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Method of performing auto-discrimination of 1D/2D bar code symbologies in a semi-automatic hand-supportable imaging-based bar code symbol reader having narrow-area and wide-area image capture modes of operation

  • US 7,225,989 B2
  • Filed: 07/22/2004
  • Issued: 06/05/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of performing auto-discrimination of 1D/2D bar code symbologies in a hand-supportable semi-automatic imaging-based bar code symbol reader having narrow-area and wide-area image capture modes of operation, said method comprising the steps of:

  • (a) providing a hand-supportable semi-automatic digital imaging-based bar code symbol reading device includinga hand-supportable housing;

    a multi-mode image formation and detection subsystem having image formation optics for producing a field of view (FOV) upon an object to be imaged and an area image sensing array for detecting imaged light reflected off the object during illumination operations in either (i) a narrow-area image-capture mode in which a few central rows of pixels on the image sensing array are enabled, or (ii) a wide-area image-capture mode in which substantially all rows of the image sensing array are enabled;

    a multi-mode LED-based illumination subsystem for producing fields of narrow-area and wide-area narrow-band illumination within said FOV during narrow-area and wide-area image capture modes, respectively;

    an automatic object presence detection subsystem for producing an object detection field within said FOV, and detecting an object present therein;

    an automatic light exposure measurement and illumination control subsystem for automatically measuring the light exposure incident upon a central portion of said FOV, and controlling the operation of said LED-based multi-mode illumination subsystem;

    an image capturing and buffering subsystem for capturing and buffering 2D digital images detected by said image formation and detection subsystem;

    a multi-mode image-processing based bar code symbol reading subsystem for processing 2D digital images captured and buffered by said image capturing and buffering subsystem and reading 1D and 2D bar code symbols represented therein;

    an input/output subsystem for outputting processed image data to an external host system or other information receiving or responding device;

    a manually-actuatable trigger switch integrated with said hand-supportable housing, for generating a first control activation signal; and

    a system control subsystem for controlling the operation of each said subsystem;

    (b) presenting an object bearing a bar code structure within said object detection field;

    (c) automatically detecting said object present within said object detection field of said automatic object presence and range detection subsystem, and in response thereto, automatically generating and providing a first control activation signal to said system control subsystem;

    (d) controlling under said system control subsystem the following events;

    (1) operating said multi-mode image formation and detection subsystem in said narrow-area image capture mode in which a few central rows of pixels on the image sensing array are enabled,(2) operating said multi-mode LED-based illumination subsystem to produce a narrow area field of narrow-area narrow-band illumination within said FOV during the narrow-area image capture mode,(3) operating said automatic light exposure measurement and illumination control subsystem to automatically measure the light exposure incident upon a central portion of said FOV, and automatically control the operation of said LED-based multi-mode illumination subsystem,(4) operating said image capturing and buffering subsystem to capture and buffer a 2D narrow-area digital image detected by said image formation and detection subsystem, and(5) operating said multi-mode image-processing based bar code symbol reading subsystem to process said 2D narrow-area digital image captured and buffered by said image capturing and buffering subsystem; and

    (e) if said multi-mode image-processing based bar code symbol reading subsystem can read a 1D bar code symbol structure within a first predetermined time period, then said input/output subsystem outputs processed image data to an external host system or other information receiving or responding device.

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