Imaging reader with adaptive illumination and adaptive resolution
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A reader for electro-optically reading indicia, comprising:
- an illuminator for illuminating the indicia during reading, the illuminator including an energizable first light source for emitting non-readily visible illumination infrared light having a wavelength in a range from about 700 nm to about 760 nm when energized, and an energizable second light source for emitting visible illumination blue light having a wavelength in a range from about 430 nm to about 505 nm when energized;
a solid-state imager including an array of image sensors for capturing light scattered from the indicia illuminated by the illuminator over a field of view during reading, and for generating a signal corresponding the illuminated indicia; and
a controller for energizing at least one of the light sources to emit the illumination light to the illuminated indicia for capture by the imager, and for processing the signal to read the illuminated indicia, wherein the controller is operative for continuously energizing the first light source in a default mode, and for energizing the second light source only for a time interval to increase a spatial resolution of the imager when a density determined by the controller equals or exceeds a reference density value.
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Abstract
Infrared light having a wavelength in a range from about 700 nm to about 760 nm, which is non-readily visible, illuminates indicia to be electro-optically read by default. Blue visible light having a wavelength in a range from about 430 nm to about 505 nm illuminates the indicia when high-density and/or low-contrast indicia are detected.
12 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A reader for electro-optically reading indicia, comprising:
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an illuminator for illuminating the indicia during reading, the illuminator including an energizable first light source for emitting non-readily visible illumination infrared light having a wavelength in a range from about 700 nm to about 760 nm when energized, and an energizable second light source for emitting visible illumination blue light having a wavelength in a range from about 430 nm to about 505 nm when energized; a solid-state imager including an array of image sensors for capturing light scattered from the indicia illuminated by the illuminator over a field of view during reading, and for generating a signal corresponding the illuminated indicia; and a controller for energizing at least one of the light sources to emit the illumination light to the illuminated indicia for capture by the imager, and for processing the signal to read the illuminated indicia, wherein the controller is operative for continuously energizing the first light source in a default mode, and for energizing the second light source only for a time interval to increase a spatial resolution of the imager when a density determined by the controller equals or exceeds a reference density value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of electro-optically reading indicia, comprising the steps of:
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illuminating the indicia during reading, by emitting non-readily visible illumination infrared light having a wavelength in a range from about 700 nm to about 760 nm from an energizable first light source when energized, and by emitting visible illumination blue light having a wavelength in a range from about 430 nm to about 505 nm from an energizable second light source when energized; capturing light scattered from the illuminated indicia over a field of view of a solid-state imager including an array of image sensors during reading, and generating a signal corresponding the illuminated indicia; and energizing at least one of the light sources to emit the illumination light to the illuminated indicia for capture by the imager, and processing the signal to read the illuminated indicia, wherein the energizing step is performed by continuously energizing the first light source in a default mode, and by energizing the second light source only for a time interval to increase a spatial resolution of the imager when a determined density equals or exceeds a reference density value. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A reader for electro-optically reading indicia, comprising:
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an illuminator for illuminating the indicia during reading, the illuminator including an energizable first light source for emitting non-readily visible illumination light when energized, and an energizable second light source for emitting visible illumination light when energized; a solid-state imager having a resolution and including an array of image sensors for capturing light scattered from the indicia illuminated by the illuminator over a field of view during reading, and an imaging lens for focusing the light from the illuminated indicia onto the array of image sensors, the imager being operative for generating a signal corresponding to the illuminated indicia; and a controller for energizing at least one of the light sources to emit the illumination light to the illuminated indicia for capture by the imager, and for processing the signal to read the illuminated indicia, wherein the controller is operative for continuously energizing the first light source in a default mode, and for energizing the second light source only for a time interval to increase a spatial resolution of the imager when a contrast determined by the controller equals or is below a reference contrast value.
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8. A method of electro-optically reading indicia, comprising the steps of:
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illuminating the indicia during reading, by emitting non-readily visible illumination light from an energizable first light source when energized, and by emitting visible illumination light from an energizable second light source when energized; capturing light scattered from the illuminated indicia over a field of view of a solid-state imager including an array of image sensors during reading, focusing the light from the illuminated indicia onto the array of image sensors, and generating a signal corresponding the illuminated indicia; and energizing at least one of the light sources to emit the illumination light to the illuminated indicia for capture by the imager, and processing the signal to read the illuminated indicia, wherein the energizing step is performed by continuously energizing the first light source in a default mode, and by energizing the second light source only for a time interval to increase a spatial resolution of the imager when a determined contrast equals or is below a reference contrast value.
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Specification