Eye gaze detection controlled indicia scanning system and method

• US 9,990,524 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2016
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Todeschini, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Seung
• Application Number:
  US15/183,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20170364722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 23546211, 23546208, 2354621
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1439 including a method step for retrieval of the optical code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/235 based on user input or interaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/224 of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/18 Eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor

Abstract

By tracking a user'"'"'s eyes, an indicia scanning system can make educated guesses as to what the user is interested in. This insight could be useful in dynamically configuring a camera system, configuring an indicia decoding process or even as a method to select data that the user is interested in.

Claims

1. A portable computer for reading indicia comprising:

a processor coupled to;

a first imaging system for capturing an image within the field of view of the first imaging system, and showing the image on visual display; and

a second imaging system for detecting a gaze of a user;

the processor configured to;

determine a gaze coordinate location that the user is viewing on the visual display having the image; and

use the gaze coordinate location to start decoding a region of interest within the image;

wherein the processor is further configured to monitor a gaze zone coordinate to determine whether the user'"'"'s gaze is stationary on a point on the visual display for a predetermined time period n, and to re-calculate the gaze zone coordinate if at least one indicia is not found while decoding the region of interest.

2. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to use the gaze coordinate to start an auto-focus process on the region of interest.

3. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to use the gaze coordinate to start an auto exposure process on the region of interest.

4. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to decode at least one indicia located in the image.

5. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to decode a plurality of indicia located in the image.

6. The portable computer of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to:

display a viewfinder box around each of the plurality of indicia; and

create a plurality of gaze selection zones respectively associated each of the indicia.

7. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein n is in the range of 500 to 2000 milliseconds.

8. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to flash a boundary around the viewfinder box after a predetermined period in which the gaze zone coordinate is stationary.

9. A method for reading indicia comprising:

displaying an image of at least one indicia captured by a first imaging system on a visual display of a portable computer;

determining a gaze coordinate location that the user is viewing on the visual display having the image from a second imaging system; and

using the gaze coordinate location to start decoding a region of interest within the image;

monitoring a gaze zone coordinate to determine whether the user'"'"'s gaze is stationary on a point on the visual display for a predetermined time period n; and

re-calculating the gaze zone coordinate if at least one indicia is not found while decoding the region of interest.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising using the gaze coordinate to start an auto exposure process on the region of interest.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising decoding at least one indicia located in the image.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising decoding a plurality of indicia located in the image.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

displaying a viewfinder box around each of the plurality of indicia; and

creating a plurality of gaze selection zones respectively associated each of the indicia.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein n is in the range of 500 to 2000 milliseconds.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

capturing through the second imaging system a predetermined blink pattern from the user; and

using the predetermined blink pattern to select one of the plurality of indicia.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

capturing through the second imaging system a predetermined blink pattern from the user; and

using the predetermined blink pattern to terminate the scanning of the user by the second imaging system.

10. The method of 9, further comprising using the gaze coordinate to start an auto-focus process on the region of interest.