Image sensor pixel array having output response curve including logarithmic pattern for image sensor based terminal

• US 9,183,425 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2009
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Ynjiun P.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUDORF, LAURA A
• Application Number:
  US12/421,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20100258633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,406 Days
• Field of Search: 23547201-47203, 235/435, 235/454, 23546201-46249
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/84 for processing colour signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/133 including elements passing panchromatic light, e.g. filters passing white light
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/573 the logarithmic type
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/575 with a response composed of multiple slopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/589 with different integration times, e.g. short and long exposures

Abstract

There is described in one embodiment an indicia reading terminal having an image sensor pixel array incorporated therein, wherein the terminal is operative for decoding of decodable indicia and for providing color frames of image data for storage or transmission. An image sensor based terminal in one embodiment can include an image sensor having a hybrid monochrome and color image sensor pixel array wherein the image sensor pixel array includes a first subset of monochrome pixels and a second subset of color pixels. In one embodiment, an output response curve for the image sensor pixel array can include a logarithmic pattern.

Claims

1. An image sensor based terminal comprising:

an image sensor having an image sensor pixel array, the image sensor pixel array having a plurality of pixels;

a lens assembly for use in focusing an image onto the image sensor pixel array; and

a hand held housing, wherein the image sensor based terminal is configured so that the image sensor pixel array is supported within the hand held housing;

wherein the image sensor is a multiple state image sensor pixel array having a logarithmic output state in which an active output response curve for the image sensor pixel array includes a logarithmic pattern and a linear output state in which an active output response curve of the image sensor pixel array defines a substantially straight linear pattern extending a range of possible illumination levels to an illumination level resulting in saturation of the image sensor pixel array;

wherein the terminal is operative in an operator initiated mode of operation in which there is output from the image sensor pixel array for processing a succession of frames having image information, the image sensor based terminal further being operative so that a first subset of the succession of frames are output from the image sensor pixel array with the logarithmic output state of the image sensor active, and further being operative so that a second subset of the succession of frames are output from the image sensor pixel array with the linear output state of the image sensor active, wherein the image sensor based terminal processes a frame of the succession of frames to attempt to decode decodable indicia.

2. The image sensor based terminal of claim 1, wherein the terminal is operative so that the succession of frames are output responsively to an initiation of an operator initiated command.

3. The image sensor based terminal of claim 2, wherein the operator initiated command is a command to initiate a trigger signal, and wherein the image sensor based terminal is operative to process the succession of frames for a time that the trigger signal remains active.

4. The image sensor based terminal of claim 1, wherein the mode of operation is an indicia decode mode of operation.

5. The image sensor based terminal of claim 1, wherein the mode of operation is a picture taking mode of operation.

6. The image sensor based terminal of claim 1, wherein the image sensor pixel array is operative to output the first subset of frames prior to output of the second subset of frames.

7. The image sensor based terminal of claim 1, wherein the image sensor pixel array is operative to output the first subset of frame prior to output of the second subset of frames, and wherein the terminal is operative to process a frame of the first subset of frames for parameter determination.

8. The image sensor based terminal of claim 1, wherein the terminal is operative to output the first subset of frames prior to output of the second subset of frames, wherein the terminal is operative to process a frame of the first subset of frames for parameter determination, and wherein the terminal is operative to process a frame of the second subset of frames for attempting to decode decodable indicia.

9. The image sensor based terminal of claim 1, wherein the terminal is operative to switch an output state of the image sensor during operation in the operating mode in response to a sensed condition.

10. The image sensor based terminal of claim 1, wherein the image sensor pixel array includes color sensitive pixels.

11. The image sensor based terminal of claim 1, wherein the image sensor pixel array is a hybrid monochrome and color pixel array having a first subset of pixels and a second subset of pixels, the first subset of pixels being monochrome pixels devoid of color filter elements, the second subset of pixels being color sensitive pixels having color filter elements.

12. The image sensor based terminal of claim 1, wherein the image sensor based terminal is operative to process a frame of the second subset of the succession of frames for attempting to decode decodable indicia.