Apparatus and method for verifying print quality of an encoded indicium

• US 7,347,376 B1
• Filed: 09/17/2003
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
• 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., Havens, William H., Fletcher, Donna M., Sonneville, Eunice, Biss, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/664,581
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 235/439, 235/462.1, 235/462.43, 235/472.01, 235449-455, 235/472.02, 235/472.03, 250/239, 250/208.6
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 33/0036 Devices for scanning or checking the printed matter for quality control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources

Abstract

The invention is an apparatus configured to provide self-alignment in use when measuring the print quality of an encoded indicium. The apparatus is configured to exclude ambient light, and to align an encoded indicium located at a first aperture defined in a first surface of the apparatus with an imager positioned at a second aperture defined in a second surface of the apparatus. A source of illumination is provided to illuminate the encoded indicium during an interval when the encoded indicium is undergoing a verification process. An illumination control is provided to control the source of illumination. The apparatus can be controlled using a computer and a computer program recorded on a machine-readable medium.

Claims

1. A self-aligning structure for use in measuring the quality of an encoded indicium, comprising:

a hollow chamber comprising;

a first surface defining a first aperture, the first aperture representing a viewing area of an imager used to obtain an image of the encoded indicium;

a second surface defining a second aperture, the second aperture configured to support the imager in a position to obtain the image of the encoded indicium;

at least one source of illumination situated within the hollow chamber, the at least one source of illumination configured to illuminate the encoded indicium; and

an illumination control operatively coupled to control the at least one source of illumination;

the hollow chamber configured to be positioned adjacent the encoded indicium such that, when the encoded indicium is positioned within the viewing area, when an imager is supported in the second aperture, and when the at least one illumination source is properly controlled, the structure is self-aligned and the imager can obtain at least one image of the encoded indicium from which image the quality of the encoded indicium can be measured, wherein the hollow chamber is constructed in a plurality of mating sections, a first section comprising the first surface defining the first aperture representing the viewing area of the imager of the encoded indicium, and a second section comprising the second surface defining the second aperture configured to support the imager in the position to obtain the image of the encoded indicium.

2. The self-aligning structure according to claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber is configured to exclude extraneous illumination when the imager is present and the hollow chamber is positioned adjacent the encoded indicium.

3. The self-aligning structure according to claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber is configured to support the imager in a defined position relative to the encoded indicium.

4. The self-aligning structure according to claim 3, wherein the defined position comprises a defined distance.

5. The self-aligning structure according to claim 3, wherein the defined position comprises a defined angle.

6. The self-aligning structure according to claim 1, wherein said hollow chamber is constructed so that said second section is adapted to be disposed on top of said first section.

7. The self-aligning structure according to claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber is configured to remain mechanically stable when the imager is positioned within the second aperture.

8. The self-aligning structure according to claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber further comprises an optical sensor configured to receive illumination from the at least one source of illumination for the purpose of confirming an illumination characteristic provided by the at least one source of illumination.

9. The self-aligning structure according to claim 8, wherein the illumination characteristic provided by the at least one source of illumination is a characteristic selected from an illumination intensity at a selected time and an illumination wavelength.

10. A self-aligning structure for use in measuring the quality of an encoded indicium, comprising:

a hollow chamber comprising;

a first surface defining a first aperture, the first aperture representing a viewing area of an imager used to obtain an image of the encoded indicium;

a second surface defining a second aperture, the second aperture configured to support the imager in a position to obtain the image of the encoded indicium;

at least one source of illumination situated within the hollow chamber, the at least one source of illumination configured to illuminate the encoded indicium; and

an illumination control operatively coupled to control the at least one source of illumination;

the hollow chamber configured to be positioned adjacent the encoded indicium such that, when the encoded indicium is positioned within the viewing area, when an imager is supported in the second aperture, and when the at least one illumination source is properly controlled, the structure is self-aligned and the imager can obtain at least one image of the encoded indicium from which image the quality of the encoded indicium can be measured, wherein said self-aligning structure is configured to receive illumination from the at least one source of illumination for the purpose of confirming an illumination characteristic provided by the at least one source of illumination.

11. The self-aligning structure according to claim 10, wherein the illumination characteristic provided by the at least one source of illumination is a characteristic selected from an illumination intensity at a selected time and an illumination wavelength.

12. The self-aligning structure according to claim 10, wherein the illumination characteristic provided by the at least one source of illumination is an illumination intensity.

13. The self-aligning structure according to claim 10, wherein the illumination characteristic provided by the at least one source of illumination is an illumination wavelength.

14. The self-aligning structure according to claim 10, wherein the self-aligning sensor includes an optical sensor separate from said imager for receiving illumination for the at least one source of illumination for the purpose of confirming an illumination characteristic provided by the at least one source of illumination.

15. An image quality verifier system useful for verifying the quality of an encoded indicium, the system comprising:

a first imager for obtaining an image of said encoded indicium;

a second imager for obtaining an image of said encoded indicium;

at least one source of illumination for illuminating said encoded indicium; and

a structure comprising a hollow chamber, the hollow chamber configured to exclude extraneous illumination and comprising a first surface defining a first aperture, the first aperture representing a viewing area of the imager,

wherein said structure is configured to support, at any given time, one of said first imager and said second imager at a position above said encoded indicium, wherein said structure is further configured so that when said first imager is supported by said structure, said first imager is in such position to obtain an image of an indicium within said viewing area, and wherein said structure is further configured so that when said second imager is supported by said structure said second imager is in such position to obtain an image of an indicium within said viewing area.

16. The image quality verifier system of claim 15, wherein said first imager and said second imager have different working distances.

17. The image quality verifier system of claim 15, wherein said structure comprising said hollow chamber includes a hollow chamber having a first section defining said first aperture and an interchangeable second section comprising either a first second section or an alternate section, the system being configured so that said first second section is mated to said first section for supporting said first imager, the system further being configured so that said alternate second section is mated to said first section for supporting said second imager.

18. The image quality verifier system of claim 15, wherein said hollow chamber of said structure supports one of said first imager or said second imager.

19. The image quality verifier system of claim 15, wherein each of said first and second imagers includes an illumination source so that said source of illumination of said system for illuminating said encoded indicium can be provided by said first or second imagers, whichever is supported by said structure.

20. A self-aligning structure for use in measuring the quality of an encoded indicium, comprising:

a hollow chamber comprising;

a first surface defining a first aperture, the first aperture representing a viewing area of an imager used to obtain an image of the encoded indicium;

a second surface defining a second aperture, the second aperture configured to support the imager in a position above said encoded indicium to obtain the image of the encoded indicium,

wherein said hollow chamber is provided in a form having first and second mating sections, the hollow chamber being configured so that said first surface defining said first aperture is included on said first mating section and said second surface defining said second aperture is included on said second mating section.

21. The self-aligning structure of claim 20, wherein said structure is provided in a form including an alternate first section of said hollow chamber, and wherein said hollow chamber is configured so that said alternate first section can replace said first section.

22. The self-aligning structure of claim 20, wherein said structure is provided in a form including an alternate first section of said hollow chamber, wherein said hollow chamber is configured so that said alternate first section can replace said first section, and wherein the alternate first section has a viewing area defined for a different type of encoded indicium than said first section.

23. The self-aligning structure of claim 20, wherein said structure is provided in a form including an alternate second section of said hollow chamber, and wherein said hollow chamber is configured so that said alternate second section can replace said second section.

24. The self-aligning structure of claim 20, wherein said structure is provided in a form including an alternate second section of said hollow chamber, wherein said hollow chamber is configured so that said alternate second section can replace said second section, and wherein said alternate second section is configured to support a different imager than said second section.

25. An image quality verifier system useful for verifying the quality of an encoded indicium, comprising:

an imager for obtaining an image of the encoded indicium;

a source of illumination for illuminating said encoded indicium; and

a hollow chamber configured to exclude extraneous illumination and comprising a first surface defining a first aperture, the first aperture representing a viewing area of the imager, wherein said system is configured so that said imager is positioned at a position above said encoded indicia,

wherein said system is provided in a form such that a section of said hollow chamber including said first surface can be removed from a remainder of said hollow chamber and replaced with an alternate hollow chamber section.

26. The image quality verifier system of claim 25, wherein said alternate hollow chamber section is configured for use with a different type of encoded indicium than said section of hollow chamber including said first surface.

27. An image quality verifier system useful for verifying the quality of an encoded indicium, comprising:

an imager for obtaining an image of the encoded indicium, the imager comprising a sensor including one of (i) a linear array of photosensitive elements or (ii) two dimensional array of photosensitive element;

a source of illumination for illuminating said encoded indicium;

a hollow chamber configured to exclude extraneous illumination and comprising a first surface defining a first aperture, the first aperture representing a viewing area of the imager, the hollow chamber also having a second surface at a position above said first aperture, wherein said system is configured so that said imager is supported at a position that is above said encoded indicia and proximate said second surface of said hollow chamber that is configured to exclude extraneous illumination; and

an analysis module in wireless radio communication with said imager, said analysis module including a memory device and a programmed microprocessor, said analysis module in communication with said imager being configured to analyze an image to extract therefrom information regarding the quality of said encoded indicium.

28. The image quality verifier system of claim 27, wherein said source of illumination is incorporated in said imager.

29. The image quality verifier system of claim 27, wherein said source of illumination is incorporated in said chamber.

30. The image quality verifier system of claim 27, wherein said sensor is a two dimensional array of photosensitive elements.