Indicia reading apparatus having reduced trigger-to-read time

• US 7,740,176 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Longacre, Andrew Jr., Wang, Ynjiun P.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US11/545,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20070285698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.11, 235/462.04, 235/462.15, 235/462.45, 235/462.41, 235/462.42, 235/383, 235/454
• US Class Current: 235/462.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence

Abstract

A TTR time of a reading apparatus can also be reduced by designing an apparatus to exhibit a certain timing relationship between a receipt of a trigger signal and/or more of image capture and decoding. An apparatus in one embodiment can be configured to continuously capture frames of image data prior to receipt of a trigger signal and can further be configured so that an output decoded message is decoded from a frame of image data having a capture initiation time of prior to the time of receipt of a trigger signal. An apparatus configured to output a decoded message from a frame of image data having a capture initiation time of prior to a time of receipt of a trigger signal can have a TTR time of less than a frame capture period of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A hand held bar code reading apparatus for reading a bar code on a substrate, the apparatus comprising:

a microprocessor addressable image frame memory being configured to simultaneously retain pixel values making up a frame of image data, the frame of image data including a plurality of pixel values which together represent a one dimensional slice of said substrate or a two dimensional area of said substrate;

an image sensing and processing circuit for outputting image data, the image sensing and processing circuit including an image sensor array having a plurality of pixels and at least one image data output interface, the image sensing and processing circuit being configured to read out image signals from said image sensor array and to digitize such signals, the image sensing and processing circuit processing image data and further being configured to output image data through said image data output interface for capture into said image frame memory;

a microprocessor integrated circuit being configured to address image data of said image frame memory for processing of image data subsequent to capture of image data in said microprocessor addressable image frame memory, the apparatus being configured so that prior to receiving a trigger signal, said apparatus serially and continuously captures into said image frame memory a plurality of frames of image data;

wherein said apparatus is configured to wait for a trigger signal, and wherein said apparatus is further configured so that when receiving said trigger signal said apparatus addresses for processing pixel values of a certain frame of image data retained in said memory, the certain frame of image data addressed for processing having a capture initiation time prior to a time that said trigger signal is received.

2. The hand held bar code reading apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an illumination assembly having at least one light source, wherein said apparatus is configured so that prior to a time that said trigger signal is received, said apparatus avoids energizing said at least one light source during a frame exposure period and wherein said apparatus is further configured so that after receipt of said trigger signal said apparatus energized said at least one light source during a frame exposure period.

3. The hand held bar code reading apparatus of claim 1, further including a manual trigger for initiating said trigger signal, wherein said apparatus is configured so that said microprocessor integrated circuit, when said manual trigger is depressed for initiation of said trigger signal, said apparatus addresses for decoding said certain frame of image data subject to a capture initiation prior to a time that said trigger signal is received.

4. The hand held bar code reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein said certain frame addressed for decoding is a frame that is completely captured into said image frame memory, a time at which said trigger signal is received.

5. The hand held bar code reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured so that prior to receiving said trigger signal said apparatus subjects to decoding processes said plurality of frames of image data serially captured into said image frame memory.

6. An indicia reading apparatus for reading a decodable indicia on a substrate, the apparatus comprising:

a microprocessor addressable image frame memory being configured to simultaneously retain pixel values making up a frame of image data, the frame of image data including a plurality of pixel values which together represent a one dimensional slice of said substrate or a two dimensional area of said substrate;

an image sensing and processing circuit for outputting image data, the image sensing and processing circuit including an image sensor array having a plurality of pixels and an image data output interface, the image sensing and processing circuit being configured to read out image signals from said image sensor array and to digitize such signals, the image sensing and processing circuit processing image data and further being configured to output image data through said image data output interface for capture into said image frame memory;

a microprocessor integrated circuit being configured to address image data of said image frame memory for processing of image data subsequent to capture of image data in said microprocessor addressable image frame memory, the apparatus being configured so that prior to receiving a trigger signal, said apparatus continuously and serially captures into said image frame memory a plurality of frames of image data;

wherein said apparatus is configured to wait for a trigger signal initiated by actuation of a manual trigger; and

wherein said apparatus is further configured so that when receiving said trigger signal said apparatus outputs a determined decoded message decoded from a certain frame of image data, the certain frame of image data subject to decoding for determining of said output decoded message having a capture initiation time prior to a time of receipt of said trigger signal.

7. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 6, wherein said apparatus is configured so that said apparatus addresses for decoding image data from said certain frame subsequent to receipt of said trigger signal.

8. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 6, wherein said apparatus is configured so that said apparatus determines from said certain frame a decoded message prior to receipt of said trigger signal.

9. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 6, wherein said apparatus is configured so that prior to receipt of a trigger signal, said apparatus continuously determines decoded messages from said plurality of frames of image data continuously and serially captured into said image frame memory, and further wherein prior to outputting a determined decoded message, determines whether said determined decoded message was determined within an acceptable time window of a time of receipt of said trigger signal.

10. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 6, wherein said apparatus is configured so that said apparatus processes for decoding said certain frame without completing decoding prior to receipt of said trigger signal.

11. An indicia reading apparatus for reading a decodable indicia on a substrate, the apparatus comprising:

a microprocessor addressable image frame memory being configured to simultaneously retain pixel values making up a frame of image data, the frame of image data including a plurality of pixel values which together represent a one dimensional slice of said substrate or a two dimensional area of said substrate;

a hand held housing encapsulating said image sensor array and a manual trigger disposed relative to said housing so that a user can actuate said manual trigger when grasping said hand held housing;

an image sensing and processing circuit for outputting image data, the image sensing and processing circuit including an image sensor array having a plurality of pixels and an image data output interface, the image sensing and processing circuit being configured to read out image signals from said image sensor array and to digitize such signals, the image sensing and processing circuit processing image data and further being configured to output image data through said image data output interface for capture into said image frame memory;

a microprocessor integrated circuit being configured to address image data of said image frame memory for processing of image data subsequent to capture of image data retained in said microprocessor addressable image frame memory, the apparatus being configured to operate in a first configuration and a second configuration, the apparatus in the first configuration refraining from capturing frames of image data into said image frame memory prior to receiving a trigger signal, the apparatus in the second configuration serially capturing into said image frame memory a plurality of frames of image data prior to receipt of a trigger signal;

wherein said apparatus is configured so that in said second configuration said apparatus (i) waits for a trigger signal initiated by actuating said manual trigger, and (ii) when a trigger signal is received outputs a decoded message decoded from a certain frame of image data, the certain frame of image data from which said output decoded message is decoded having a capture initiation time prior to a time of receipt of said trigger signal.

12. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 11, wherein said apparatus is configured so that said apparatus can be manually switched between said first configuration and said second configuration.

13. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 11, wherein said apparatus is configured to automatically switch between said second configuration and said first configuration in response to a sensed condition sensed by said apparatus.

14. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second configuration is a pre-capture configuration in which said apparatus subsequent to receiving said trigger signal addresses for decoding said certain frame.

15. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second configuration is a pre-decode configuration in which said apparatus subsequent to receiving said trigger signal outputs a decoded message, the decoded message being determined prior to a time that said trigger signal is received, the decoded message being determined from said certain frame.

16. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second configuration is a pre-processing configuration in which said apparatus both prior to and subsequent to receiving said trigger signal addresses for decoding said certain frame.