Countertop-based digital image capture and processing system having an illumination subsystem employing a single array of LEDs disposed behind an illumination focusing lens structure integrated within the imaging window, for generating a field of visible illumination highly confined below the field

• US 7,997,489 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• 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: Zhu, Xiaoxun, Veksland, Michael, Ren, Jie, Knowles, C. Harry, Au, Ka Man, Giordano, Patrick, Allen, Christopher, Yan, Weizhen, Smith, Taylor, De Foney, Shawn, Mandal, Sudhin, Wilz, David M. Sr., Kotlarsky, Anatoly, Miraglia, Michael V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US12/012,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20080277479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/462.01, 235/462.09, 235/462.42
• US Class Current: 235/454
• 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 countertop-mounted digital image capture and processing system that includes a housing having an imaging window with an illumination-focusing lens component integrated therewithin. The area-type image formation and detection subsystem, also disposed in the housing, has image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through the imaging window and onto an area-type image detection array, for forming and detecting 2D digital images of an object in the FOV, during object illumination and imaging operations. The single array of LEDs is disposed immediately behind the illumination-focusing lens structure, for generating a field of visible illumination that reflects off an object within said FOV and is transmitted back through said imaging window and onto said area-type image detection array.

Claims

1. A countertop-based digital image capture and processing system, comprising:

a housing having an imaging window with an illumination-focusing lens structure integrated within said imaging window;

an area-type 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 area-type image detection array, for forming and detecting 2D digital images of an object in said FOV, during object illumination and imaging operations;

an illumination subsystem, disposed in said housing, having a single array of LEDs, disposed immediately behind said illumination-focusing lens structure, for generating a field of visible illumination that reflects off an object within said FOV and is transmitted back through said imaging window and onto said area-type image detection array to form one or more 2D digital images of said object, while said field of visible illumination is highly confined below the field of view of a system operator and customers who are present during object illumination and imaging operations;

an image capturing and buffering subsystem, disposed in said housing, for capturing and buffering 2D digital images detected by said area-type image formation and detection subsystem;

a digital image processing subsystem, disposed in said housing, for processing 2D digital images captured and buffered by said image capturing and buffering subsystem and reading one or more 1D and/or 2D code symbols graphically represented therein, and generating symbol character data representative of said read 1D and/or 2D code symbols; and

a system control subsystem, disposed in said housing, for controlling and/or coordinating one or more said subsystems during object illumination and imaging operations.

2. The countertop-based digital image capture and processing system of claim 1, wherein said countertop-based digital image capture and processing system further comprises a working distance, and wherein said imaging window further includes an upper edge portion, and said single array of LEDs is disposed near and behind the upper edge portion of said imaging window, so as to focus and project illumination from said LEDs, into a single wide-area field of visible illumination which extends entirely through said FOV, and in a way to illuminate objects located anywhere within the working distance of said countertop-based digital image capture and processing system, while minimizing annoyance to the system operator, as well as others in the vicinity thereof during system operation.

3. The digital image capture and processing system of claim 1, wherein said illumination-focusing lens structure is made from an optically transparent light refractive material.

4. The countertop-based digital image capture and processing system of claim 1, which further comprises an automatic object detection subsystem, disposed in said housing, for automatically detecting the presence of an object within said FOV, and generating an object detection event signal in response to the detection of said object within said FOV.

5. The countertop-based digital image capture and processing system of claim 1, which further comprises an input/output subsystem, disposed in said housing, for outputting processed image data, including symbol character data, to an external host system or other information receiving or responding device.

6. The countertop-based digital image capture and processing system of claim 4, which further comprises an object targeting illumination subsystem, disposed in said housing, for generating and projecting a targeting illumination beam within a portion of said FOV, in response to the generation of an object detection event signal.

7. The countertop-based digital image capture and processing system of claim 6, wherein said targeting illumination beam is momentarily switched off while said single array of LEDs is producing said field of illumination within said FOV and said area-type image detection array is detecting an 2D digital image frame of said detected object within said FOV, during object illumination and imaging operations.

8. The countertop-based digital image capture and processing system of claim 1, wherein said housing is capable of being supported within the hand of the system operator.

9. The countertop-based digital image capture and processing system of claim 1, wherein said housing capable of being supported on a countertop surface.

10. The countertop-based digital image capture and processing system of claim 1, wherein said 1D and/or 2D code symbols are selected from the group of 1D and/or 2D bar code symbols, PDF symbols and data matrix symbols.

11. The countertop-based digital image capture and processing system of claim 1, wherein said single array of LEDs comprise a linear array of visible LEDs.

12. The countertop-based digital image capture and processing system of claim 11, wherein said imaging window has an upper edge and a lower edge;

and wherein said linear array of visible LEDs is disposed behind said upper edge portion of said imaging window, so as to project a single wide-area field of illumination from said linear array of visible LEDs and entirely throughout said FOV, and in a manner which minimizes the annoyance of the system operator as well as others in the vicinity thereof during system operation.

13. The countertop-based digital image capture and processing system of claim 1, wherein said area-type image formation and detection subsystem has a periodic snap shot mode of the operation supporting periodic generation of snap-shot type image acquisition cycles during object illumination and imaging operations.

14. The countertop-based digital image capture and processing system of claim 1, wherein said area-type image formation and detection subsystem has a single snap-shot mode of the operation supporting a single snap-shot image acquisition cycle during object illumination and imaging operations.

15. The countertop-based digital image capture and processing system of claim 1, wherein said area-type image formation and detection subsystem has a real video mode of the operation supporting a video image acquisition cycle during object illumination and imaging operations.