Methods and apparatus for providing user feedback during image capture

• US 8,500,024 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: He, Duanfeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Haupt, Kristy A
• Application Number:
  US12/872,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20120048938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.11, 235/462.24
• US Class Current: 235/462.24
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning

Abstract

A data capture device is described. The data capture device includes an imager simultaneously capturing a barcode and an image associated with the barcode. A memory is coupled to the imager for storing the barcode and the image. A processor is coupled to the memory for decoding the barcode and processing the image. A notification system notifies a user that the image is being processed prior to the processor completing the processing of the image.

Claims

1. A data capture device comprising:

an imager capturing an image;

a memory coupled to the imager for storing the captured image;

a processor coupled to the memory for processing the captured image;

a notification system notifying a user that the captured image is being processed by displaying the captured image at a low resolution prior to the processor completing the processing of the captured image; and

a display notifying the user that the captured image is processed by displaying the processed image on the display at a resolution higher than the low resolution.

2. The data capture device of claim 1 wherein the processing includes at least one of removing image skew, improving image contrast, and balancing illumination across the captured image.

3. The data capture device of claim 1 wherein the notification system comprises the display and at least one of a light emitting diode (LED) and a loudspeaker.

4. The data capture device of claim 1 wherein the data capture device comprises a mobile computing device.

5. The data capture device of claim 1 wherein a period of time between capturing the image and processing the captured image is greater than fifty milliseconds.

6. The data capture device of claim 1 wherein the processing the captured image comprises determining position information about the image.

7. A method comprising:

capturing an image;

storing the captured image;

processing the captured image;

notifying a user that the captured image is being processed by displaying the captured image at a low resolution prior to completing the processing of the captured image; and

notifying the user that the captured image is processed by displaying the processed image on a display at a resolution higher than the low resolution.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the processing includes at least one of removing image skew, improving image contrast, and balancing illumination across the captured image.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the user is notified via the display and at least one of a light emitting diode (LED), and a loudspeaker.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the captured image is captured with an imager.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising providing an audible signal prior to the completing the processing of the captured image.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein a period of time between capturing the image and processing the captured image is greater than fifty milliseconds.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the processing the captured image comprising determining position information about the image.

14. A data capture device comprising:

means for capturing an image;

means for storing the captured image;

means for processing the captured image;

means for notifying a user that the captured image is being processed by displaying the captured image at a low resolution prior to completing the processing of the captured image; and

means for notifying the user that the captured image is processed by displaying the processed image on a display at a resolution higher than the low resolution.

15. The data capture device of claim 14 wherein the means for notifying a user comprises the display and at least one of a light emitting diode (LED), and a loudspeaker.