Devices and/or systems for automatically imaging barcodes

• US 7,857,224 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Microscan Systems Inc (Omron Corporation)
• Inventors: Lei, Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Seung H
• Application Number:
  US11/857,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20080105746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.04, 235/462.06, 235/462.44, 235/462.14, 235/462.23, 235/462.42, 235/472.01
• US Class Current: 235/462.42
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• 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

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a system, which can comprise a barcode reader adapted to obtain an image of a barcode. The barcode reader can comprise a camera. The camera can define a camera axis. The barcode reader can comprise a lighting module that comprises set of lighting elements that emit light. The barcode reader can be adapted to automatically obtain and/or decode a sequential set of images.

Claims

1. A system comprising a barcode reader adapted to obtain one or more images of a two dimensional direct part marking barcode, the barcode reader comprising:

a camera, the camera defining a camera axis;

an on-axis lighting module that comprises first set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) having a first emitted color, the on-axis lighting module adapted to direct light on an on-axis lighting direction that is approximately collinear with the camera axis;

an adjustable off-axis lighting module that is substantially minor-less, filter-less, and lens-less, the off-axis lighting module comprising a second set of LEDs having a second emitted color, the off-axis lighting module adapted to direct light in an off-axis lighting direction that intersects the camera axis at an adjustable angle, the adjustable angle less than approximately fifty-five degrees.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the barcode reader is adapted to obtain a decodable image at a distance between approximately one inch and approximately four inches from the two dimensional direct part marking barcode.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor adapted to decode the image.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transceiver adapted to transmit a signal comprising information regarding the image to an information device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an information device adapted to receive information regarding the image from the barcode reader via a network.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first emitted color is substantially red.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the second emitted color is substantially white or substantially green.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the off-axis lighting module comprises a plurality of subsets of LEDs, each subset of the plurality of subsets of LEDs adapted to direct light energy that intersects the camera axis at a distinct angle relative to the camera axis, each the distinct angle less than approximately fifty five degrees, a light controller comprised by the barcode reader adapted to obtain a set of sequential images of the direct part marking barcode, each image of the set of sequential images obtained with the direct part marking barcode illuminated by only one subset of LEDs of the plurality of subsets of LEDs.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the barcode reader comprises a trigger on the pistol grip, the trigger adapted to cause at least the first set of LEDs to illuminate.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the barcode reader is adapted to receive the off-axis lighting module at any of a plurality of locations.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the barcode reader is adapted to obtain a decodable image at a distance approximately two inches from the two dimensional direct part marking barcode.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the off-axis lighting module is attached as a part of a body of the camera.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein a distance between the off-axis lighting module and the camera is adjustable.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein obtaining one or more images comprises automatically and sequentially obtain the first image, a second image, and a third image of the two dimensional direct part marking barcode, the first image obtained with only the on-axis lighting module illuminated, the second image obtained with only the off-axis lighting module illuminated, the third image obtained with both the on-axis lighting module and the off-axis lighting module illuminated simultaneously.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more images are captured in response to a pull of a trigger on the bar code reader.