Device and system for processing image data representing bar codes

• US 8,342,408 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Biss, Charles E., Havens, William H., Robinson, Michael D., Balschweit, Paul, Fitch, Timothy R., McCall, Melvin D., Gomez, Garrison, McClaude, Mark A., Longacre, Andrew Jr., Sonneville, Eunice
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US13/213,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20110297746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/462.01, 235/462.08, 235/462.11, 235/462.12, 235/462.25, 235/462.31, 235/462.46, 23547201-47203
• US Class Current: 235/462.25
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8806 Specially adapted optical and illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/089 hand-held scanners
• 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

A device for processing image data relating to bar codes is described. In one embodiment a bar code verification device is provided having an ergonomic form factor characterized by a domed hand held trigger and a viewing window. The verification device may be disposed in a network that includes a host processor system and other bar code reading devices which may include other bar code verification devices. Processing circuitry for processing image signals corresponding to printed bar codes may be partially disposed within the hand held verification device and partially disposed within a host processor system spaced apart from and associated with the hand held verification device. The hand held verification device may be in wireless communication with the host processor system to which it is associated. The bar code verification system may include signal enhancement modules which interpolate constructed pixel values from actual pixel values and which correct for signal degradation resulting from high frequency spatial sampling.

Claims

1. A device for verification of a bar code disposed on a horizontal substrate, said device comprising:

(A) an imaging assembly including a solid state image sensor;

(B) a hand held housing encapsulating a component of said imaging assembly, said hand held housing having a plurality of surfaces that extend generally upward from said substrate when said device is positioned in a position to measure print quality of said bar code;

(C) an illumination assembly at least partially disposed in said housing projecting illumination onto said substrate;

(D) a trigger button disposed on said housing;

(E) an image capture module configured to capture at least one frame of image data corresponding to a bar code symbol;

(F) a bar code print quality measurement module configured to determine at least one of;

a value of contrast of said bar code symbol, a value of edge contrast of said bar code symbol, a value of modulation of said bar code symbol;

(G) wherein said device is configured, responsive to detecting that said trigger has been actuated, to automatically execute said image capture module and said bar code print quality measurement module;

(H) an aperture formed on said housing, said aperture being formed on said housing in such position that an operator can view said bar code through said aperture when said device is positioned in a position over said bar code; and

(I) at least one alignment formation for aiding alignment of said device relative to said bar code, said at least one alignment formation formed at a bottom of said device, said at least one alignment formation and said aperture being positioned so that an operator can view said at least one alignment formation through said aperture wherein said device is positioned on said horizontal substrate.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said aperture receives a light transmissive window.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said aperture receives a manually removable opaque window.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment formation is formed on said housing.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment formation is formed on a replaceable alignment member.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment formation includes a center alignment formation for aiding horizontal centering of said device on said bar code.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment formation includes a pair of laterally disposed alignment formations for aiding vertical centering of said device on a bar code.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment formation is provided by an alignment light formed on a transparent member.