Systems and methods for forming a composite image of multiple portions of an object from multiple perspectives
First Claim
1. An imager-based method for reading an optical code on an object in a viewing volume, the method comprising:
- dividing an image plane into a plurality of strip-shaped sections;
viewing a side of the object in the viewing volume from a plurality of crossing perspectives, the crossing perspectives forming pseudo scan lines with a plurality of angular crossings on the side of the object in the viewing volume;
forming a plurality of strip-shaped images corresponding to the plurality of crossing perspectives, respectively, wherein the strip-shaped images are in the strip-shaped sections of the image plane, thereby creating a composite image containing data from the plurality of crossing perspectives; and
processing at least a portion of the composite image so as to ascertain the information encoded in the optical code on the object in the viewing volume.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various improved imager-based optical code readers and associated methods are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, an imager-based method reads an optical code (which may be, for example, a linear optical code such as a bar code) on an object in a viewing volume. The method comprises dividing an image plane into a plurality of strip-shaped sections, viewing the object in the viewing volume from a plurality of perspectives, forming a plurality of strip-shaped images corresponding to the plurality of perspectives, respectively, thereby creating a composite image containing data from a plurality of perspectives, and processing at least a portion of the composite image so as to ascertain the information encoded in the optical code on the object in the viewing volume. Certain embodiments can mimic the performance of a laser-based scanner without a laser or moving parts but instead utilizing an electronic imaging device such as an imager.
118 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An imager-based method for reading an optical code on an object in a viewing volume, the method comprising:
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dividing an image plane into a plurality of strip-shaped sections; viewing a side of the object in the viewing volume from a plurality of crossing perspectives, the crossing perspectives forming pseudo scan lines with a plurality of angular crossings on the side of the object in the viewing volume; forming a plurality of strip-shaped images corresponding to the plurality of crossing perspectives, respectively, wherein the strip-shaped images are in the strip-shaped sections of the image plane, thereby creating a composite image containing data from the plurality of crossing perspectives; and processing at least a portion of the composite image so as to ascertain the information encoded in the optical code on the object in the viewing volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for generating useful image data for an optical code on an object in a viewing volume using an imager and one or more fixed mirrors, the method comprising:
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projecting onto a first portion of the imager via a first set of fixed mirrors a first partial view of a side of the object from a first perspective into the viewing volume; projecting onto a second portion of the imager via a second set of fixed mirrors a second partial view of the side of the object from a second perspective into the viewing volume, wherein the second perspective is different from the first perspective in at least one of viewing position and viewing angle, and wherein the second portion of the imager is different from the first portion of the imager; projecting onto a third portion of the imager via a third set of fixed mirrors a third partial view of the side of the object from a third perspective into the viewing volume, wherein the third perspective is different from both the first perspective and the second perspective in at least viewing angle, the third perspective angularly crossing both the first perspective and the second perspective on the side of the object in the viewing volume, and wherein the third portion of the imager is different from both the first portion and the second portion of the imager, wherein the first, second and third portions of the imager are substantially aligned in a common direction across the imager thereby creating a composite image from the first, second and third partial views of the side of the object; and processing at least a portion of the composite image so as to ascertain information encoded in the optical code on the object in the viewing volume. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for generating useful image data for an optical code on an object in a viewing volume using an imager and one or more fixed mirrors, the system comprising:
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means for projecting onto a first portion of the imager via a first set of fixed mirrors a first partial view of a side of the object from a first perspective into the viewing volume; means for projecting onto a second portion of the imager via a second set of fixed mirrors a second partial view of the side of the object from a second perspective into the viewing volume, wherein the second perspective is different from the first perspective in at least one of viewing position and viewing angle, and wherein the second portion of the imager is different from the first portion of the imager; means for projecting onto a third portion of the imager via a third set of fixed mirrors a third partial view of the side of the object from a third perspective into the viewing volume, wherein the third perspective is different from both the first perspective and the second perspective in at least and viewing angle, the third perspective angularly crossing both the first perspective and the second perspective on the side of the object in the viewing volume, and wherein the third portion of the imager is different from both the first portion and the second portion of the imager, wherein the first, second and third portions of the imager are substantially aligned in a common direction across the imager thereby creating a composite image from the first, second and third partial views of the side of the object; and means for processing at least a portion of the composite image so as to ascertain information encoded in the optical code on the object in the viewing volume. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A imager-based system for reading an optical code on an object in a viewing volume, the system comprising:
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means for viewing a side of the object in the viewing volume from a plurality of angular crossing perspectives; means for forming a plurality of strip-shaped images corresponding to the plurality of angular crossing perspectives on the side of the object in the viewing volume, respectively; means for creating a composite image by dividing an image into a plurality of strip-shaped sections, wherein the strip-shaped images are in the strip-shaped sections; and means for ascertaining information encoded in the optical code on the object in the viewing volume. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification