Automatic imaging-based code symbol reading system supporting a multi-tier modular software architecture, automatic illumination control, and video image capture and processing techniques
First Claim
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1. An automatic digital imaging-based code symbol reading system supporting a presentation-type mode of system operation, comprising:
- a housing supportable on a countertop surface at a point-of-sale (POS) station or other work environment;
a digital image formation and detection subsystem, disposed within said housing, and having (i) image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) from an area-type image detection array, and upon an object to be imaged during object illumination and imaging operations, and (ii) said area-type image detection array for detecting frames of digital video data of the object during said object illumination and imaging operations carried out while said digital image formation and detection subsystem is configured in a video image capture mode of operation;
an automatic object detection subsystem, disposed in said housing, for automatically detecting the presence of the object in said FOV, and in response thereto, generating a trigger signal indicating a triggering event;
an LED-based illumination subsystem, disposed within said housing, and having an LED illumination array for producing and projecting a field of illumination within said FOV during said object illumination and imaging operations;
an automatic illumination control subsystem, disposed within said housing, for automatically controlling said LED illumination array during said object illumination and imaging operations;
a digital image capturing and buffering subsystem, disposed within said housing, for capturing and buffering said frames of digital video data in memory, during said object illumination and imaging operations;
a digital image processing subsystem, disposed in said housing, for processing said frames of digital video data and reading one or more 1D and/or 2D code symbols graphically represented in said frames of digital video data, and producing symbol character data representative of said read one or more 1D and/or 2D code symbols;
an input/output subsystem, disposed in said housing, for transmitting said symbol character data to an external host system or other information receiving or responding device;
a system control system, disposed in said housing, for controlling or coordinating the operation of said subsystems above; and
a computing platform, disposed in said housing, for implementing said digital image processing subsystem, said input/output subsystem and said system control subsystem;
wherein said computing platform includes (i) a multi-tier modular software architecture characterized by an Operating System (OS) layer and an Application layer, and (ii) a microprocessor for running one or more applications stored in one or more software libraries maintained in said Application layer; and
wherein said one or more software libraries contain code associated with a digital imaging-based code symbol reading task which is responsive to the generation of said triggering event while said automatic digital imaging-based code symbol reading system is operating in said presentation-type mode of system operation, and during which said digital image formation and detection subsystem is configured in said video image capture mode of operation.
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Abstract
An automatic digital imaging-based code symbol reading system supporting a presentation-type mode of system operation, a multi-tier modular software architecture, automatic illumination control and video image capture and processing techniques. By virtue of the present invention, the automatic digital imaging-based code symbol reading system ensures the reliable reading of 1D and/or 2D code symbols graphically represented in digital images captured in demanding point-of-sale and other environments.
301 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An automatic digital imaging-based code symbol reading system supporting a presentation-type mode of system operation, comprising:
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a housing supportable on a countertop surface at a point-of-sale (POS) station or other work environment; a digital image formation and detection subsystem, disposed within said housing, and having (i) image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) from an area-type image detection array, and upon an object to be imaged during object illumination and imaging operations, and (ii) said area-type image detection array for detecting frames of digital video data of the object during said object illumination and imaging operations carried out while said digital image formation and detection subsystem is configured in a video image capture mode of operation; an automatic object detection subsystem, disposed in said housing, for automatically detecting the presence of the object in said FOV, and in response thereto, generating a trigger signal indicating a triggering event; an LED-based illumination subsystem, disposed within said housing, and having an LED illumination array for producing and projecting a field of illumination within said FOV during said object illumination and imaging operations; an automatic illumination control subsystem, disposed within said housing, for automatically controlling said LED illumination array during said object illumination and imaging operations; a digital image capturing and buffering subsystem, disposed within said housing, for capturing and buffering said frames of digital video data in memory, during said object illumination and imaging operations; a digital image processing subsystem, disposed in said housing, for processing said frames of digital video data and reading one or more 1D and/or 2D code symbols graphically represented in said frames of digital video data, and producing symbol character data representative of said read one or more 1D and/or 2D code symbols; an input/output subsystem, disposed in said housing, for transmitting said symbol character data to an external host system or other information receiving or responding device; a system control system, disposed in said housing, for controlling or coordinating the operation of said subsystems above; and a computing platform, disposed in said housing, for implementing said digital image processing subsystem, said input/output subsystem and said system control subsystem; wherein said computing platform includes (i) a multi-tier modular software architecture characterized by an Operating System (OS) layer and an Application layer, and (ii) a microprocessor for running one or more applications stored in one or more software libraries maintained in said Application layer; and wherein said one or more software libraries contain code associated with a digital imaging-based code symbol reading task which is responsive to the generation of said triggering event while said automatic digital imaging-based code symbol reading system is operating in said presentation-type mode of system operation, and during which said digital image formation and detection subsystem is configured in said video image capture mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 27)
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17. An automatic digital imaging-based code symbol reading system, comprising:
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a housing supportable on a countertop surface at a point-of-sale (POS) station or other work environment; a digital image formation and detection subsystem, disposed within said housing, and having (i) image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) from an area-type image detection array, and upon an object to be imaged during object illumination and imaging operations, and (ii) said area-type image detection array for detecting frames of digital video data of the object during said object illumination and imaging operations carried out while said digital image formation and detection subsystem is configured in a video image capture mode of operation; an automatic object detection subsystem, disposed in said housing, for automatically detecting the presence of the object in said FOV, and in response thereto, generating a trigger signal indicating a triggering event; an LED-based illumination subsystem, disposed within said housing, and having an LED illumination array for producing and projecting a field of illumination within said FOV during said object illumination and imaging operations; an automatic illumination control subsystem, disposed within said housing, for automatically controlling said LED illumination array during said object illumination and imaging operations; a digital image capturing and buffering subsystem, disposed within said housing, for capturing and buffering said frames of digital video data in memory, during said object illumination and imaging operations; a digital image processing subsystem, disposed in said housing, for processing said frames of digital video data and reading one or more 1D and/or 2D code symbols graphically represented in said frames of digital video data, and producing symbol character data representative of said read one or more 1D and/or 2D code symbols; an input/output subsystem, disposed in said housing, for transmitting said symbol character data to an external host system or other information receiving or responding device; a system control system, disposed in said housing, for controlling or coordinating the operation of said subsystems above; and a computing platform, disposed in said housing, for implementing said digital image processing subsystem, said input/output subsystem and said system control subsystem; wherein said computing platform includes (i) a multi-tier modular software architecture characterized by an Operating System (OS) layer and an Application layer, and (ii) a microprocessor for running one or more applications stored in one or more software libraries maintained in said Application layer; and wherein said one or more software libraries contain code associated with a digital imaging-based code symbol reading task which is responsive to said triggering event while said digital image formation and detection subsystem is configured in said video image capture mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification