Barcode-reading system
First Claim
1. An accessory for a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a processor, a display screen on a generally planar face side of the mobile device, a memory, and a white light source and a camera on a back side of the mobile device, the back side being generally planar and parallel to the face side, the camera comprising a camera lens and an image sensor, the accessory comprising:
- an optic system positioned within a field of view of the camera and a field of illumination of the white light source when the accessory is secured to the mobile device, the optic system comprising;
a sealed enclosure;
at least one reflective surface, within the sealed enclosure, for folding both the field of view of the camera and the field of illumination of the white light source towards a target area beyond a top side of the mobile device, the top side being an edge of the mobile device between the face side and the back side;
at least one first window to the sealed enclosure generally parallel to the back side of the mobile device and through which illumination from the white light source enters the sealed enclosure and illumination from the target area exits the sealed enclosure and is incident on the camera lens; and
at least one second window to the sealed enclosure generally perpendicular to the back side of the mobile device and through which the illumination from the white light source exits the sealed enclosure to the target area and the illumination from the target area enters the sealed enclosure and is incident on the at least one reflective surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
This patent specification describes a barcode-reading system for a mobile device. The mobile device includes a camera and a white illumination source on the backside of the mobile device. The system includes a barcode reading accessory with at least one reflective surface folding both the field of view of the camera and the field of illumination of the mobile device towards a target area beyond the top side of the mobile device.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An accessory for a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a processor, a display screen on a generally planar face side of the mobile device, a memory, and a white light source and a camera on a back side of the mobile device, the back side being generally planar and parallel to the face side, the camera comprising a camera lens and an image sensor, the accessory comprising:
an optic system positioned within a field of view of the camera and a field of illumination of the white light source when the accessory is secured to the mobile device, the optic system comprising; a sealed enclosure; at least one reflective surface, within the sealed enclosure, for folding both the field of view of the camera and the field of illumination of the white light source towards a target area beyond a top side of the mobile device, the top side being an edge of the mobile device between the face side and the back side; at least one first window to the sealed enclosure generally parallel to the back side of the mobile device and through which illumination from the white light source enters the sealed enclosure and illumination from the target area exits the sealed enclosure and is incident on the camera lens; and at least one second window to the sealed enclosure generally perpendicular to the back side of the mobile device and through which the illumination from the white light source exits the sealed enclosure to the target area and the illumination from the target area enters the sealed enclosure and is incident on the at least one reflective surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A barcode reading system for a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a processor, a display screen on a generally planar face side of the mobile device, a memory, and a white light source and a camera on a back side of the mobile device, the back side being generally planar and parallel to the face side, the camera comprising a camera lens and an image sensor, the barcode reading system comprising:
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a barcode reading accessory comprising an optic system positioned within a field of view of the camera and a field of illumination of the white light source when the barcode reading accessory is secured to the mobile device, the optic system comprising; a sealed enclosure; at least one reflective surface, within the sealed enclosure, for folding both the field of view of the camera and the field of illumination of the white light source towards a target area beyond a top side of the mobile device, the top side being an edge of the mobile device between the face side and the back side; at least one first window to the sealed enclosure generally parallel to the back side and through which illumination from the white light source enters the sealed enclosure and illumination from the target area exits the sealed enclosure and is incident on the camera lens; and at least one second window to the sealed enclosure generally perpendicular to the back side of the mobile device and through which the illumination from the white light source exits the sealed enclosure to the target area and the illumination from the target area enters the sealed enclosure and is incident on the at least one reflective surface; and a barcode reading application stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the barcode reading application including; an image capture function for controlling the white light source and the camera to capture an image of a barcode presented in the target area; a decoder function for receiving the image of the barcode and generating decoded data representing data encoded in the barcode; and a relay function for sending the decoded data to a remote server via a wireless connection established between the mobile device and a network. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of reading a barcode utilizing a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a processor, a display screen on a generally planar face side of the mobile device, a memory, and a white light source and a camera on a back side of the mobile device, the back side being generally planar and parallel to the face side, the camera comprising a camera lens and an image sensor, the method comprising:
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directing an operating system of the mobile device to obtain a barcode reading application from a remote application server and to install the barcode reading application in the memory for execution by the processor; securing a barcode reading enhancement accessory to the mobile device, the barcode reading enhancement accessory comprising; an optic system positioned within a field of view of the camera and a field of illumination of the white light source when the barcode reading enhancement accessory is secured to the mobile device, the optic system comprising; a sealed enclosure; at least one reflective surface, within the sealed enclosure, for folding both the field of view of the camera and the field of illumination of the white light source towards a target area beyond a top side of the mobile device, the top side being an edge of the mobile device between the face side and the back side; at least one first window to the sealed enclosure generally parallel to the back side of the mobile device and through which illumination from the white light source enters the sealed enclosure and illumination from the target area exits the sealed enclosure and is incident on the camera lens; and at least one second window to the sealed enclosure generally perpendicular to the back side of the mobile device and through which the illumination from the white light source exits the sealed enclosure into the target area and the illumination from the target area enters the sealed enclosure and is incident on the at least one reflective surface; and executing the barcode reading application by the processor, wherein executing the barcode reading application comprises; executing an image capture function for controlling the white light source and the camera to capture an image of a barcode presented in the target area beyond the top side of the mobile device; executing a decoder function for receiving the image of the barcode and generating decoded data representing data encoded in the barcode; and executing a relay function for sending the decoded data to a remote server via a wireless connection established between the mobile device and a network. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification