Optical reader having partial frame operating mode

• US 7,270,273 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, George S. II, Pankow, Matthew W., Barber, Charles P., Gardiner, Robert C., Gerst, Carl W. III, Hussey, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paik; Steven S.
• Application Number:
  US10/651,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20040195332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.25, 235/462.09, 235/462.1, 235/462.11, 235/462.12, 235/462.01, 235/462.45
• US Class Current: 235/462.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1093 sensing, after transfer of the image of the data-field to an intermediate store, e.g. storage with cathode ray tube
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction

Abstract

A method for decoding a decodable symbol using an optical reader having a 2D image sensor that is configured to operate in a partial frame capture operating mode. In a partial frame operating mode, the reader clocks out and captures at least one partial frame of image data having image data corresponding to less than all of the pixels of an image sensor pixel array. In one embodiment, the reader operating in a partial frame operating mode captures image data corresponding to a linear pattern of pixels of the image sensor, reads the image data, and attempts to decode for a decodable bar code symbol which may be represented in the image data.

Claims

1. A method of decoding a decodable symbol, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) operating an optical reader having a 2D image sensor;

(b) in a partial frame operating mode in which said optical reader avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor, capturing a first partial frame of image data corresponding to a first set of pixel positions of said 2D image sensor, the partial frame of image data including at least a portion of the decodable symbol;

(c) attempting to decode information encoded by the decodable symbol from the captured first partial frame of image data; and

(d) if in step (c) the reader fails to decode information encoded by the decodable symbol, capturing a second partial frame of image data, said second partial frame of image data corresponding to a second set of pixel positions different from said first set of pixel positions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said capturing step referred to in (b) includes the step of capturing image data corresponding to a linear pattern of pixels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said capturing step referred to in (b) includes the step of capturing image data corresponding to a plurality of angularly offset linear patterns of pixels.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said capturing step referred to in (b) includes the step of capturing image data corresponding to a plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontally oriented linear patterns of pixels.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said capturing step referred to in (b) includes the step of capturing image data corresponding to a grouping of pixels about a center of said image sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said optical reader is configured to switch operation of the reader to a full frame operating mode if the reader fails to decode information encoded by a decodable symbol from a partial frame of image data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said optical reader when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor by not clocking out an electrical signal for each pixel of said image sensor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said optical reader when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor by clocking out certain pixels of said image sensor at a rate that is too fast to allow development electrical signals representative of light intensity at the certain pixels.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said capturing step (b) includes the step of capturing image data corresponding to a row of pixels of said image sensor.

10. An apparatus for decoding information from a decodable symbol, the apparatus comprising:

an optical reader having a 2D image sensor;

a control circuit configured to operate in a partial frame operating mode in which said control circuit operates the 2D image sensor to capture a partial frame of image data representing at least a portion of the decodable symbol, wherein said control circuit when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor;

wherein said control circuit is configured to process the partial frame of image data to attempt to decode therefrom information encoded by the decodable symbol; and

wherein said control circuit is configured to determine whether a 2D decodable symbol is represented in the partial frame of image data.

11. An apparatus for decoding information from a decodable symbol, the apparatus comprising:

an imaging assembly having a 2D image sensor;

a control circuit configured to operate in a partial frame operating mode in which said control circuit operates the 2D image sensor to capture a partial frame of image data representing at least a portion of the decodable symbol, wherein said control circuit when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor;

wherein said control circuit is configured to process the partial frame of image data to attempt to decode therefrom information encoded by the decodable symbol; and

wherein said optical reader is configured to operate in a full frame operating mode to capture a full frame of image data.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said control circuit when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor by not clocking out an electrical signal for each pixel of said image sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said control circuit when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor by clocking out certain pixels of said image sensor at a rate that is too fast to allow development electrical signals representative of light intensity at the certain pixels.

14. An apparatus for decoding information from a decodable symbol, the apparatus comprising:

an optical reader having a 2D image sensor;

a control circuit configured to operate in a partial frame operating mode in which said control circuit operates the 2D image sensor to capture a first partial frame of image data representing at least a portion of the decodable symbol and corresponding to a first set of pixels of said 2D image sensor, wherein said control circuit when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor;

wherein said control circuit is configured to process the first partial frame of image data to attempt to decode therefrom information encoded by the decodable symbol; and

wherein said control circuit is configured to capture a second partial frame of image data, said second partial frame of image data corresponding to a second set of pixel positions of said 2D image sensor different from said first set.

15. A method of decoding a decodable symbol, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) operating a hand graspable optical reader having an imaging assembly including a 2D image sensor and optics focusing an image onto said 2D image sensor;

(b) in a partial frame operating mode in which said optical reader avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor, capturing a first partial frame of image data corresponding to a first set of pixel positions of said 2D image sensor, the partial frame of image data including at least a portion of the decodable symbol;

(c) attempting to decode information encoded by the decodable symbol from the captured first partial frame of image data; and

(d) if in step (c) the reader fails to decode information encoded by the decodable symbol, capturing a second partial frame of image data, said second partial frame of image data corresponding to a second set of pixel positions different from said first set of pixel positions.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said capturing step referred to in (b) includes the step of capturing image data corresponding to a linear pattern of pixels.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said capturing step referred to in (b) includes the step of capturing image data corresponding to a plurality of angularly offset linear patterns of pixels.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said capturing step referred to in (b) includes the step of capturing image data corresponding to a plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontally oriented linear patterns of pixels.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said capturing step referred to in (b) includes the step of capturing image data corresponding to a grouping of pixels about a center of said image sensor.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said optical reader is configured to switch operation of the reader to a full frame operating mode if the reader fails to decode information encoded by a decodable symbol from a partial frame of image data.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein said optical reader when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor by not clocking out an electrical signal for each pixel of said image sensor.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein said optical reader when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor by clocking out certain pixels of said image sensor at a rate that is too fast to allow development electrical signals representative of light intensity at the certain pixels.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein said capturing step (b) includes the step of capturing image data corresponding to a row of pixels of said image sensor.

24. An apparatus for decoding information from a decodable symbol, the apparatus comprising:

an imaging assembly having a 2D image sensor and optics focusing an image onto said 2D image sensor;

a housing adapted to be grasped by a human hand;

a control circuit configured to operate in a partial frame operating mode in which said control circuit operates the 2D image sensor to capture a partial frame of image data representing at least a portion of the decodable symbol, wherein said control circuit when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor;

wherein said control circuit is configured to process the partial frame of image data to attempt to decode therefrom information encoded by the decodable symbol; and

wherein said control circuit is configured to determine whether a 2D decodable symbol is represented in the partial frame of image data.

25. An apparatus for decoding information from a decodable symbol, the apparatus comprising:

an imaging assembly having a 2D image sensor and optics focusing an image onto said 2D image sensor;

a housing adapted to be grasped by a human hand;

a control circuit configured to operate in a partial frame operating mode in which said control circuit operates the 2D image sensor to capture a partial frame of image data representing at least a portion of the decodable symbol, wherein said control circuit when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor;

wherein said control circuit is configured to process the partial frame of image data to attempt to decode therefrom information encoded by the decodable symbol; and

wherein said optical reader is configured to operate in a full frame operating mode to capture a full frame of image data.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said control circuit when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor by not clocking out an electrical signal for each pixel of said image sensor.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said control circuit when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor by clocking out certain pixels of said image sensor at a rate that is too fast to allow development electrical signals representative of light intensity at the certain pixels.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said apparatus is configured to switch operation from said partial frame operating mode to said full frame operating mode if said attempt to decode said partial frame is not successful.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said partial frame of image data corresponds to a linear pattern of pixels.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said partial frame of image data corresponds a plurality of angularly offset linear patterns of pixels.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said partial frame of image data corresponds to a plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontally oriented linear patterns of pixels.

32. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said partial frame of image data corresponds to a grouping of pixels about a center of said image sensor.

33. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said partial frame of image data corresponds to a row of pixels at or about a center of said image sensor.

34. An apparatus for decoding information from a decodable symbol, the apparatus comprising:

an imaging assembly having a 2D image sensor and optics focusing an image onto said 2D image sensor;

a housing adapted to be grasped by a human hand;

a control circuit configured to operate in a partial frame operating mode in which said control circuit operates the 2D image sensor to capture a first partial frame of image data representing at least a portion of the decodable symbol and corresponding to a first set of pixels of said 2D image sensor, wherein said control circuit when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor;

wherein said control circuit is configured to process the first partial frame of image data to attempt to decode therefrom information encoded by the decodable symbol; and

wherein said control circuit is configured to capture a second partial frame of image data, said second partial frame of image data corresponding to a second set of pixel positions of said 2D image sensor different from said first set.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said control circuit when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor by not clocking out an electrical signal for each pixel of said image sensor.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said control circuit when operating in said partial frame operating mode avoids obtaining electrical signals representing light intensity at each pixel of said image sensor by clocking out certain pixels of said image sensor at a rate that is too fast to allow development electrical signals representative of light intensity at the certain pixels.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said apparatus is configured to switch operation from said partial frame operating mode to said full frame operating mode if said attempt to decode said partial frame is not successful.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said partial frame of image data corresponds to a linear pattern of pixels.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said partial frame of image data corresponds to a plurality of angularly offset linear patterns of pixels.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said partial frame of image data corresponds to a plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontally oriented linear patterns of pixels.

41. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said partial frame of image data corresponds to a grouping of pixels about a center of said image sensor.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said partial frame of image data corresponds to a row of pixels at or about a center of said image sensor.