Camera positioning and confirmation feedback system

• US 7,311,260 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Microscan Systems Inc (Omron Corporation)
• Inventors: Zosel, Andrew J., Barnes, Danny S., Allen, Matthew E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US10/052,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20030136842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,167 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.22, 235/462.32, 235/462.41, 235/454, 235/462.11
• US Class Current: 235/462.22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed comprising a base capable of receiving a camera including a lens, and a projector coupled to the base and adapted to project a plurality of beams of light onto a plane positioned at a focus distance from the base, wherein the projections of the beams of light on the plane are geometric shapes, and wherein an intersection of the geometric shapes is at the center of the field of view of the lens when the lens is installed on the base. In addition, an apparatus is disclosed comprising a base capable of receiving a camera including a lens, an image processor capable of being coupled to the camera for processing an image of a target captured by the camera, and a confirmation projector coupled to the image processor, wherein the projector projects a confirmation beam onto the plane of the target when the image processor signals the confirmation projector that it has processed the image.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a base capable of receiving a camera including an image capture lens; and

a projector coupled to the base and adapted to project a plurality of beams of light onto a plane positioned at a focus distance from the base, wherein the projections of the plurality of beams of light on the plane are bars, and wherein an intersection of the bars is at the center of the field of view of the image capture lens independent of the distance between the image capture lens and the plane when the image capture lens is installed on the base.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of bars comprises two bars, including a first bar and a second bar.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a shape created by the intersection of the first and second bars varies according to the focus distance.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of the first and second bars have first and second ends, and wherein

if the first and second bars intersect at or near both their first ends, substantially forming a caret shape, the camera is at a first focus distance;

if the first and second bars intersect each other, the camera is at a second focus distance; and

if the first and second bars intersect each other at or near both their second ends, substantially forming a V shape, the camera is at a third focus distance.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the camera.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an image processor for processing an image captured by the camera; and

a confirmation projector coupled to the image processor, wherein the projector projects a confirmation beam onto the plane when the image processor signals to the confirmation projector that the image processor has processed the image.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the confirmation beam flashes instantaneously onto the plane.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a base capable of receiving a camera including an image capture lens; and

first and second projectors, each comprising;

a light source,

a beam former positioned between the light source and the plane for forming the beam emitted from the light source, and

a lens for focusing the light beam emitted from the beam former;

wherein the first and second projectors are coupled to the base and adapted to project a plurality of beams of light onto a plane positioned at a focus distance from the base, wherein the projections of the plurality of beams of light on the plane are geometric shapes, and wherein an intersection of the geometric shapes is at the center of the field of view of the image capture lens independent of the distance between the image capture lens and the plane when the image capture lens is installed on the base.

9. A process comprising:

projecting a first light beam onto a plane, wherein the projection of the first light beam on the plane is a first bar;

projecting a second light beam onto the plane, wherein the projection of the second light beam on the plane is a second bar; and

aligning the first and second beams such that an intersection of the first and second bars is at the center of the field of view of an image capture lens of a camera independently of the distance between the image capture lens and the plane, wherein a shape created by the intersection of the first and second bars varies according to the focus distance.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein each of the first and second bars have first and second ends, and wherein:

if the first and second bars intersect at or near both their first ends, substantially forming a caret shape, the lens is at a first focus distance from the plane;

if the first and second bars bisect each other, the lens is at a second focus distance from the plane; and

if the first and second bars intersect each other at or near both their second ends, substantially forming a V shape, the lens is at a third focus distance from the plane.

11. The process of claim 9, further comprising:

capturing an image using the camera;

processing the image captured by the camera using an image processor; and

projecting a confirmation beam onto the plane when the image processor signals to the confirmation projector that it has processed the image.

12. A process comprising:

projecting a first light beam onto a plane, wherein the projection of the first light beam on the plane is a first geometric shape;

projecting a second light beam onto the plane, wherein the projection of the second light beam on the plane is a second geometric shape, and wherein projecting each of the first and second light beams comprises;

emitting light from a light source,

forming the beam emitted from the light source using a beam former positioned between the light source and the plane, and

focusing the light beam emitted from the beam former; and

aligning the first and second beams such that an intersection of the first and second geometric shapes is at the center of the field of view of an image capture lens of a camera, independently of the distance between the image capture lens and the plane.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a base capable of receiving an image processor and a camera including an image capture lens;

a projector coupled to the base and adapted to project a plurality of beams of light onto a plane positioned at a focus distance from the lens, wherein the projections of the beams of light on the plane are first and second bars, and wherein an intersection of the first and second bars is at the center of the field of view of the image capture lens independent of distance between the image capture lens and the plane when the image capture lens is installed on the base; and

a confirmation projector coupled to the image processor, wherein the projector projects a confirmation beam onto the plane when the image processor signals the confirmation projector that the image processor has processed the image.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the relative positions of the intersection of the first and second bars varies according to the focus distance.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein each of the first and second bars have first and second ends, and wherein

if the first and second bars intersect at or near both their first ends, substantially forming a caret shape, the camera is at a first focus distance;

if the first and second bars bisect each other, the camera is at a second focus distance; and

if the first and second bars intersect each other at or near both their second ends, substantially forming a V shape, the camera is at a third focus distance.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the confirmation projector comprises:

a light source; and

a lens for focusing the light emitted from the light source.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the confirmation beam flashes instantaneously onto the plane.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a base capable of receiving an image processor and a camera including an image capture lens;

first and second projectors coupled to the base, each comprising;

a light source,

a beam former positioned between the light source and the plane for forming the beam emitted from the light source, and

a lens for focusing the light beam emitted from the beam former;

wherein the first and second projectors are adapted to project a plurality of beams of light onto a plane positioned at a focus distance from the lens, wherein the projections of the beams of light on the plane are geometric shapes, and wherein an intersection of the geometric shapes is at the center of the field of view of the image capture lens independent of distance between the image capture lens and the plane when the image capture lens is installed on the base; and

a confirmation projector coupled to the image processor, wherein the projector projects a confirmation beam onto the plane when the image processor signals the confirmation projector that the image processor has processed the image.