Scanning improvements for saturated signals using automatic and fixed gain control methods
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling the exposure of an image containing a barcode for a barcode reading device, the method comprising:
- obtaining a line of scan data from the image;
identifying areas of saturation within the scan data;
improving the readability of an unsaturated region, comprising switching from an automatic gain control to a predetermined gain control if the identified areas of saturation within the scan data are substantially saturated, the predetermined gain control adjusting at least a gain to increase signal return so that the areas of saturation remain saturated; and
resuming automatic gain control after a predetermined time.
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Abstract
A method controls the exposure of an image containing a barcode for a barcode reading device. The method obtains a line of scan data from the image and identifies areas of saturation within the scan data. If there are saturated areas within the scan data, the method switches from an automatic gain control to a predetermined gain control. The method then resumes automatic gain control after a predetermined time.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the exposure of an image containing a barcode for a barcode reading device, the method comprising:
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obtaining a line of scan data from the image; identifying areas of saturation within the scan data; improving the readability of an unsaturated region, comprising switching from an automatic gain control to a predetermined gain control if the identified areas of saturation within the scan data are substantially saturated, the predetermined gain control adjusting at least a gain to increase signal return so that the areas of saturation remain saturated; and resuming automatic gain control after a predetermined time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of controlling the exposure of an image containing a barcode, comprising:
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providing a barcode reading device having a processor, memory, barcode reading firmware, and an image sensor package with an exposure control unit connected via a system bus, the exposure control unit having automatic gain control settings and fixed gain control settings; obtaining a line of scan data from the image captured by the image sensor package; identifying areas of saturation within the scan data by creating a histogram of the line of scan data; improving the readability of an unsaturated region, comprising switching from an automatic gain control settings to fixed gain control settings if the identified areas of saturation within the scan data are substantially saturated, the predetermined gain control adjusting at least a gain to increase signal return so that the areas of saturation remain saturated; and resuming automatic gain control settings after a predetermined time. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A barcode reading device, comprising:
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a processor, memory, barcode reading firmware, and an image sensor package with an exposure control unit interconnected via a system bus, the exposure control unit having automatic gain control settings and fixed gain control settings; the barcode reading firmware operative to; obtain a line of scan data from the image captured by the image sensor package; identify areas of saturation within the scan data by creating a histogram of the line of scan data; improve the readability of an unsaturated region by switching from an automatic gain control settings to fixed gain control settings if the identified areas of saturation within the scan data are substantially saturated, the predetermined gain control adjusting at least a gain to increase signal return so that the areas of saturation remain saturated; and resume automatic gain control settings after a predetermined time. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification