Image-recording device, method for recording an image that is visualized on a display unit, arrangement of an image-recording device and a display unit, use of said image-recording device, and use of said arrangement

• US 7,581,682 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2003
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NM, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gavitec AG (NeoMedia Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Müller, Frank, Nunnink, Laurens, Küchen, Jörg
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haupt; Kristy A
• Application Number:
  US10/521,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20050270358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,239 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.24, 235/462.41, 235/462.32
• US Class Current: 235/473
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1095 the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0438 Scanning displays; Scanning large surfaces, e.g. projection screens, writing boards

Abstract

To improve image capture from a display or a surface, more specifically from a specular reflecting surface, the invention proposes an image capturing apparatus having an image capturing unit and an image fitting surface in which the optical axis of the image capturing unit is disposed at an angle α to a normal of the image fitting surface.

Claims

1. An image capturing apparatus for capturing images of portable objects (16) with an image capturing unit (1) and an image fitting surface (31) in which the optical axis (6) of the image capturing unit (1) passes from said image capturing unit (1) through the image fitting surface (31) to the image, wherein the image capturing unit is disposed so that the optical axis (6) of the image capturing unit (1) is inclined at an angle α

of more than 5°

with respect to a normal (7) of the image fitting surface (31) in a region in which the optical axis traverses the image fitting surface (31) and further comprising a screen in a region of the image fitting surface, said screen being made from a light-impervious material and which prevents ambient light or stray light from being incident upon the image fitting surface.

2. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the angle α

is less than 30°

.

3. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the image capturing unit (1) comprises an angle of sight β

of less than 30°

.

4. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the image capturing unit (1) comprises a focal length that is more than double the size of the maximum diagonal of an image capturing sensor of the image capturing unit (1).

5. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the angle α

is at least half the size of the angle of sight β

of the image capturing unit (1).

6. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 1, wherein an optical device (33) is disposed between the image capturing unit (1) and the image fitting surface (31) so that the optical device is positioned in an optical capture path.

7. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 1, comprising a lighting device (39).

8. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 7, wherein the lighting device (39) comprises light-emitting diodes (40) as the light-emitting means.

9. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 8, wherein the light-emitting means are disposed in immediate proximity to the image capturing unit (1).

10. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 7, wherein the lighting device (39) comprises colored light-emitting means.

11. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the screen (12) is disposed outside of a light path (4) of the image capturing unit (1).

12. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 11, wherein the optical screen (12) is disposed between the image fitting surface (31) and the image capturing unit (1) and/or a lighting device (39).

13. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 11, wherein the optical screen (12) comprises a light-absorbing surface (13) and that the light-absorbing surface is turned toward the image fitting surface (31).

14. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 1, comprising a housing (17) portions of which comprise a translucent material.

15. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 14, wherein the translucent material is a reflection-reducing material.

16. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the reflection reducing material is a translucent glass window 19.

17. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 1, comprising a positioning device (20) for positioning the portable object relative to the image capturing apparatus.

18. The image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 17, wherein the positioning device (20) comprises a protection means that protects an object placed on the positioning device (20) from damage and that moreover shields, together with the object, the image capturing unit (1) from ambient light (28).

19. Use of an image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 1 and/or use of an arrangement (10;

14) for capturing an image from a display (2), more specifically from an LC-display (26) or from a specular reflecting surface (11).

20. Use of an image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 1 and/or use of an arrangement (10;

14) for capturing an image from a surface that is covered by at least one transparent layer (32).

21. Use of an image capturing apparatus (16) as set forth in claim 1 and/or use of an arrangement (10;

14) for reading an optical code (25) that is preferably displayed on a display (2;

26) or on a specular reflecting surface (11).

22. Use of an image according to claim 21, for the reading of an optical code that is located completely in the visual field of the image capturing unit.