Method and apparatus for reading optical indicia using a plurality of data sources

• US 9,033,240 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Taylor, Hernandez, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US14/222,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20140203087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/462.01, 235/462.09, 235/462.12, 235/462.14, 235/462.41, 235/469, 235/439, 235/440
• US Class Current: 235/462.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10554 Moving beam scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1491 the method including a reconstruction step, e.g. stitching two pieces of bar code together to derive the full bar code
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles

Abstract

A system for decoding an encoded symbol character associated with a product is provided. The system includes a scanning apparatus comprising a first scan source disposed within a housing, and a second scan source disposed within the housing. The second scan source comprises an operating technology distinct from an operating technology of the first scan source. The first scan source is adapted to output a first scan data set, and the second scan source is adapted to output a second scan data set. At least one of the first scan data set and the second scan data set comprises product bar code scan data.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

memory for storing data;

a laser scanner for outputting a first data set comprising barcode data;

an image sensor for outputting a second data set comprising barcode data; and

a central processing unit for executing a decoding process by combining the first data set and the second data set.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the decoding process executed by the central processing unit comprises stitching the first data set and the second data set.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first data set comprises barcode data from a product barcode;

the second data set comprises alphanumeric characters associated with the product barcode; and

the central processing unit is configured for executing optical character recognition software and for comparing the barcode data from the product barcode with the alphanumeric characters associated with the product barcode.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising a radio frequency identification reader for outputting a third data set.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the third data set comprises an electronic product code; and

the central processing unit is configured for executing a decoding process by combining the first data set, the second data set, and the third data set.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first data set comprises barcode data from a product;

the second data set comprises color images associated with the product; and

the central processing unit is configured for comparing the barcode data from the product with the color images associated with the product.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first data set comprises barcode data from a product;

the second data set comprises pattern images associated with the product; and

the central processing unit is configured for comparing the barcode data from the product with the pattern images associated with the product.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising a weight scale module for outputting a third data set comprising a weight associated with the product, wherein the central processing unit is configured for comparing the third data set with product weights associated with the first scan data set in the memory.

9. A system comprising:

a laser scanner for outputting a first data set;

an image sensor for outputting a second data set; and

a central processing unit for executing a decoding process by combining the first data set and the second data set.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the decoding process executed by the central processing unit comprises stitching the first data set and the second data set.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the first data set comprises barcode data from a product barcode;

the second data set comprises alphanumeric characters associated with the product barcode; and

the central processing unit is configured for executing optical character recognition software and for comparing the barcode data from the product barcode with the alphanumeric characters associated with the product barcode.

12. The system of claim 9, comprising a radio frequency identification reader for outputting a third data set.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the third data set comprises an electronic product code; and

the central processing unit is configured for executing a decoding process by combining the first data set, the second data set, and the third data set.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the first data set comprises barcode data from a product;

the second data set comprises color images associated with the product; and

the central processing unit is configured for comparing the barcode data from the product with the color images associated with the product.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the first data set comprises barcode data from a product;

the second data set comprises pattern images associated with the product; and

the central processing unit is configured for comparing the barcode data from the product with the pattern images associated with the product.

16. The system of claim 9, comprising a weight scale module for outputting a third data set comprising a weight associated with the product, wherein the central processing unit is configured for comparing the third data set with product weights associated with the first scan data set in a memory.

17. A system comprising:

a laser scanner for outputting a first data set;

an image sensor for outputting a second data set; and

a central processing unit for executing a decoding process comprising stitching the first data set and the second data set.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the first data set comprises barcode data from a product barcode;

the second data set comprises alphanumeric characters associated with the product barcode; and

the central processing unit is configured for executing optical character recognition software and for comparing the barcode data from the product barcode with the alphanumeric characters associated with the product barcode.

19. The system of claim 17, comprising a radio frequency identification reader for outputting a third data set.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the third data set comprises an electronic product code; and

the central processing unit is configured for executing a decoding process by combining the first data set, the second data set, and the third data set.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the first data set comprises barcode data from a product;

the second data set comprises color images associated with the product; and

the central processing unit is configured for comparing the barcode data from the product with the color images associated with the product.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the first data set comprises barcode data from a product;

the second data set comprises pattern images associated with the product; and

the central processing unit is configured for comparing the barcode data from the product with the pattern images associated with the product.

23. The system of claim 17, comprising a weight scale module for outputting a third data set comprising a weight associated with the product, wherein the central processing unit is configured for comparing the third data set with product weights associated with the first scan data set in a memory.