of specially encoded programming bar code indicia, wherein said portable bar code reading device and said specially encoded programming bar code indicia are configured so that said portable bar code reading device determines a gray scale depth of said output area electronic representation output by execution of processing function (ii) by reading of said specially encoded programming bar code indicia.

49. The portable bar code reading device of claim 41, wherein said portable bar code reading device further includes an aiming light source, and wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured so that said portable bar code decoding device disables said aiming light source in response to a receipt by said portable bar code reading device of a user-input signal input by a user to disable said aiming light source.

50. The portable bar code reading device of claim 41, wherein said portable bar code reading device further includes an aiming light source, and wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured so that said portable bar code reading device disables said aiming light source in response to receipt by said portable bar code reading device of a user-initiated signal input into said portable bar code reading device by a reading of a specially encoded programming bar code symbol encoded in a manner complementary with a configuration of said portable bar code reading device so that said aiming light source is disabled when said portable bar code reading device reads said specially encoded programming bar code symbol.

51. The portable bar code reading device of claim 41, wherein said portable bar code reading device further includes an aiming light source, and wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured so that said portable bar code reading device disables said aiming light source in response to receipt by said portable bar code reading device of a user-initiated signal transmitted to said portable bar code reading device from an external device spaced apart from said portable bar code reading device via a communication link including at least one of an RF transmission link or a flexible cable.

52. The bar code reading device of claim 41, wherein said portable bar code reading device when executing said processing function (b) locates and decodes a decodable bar symbol representation within an area electronic representation having said first pixel resolution.

53. The bar code reading device of claim 41, wherein said area electronic representation subject to processing during execution of processing function (i) includes a representation of said substrate carrying said bar code symbol represented in said area electronic representation obtained during execution of said obtaining function (a).

54. A portable bar code reading device of the type which may be moved between various distances, orientations, and angles with respect to a substrate that carries a bar code symbol, said portable bar code reading device comprising:

an imaging assembly, said imaging assembly having a two dimensional solid state image sensor and an optical assembly focusing an image onto said two dimensional solid state image sensor, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to operate in a first bar code reading mode and in a second user-selected picture output mode in which said portable bar code reading device outputs an area electronic representation for visual observation on a display;

wherein said portable bar code reading device in said first bar code reading mode

(a) obtains an area electronic representation of said substrate carrying said bar code symbol, said area electronic representation having a first pixel resolution;

(b) processes said area electronic representation obtained in step (a) to decode a decodable bar code symbol represented in said area electronic representation; and

(c) outputs decoded bar code data resulting from said execution of processing function (b); and

wherein said portable bar code reading device in said second picture output mode

(i) processes an area electronic representation obtained by said bar code reading device having said first pixel resolution into such form that a processed area electronic representation is produced having a second pixel resolution that is different from said first pixel resolution; and

(ii) outputs for visual display on a display said processed area electronic representation produced by execution of processing function (i) including said second pixel resolution different from said first pixel resolution, wherein said portable bar code reading device when operating in said second picture output mode further crops a predetermined number of positionally contiguous pixel values from an obtained area electronic representation prior to outputting of an area electronic representation according to execution of output function (ii).

55. A portable bar code reading device of the type which may be moved between various distances, orientations, and angles with respect to a substrate that carries a bar code symbol, said portable bar code reading device comprising:

an imaging assembly, said imaging assembly having a two dimensional solid state image sensor and an optical assembly focusing an image onto said two dimensional solid state image sensor, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to operate in a first bar code reading mode and in a second user-selected picture output mode in which said portable bar code reading device outputs an area electronic representation for visual observation on a display;

wherein said portable bar code reading device in said first bar code reading mode

(a) obtains an area electronic representation of said substrate carrying said bar code symbol, said area electronic representation having a first pixel resolution;

(b) processes said area electronic representation obtained in step (a) to decode a decodable bar code symbol represented in said area electronic representation; and

(c) outputs decoded bar code data resulting from said execution of processing function (b); and

wherein said portable bar code reading device in said second picture output mode

(i) processes an area electronic representation obtained by said bar code reading device having said first pixel resolution into such form that a processed area electronic representation is produced having a second pixel resolution that is different from said first pixel resolution; and

(ii) outputs for visual display on a display said processed area electronic representation produced by execution of processing function (i) including said second pixel resolution different from said first pixel resolution, wherein said portable bar code reading device when operating in said second picture output mode further crops a predetermined number of positionally contiguous pixel values from an obtained area electronic representation according to output function (ii), wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to determine a number of positionally contiguous pixel values to crop from an obtained area electronic representation by reading of specially encoded programming bar code indicia, wherein said portable bar code reading device and said specially encoded programming bar code indicia are configured so that said portable bar code reading device determines a number of positionally contiguous pixel values to crop from an obtained area electronic representation by reading of said specially encoded programming bar code indicia.

56. A portable bar code reading device of the type which may be moved between various distances, orientations, and angles with respect to a substrate that carries a bar code symbol, said portable bar code reading device comprising:

an imaging assembly, said imaging assembly having a two dimensional solid state image sensor and an optical assembly focusing an image onto said two dimensional solid state image sensor, wherein said portable bar code reading device is configured to operate in a first bar code reading mode and in a second user-selected picture output mode in which said portable bar code reading device outputs an area electronic representation for visual observation on a display;

wherein said portable bar code reading device in said first bar code reading mode

(a) obtains an area electronic representation of said substrate carrying said bar code symbol, said area electronic representation having a first pixel resolution;

(b) processes said area electronic representation obtained in step (a) to decode a decodable bar code symbol represented in said area electronic representation; and

(c) outputs decoded bar code data resulting from said execution of processing function (b); and

wherein said portable bar code reading device in said second picture output mode

(i) processes an area electronic representation obtained by said bar code reading device having said first pixel resolution into such form that a processed area electronic representation is produced having a second pixel resolution that is different from said first pixel resolution; and

(ii) outputs for visual display on a display said processed area electronic representation produced by execution of processing function (i) including said second pixel resolution different from said first pixel resolution, wherein said portable bar code reading device when operating in said second picture output mode further converts pixel values of an obtained area electronic representation to gray scale values having a predetermined gray scale depth prior to outputting an area electronic representation according to output function (ii).