System and method of optical reading employing virtual scan lines
First Claim
1. A method for reading one out of a plurality of optical codes present in a scan region, using a data reader, comprising the steps of:
- the data reader projecting a visible aiming pattern into the scan region;
acquiring an image of the entire scan region into a sensor array including at least a first optical code and a second optical code;
by operation of a user, aligning the aiming pattern onto the first optical code;
processing a portion of the image of the scan region along a pattern of virtual scan lines to locate both the first and second optical codes at any position(s) within the scan region;
the data reader determining if the aiming pattern intersects either one of the optical codes;
if the aiming pattern is determined by the data reader to intersect the first optical code and to not intersect the second optical code, acknowledging and transmitting data acquired from the first optical code and not acknowledging and not transmitting data acquired from the second optical code.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Optical reading system and methods having multiple modes of operation, for example: omnidirectional and single-code picking; fixed and handheld reading; 1D and 2D code reading. In one configuration, an image-based system obtains input data via an area sensor (e.g., a 2D COD array) with only data corresponding to a pattern of virtual scan lines being stored and processed. A user may implement different operating modes such as a first mode reading codes in any location or orientation and a second mode reading only a code oriented along a particular virtual scan line or group thereof. Alternately, the data reader is operable to switch between handheld mode selecting a first pattern of virtual scan lines to process and/or decode and a fixed mode selecting a second pattern of virtual scan lines to process and/or decode. Virtual scan patterns in either mode can change from frame to frame.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for reading one out of a plurality of optical codes present in a scan region, using a data reader, comprising the steps of:
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the data reader projecting a visible aiming pattern into the scan region; acquiring an image of the entire scan region into a sensor array including at least a first optical code and a second optical code; by operation of a user, aligning the aiming pattern onto the first optical code; processing a portion of the image of the scan region along a pattern of virtual scan lines to locate both the first and second optical codes at any position(s) within the scan region; the data reader determining if the aiming pattern intersects either one of the optical codes; if the aiming pattern is determined by the data reader to intersect the first optical code and to not intersect the second optical code, acknowledging and transmitting data acquired from the first optical code and not acknowledging and not transmitting data acquired from the second optical code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for reading optical codes with a data reader, comprising the steps of:
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acquiring an image of an entire scan region into a sensor array; reading only a selected optical code out of a plurality of optical codes present within the scan region, by the steps of projecting a visible aiming pattern into the scan region containing at least a first optical code and a second optical code; by action of an operator, positioning the aiming pattern onto the selected first optical code; processing a selected portion of data at only selected points along a pattern of virtual scan lines in the scan region and thereby locating both the first and second optical codes; by action of the data reader, determining if the aiming pattern intersects either of the first and second optical codes that have been located; if the aiming pattern is determined by the data reader to intersect the first optical code that has been located and not intersect the second optical code, acknowledging and transmitting only the first optical code and not the second optical code, and if the aiming pattern is determined by the data reader to not intersect any optical code that has been located, then not acknowledging and not transmitting any optical code. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for reading optical codes, comprising the steps of:
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acquiring with a data reader an image of a two-dimensional imaging region into a sensor array, wherein the two-dimensional imaging region contains at least a first optical code and a second optical code; operating in a handheld mode by processing only a selected portion of data at only selected points along a pattern of virtual scan lines consisting of (a) a single virtual scan line or (b) a band of a plurality of generally parallel virtual scan lines; operating in a fixed mode by processing only a selected portion of data at selected points along a pattern of virtual scan lines arranged in multiple directions about the two dimensional imaging region; decoding the selected portion of data according to the pattern of virtual scan lines, wherein the step of operating in a handheld mode further comprises projecting a visible aiming pattern into the two dimensional imaging region; by operation of a user, aligning the aiming pattern onto the first optical code; by action of the data reader, determining if the aiming pattern intersects either of the first and second optical codes; if the aiming pattern is determined by the data reader to intersect the first optical code and not the second optical code, acknowledging and transmitting data acquired from the first optical code and not from the second optical code, and if the aiming pattern is determined by the data reader to not intersect either the first or second optical codes, then not acknowledging and not transmitting data acquired from the optical codes. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for reading optical codes with a data reader, comprising the steps of:
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acquiring an image of a two-dimensional imaging region into a sensor array; operating in a handheld mode by generating a visible aiming pattern whereby a user positions the aiming pattern onto an optical code within the imaging region, and storing data at only selected points along a pattern of virtual scan lines determined by the data reader to intersect the aiming pattern and not storing data from virtual scan lines determined by the data reader to not intersect the aiming pattern; decoding data that has been stored. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A method for reading optical symbols with a data reader, comprising the steps of:
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acquiring an image of a two-dimensional imaging region into a sensor array; projecting a visible aiming pattern into the two dimensional imaging region; operating in a first mode by processing only a selected portion of data at only selected points along a pattern of virtual scan lines arranged in multiple directions about the two-dimensional imaging region; operating in a second mode by processing only a selected portion of data at only selected points along a pattern of virtual scan lines determined by the data reader to intersect the aiming pattern and not processing along virtual scan lines determined by the data not to intersect the aiming pattern; decoding the selected portion of data according to the pattern of virtual scan lines.
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32. A method for reading optical symbols with a data reader, comprising the steps of:
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acquiring, with the date reader, data from a two-dimensional scan region, the two-dimensional scan region containing at least a first optical code and a second optical code; processing the data to detect the first optical code and the second optical code; operating in a first mode by transmitting optical codes detected anywhere within the scan region; operating in a second mode by projecting a visible aiming pattern into the two-dimensional scan region and (a) transmitting the first optical code and not the second optical code if the first optical code is determined by the data reader to intersect the aiming pattern and the second optical code is determined not to intersect, (b) transmitting neither of the optical codes if both the first and second optical codes are determined by the data reader to not intersect the aiming pattern. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification