Omnidirectional wide range hand held bar code reader
First Claim
1. In a hand held bar code reader having a two dimensional image capture means with a field of view defining an imaged area, said imaged area containing a bar code, a method of operation comprising:
- providing a flash of illumination forming an illuminated area, wherein said illuminated area is substantially coincident with and substantially equal to said imaged area over a substantial portion of the operating range of said hand held bar code reader;
capturing a two dimensional image of said imaged area; and
processing said captured two dimensional image in an omnidirectional manner to read out information contained in said bar code.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hand-held bar code reader with a two dimensional image sensor for omnidirectional bar code reading, includes variable imaging optics, and flash illumination with variable flash illumination optics. A spotter beam is provided for aiming the hand held bar code reader at a bar code symbol. The spotter beam is also used to measure the range to said bar code from said hand held bar code reader and to determine the focal length of said variable imaging optics and variable flash illumination optics. The imaging optics are adjusted automatically to provide the correct magnification and focus of a bar code regardless of range to the label. The variable focal length flash illumination optics are used to concentrate illumination energy only in the field of view of the bar code reader. The flash illumination energy is conserved by measuring the ambient light and setting the level of flash illumination energy in accordance with the measured level of ambient light. In such manner, conventional, damaged, multiple, and stacked bar codes symbols along with true two dimensional codes may be rapidly read over distances from under one foot to over several feet without having to align the bar code reader to the bar code.
772 Citations
48 Claims
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1. In a hand held bar code reader having a two dimensional image capture means with a field of view defining an imaged area, said imaged area containing a bar code, a method of operation comprising:
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providing a flash of illumination forming an illuminated area, wherein said illuminated area is substantially coincident with and substantially equal to said imaged area over a substantial portion of the operating range of said hand held bar code reader; capturing a two dimensional image of said imaged area; and processing said captured two dimensional image in an omnidirectional manner to read out information contained in said bar code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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21. In a hand held bar code reader, having variable imaging optics, and flash illumination including variable flash illumination optics, a method of operation comprising:
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aiming said hand held bar code reader at a bar code by hand; providing a spotter beam to visually locate said bar code, said spotter beam being substantially parallel to one plane of said hand held bar code reader; measuring the range to said bar code from said hand held bar code reader using said spotter beam; measuring the focal length of said variable imaging optics using said spotter beam; setting the focal length of said variable imaging optics to provide magnification of said bar code image substantially at a predetermined level; setting the focal length of said variable flash illumination optics; measuring the level of ambient light; setting said flash of illumination energy level in accordance with said measured level of ambient light; providing a focused flash of illumination, said focused flash of illumination substantially covering the field of view of said bar code reader; capturing a two dimensional image, said two dimensional image containing the image of said bar code; and scanning said two dimensional image in an omnidirectional manner to read out information contained in said bar code.
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22. In a hand held bar code reader having a two dimensional image capture means with a field of view defining an imaged area, said imaged area containing a bar code, said bar code reader comprising:
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means for providing a flash of illumination forming an illuminated area, wherein said illuminated area is substantially coincident with and substantially equal to said imaged area over a substantial portion of the operating range of said hand held bar code reader; means for capturing a two dimensional image of said imaged area; and means for processing said captured two dimensional image in an omnidirectional manner to read out information contained in said bar code. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A hand held bar code reader comprising:
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variable imaging optics; means for flash illumination, including variable flash illumination optics; aiming said hand held bar code reader at a bar code by hand; a spotter beam for visually locating said bar code, said spotter beam being substantially parallel to one plane of said hand held bar code reader; means for measuring the range to said bar code from said hand held bar code reader using said spotter beam; means for measuring the focal length of said variable imaging optics using said spotter beam; means for setting the focus of said variable imaging optics; means for setting the focal length of said variable imaging optics to provide magnification of said bar code image substantially at a predetermined level; means for setting the focal length of said variable flash illumination optics; means for measuring the level of ambient light; means for setting said flash of illumination energy level in accordance with said measured level of ambient light; means for providing a focused flash of illumination, said focused flash of illumination substantially covering the field of view of said bar code reader; means for capturing a two dimensional image, said two dimensional image containing the image of said bar code; and means for scanning said two dimensional image in an omnidirectional manner to read out information contained in said bar code.
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43. In a bar code reader including a two dimensional imaging means with variable optics for capturing a two dimensional image containing the image of said bar code, a method for determining range and focal length comprising:
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providing a spotter beam to visually locate said bar code, said spotter beam being substantially parallel to a first plane of said bar code reader, and said spotter beam being at a substantially fixed angle to a second plane of said bar code reader; measuring the first displacement of said spotter beam in said two dimensional image along an axis perpendicular to said first plane; measuring the second displacement of said spotter beam in said two dimensional image along an axis perpendicular to said second plane; determining the focal length of said variable optics from said second displacement; and determining the range between said bar code and said bar code reader from said first and second displacements.
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44. A bar code reader comprising:
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a two dimensional imaging means with variable optics for capturing a two dimensional image containing the image of said bar code; a spotter beam for visually locating said bar code, said spotter beam being substantially parallel to a first plane of said bar code reader, and said spotter beam being at a substantially fixed angle to a second plane of said bar code reader; means for measuring the first displacement of said spotter beam in said two dimensional image along an axis perpendicular to said first plane; means for measuring the second displacement of said spotter beam in said two dimensional image along an axis perpendicular to said second plane; means responsive to said second displacement for determining the focal length of said variable optics; and means responsive to said first and second displacements for determining the range between said bar code and said bar code reader.
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Specification