Method of unlocking restricted extended classes of features and functionalities embodied within a digital image capture and processing system by reading feature/functionality-unlocking type code symbols

• US 7,980,471 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Taylor, Au, Ka Man, Mandal, Sudhin, Kotlarsky, Anatoly
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US12/005,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20080290172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.15, 235/462.01, 235/462.09
• US Class Current: 235/462.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10752 Exposure time control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10821 further details of bar or optical code scanning devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/109 adaptations to make the hand-held scanner useable as a fixed scanner

Abstract

A hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system including a hand-supportable housing having an imaging window, and an area-type image formation and detection subsystem having image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through the imaging window and an area-type image detection array having a snap-shot mode of operation for forming and detecting a 2D digital image of the object during each image acquisition cycle of the image detection array. The system includes a manual trigger switch integrated with the hand-supportable housing, for generating a trigger event, indicative that a code symbol on the detected object is aligned with the visible targeting illumination beam and is ready for illumination and imaging. The system includes an object targeting illumination subsystem for generating and projecting a visible targeting illumination beam within the FOV, in response to the generation of the trigger event signal. The system further includes an LED-based illumination subsystem which is responsive to the second triggering event, for generating and projecting a field of illumination through the imaging window and within the FOV so that light transmitted through the imaging window towards the object is reflected off the object and detected by the area-type image detection array within the hand-supportable housing. An automatic illumination control subsystem controls the operation of the LED-based illumination subsystem during object illumination and imaging operations, so that the targeting illumination beam is momentarily ceased when the LED-based illumination subsystem produces the field of illumination within the FOV.

Claims

1. A method of unlocking restricted extended classes of features and functionalities embodied within a digital image capture and processing system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a digital image capture and processing system supporting baseline classes of features and functionalities and also extended classes of features and functionalities;

(b) assigning a license key for use in generating an encrypted extended feature class activating code symbol which, when read by said digital image capture and processing system automatically causes said digital image capture and processing system to operate in an extended programming mode, unlocking at least one of said extended classes of features and functionalities, and programming said digital image capture and processing system to operate with said at least one of said extended classes of feature and functionalities, in addition to said baseline classes of features and functionalities; and

(c) using said digital image capture and processing system to read said encrypted extended feature class activating code symbol and automatically causing said digital image capture and processing system to operate in said extended programming mode, unlocking said at least one of the extended classes of features and functionalities, and programming said digital image capture and processing system to operate with said at least one of said extended classes of feature and functionalities, in addition to said baseline classes of features and functionalities.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein during step (a) said digital image capture and processing system further comprises:

a housing;

an image formation and detection subsystem, disposed in said housing, and having image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through said imaging window and onto an image detection array, for forming and detecting digital images of an object in said FOV and bearing said encrypted extended features class activating code symbol, and reading said encrypted features class activiating code symbol during object illumination and imaging operations during said extended programming mode;

an illumination subsystem, disposed in said housing, for generating a field of visible illumination that reflects off the object within said FOV and is transmitted back through said imaging window and onto said image detection array to form one or more digital images of said object;

an image capturing and buffering subsystem, disposed in said housing, for capturing and buffering digital images detected by said image formation and detection subsystem;

a digital image processing subsystem, disposed in said housing, for processing digital images captured and buffered by said image capturing and buffering subsystem and reading one or more bar code symbols graphically represented in said digital images, and generating symbol character data representative of said read code symbols;

a system control subsystem, disposed in said housing, for controlling and/or coordinating one or more said subsystems during object illumination and imaging operations so that the object present in said FOV will be illuminated and imaged by said digital images capture and processing system; and

a computing platform including (i) system memory for storing at least one application, and (ii) a processor for executing said at least one application and implementing said digital image processing subsystem and said system control subsystem.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises performing one or more of the following steps:

(i) contacting the manufacturer, or its agent or service representative and procuring a license for said at least one of said extended classes of features and functionalities supported on said digital image capture and processing system;

(ii) generating said encrypted extended feature class activating bar code symbol corresponding to said at least one of said extended classes of features and functionalities for which said license has been processed;

(iii) displaying or printing said encrypted extended feature class activating code symbol; and

(iv) reading said encrypted extended feature class activating code symbol, either displayed, or printed, and automatically causing said digital image capture and processing system to operate in said extended programming mode, unlocking said at least one of said extended classes of features and functionalities, and programming said digital image capture and processing system to operate with said at least one of said extended classes of feature and functionalities, in addition to said baseline classes of features and functionalities.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (c) is performed either at the time of manufacturer of said digital image capture and processing system, during a service-upgrade thereof at a factory or authorized service center, or in the field.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said encrypted extended feature class activating code symbol is selected from the group consisting of a 1D bar code symbol, a 2D bar code symbol and a data matrix code symbol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein during step (b) said license key is based on a serial number assigned to said digital image capture and processing system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein during step (b) said license key is based on a range of serial numbers assigned to a plurality of said digital image capture and processing systems.

8. A digital image capture and processing system having restricted extended classes of features and functionalities that can be unlocked and used to program said digital image capture and processing system to operate with at least one of said extended classes of features and functionalities, said digital image capture and processing system comprising:

a mode of operation enabling said digital image capture and processing system to operate with a baseline class of features and functionalities;

an extended feature class programming mode of operation for enabling said digital image capture and processing system to operate with said at least one of said extended classes of features and functionalities, in addition to said baseline class of features and functionalities;

a housing having an imaging window;

an image formation and detection subsystem, disposed in said housing, and having image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through said imaging window and onto an image detection array, for forming and detecting digital images of an object in said FOV, during object illumination and imaging operations;

an illumination subsystem, disposed in said housing, for generating a field of illumination that reflects off the object within said FOV and is transmitted back through said imaging window and onto said image detection array to form one or more digital images of said object;

an image capturing and buffering subsystem, disposed in said housing, for capturing and buffering digital images detected by said image formation and detection subsystem;

a digital image processing subsystem, disposed in said housing, for processing digital images captured and buffered by said image capturing and buffering subsystem and reading one or more code symbols graphically represented in said digital images, and generating symbol character data representative of said read code symbols;

a system control subsystem, disposed in said housing, for controlling and/or coordinating one or more said subsystems during object illumination and imaging operations so that an object present in said FOV will be illuminated and imaged by said digital image capture and processing system; and

a computing platform including (i) system memory for storing at least one application, and (ii) a processor for executing said at least one application and implementing said digital image processing subsystem and said system control subsystem; and

wherein said digital image capture and processing system is automatically enabled to operate with said at least one of said extended classes of features and functionalities when said object bearing an encrypted extended feature class activating code symbol is read by said digital image capture and processing system.

9. The digital image capture and processing system of claim 8, wherein said encrypted extended feature class activating bar code symbol is generated using a license key.

10. The digital image capture and processing system of claim 8, wherein said encrypted extended feature class activating code symbol is selected from the group consisting of a 1D bar code symbol, a 2D bar code symbol and a data matrix code symbol.

11. The digital image capture and processing system of claim 9, wherein said license key is based on a serial number assigned to said digital image capture and processing system.

12. The digital image capture and processing system of claim 9, wherein said license key is based on a range of serial numbers assigned to a plurality of said digital image capture and processing systems.