Triggering illumination for a data reader
First Claim
1. A method of triggering a source of visible light for a data reader including an imaging reader having a scan zone, comprising:
- illuminating at least a substantial portion of the scan zone with infrared illumination;
placing in the scan zone an item bearing an optical code symbol containing encoded data therein, thereby reflecting at least a portion of the infrared illumination as reflected infrared illumination;
sensing the reflected infrared illumination via the imaging reader;
attempting to read the symbol and acquire the encoded data therein utilizing the sensed reflected infrared illumination;
in response to sensing the reflected infrared illumination, triggering a source of visible light and illuminating the scan zone with the visible light thereby reflecting at least a portion of the visible light as reflected visible light;
sensing the reflected visible light via the imaging reader; and
reading the symbol via the imaging reader utilizing the sensed reflected visible light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods are disclosed for triggering a source of visible light in connection with a data reader in response to a sensed proximity of an item. In one configuration, a data reader includes a imaging reader, such as a CMOS imager, that is sensitive to both infrared illumination and visible light. The imaging reader may be operable to read a symbol, such as a barcode or other optical code, via reflected infrared illumination, reflected visible light, or both. When characteristics of reflected illumination received by the imaging reader indicate that presence or movement of an item in the visible scan zone, the visible light source may be triggered to illuminate the item and thereby facilitate reading of the symbol using the same imagine reader as is used to sense the presence of the item. The visible light source may also be triggered to provide visual feedback.
149 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of triggering a source of visible light for a data reader including an imaging reader having a scan zone, comprising:
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illuminating at least a substantial portion of the scan zone with infrared illumination; placing in the scan zone an item bearing an optical code symbol containing encoded data therein, thereby reflecting at least a portion of the infrared illumination as reflected infrared illumination; sensing the reflected infrared illumination via the imaging reader; attempting to read the symbol and acquire the encoded data therein utilizing the sensed reflected infrared illumination; in response to sensing the reflected infrared illumination, triggering a source of visible light and illuminating the scan zone with the visible light thereby reflecting at least a portion of the visible light as reflected visible light; sensing the reflected visible light via the imaging reader; and reading the symbol via the imaging reader utilizing the sensed reflected visible light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of triggering illumination for a data reader including an imaging reader having a scan zone, comprising:
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illuminating at least a substantial portion of the scan zone with infrared illumination; placing in the scan zone an item, thereby reflecting at least a portion of the infrared illumination as reflected infrared illumination; sensing the reflected infrared illumination via an imaging sensor contained in the imaging reader; in response to sensing the reflected infrared illumination, activating a source of visible light, thereby causing the item to reflect at least a portion of the visible light as reflected visible illumination; sensing the reflected visible illumination with the imaging sensor; moving the item out of the scan zone, thereby causing a change in the reflected visible illumination; sensing the change in the reflected visible illumination with the imaging sensor; and in response to sensing the change in the reflected visible illumination, deactivating the source of visible light. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A symbol reading device, comprising:
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a data reader having a scan zone, the data reader including an imaging reader containing an imaging sensor, the imaging sensor being sensitive to visible illumination and infrared illumination; an infrared illumination source that directs infrared illumination at the scan zone; a visible light source coupled to the data reader and adapted to selectively direct visible illumination at the scan zone, the data reader responsive to receipt by the imaging sensor of infrared illumination reflected by an item placed in the scan zone to trigger the visible light source and thereby illuminate the item. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of triggering a source of visible light for a data reader having a scan zone illuminated by ambient illumination, comprising:
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placing an item in the scan zone, thereby imparting a change in the ambient illumination reaching the data reader, the item bearing an optical symbol containing encoded data therein; at the data reader, detecting the presence of the item in the scan zone by sensing the change in the ambient illumination reaching the data reader; in response to detecting the presence of the item in the scan zone, triggering a source of infrared illumination to illuminate the item with infrared illumination, the item thereby reflecting at least a portion of the infrared illumination as reflected infrared illumination; and at the data reader, attempting to read the optical symbol and acquire the encoded data therein via the reflected infrared illumination; in response to a failed attempt to read the symbol via the reflected infrared illumination, triggering a source of visible illumination.
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36. A method of triggering a source of visible light for a data reader having a scan zone illuminated by ambient illumination, comprising:
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placing an item in the scan zone, thereby imparting a change in the ambient illumination reaching the data reader, the item bearing an optical symbol containing encoded data therein; at the data reader, detecting the presence of the item in the scan zone by sensing the change in the ambient illumination reaching the data reader; in response to detecting the presence of the item in the scan zone, triggering a source of infrared illumination to illuminate the item with infrared illumination, the item thereby reflecting at least a portion of the infrared illumination as reflected infrared illumination; and at the data reader, attempting to read the optical symbol and acquire the encoded data therein via the reflected infrared illumination; reading the symbol; and triggering a source of visible illumination.
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37. A method of triggering a source of visible light for a data reader having a scan zone illuminated by ambient illumination, comprising:
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placing an item in the scan zone, thereby imparting a change in the ambient illumination reaching the data reader, the item bearing an optical symbol containing encoded data therein; at the data reader, detecting the presence of the item in the scan zone by sensing the change in the ambient illumination reaching the data reader; in response to detecting the presence of the item in the scan zone, triggering a source of infrared illumination to illuminate the item with infrared illumination, the item thereby reflecting at least a portion of the infrared illumination as reflected infrared illumination; and at the data reader, attempting to read the optical symbol and acquire the encoded data therein via the reflected infrared illumination; sensing an intensity of the reflected infrared illumination; and triggering a source of visible light when the intensity exceeds a preselected threshold intensity.
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Specification