Decoder board for an optical reader utilizing a plurality of imaging formats

• US 7,086,596 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2003
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Longacre, Andrew Jr., Izzo, John, Gardiner, Robert C., Pettinelli, John, Meier, Timothy P., Koziol, Thomas J., Harper, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US10/339,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20040134989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 235/381, 235/379, 235/380, 235/375, 235/376, 235/491, 235/462, 235/472, 23546201-46245, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03, 235/454, 235/455, 235/470, 235/494
• US Class Current: 235/462.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10574 Multiple sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1439 including a method step for retrieval of the optical code

Abstract

The invention relates to a microprocessor-based decoder board for an optical reader having in one embodiment a plurality of imaging modules that provide frames of image data having a plurality of formats. In one method for operating the decoder board of the invention, and a multiple imaging module reader comprising the decoder board, a frame of image data captured by a selected imaging module is decoded. The decoder board determines the format of the frame of image data from information about which of the plurality of imaging modules provided the frame of image data or from information about the frame of image data, activates as necessary a command to prepare the decoder board to decode the frame of image data according to the format provided by the imaging module, and performs the decoding.

Claims

1. A method of decoding a frame of image data, the frame of image data having one of a one-dimensional (1D) format and a two-dimensional (2D) format, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one imaging module selected from a one-dimensional (1D) imaging module and a two-dimensional (2D) imaging module;

acquiring a frame of image data in said selected imaging module;

communicating said frame of image data to a microprocessor-based decoder module;

determining the format of the frame of image data;

as necessary, activating at least one command to prepare said microprocessor-based decoder module to decode said communicated frame of image data; and

decoding said communicated frame of imaging data accordingly.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the format of the frame of image data is determined in response to one of information about the selected imaging module that acquired the communicated frame of imaging data, and information about the communicated frame of image data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said decoding step comprises converting two-dimensional (2D) image data to at least one one-dimensional (1D) representation of image data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said decoding step further comprises converting said at least one one-dimensional (1D) representation of image data to transition location information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the steps of converting two-dimensional (2D) image data to at least one one-dimensional (1D) representation of image data, and converting said at least one one-dimensional (1D) representation of image data to transition location information are performed iteratively.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining which of said one-dimensional (1D) and said two-dimensional (2D) imaging modules acquired said communicated frame further comprises evaluating a parameter characteristic of one of said one-dimensional (1D) and said two-dimensional (2D) imaging modules.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the decoding step further comprises executing a selected one of at least one computer instruction which when operating on a computer decodes a frame of image data acquired by said one-dimensional (1D) imaging module and at least one computer instruction which when operating on a computer decodes a frame of image data acquired by said two-dimensional (2D) imaging module.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one computer instruction which when operating on a computer decodes a frame of image data acquired by said one-dimensional (1D) imaging module comprises a plurality of computer instructions executed in sequence.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one computer instruction which when operating on a computer decodes a frame of image data acquired by said two-dimensional (2D) imaging module comprises a plurality of computer instructions executed in sequence.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a time period of less than or equal to one second elapses in performing the steps of determining which of said selected imaging modules acquired said communicated frame of imaging data;

as necessary, activating at least one command to prepare said microprocessor-based decoder module to decode said communicated frame of image data; and

decoding said communicated frame of imaging data accordingly.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a time period of less than or equal to 1/30th of a second elapses in performing the steps of determining which of said selected imaging modules acquired said communicated frame of imaging data;

as necessary, activating at least one command to prepare said microprocessor-based decoder module to decode said communicated frame of image data; and

decoding said communicated frame of imaging data accordingly.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a time period of less than or equal to 1/270th of a second elapses in performing the steps of determining which of said selected imaging modules acquired said communicated frame of imaging data;

as necessary, activating at least one command to prepare said microprocessor-based decoder module to decode said communicated frame of image data; and

decoding said communicated frame of imaging data accordingly.

13. A circuit component for an optical reader, the optical reader utilizing a selected one of a one-dimensional (1D) imaging module and a two-dimensional (2D) imaging module, comprising:

a microprocessor-based decoder module that, when operative, decodes a frame of image data provided by a selected one of said one-dimensional (1D) imaging module and said two-dimensional (2D) imaging module;

said decoding being responsive to information selected from one of information relating to said selected imaging module and information relating to said frame of image data;

wherein said circuit component further comprises;

a computer program, recorded on a machine-readable medium, which when operative on a programmable computer performs the steps of;

receiving a frame of image data acquired by a selected one of a one- dimensional (1D) imaging module and a two-dimensional (2D) imaging module;

determining which of said selected imaging modules acquired said received frame of imaging data; and

decoding said frame of imaging data accordingly.

14. The circuit component for an optical reader of claim 13, wherein said decoding step comprises converting two-dimensional (2D) image data to at least one one-dimensional (1D) representation of image data.

15. The circuit component for an optical reader of claim 14, wherein said decoding step further comprises converting said at least one one-dimensional (1D) representation of image data to transition location information.

16. The circuit component for an optical reader of claim 15, wherein the steps of converting two-dimensional (2D) image data to at least one one- dimensional (1D) representation of image data, and converting said at least one one- dimensional (1D) representation of image data to transition location information are performed iteratively.

17. A circuit component for an optical reader,

the optical reader utilizing a selected one of a one-dimensional (1D) imaging module and a two-dimensional (2D) imaging module, comprising:

a microprocessor-based decoder module that, when operative, decodes a frame of image data provided by a selected one of said one-dimensional (1D) imaging module and said two-dimensional (2D) imaging module;

said decoding being responsive to information selected from one of information relating to said selected imaging module and information relating to said frame of image data;

wherein said circuit component further comprises;

a computer program, recorded on a machine-readable medium, comprising;

a module that receives a frame of image data acquired by a selected one of a one-dimensional (1D) imaging module and a two-dimensional (2D) imaging module;

a module that determines which of said selected imaging modules acquired said received frame of imaging data; and

a module that decodes said frame of imaging data accordingly.

18. The circuit component for an optical reader of claim 17, further comprising a dynamically linked library module for communicating information from said computer program to said selected imaging module.

19. The circuit component for an optical reader of claim 17, further comprising a dynamically linked library module for communicating image data from said selected imaging module to said module of said computer program that receives a frame of image data.

20. A circuit component for an optical reader, the optical reader utilizing a selected one of a one-dimensional (1D) imaging module and a two-dimensional (2D) imaging module comprising:

a microprocessor-based decoder module that, when operative, decodes a frame of image data obtained utilizing a selected one of said one-dimensional (1D) imaging module and said two-dimensional (2D) imaging module;

said decoding being responsive to information relating to said selected imaging module,

wherein said information relating to said selected imaging module comprises at least one of a bus address of said selected imaging module, an ID code of said selected imaging module, a model identifier of said selected imaging module, and an electrical characteristic of said selected imaging module.

21. The circuit of claim 20, wherein said information relating to said selected imaging module comprises a bus address of said selected imaging module.

22. The circuit of claim 20, wherein said information relating to said selected imaging module comprises an ID code of said selected imaging module.

23. The circuit of claim 20, wherein said information relating to said selected imaging module comprises a model identifier of said selected imaging module.

24. The circuit of claim 20, wherein said information relating to said selected imaging module comprises an electrical characteristic of said selected imaging module.

25. The circuit component of claim 20, wherein said microprocessor-based decoder module, when operative, determines which of said one-dimensional (1D) imaging module and said two-dimensional (2D) imaging module provides a particular frame of image data.

26. The circuit component of claim 25, wherein the microprocessor-based decoder module, when operative, decodes said frame of image data according to said determination of which imaging module provided said frame.

27. The circuit component of claim 20, wherein the microprocessor-based decoder module decodes said frame of image data in a time period less than or equal one second.

28. The circuit component of claim 20, wherein the microprocessor-based decoder module decodes said frame of image data in a time period less than or equal to 1/30th of a second.

29. The circuit component of claim 20, wherein the microprocessor-based decoder module decodes said frame of image data in a time period less than or equal to 1/170th of a second.

30. The circuit component of claim 20, wherein the microprocessor-based decoder module comprises a microprocessor, a random access memory (RAM), and a read only memory (ROM).

31. The circuit component of claim 20, wherein the microprocessor-based decoder module comprises at least one of a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

32. The circuit component of claim 20, wherein the microprocessor-based decoder module comprises an integrated circuit device having integrated therein a microprocessor, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, a direct memory access (DMA) channel, a bi-directional communication line for communication with an imaging module, and a channel for data receipt from an imaging module.

33. An optical reader comprising the circuit component of claim 20.

34. A hand held bar code reading device comprising the circuit component of claim 20.

35. The circuit component of claim 20, wherein said a microprocessor-based decoder module is provided on a card having a standardized card format.

36. The circuit component of claim 35, wherein said standardized card format is the PCMCIA card format.

37. A circuit component for an optical reader, the optical reader utilizing a selected one of a one-dimensional (1D) imaging module and a two-dimensional (2D) imaging module comprising:

a microprocessor-based decoder module that, when operative, decodes a frame of image data obtained utilizing a selected one of said one-dimensional (1D) imaging module and said two-dimensional (2D) imaging module,

said decoding being responsive to information relating to said frame of image data,

wherein said information relating to said frame of image data comprises at least one of information representing a frame size, information identifying a frame format, information identifying a word size, and information identifying a source of said frame.

38. The circuit component of claim 37, wherein said information relating to said frame of image data comprises information representing a frame size.

39. The circuit component of claim 37, wherein said information relating to said frame of image data comprises information identifying a frame format.

40. The circuit component of claim 37, wherein said information relating to said frame of image data comprises information identifying a word size.

41. The circuit component of claim 37, wherein said information relating to said frame of image data comprises information identifying a source of said frame.

42. The circuit component of claim 37, wherein said microprocessor-based decoder module, when operative, determines which of said one-dimensional (1D) imaging module and said two-dimensional (2D) imaging module provides a particular frame of image data.

43. The circuit component of claim 42, wherein the microprocessor-based decoder module, when operative, decodes said frame of image data according to said determination of which imaging module provided said frame.

44. The circuit component of claim 37, wherein the microprocessor-based decoder module decodes said frame of image data in a time period less than or equal one second.

45. The circuit component of claim 37, wherein the microprocessor-based decoder module decodes said frame of image data in a time period less than or equal to 1/30th of a second.

46. The circuit component of claim 37, wherein the microprocessor-based decoder module decodes said frame of image data in a time period less than or equal to 1/170th of a second.

47. The circuit component of claim 37, wherein the microprocessor-based decoder module comprises a microprocessor, a random access memory (RAM), and a read only memory (ROM).

48. The circuit component of claim 37, wherein the microprocessor-based decoder module comprises at least one of a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

49. The circuit component of claim 37, wherein the microprocessor-based decoder module comprises an integrated circuit device having integrated therein a microprocessor, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, a direct memory access (DMA) channel, a bi-directional communication line for communication with an imaging module, and a channel for data receipt from an imaging module.

50. An optical reader comprising the circuit component of claim 37.

51. A hand held bar code reading device comprising the circuit component of claim 37.

52. The circuit component of claim 37, wherein said a microprocessor-based decoder module is provided on a card having a standardized card format.

53. The circuit component of claim 52, wherein said standardized card format is the PCMCIA card format.

54. A bar code reading device comprising:

a housing;

an imaging module of a first type mounted within said housing;

a microprocessor-based decoder module in communication with said imaging module and being configured to decode a frame of image data obtained utilizing either an imaging module of said first type or an imaging module of a second type, wherein said imaging module determines information relating to said imaging module and decodes a frame of image data obtained utilizing said imaging module;

said decoding being responsive to said determined information relating to said imaging module,

wherein said determined information relating to said imaging module comprises at least one of a bus address of said imaging module, an ID code of said imaging module, a model identifier of said imaging module, and an electrical characteristic of said imaging module.

55. The bar code reading device of claim 54, wherein said information relating to said selected imaging module comprises a bus address of said imaging module.

56. The bar code reading device of claim 54, wherein said information relating to said selected imaging module comprises an ID code of said imaging module.

57. The bar code reading device of claim 54, wherein said information relating to said selected imaging module comprises a model identifier of said imaging module.

58. The bar code reading device of claim 54, wherein said information relating to said selected imaging module comprises an electrical characteristic of said imaging module.

59. The bar code reading device of claim 54, wherein said imaging module includes an image sensor and a support assembly in a packaged self-contained unit.

60. The bar code reading device of claim 54, wherein said imaging module includes an image sensor, a lens, at least one light source, and a support assembly in a packaged self-contained unit.

61. The bar code reading device of claim 54, wherein said imaging module includes an image sensor and an LED in a packaged self-contained unit.

62. The bar code reading device of claim 54, wherein said imaging module includes a two-dimensional (2D) image sensor and an LED in a packaged self-contained unit.

63. The bar code reading device of claim 54, wherein said microprocessor based decoder module determines said information relating to said imaging module by polling said imaging module.

64. A bar code reading device comprising:

a housing;

an imaging module of a first type mounted within said housing;

a microprocessor-based decoder module in communication with said imaging module and being configured to decode a frame of image data obtained utilizing an imaging module of said first type or of a second type, wherein said imaging module determines information relating to a frame of image data obtained utilizing said imaging module and decodes a frame of image data obtained utilizing said imaging module;

said decoding being responsive to information relating to said frame of image data,

wherein said information relating to said frame of image data comprises at least one of information representing a frame size, information identifying a frame format, information identifying a word size, and information identifying a source of said frame.

65. The bar code reading device of claim 64, wherein said information relating to said frame of image data comprises information representing a frame size.

66. The bar code reading device of claim 64, wherein said information relating to said frame of image data comprises information identifying a frame format.

67. The bar code reading device component of claim 64, wherein said information relating to said frame of image data comprises information identifying a frame word size.

68. The bar code reading device component of claim 64, wherein said information relating to said frame of image data comprises information identifying a source of said frame.

69. The bar code reading device of claim 64, wherein said imaging module includes an image sensor and a support assembly in a packaged self-contained unit.

70. The bar code reading device of claim 64, wherein said imaging module includes an image sensor, a lens, at least one light source, and a support assembly in a packaged self-contained unit.

71. The bar code reading device of claim 64, wherein said imaging module includes an image sensor and an LED in a packaged self-contained unit.

72. The bar code reading device of claim 64, wherein said imaging module includes a two-dimensional (2D) image sensor and an LED in a packaged self-contained unit.