Minimizing laser persistence on two-dimensional image sensors
First Claim
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1. A barcode reader comprising:
- an image sensor having an array of pixels, the image sensor configured to sense an image of a barcode;
an electronic shutter configured to expose the array of pixels to capture a complete image frame;
an image processing device configured to receive the complete image frame from the image sensor, the complete image frame being transferred from the image sensor in at least a first part and a second part;
a reference laser configured to indicate an approximate position of a field of view of the image sensor; and
a laser control circuit configured to switch the reference laser on and off;
wherein the laser control circuit is configured to;
switch the reference laser off while the first part of the image frame is transferred from the image sensor to the image processing device, andswitch the reference laser on while the second part of the image frame is transferred from the image sensor to the image processing device.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for minimizing laser persistence are provided. In one implementation, a timing circuit for controlling a barcode reader is provided. The timing circuit comprises a shutter control circuit configured to control an electronic shutter function of an image sensor and a laser control circuit configured to control the activation of a reference laser. When activated, the reference laser directs a laser beam to an approximate position of a field of view of the image sensor. The activation of the reference laser includes a delay to minimize laser persistence on an image captured by the image sensor.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A barcode reader comprising:
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an image sensor having an array of pixels, the image sensor configured to sense an image of a barcode; an electronic shutter configured to expose the array of pixels to capture a complete image frame; an image processing device configured to receive the complete image frame from the image sensor, the complete image frame being transferred from the image sensor in at least a first part and a second part; a reference laser configured to indicate an approximate position of a field of view of the image sensor; and a laser control circuit configured to switch the reference laser on and off; wherein the laser control circuit is configured to; switch the reference laser off while the first part of the image frame is transferred from the image sensor to the image processing device, and switch the reference laser on while the second part of the image frame is transferred from the image sensor to the image processing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A timing circuit for controlling a barcode reader, the timing circuit comprising:
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a shutter control circuit configured to control an electronic shutter function of an image sensor; and a laser control circuit configured to control the activation of a reference laser; wherein the reference laser, when activated, directs a laser beam to an approximate position of a field of view of the image sensor; and wherein the laser control circuit deactivates the reference laser while a first data portion of a complete image frame is being transferred from the image sensor to image processing circuitry, and activates the reference laser while a second data portion of the complete image frame is being transferred, the first data portion and the second data portion together comprise the complete image frame. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling an image sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
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electronically shuttering an array of pixels of an image sensor to obtain a complete image frame; transferring the complete image frame in at least a first part and a second part from the array of pixels to image processing circuitry; and activating a reference laser during transfer of the second part of the complete image frame from the array of pixels to the image processing circuitry; and deactivating the reference laser during transfer of the first part of the complete image frame from the array of pixels to the image processing circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification