Image sensor based optical reader

• US 7,878,403 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2009
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gannon, Colleen P., Hunter, Vivian L., Havens, William H., Barber, Charles P., Gardiner, Robert C., Coleman, Eric C., McCall, Melvin D., Ehrhart, Michael A., Ruhlman, Thomas, Hennick, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US12/467,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20090236424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.11, 235/462.2, 235/462.21, 235/462.45
• US Class Current: 235/462.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/08 Feeding or discharging cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10693 for omnidirectional scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10742 including a diffuser for diffusing the light from the light source to create substantially uniform illumination of the target record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/109 adaptations to make the hand-held scanner useable as a fixed scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14601 Structural or functional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/144 Stacked arrangements of planar printed circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence

Abstract

An optical reader can include an image sensor. In one embodiment an optical reader can be configured to have different operating modes, the different operating modes optimizing the reader for reading different indicia. In another embodiment an optical reader can comprise a multiple color emitting light source. In another embodiment an optical reader can be provided in a specialized form factor including an enlarged head portion and an elongated body portion extending from the head portion.

Claims

1. A bar code decoding optical reader comprising:

an imaging module supporting in combination a solid state image sensor, imaging optics for focusing an image onto said solid state image sensor, and at least one light source, wherein said optical reader has a field of view, wherein the imaging module has a front portion extending substantially in a first plane, and wherein said imaging module is adapted so that light from said at least one light source is projected toward a target defined by said field of view; and

a housing having an enlarged head portion and a straight elongated body portion, the straight elongated body portion extending from the head portion and having a shorter circumference than a circumference of said enlarged head portion, said optical reader further being configured so that said straight elongated body portion is adapted to be held in a hand, said optical reader further being configured so that said straight elongated body portion extends rearward from said enlarged head portion in a line substantially directed toward said target and substantially normally relative to the first plane,

wherein disposed at said enlarged head portion of said housing is a trigger for actuation of decoding operations, and wherein said imaging module is disposed within said enlarged head portion, and further

wherein said optical reader is configured to capture an electronic representation of said target while said optical reader is at a distance spaced apart from said target.

2. The optical reader of claim 1, wherein said housing encapsulates circuitry for wirelessly sending data to a device external from said housing.

3. The optical reader of claim 1, wherein said optical reader is configured so that said field of view is a two dimensional field of view.

4. The optical reader of claim 1, wherein a section of said housing is configured to be detachably attachable with a body external to said section.

5. The optical reader of claim 4, wherein said section is disposed at an interface between said enlarged head portion and said elongated body portion, and wherein said body external to said section is said elongated body portion of said housing.

6. The optical reader of claim 1, wherein said solid state image sensor is a 2D image sensor.

7. A bar code decoding optical reader comprising:

an imaging module of generally rectangular parallelepiped configuration supporting in combination a solid state image sensor, imaging optics for focusing an image onto said solid state image sensor, and at least one light source, wherein said optical reader has a field of view, wherein the imaging module has a front portion extending substantially in a first plane, and wherein said imaging module is adapted so that light from said at least one light source is projected toward a target defined by said field of view; and

a housing having an enlarged head portion and a straight elongated body portion, the straight elongated body portion extending from the head portion and having a shorter circumference than a circumference of said enlarged head portion, said optical reader further being configured so that said straight elongated body portion is adapted to be held in a hand, said optical reader further being configured so that said straight elongated body portion extends rearward from said enlarged head portion in direction substantially parallel with sides of said imaging module and substantially normally relative to the first plane,

wherein disposed at said enlarged head portion of said housing is a trigger for actuation of decoding operations, the trigger being disposed at such position on said enlarged head portion that an imaginary line extending normally from the housing and through the trigger extends through the imaging module, and wherein said imaging module is disposed within said enlarged head portion, and further

wherein said optical reader is configured to capture an electronic representation of said target while said optical reader is at a distance spaced apart from said target.

8. The optical reader of claim 7, wherein said housing encapsulates circuitry for wirelessly sending data to a device external from said housing.

9. The optical reader of claim 7, wherein said optical reader is configured so that said field of view is a two dimensional field of view.

10. The optical reader of claim 7, wherein a section of said housing is configured to be detachably attachable with a body external to said section.

11. The optical reader of claim 10, wherein said section is disposed at an interface between said enlarged head portion and said elongated body portion, and wherein said body external to said section is said elongated body portion of said housing.

12. The optical reader of claim 7, wherein said solid state image sensor is a 2D image sensor.

13. The optical reader of claim 7, wherein said imaging module includes conductive support posts.

14. The optical reader of claim 7, wherein said at least one light source comprises at least two light sources emitting light in different wavelength emission bands.

15. The optical reader of claim 7, wherein said at least one light source comprises an illuminating light source capable of emitting red light and an aiming light source capable of emitting green light.

16. The optical reader of claim 7, wherein the trigger is disposed at such position on said enlarged head portion that an imaginary line extending normally from the housing and through the trigger extends through the imaging module.

17. A bar code decoding optical reader comprising:

A two-dimensional solid state image sensor, imaging optics, a plurality of illumination light sources and a plurality of aiming light sources, wherein the optical reader has a substantially planar optical member extending substantially in a first plane, and wherein said optical reader is adapted so that light from said plurality of illumination light sources and said plurality of aiming light sources is projected toward a target spaced apart from the optical reader; and

a housing having a straight elongated body portion, said optical reader further being configured so that said straight elongated body portion is adapted to be held in a hand, said optical reader further being configured so that said straight elongated body portion extends substantially normally relative to the first plane,

wherein disposed on said housing is a trigger for actuation of decoding operations, wherein said optical reader is configured to capture an electronic representation while said optical reader is at a distance spaced apart from said target, wherein said plurality of illumination light sources are adapted to emit red light, and wherein said plurality of aiming light sources are adapted to emit blue light so that a projected aiming pattern is in color contrast with a projected illumination pattern.

18. The optical reader of claim 17, wherein said housing encapsulates circuitry for wirelessly sending data to a device external from said housing.

19. The optical reader of claim 17, wherein said substantially planar optical member includes first and second lenses for use in defining a shape of said projected aiming pattern.

20. The optical reader of claim 17, wherein a section of said housing is configured to be detachably attachable with a body external to said section.

21. The optical reader of claim 17, wherein the optical reader includes a support assembly disposed rearward of the substantially planar optical member, and forward of said two-dimensional solid state image sensor, the support assembly being a one piece member carrying first and second slit apertures for use in defining a shape of the projected aiming pattern.

22. The optical reader of claim 17, wherein the optical reader includes a housing disposed thereon a second trigger for use in actuation of decoding operations.

23. The optical reader of claim 17, wherein said two-dimensional solid state image sensor is a CMOS image sensor.

24. A bar code decoding optical reader comprising:

a two-dimensional solid state image sensor, imaging optics, a plurality of illumination light sources and a plurality of aiming light sources, wherein said optical reader has a substantially planar optical member extending substantially in a first plane, and a support assembly disposed rearward of the substantially planar optical member and forward of said two-dimensional solid state image sensor, the support assembly being a one piece member carrying first and second slit apertures, wherein a forward surface of the support assembly is flat in areas of the first and second slit apertures, and wherein said optical reader is adapted so that light emitted from said plurality of illumination light sources and said plurality of aiming light sources is projected toward a target spaced apart from the optical reader; and

a housing having a straight elongated body portion, said optical reader further being configured so that said straight elongated body portion is adapted to be held in a hand, said optical reader further being configured so that said straight elongated body portion extends substantially normally relative to the first plane,

wherein disposed on said housing is a trigger for actuation of decoding operations, wherein said optical reader is configured to capture an electronic representation while said optical reader is at a distance spaced apart from said target, wherein said substantially planar optical member carries first and second lenses for use in shaping aiming light transmitted through said first and second slit apertures, and wherein said plurality of aiming light sources have an emission wavelength band different from an emission wavelength band of said plurality of illumination light sources so that a projected aiming pattern of said optical reader is in color contrast with a projected illumination pattern of said optical reader.

25. The optical reader of claim 24, wherein a section of said housing is configured to be detachably attachable with a body external to said section.

26. The optical reader of claim 24, wherein said two-dimensional solid state image sensor is a CMOS image sensor.

27. The optical reader of claim 24, wherein said bar code decoding optical reader includes an imaging module having conductive support posts.

28. The optical reader of claim 24, wherein said plurality of illumination light sources are adapted to emit red light and wherein said plurality of aiming light sources are adapted to emit blue light.

29. The optical reader of claim 24, wherein the housing has disposed thereon a second trigger for use in actuation of decoding operations.