Barcode-reading system
First Claim
1. A barcode reading system for a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a processor, memory, and a camera comprising an image sensor array and a white light source, the barcode reading system comprising:
- a barcode reading accessory comprising an optic system positioned within a field of illumination of the white light source when the barcode reading accessory is secured to the mobile device, the optic system comprising;
an optical filter configured to pass a limited spectrum of illumination emitted by the white light source; and
a collimating optic configured to shape the field of illumination of the white light source to produce a targeting illumination pattern in a target area; and
a barcode reading application stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the barcode reading application comprising;
an image capture function configured to control the camera to capture a color image of the target area, wherein the color image comprises a plurality of sub-images corresponding to different portions of the image sensor array, wherein the different portions of the image sensor array have different sensitivity to different bands of the illumination emitted by the white light source, and wherein one portion of the image sensor array is more sensitive to the limited spectrum passed by the optical filter than other portions of the image sensor array;
an image processing function configured to create a grayscale composite image of a barcode by combining at least two sub-images of the plurality of sub-images using weights, wherein the weights are selected such that a contribution from a sub-image captured by the portion of the image sensor array most sensitive to the limited spectrum passed by the optical filter is smaller than contributions from other sub-images; and
a decoder function configured to receive the grayscale composite image of the barcode and generate decoded data representing data encoded in the barcode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This patent specification describes a barcode-reading system for a mobile device. The mobile device include an image sensor array for generating a color image of a target area. The color image includes sub-images each captured with a portion of the image sensor array sensitive to different bands of illumination. The barcode reading system may include an optic system configured to produce a targeting illumination pattern of a particular band of illumination passed by an optical filter within the target area. An image processing function of a barcode-reading application may create a grayscale composite image of a barcode by combining the sub-images. In combining the sub-images, a contribution from a sub-image captured by a portion of the image sensor array most sensitive to the particular band for the targeting illumination may be smaller than a contribution from the other two sub-images captured by other portions of the image sensor array.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A barcode reading system for a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a processor, memory, and a camera comprising an image sensor array and a white light source, the barcode reading system comprising:
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a barcode reading accessory comprising an optic system positioned within a field of illumination of the white light source when the barcode reading accessory is secured to the mobile device, the optic system comprising; an optical filter configured to pass a limited spectrum of illumination emitted by the white light source; and a collimating optic configured to shape the field of illumination of the white light source to produce a targeting illumination pattern in a target area; and a barcode reading application stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the barcode reading application comprising; an image capture function configured to control the camera to capture a color image of the target area, wherein the color image comprises a plurality of sub-images corresponding to different portions of the image sensor array, wherein the different portions of the image sensor array have different sensitivity to different bands of the illumination emitted by the white light source, and wherein one portion of the image sensor array is more sensitive to the limited spectrum passed by the optical filter than other portions of the image sensor array; an image processing function configured to create a grayscale composite image of a barcode by combining at least two sub-images of the plurality of sub-images using weights, wherein the weights are selected such that a contribution from a sub-image captured by the portion of the image sensor array most sensitive to the limited spectrum passed by the optical filter is smaller than contributions from other sub-images; and a decoder function configured to receive the grayscale composite image of the barcode and generate decoded data representing data encoded in the barcode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A barcode reading system for a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a processor, memory, and a camera comprising an image sensor array and a white light source, the barcode reading system comprising:
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a barcode reading accessory comprising an optic system positioned within a field of illumination of the white light source when the barcode reading accessory is secured to the mobile device, the optic system comprising; an optical filter configured to pass a limited spectrum of illumination emitted by the white light source; and a collimating optic configured to shape the field of illumination of the white light source to produce a targeting illumination pattern in a target area, the targeting illumination pattern having a color of illumination passed by the optical filter; and a barcode reading application stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the barcode reading application comprising; an image capture function configured to control the camera to capture a color image of the target area, wherein the color image comprises a plurality of sub-images corresponding to different portions of the image sensor array, wherein the different portions of the image sensor array have different sensitivity to different bands of the illumination emitted by the white light source, and wherein one portion of the image sensor array is more sensitive to the limited spectrum passed by the optical filter than other portions of the image sensor array; an image processing function configured to create a grayscale composite image of a barcode by combining two sub-images captured by two portions of the image sensor array that are least sensitive to the limited spectrum of the illumination emitted by the white light source; and a decoder function configured to receive the grayscale composite image of the barcode and generate decoded data representing data encoded in the barcode. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of reading a barcode utilizing a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a processor, memory, and a camera comprising an image sensor array and a white light source, the method comprising:
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securing a barcode reading accessory to the mobile device, the barcode reading accessory comprising an optic system positioned within a field of illumination of the white light source when the barcode reading accessory is secured to the mobile device, the optic system comprising; an optical filter configured to pass a limited spectrum of illumination emitted by the white light source; and a collimating optic configured to shape the field of illumination of the white light source to produce a targeting illumination pattern in a target area; and executing the barcode reading application by the processor, wherein executing the barcode reading application comprises; executing an image capture function to control the camera to capture a color image of the target area, wherein the color image comprises a plurality of sub-images corresponding to different portions of the image sensor array, wherein the different portions of the image sensor array have different sensitivity to different bands of the illumination emitted by the white light source, and wherein one portion of the image sensor array is more sensitive to the limited spectrum passed by the optical filter than other portions of the image sensor array; executing an image processing function to create a grayscale composite image of a barcode by combining at least two sub-images of the plurality of sub-images using weights, wherein the weights are selected such that a contribution from a sub-image captured by a portion of the image sensor array most sensitive to the limited spectrum passed by the optical filter is smaller than contributions from other sub-images; and executing a decoder function for receiving the grayscale composite image of the barcode and generating decoded data representing data encoded in the barcode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification