Method and apparatus for optically reading information

• US 6,889,903 B1
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Koenck, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US10/663,444
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 23546201-46247, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03, 235/470, 235/454, 235/455, 235/494
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10633 by oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1093 sensing, after transfer of the image of the data-field to an intermediate store, e.g. storage with cathode ray tube
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19

Abstract

A method and apparatus for optically reading information is disclosed. The apparatus includes a photosensor, and a reading system capable of generating a decoded signal regardless of the orientation of the optical indicia relative to the photosensor. The method includes steps of positioning an optical reader containing a photosensor, imaging an information area onto the photosensor without requiring prior angular movement of the reader, and generating a digital representation of content imaged from the information area onto the photosensor for any angular relationship between orthogonal axes of the information area and the pixel axes of the photosensor.

Claims

1. A method of optically reading varying optical reflectivity along respective orthogonal axes of an information area, comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a user-supported optical reader, the optical reader containing a photosensor capable of reading along row and column pixel axes, such that orthogonal axes of an information area to be read occupy a range of angular relationships to the pixel axes along which the photosensor reads;

(b) focusing the user-supported optical reader on the information area;

(c) imaging, for said range of angular relationships, the information area onto the photosensor so that the information content of the information area is imaged onto the photosensor without requiring prior angular movement of the user-supported optical reader; and

(d) generating a digital representation of the information content imaged from the information area onto the photosensor for any angular relationship between said orthogonal axes of the information area and the pixel axes along which the photosensor images.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of aiming the user-supported optical indicia reader by holding it with a hand.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating step can generate a digital representation of the information content when the information content is conveyed via a bar code located within the information area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating step can generate a digital representation of the information content when the information content is conveyed via a human-readable character located within the information area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating step can generate a digital representation of the information content when the information content is conveyed via a bar code or a human-readable character located within the information area.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said generating step further comprises a recognizing step to determine whether the information content is being conveyed via a bar code or via a human-readable character.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said imaging step further comprises the step of illuminating the entire information area instantaneously with a flash of light.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said range of angular relationships exceeds the angular range defined by diagonals of the information area to be read.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a calibrating step to identify faults in the photosensor.

10. A user-supported data collection apparatus, comprising:

(a) a photosensor area array, located in the user-supported data collection apparatus, positioned to capture an image of an imaging area located externally of the user-supported data collection apparatus, said photosensor area array outputting a signal descriptive of the imaging area;

(b) a focus system, located in said user-supported data collection apparatus, to focus the imaging area onto said photosensor area array; and

(c) a reading system having an input accepting the signal output by said photosensor area array, said reading system further having an analysis system capable of converting the inputted signal into a decoded signal representative of information contained within an imaged optical indicia;

the reading system being capable of generating a decoded signal regardless of the orientation of the optical indicia relative to said photosensor area array.

11. The user-supported data collection apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a housing accommodating hand-held usage of the user-supported data collection apparatus.

12. The user-supported data collection apparatus of claim 10, wherein said reading system can generate a decoded signal when an optical indicia is a bar code.

13. The user-supported data collection apparatus of claim 10, wherein said reading system can generate a decoded signal when an optical indicia is a human-readable character.

14. The user-supported data collection apparatus of claim 10, wherein said reading system can generate a decoded signal when an optical indicia is a bar code or a human-readable character.

15. The user-supported data collection apparatus of claim 14, wherein said reading system comprises a recognition system to determine whether the optical indicia is a bar code or a human-readable character.

16. The user-supported data collection apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an instantaneous illumination component.