Adaptive data reader and method of operating

• US 9,514,344 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datalogic Adc, Inc. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Datalogic Adc, Inc. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Gao, WenLiang, Guess, Alan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US13/293,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20120111944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,853 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.06, 235/462.1, 235/462.25, 235/901, 396/63, 396/65, 396/89
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10752 Exposure time control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image

Abstract

Systems and methods for data reading are disclosed wherein one or more images of an item bearing an optical code are captured and the captured images are analyzed to determine whether the item has a reflective surface or not. Based on such a determination, operating parameters of the system, such as one or more of: the amount of time dedicated to 1D code decoding and the amount of time dedicated to 2D code decoding, the order in which 1D code and 2D code decoding are performed, termination of a decoding operation, restarting an image capture and decoding operation, and image preprocessing may be automatically adjusted by the system to decode an optical code.

Claims

1. A method for data reading, comprising:

capturing, via a data reader, an image of an item bearing an optical code;

analyzing a distribution of pixels'"'"' intensities of the image to determine whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface;

establishing a decode setting based on whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface by configuring the decode setting to use a minority of a total decoding time of the optical code for decoding a 1D optical code and a majority of the total decoding time for decoding a 2D optical code if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a reflective surface and configuring the decode setting to use a minority of the total decoding time for decoding a 2D optical code and a majority of the total decoding time for decoding a 1D optical code if it is determined that the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface; and

decoding the optical code appearing in the image using the configured decode setting.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the capturing includes capturing, via the data reader, the image of the item comprising an electronic display surface displaying the optical code.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the establishing the decode setting includes:

configuring the decode setting to first attempt to decode a 2D optical code prior to attempting to decode a 1D optical code if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a reflective surface.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

preprocessing the image according to a preprocessing procedure, wherein the preprocessing procedure is different when the optical code is borne by a reflective surface compared to when the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the preprocessing the image includes:

passing image data from the image through a high-pass filter if it is determined that the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein the preprocessing the image includes:

passing image data from the image through a low-pass filter if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a reflective surface.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein the preprocessing the image includes:

if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a reflective surface, comparing pixel values to a predetermined threshold; and

for pixel values equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, setting the pixel values to a predetermined value.

9. A method according to claim 5 wherein the preprocessing the image includes:

if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a reflective surface, comparing pixel values to a predetermined threshold; and

for pixel values equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, setting the pixel values to a predetermined value.

18. A method according to claim 1 wherein the establishing of the decode setting comprises causing the data reader to change from a first decoding routine to a second decoding routine that is different than the first decoding routine, wherein the change from the first decoding routine to the second decoding routine does not alter image capture parameters.

3. A method for data reading, comprising:

capturing, via a data reader, an image of an item bearing an optical code;

analyzing a distribution of pixels'"'"' intensities of the image to determine whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface;

establishing a decode setting based on whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface by configuring the decode setting to first attempt to decode a 1D optical code using a majority of a total decoding time of the optical code prior to attempting to decode a 2D optical code using a minority of the total decoding time of the optical code if it is determined that the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface and configuring the decode setting to use a minority of the total decoding time for decoding a 1D optical code and a majority of the total decoding time for decoding a 2D optical code if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a reflective surface; and

decoding the optical code appearing in the image using the configured decode setting.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions thereon, which when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:

capturing, via a data reader, an image of an item bearing an optical code;

analyzing a distribution of pixels'"'"' intensities of the image to determine whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface;

establishing a decode setting based on whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface by configuring the decode setting to first attempt to decode a 2D optical code using a majority of a total decoding time of the optical code prior to attempting to decode a 1D optical code using a minority of the total decoding time if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a reflective surface and establishing the decode setting to use a minority of the total decoding time for decoding a 2D optical code and a majority of the total decoding time for decoding a 1D optical code if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a non-reflective surface; and

decoding the optical code appearing in the image using the configured decode setting.

11. A system for data reading comprising:

an imager configured to capture an image of an item bearing an optical code;

an illumination source configured to illuminate the item; and

a controller configured to operate the imager and the illumination source, wherein the controller is programmed to;

initiate a capture of an image of the item bearing the optical code;

analyze a distribution of pixels'"'"' intensities of the image to determine whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface;

preprocess the image according to a preprocessing procedure, wherein the preprocessing procedure is different when the optical code is borne by a reflective surface compared to when the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface;

establish a decode setting based on whether the optical code is borne by a reflective surface by configuring the decode setting to use a minority of a total decoding time for decoding a 1D optical code and a majority of the total decoding time for decoding a 2D optical code if it is determined that the optical code is borne by a reflective surface and configuring the decode setting to use a minority of the total decoding time for decoding a 2D optical code and a majority of the total decoding time for decoding a 1D optical code if it is determined that the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface; and

decode the optical code appearing in the image using the configured decode setting.

12. A system for data reading according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

configure the decode setting to attempt to decode a 1D optical code prior to attempting to decode a 2D optical code if the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface.

13. A system for data reading according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

configure the decode setting to attempt decoding of a 2D optical code prior to attempting to decode a 1D optical code if the optical code is borne by a reflective surface.

14. A system for data reading according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

pass image data from the image through a high-pass filter if the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface; and

pass image data from the image through a low-pass filter if the optical code is borne by a reflective surface.

15. A system for data reading according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

compare pixel values to a first predetermined threshold and a second predetermined threshold;

modify the pixel values to a first predetermined value for pixel values equal to or less than the first predetermined threshold; and

modify the pixel values to a second predetermined value for pixel values equal to or greater than the second predetermined threshold.

16. A system for data reading according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

terminate a decode operation in response to determining the optical code is borne by a reflective surface and the image was captured using a normal operating mode.

17. A system for data reading according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further programmed to:

terminate a decode operation in response to determining the optical code is not borne by a reflective surface and the image was captured using a reflective operating mode.

19. A system according to claim 11 wherein, in response to establishing the decode setting, the data reader changes from a first decoding routine to a second routine process that is different than the first decoding routine, wherein the change from the first decoding routine to the second decoding routine does not alter image capture parameters.