| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080212168 | Extended depth of field imaging system using chromatic aberration - An imaging system (FIG. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20090067731 | COMPENSATED VIRTUAL SCAN LINES - Disclosed are embodiments of methods, systems, and apparatus for providing virtual scan lines in an imaging system that compensate for the optical distortion associated with the system. In some embodiments, the virtual scan lines may be curved or angled according to their position in the Field of View (FOV) of the imaging system to compensate for the distortion. Some embodiments may provide for virtual scan lines that are preconfigured to compensate for a typical or pre-selected level and type of optical distortion. Other embodiments may be configured to measure or otherwise ascertain the actual distortion of the optical lens and/or other components of the system and generate a virtual scan line pattern that compensates for the measured distortion. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090153718 | ROLLING-RESET IMAGER - An imaging system comprises a rolling-reset imager that forms an electronic image of an object, a light source illuminating the object with pulsed light, and a bandpass optical filter disposed between the object and the rolling-reset imager. The pulsed light has an illumination frequency spectrum and an illumination pulse width defining an effective exposure time for forming the image of the object. The bandpass optical filter has a frequency pass band permitting transmission of a significant portion of the illumination frequency spectrum while at least approximately inhibiting transmission of at least some light having frequencies outside the illumination frequency band. An imaging method illuminates an object with light in a given frequency range, so that the illumination light reflects from the object along with background light. The method filters the reflected light so as to attenuate at least some of the background light by a greater attenuation factor than the illumination light. The method forms a pixelized electronic image based on the filtered light on a rolling-reset basis. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090206161 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FORMING A COMPOSITE IMAGE OF MULTIPLE PORTIONS OF AN OBJECT FROM MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES - Various improved imager-based optical code readers and associated methods are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, an imager-based method reads an optical code (which may be, for example, a linear optical code such as a bar code) on an object in a viewing volume. The method comprises dividing an image plane into a plurality of strip-shaped sections, viewing the object in the viewing volume from a plurality of perspectives, forming a plurality of strip-shaped images corresponding to the plurality of perspectives, respectively, thereby creating a composite image containing data from a plurality of perspectives, and processing at least a portion of the composite image so as to ascertain the information encoded in the optical code on the object in the viewing volume. Certain embodiments can mimic the performance of a laser-based scanner without a laser or moving parts but instead utilizing an electronic imaging device such as an imager. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090306924 | AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION SYSTEM FOR SCANNER-SCALE OR OTHER SCALE SYSTEM - A system and method for automatically calibrating a scale, particularly a scanner-scale of a POS system, in which the scale is calibrated via an on-board calibration system including an accelerometer that actually measures the acceleration due to gravity factor for a given location/time and then uses this measured factor to perform a calibration sequence. An example calibration method may include the steps of (a) performing an initial calibration on the scanner-scale during assembly; (b) providing the scanner-scale with an on-board accelerometer operable to measure gravity acceleration constants for the current location; and (c) running a calibration routine using the specific calibration data obtained from the measurement in step (b) to calibrate the scale. In one configuration, the system may also use other sensors, including temperature and humidity sensors, to provide further calibration constants for use in calibrating the accelerometer and the scale strain gage. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100163622 | MONOLITHIC MIRROR STRUCTURE FOR USE IN A MULTI-PERSPECTIVE OPTICAL CODE READER - A monolithic compound mirror structure is used in an optical code reader employing an imager that captures images of items bearing optical codes in a viewing volume of the optical code reader. The monolithic compound mirror structure comprises a plurality of highly reflective surfaces positioned on the structure so that the structure can be positioned in a field of view of the imager in the optical code reader and oriented so that two or more of the plurality of highly reflective surfaces appear in the field of view of the imager, to thereby split the field of view of the imager into two or more different views into the viewing volume. The different views into the viewing volume may be direct off of the monolithic compound mirror structure or indirect off of one or more intermediate mirrors. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100163626 | DATA READER HAVING COMPACT ARRANGEMENT FOR ACQUISITION OF MULTIPLE VIEWS OF AN OBJECT - A data reader including one or more imagers, the data reader having fold mirrors ( | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100163627 | IMAGE-BASED CODE READER FOR ACQUISITION OF MULTIPLE VIEWS OF AN OBJECT AND METHODS FOR EMPLOYING SAME - Fold mirrors permit the imagers to be closer to each other and permit an optical code reader, such as a tunnel scanner, to confine them to a smaller housing volume or capacity. A plurality of sets of fold mirrors can also be employed to convey at least a portion of at least two different perspectives or two different depths of field of a composite view volume to different regions of an image field of a common imager. The sets of fold mirrors may also include split mirrors that have mirror components that reflect images from different view volumes to different imagers or different regions of an image field of a single imager. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100163628 | TWO-PLANE OPTICAL CODE READER FOR ACQUISITION OF MULTIPLE VIEWS AN OBJECT - An optical code reader forms images of an optical code on an object. The reader comprises first and second viewing surfaces generally transverse to one another. The surfaces bound a viewing volume in which the object may be imaged. The reader also comprises a set of one or more imagers positioned on an opposite side of one or more of the first and second viewing surfaces relative to the viewing volume, and oriented and configured to capture images of the object from at least three different views. Each of the views passes through one of said first and second viewing surfaces. At least one of said views passes through the first viewing surface, and at least one of said views passes through the second viewing surface. The reader also comprises at least one mirror, off which is reflected at least one of the views. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100165160 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMAGING - A data reader preferably includes an imaging device that operates on a rolling reset basis to capture images of a moving target. Images of moving targets are preferably analyzed to determine the ambient light intensity, and a processor in the data reader preferably adjusts operation of the imager and of a light source based on the intensity of the ambient light. Other data readers may use an imager with a mechanical shutter that is designed for rapid, frequent operation. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100200658 | HIGH-RESOLUTION OPTICAL CODE IMAGING USING A COLOR IMAGER - An optical code or other data reading device includes a color image sensor array positioned to sense light reflected from an object, and to produce image data. In one configuration, the color image sensor array has multiple sets (e.g., first and second sets) of sensor elements that are sensitive to corresponding visible wavelength bands of light (e.g., first and second wavelength bands), the sets also being sensitive to light within an infrared wavelength band. An artificial illumination source is positioned to illuminate the field of view with light that is reflected off an object in the field of view toward the image sensor array, the illumination source being operable to produce infrared light having wavelengths within the infrared wavelength band so that, upon illumination, at least some sensor elements of each of the sets are sensitive to the infrared light and contribute to production of the image data. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100237149 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMPENSATING FOR FIXED PATTERN NOISE - This disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for estimating and, at least partially, compensating for fixed pattern noise (FPN) in an image sensor. In one configuration, an estimate of the FPN of an image sensor may be obtained by capturing a dark image (either a linear or an area image, depending on the sensor type) using a first exposure time, an illuminated image may be captured using a second exposure time, the second exposure time is greater than the first exposure time, and the dark image may be subtracted from the illuminated image to compensate, at least partially, for FPN. Certain configurations may utilize virtual scan lines. Two or more dark images may also be utilized to estimate FPN in an image sensor. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100282850 | IMAGING SCANNER-SCALE WITH LOW VERTICAL PROFILE - An integrated scanner and scale is provided having a thin profile and incorporating imaging technology to scan and read optical codes. The scanner-scale is sufficiently thin to allow a cash drawer to fit beneath the scanner-scale in a check stand. Side imagers are positioned and configured to scan multiple sides of an item. The field of view (FOV) of each imager defines at least a portion of a scan volume, wherein scanning is nearest to optimal. One or more imagers can be positioned on the checker side and the customer side, such that an optical path (or a portion thereof) from the scan volume to the one or more imagers is positioned entirely above a platter of the scanner. Mirrors fold and direct the optical path to direct the FOV of a bottom imager such that the bottom imager is positioned sufficiently close to the platter to allow the scanner-scale to have a thin profile. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100308114 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPTICAL READING EMPLOYING VIRTUAL SCAN LINES - Optical reading system and methods having multiple modes of operation, for example: omnidirectional and single-code picking; fixed and handheld reading; 1D and 2D code reading. In one configuration, an image-based system obtains input data via an area sensor (e.g., a 2D CCD array) with only data corresponding to a pattern of virtual scan lines being stored and processed. A user may implement different operating modes such as a first mode reading codes in any location or orientation and a second mode reading only a code oriented along a particular virtual scan line or group thereof. Alternately, the data reader is operable to switch between handheld mode selecting a first pattern of virtual scan lines to process and/or decode and a fixed mode selecting a second pattern of virtual scan lines to process and/or decode. Virtual scan patterns in either mode can change within or between frames. | 12-09-2010 |
