Method and apparatus for providing omnidirectional lighting in a scanning device
First Claim
1. A method for decoding an encoded data symbol, the method comprising:
- providing a light source comprising a plurality of individually-controllable lighting elements for providing low angle dark field illumination;
activating an image sensor for detecting image data reflected from an encoded data symbol when the encoded data symbol is illuminated by the light source; and
providing a controller connected to each of the individually-controllable lighting elements, the controller being programmed for;
selectively activating the individually-controllable lighting elements to vary the direction of the low angle dark field illumination provided by the light source;
evaluating the detected image data and determining whether the detected image data is sufficient to decode the encoded data symbol;
varying the low angle dark field illumination provided by the light source until the detected image data is sufficient to decode the encoded data symbol; and
processing the image data detected by the image sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for selectively controlling the illumination, and particularly dark field illumination, applied to a symbol to be decoded, and for determining a suitable or optimized level of lighting for decoding the symbol. A method includes providing a light source comprising a plurality of individually-controllable lighting elements for providing low angle dark field illumination; activating an image sensor for detecting image data reflected from an encoded data symbol when the encoded data symbol is illuminated by the light source; and providing a controller connected to each of the individually-controllable lighting elements, the controller being programmed for: selectively activating the individually-controllable lighting elements to vary the direction of the low angle dark field illumination provided by the light source; and processing the image data detected by the image.
227 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for decoding an encoded data symbol, the method comprising:
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providing a light source comprising a plurality of individually-controllable lighting elements for providing low angle dark field illumination; activating an image sensor for detecting image data reflected from an encoded data symbol when the encoded data symbol is illuminated by the light source; and providing a controller connected to each of the individually-controllable lighting elements, the controller being programmed for; selectively activating the individually-controllable lighting elements to vary the direction of the low angle dark field illumination provided by the light source; evaluating the detected image data and determining whether the detected image data is sufficient to decode the encoded data symbol; varying the low angle dark field illumination provided by the light source until the detected image data is sufficient to decode the encoded data symbol; and processing the image data detected by the image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for decoding an encoded data symbol, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a plurality of individually-controllable lighting elements arranged around the encoded data symbol to provide low-angle dark field illumination; (b) providing a bright field illuminator directed at the encoded data symbol to provide bright field illumination; (c) selectively illuminating the encoded data symbol with at least one of the individually-controllable lighting elements; (d) acquiring an image data set; (e) evaluating the image data set for determining suitability for decoding; (f) selectively varying a lighting parameter for varying the light emitted from the individually-controllable lighting elements to vary the direction of the low-angle dark field illumination on the encoded data symbol and selectively activating the bright field illuminator; and (g) repeating steps (d), (e) and (f) until the image data set is suitable for decoding. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method comprising:
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using a ring light source, projecting low angle dark field illumination to an adjacent surface including a symbol to be decoded; providing a controller connected to the ring light source and using the controller for selectively varying the direction of the low angle dark field illumination provided from the ring light source; using an image sensor connected to the controller, the image sensor acquiring image data of the symbol, wherein the controller is programmed for; evaluating the acquired image data and determining whether the image data is sufficient to decode the symbol; and varying the light projected from the ring light source until the image data is sufficient to decode the symbol. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification