Image reader comprising CMOS based image sensor array
DCFirst Claim
1. A bar code reading device comprising:
- a CMOS image sensor array comprising a plurality of pixels in a two-dimensional array, wherein the CMOS image sensor array is operable, in a global shutter mode, to collect image data from a target, wherein, in the global shutter mode, all or substantially all of the plurality of pixels in the CMOS image sensor array are simultaneously exposed in response to an exposure control timing pulse so as to enable the collection of image data in the form of a one dimensional bar code and to enable the collection of image data in the form of a two dimensional bar code;
at least one illumination light source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the target in response to an illumination control timing pulse, wherein the exposure control timing pulse and the illumination control timing pulse are coordinated by a control module such that the illumination control timing pulse is transmitted to the at least one illumination light source as a result of the exposure control timing pulse;
an autodiscrimination module configured to search the image data collected in the global shutter mode for one or more markers indicative of a presence of at least one of the one dimensional bar code or the two dimensional bar code; and
a bar code decoding module that is configured, in an instance in which at least one marker of the one or more markers is detected by the autodiscrimination module, to decode the image data in accordance with a decoding algorithm associated with the at least one marker.
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Abstract
The invention features an image reader and a corresponding method for capturing a sharp distortion free image of a target, such as a one or two-dimensional bar code. In one embodiment, the image reader comprises a two-dimensional CMOS based image sensor array, a timing module, an illumination module, and a control module. The time during which the target is illuminated is referred to as the illumination period. The capture of the image by the image sensor array is driven by the timing module that, in one embodiment, is able to simultaneously expose substantially all of the pixels in the array. The time during which the pixels are collectively activated to photo-convert incident light into charge defines the exposure period for the sensor array. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the exposure period occurs during the illumination period.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A bar code reading device comprising:
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a CMOS image sensor array comprising a plurality of pixels in a two-dimensional array, wherein the CMOS image sensor array is operable, in a global shutter mode, to collect image data from a target, wherein, in the global shutter mode, all or substantially all of the plurality of pixels in the CMOS image sensor array are simultaneously exposed in response to an exposure control timing pulse so as to enable the collection of image data in the form of a one dimensional bar code and to enable the collection of image data in the form of a two dimensional bar code; at least one illumination light source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the target in response to an illumination control timing pulse, wherein the exposure control timing pulse and the illumination control timing pulse are coordinated by a control module such that the illumination control timing pulse is transmitted to the at least one illumination light source as a result of the exposure control timing pulse; an autodiscrimination module configured to search the image data collected in the global shutter mode for one or more markers indicative of a presence of at least one of the one dimensional bar code or the two dimensional bar code; and a bar code decoding module that is configured, in an instance in which at least one marker of the one or more markers is detected by the autodiscrimination module, to decode the image data in accordance with a decoding algorithm associated with the at least one marker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A bar code reading device comprising:
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a CMOS image sensor array comprising a plurality of pixels in a two-dimensional array, wherein the CMOS image sensor array is operable, in a global shutter mode, to collect image data from a target, wherein, in the global shutter mode, all or substantially all of the plurality of pixels in the CMOS image sensor array are simultaneously exposed in response to an exposure control timing pulse, wherein the CMOS image sensor array is configured to collect image data in the form of a decodable one dimensional bar code, wherein the CMOS image sensor array is configured to collect image data in the form of a decodable two dimensional bar code, and wherein each pixel having a grey scale pixel value representing observable light incident at the pixel; at least one illumination light source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the target in response to an illumination control timing pulse, wherein the exposure control timing pulse and the illumination control timing pulse are coordinated by a control module such that the illumination control timing pulse is transmitted to the at least one illumination light source in response to the exposure control timing pulse; an autodiscrimination module configured to search the image data comprising at least a portion of the grey scale pixel values collected in the global shutter mode for one or more markers from a plurality of detectable markers indicative of a presence of at least one bar code symbol; and a bar code decoding module that is configured, in an instance in which at least one marker of the one or more markers is detected by the autodiscrimination module, to decode the image data in accordance with a decoding algorithm associated with the at least one marker. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus comprising:
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a control module; and a non-transitory memory module including computer program code, the memory module and the computer program code configured to, with the control module, cause the apparatus to at least; cause the coordinated transmission of an exposure control timing pulse and an illumination control timing pulse, wherein the exposure control timing pulse causes a CMOS image sensor array, comprising a plurality of pixels in a two-dimensional array, to operate in a global shutter mode to collect image data from a target, wherein in the global shutter mode all or substantially all of the pixels in the CMOS image sensor array are simultaneously exposed so as to enable the collection of image data in the form of a one dimensional bar code and to enable the collection of image data in the form of a two dimensional bar code and wherein the illumination control timing pulse is configured to cause an at least one illumination light source to illuminate at least a portion of the target during at least a portion of the duration of the exposure control timing pulse, wherein the illumination control timing pulse is transmitted to the at least one illumination light source in response to the exposure control timing pulse; search the image data collected by the CMOS image sensor array in the global shutter mode for one or more markers from a plurality of detectable markers indicative of the presence of at least one bar code symbol; and decode, in an instance in which at least one marker of the one or more markers is detected, the image data in accordance with a decoding algorithm associated with the at least one marker. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification