• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    Systems and methods for user selection of barcode scan ranges are provided. This is achieved by identifying a predetermined pixel-per-module threshold range. The pixel-by-module of a barcode read by a reader is compared to the predetermined pixel-by-module threshold range, and a successful decoding of the barcode is only performed if the pixel-by-module of the barcode is within the predetermined range. Thus, a user can select a desired reading distance range such that barcodes within a working distance range cannot generate successful decodings if such barcodes fall outside the desired reading distance range.
    公开号:BE1027668B1
    申请号:E20205784
    申请日:2020-11-02
    公开日:2022-01-10
    发明作者:Dayou Wang；Igor Vinogradov；Edward Chen
    申请人:Zebra Tech；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USER CHOICE OF BARCODE SCAN RANGE
    BACKGROUND Devices such as barcode readers are used in a variety of applications, including retail applications and inventory and other industrial applications. Barcode readers have working distance ranges that can be long, compared to the desired scanning range for a particular application. This may cause the readers to identify barcodes that are outside the intended identification range. Accordingly, there is a need for barcode readers that allow the selection of scan ranges other than their maximum operating range.
    SUMMARY According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a bar code reader comprising a housing, an imaging assembly positioned at least partially within the housing, the imaging assembly comprising an image sensor having a plurality of pixels, the image sensor being configured to capture images of an environment appearing within a field of view (FOV) of the optical imaging assembly, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly, the at least one processor configured to decode a barcode comprising a plurality of stripes, the at least one one processor is further configured to determine a pixel-per-module (PPM) of the barcode based on a number of pixels occupying a narrowest stripe of the plurality of stripes when the barcode is captured in an image by the image sensor, analyze whether the PPM is within a predetermined PP M-threshold range, in response to the PPM falling within the predetermined PPM threshold range, generates a successful decoding signal indicating successful decoding of the barcode, and in response to the PPM falling outside the predetermined PPM threshold range, refrain from generating the successful decoding signal indicating the successful decoding of the barcode.
    Optionally or additionally, the barcode reader may be a bi-optical reader or a portable reader.
    Optionally or additionally, the predetermined PPM threshold range may be determined by a user, for example via a parameter barcode scanned by the barcode reader.
    Optionally or additionally, the predetermined PPM threshold range may correspond to a desired reading distance range of the barcode reader, said desired reading distance range being a subset of the operating range of the barcode reader.
    Optionally or additionally, said desired reading distance range may be selected from one of a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the working range and closer than a desired maximum reading distance, a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the working range and beyond a desired minimum reading distance, and a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the working distance range and both beyond a desired minimum reading distance and closer than a desired maximum reading distance.
    Optionally or additionally, the predetermined PPM threshold range may be selected by a user via a selector device provided on said housing.
    Optionally or additionally, said selector device may be a button or one or more conductive pads.
    According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a transaction processing system comprising a barcode reader as described above, and a point of sale system with a point of sale processor configured to receive said successful decoding signal and processing a transaction in response to the receipt of said successful decoding signal.
    Optionally or additionally, said point of sale processor may be further configured to associate said successful decoding signal with an item and with a price for said item.
    In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of electro-optical reading of a barcode comprising a plurality of stripes located within a range of working distances of a barcode reader, comprising capturing light from the symbol across a field of view of an image sensor having a multiple of pixels, determining a pixel-per-module (PPM) of the barcode based on a number of pixels occupying a narrowest stripe of the plurality of stripes when the barcode in an image is captured by the image sensor, comparing the PPM of the barcode having a predetermined PPM threshold range, and generating a successful decoding signal only if said PPM of the barcode is within said predetermined PPM threshold range.
    Optionally or additionally, said predetermined PPM threshold range may correspond to a desired reading distance range of the barcode reader, wherein said desired reading distance range may be a subset of the operating range of the barcode reader.
    Optionally or additionally, said desired reading distance range may be selected from one of a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the working range and closer than a desired maximum reading distance, a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the working range and beyond a desired minimum reading distance, and a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the working distance range and both beyond a desired minimum reading distance and closer than a desired maximum reading distance.
    Optionally or additionally, the method may further comprise storing said predetermined PPM threshold range in response to user selection of said predetermined PPM threshold range.
    Optionally or additionally, user selection of said predetermined PPM threshold range can be achieved by reading one or more parameter barcodes or by using switches provided with a barcode reader.
    Optionally or additionally, the method may further comprise sending said successful decoding signal to external hardware connected to said barcode reader.
    In one example, the present invention is a barcode reader comprising a housing; an imaging assembly positioned at least partially within the housing, the imaging assembly comprising an image sensor having a plurality of pixels, the image sensor configured to capture images of an environment appearing within a field of view (FOV) of the optical imaging assembly; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly, the at least one processor configured to decode a barcode comprising a plurality of bars, the at least one processor further configured to: (a) display a pixel-by-pixel module (PPM) of the barcode based on a number of pixels occupying a narrowest stripe of the plurality of stripes when the barcode is captured in an image by the image sensor; (b) analyzing whether the PPM falls within a predetermined PPM threshold range; (c) in response to the PPM falling within the predetermined PPM threshold range, generating a successful decoding signal indicating successful decoding of the barcode; and (d)
    in response to the PPM falling outside the predetermined PPM threshold range, to refrain from generating the successful decoding signal indicating the successful decoding of the barcode.
    Further, the present invention is a transaction processing system comprising a barcode reader having: a housing; an imaging assembly positioned at least partially within the housing, the imaging assembly comprising an image sensor having a plurality of pixels, the image sensor configured to capture images of an environment appearing within a field of view (FOV) of the optical imaging assembly; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly, the at least one processor configured to decode a barcode comprising a plurality of stripes. The at least one processor is further configured to: determine a pixel-per-module (PPM) of the barcode based on a number of pixels occupying a narrowest stripe of the plurality of stripes when the barcode in an image is passed through the image sensor recorded; analyze whether the PPM falls within a predetermined PPM threshold range; in response to the PPM falling within the predetermined PPM threshold range, generating a successful decoding signal indicating successful decoding of the barcode; and in response to the PPM falling outside the predetermined PPM threshold range, to refrain from generating the successful decoding signal indicating the successful decoding of the barcode. The system further comprises a point of sale system having a point of sale processor configured to receive said successful decryption signal and process a transaction in response to receipt of said successful decryption signal.
    Also, the present invention is a bar code reader comprising: a housing; an imaging assembly positioned at least partially within the housing, the imaging assembly comprising an image sensor having a plurality of pixels, the image sensor configured to capture images of an environment appearing within a field of view (FOV) of the optical imaging assembly; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly, the at least one processor configured to decode a barcode comprising a plurality of stripes. The at least one processor is further configured to: determine a pixel-per-module (PPM) of the barcode based on a number of pixels occupying a narrowest stripe of the plurality of stripes when the barcode in an image is passed through the image sensor recorded; analyze whether the PPM falls within a predetermined PPM threshold range; in response to the PPM falling within the predetermined PPM threshold range, generating a successful decoding signal indicating successful decoding of the barcode; and, in response to the PPM falling outside the predetermined PPM threshold range, to refrain from generating the successful decoding signal indicating successful decoding of the barcode. The predetermined PPM threshold range corresponds to a desired reading distance range of the barcode reader. The desired reading distance range is a subset of the operating range of the barcode reader and is selected from one of: (a) a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the operating range and closer than a desired maximum reading distance; (b) a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the working range and beyond a desired minimum reading distance; and (c) a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the working distance range and both beyond a desired minimum reading distance and closer than a desired maximum reading distance.
    In yet another example, the present invention is a method of electro-optical reading of a barcode comprising a plurality of stripes located within a range of working distances of a barcode reader, comprising capturing light from the symbol across a field of view of an image sensor having a multiple of pixels; determining a pixel-per-module (PPM) of the barcode based on a number of pixels occupying a narrowest stripe of the plurality of stripes when the barcode is captured in an image by the image sensor; comparing the PPM of the barcode with a predetermined PPM threshold range; and generating a successful decoding signal only if said PPM of the barcode is within said predetermined PPM threshold range.
    In a variant thereof, the predetermined PPM threshold range corresponds to a desired reading distance range of the barcode reader, said reading distance range being a subset of the operating range of the barcode reader.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements in the individual views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated into and form part of the specification and serve to illustrate embodiments of concepts further illustrate the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.
    FIG. 1 illustrates a bar code reader according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic of components of a barcode reader according to the present invention during reading of a target barcode; FIG. 3 illustrates a bar code reader according to another embodiment of the present invention;
    FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary parameter barcodes for use in some embodiments of the present invention; and FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart for logic used while successfully decoding only barcodes within a predetermined PPM threshold range in some embodiments of the present invention.
    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
    The components of the apparatus and method are represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details relevant to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details readily apparent. will be to one of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of the disclosure herein.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a scanning station 100 formed by a portable barcode reader 102 and a stationary holder 104 mounted on a scanning surface 106. The portable reader 102 has a housing 103 and rests in the stationary holder 104 to establish a hands-free scanning mode, also also called a presentation mode, for scanning barcodes. The portable reader 102 therefore acts as an image reader, having a scanning window 108 behind which may be an illumination source 210 and an imager 200 as shown in FIG. 2. The portable reader 102 has a field of view (FOV) 110 defined by the outwardly extending rectangular cone or truncated shape 110. The reader 102 has an operating range 112 extending to the outer rectangle.
    A trigger 114 may be used to initiate a hands-free scan mode, or it may be used to initiate scanning when the reader 102 is hand-held.
    In some examples, the hands-free scan mode is initiated by placing the reader 102 in the container 104. While the FOV 110 in FIG. 1 is illustrated using an expanding rectangle emitted from the reader 102, it should be understood that the FOV 110 can take a number of different shapes depending on light sources and lenses provided within the reader 102. Further, while in FIG. 1, the operating range 112 is represented by the outer rectangle, it should be understood that the effective operating range of the reader 102 may be significantly greater than the range illustrated in FIG. 1. Given good optical properties for barcodes (e.g., good print contrast), essentially any barcode placed in the FOV 110 and facing the reader 102 will be read by the reader 102 when the reader 102 is charged and enabled. to read codes.
    While this is generally beneficial, there are instances where it is desirable to have the reader 102 only read barcodes located within the FOV 110 at ranges less than the operating range 112. For example, if the reader 102 is located in an industrial environment , it may be desirable to have the reader 102 read only barcodes that are intended to be read by the reader, by placing those barcodes close to the reader.
    In such an application, barcodes that are further than the desired distance should not be read, or, if read, their information should not be stored by the reader 102 or transferred by the reader 102 to other hardware.
    To enable scanning of barcodes only within a preselected range, the present invention allows for the selection of threshold ranges by a user.
    Three thresholds are illustrated in FIG. 1: A first threshold 116, a second threshold 118, and a third threshold 120. The selection of threshold ranges can be accomplished using switches 122 and 124 provided on the reader 102 .
    These switches may be physical switches, although it should be understood that the selection of threshold ranges may be accomplished through capacitive switches, the use of one or more buttons, or by scanning one or more parameter barcodes selected by the user.
    The effective selection of threshold read ranges according to the present invention can be achieved by the user selecting the desired pixels per module of a barcode, as will be described with reference to FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, an imaging engine provided within a reader 102 includes a light-detecting sensor or imager 200 operatively coupled to, or mounted on, a printed circuit board (PCB) 202 in the reader 102. In one embodiment, the imager 200 is a solid-state device, e.g., a CCD or a CMOS imager, having a one-dimensional array of addressable image sensors or pixels arranged in a single row, or a two-dimensional array of addressable image sensors or pixels arranged in mutually orthogonal rows and columns, and operable to detect return light is captured by an imaging lens assembly 204 over a field of view along an image axis 206 through the scan window 108 in any mode of operation.
    The return light is diffused and/or reflected from a barcode 208 located within the FOV 110. The imaging lens assembly 204 is operable to focus the return light onto the array of image sensors to allow the barcode 208 to be read.
    If one or more threshold scan ranges are not selected, the barcode 208 can be effectively read by the reader if it is located anywhere in a working range of distances between a near working distance (WD1) and a far working distance (WD2). In one embodiment, WD1 is about half an inch from the window 108, and WD2 is about thirty inches from the window 108, although it should be understood that readers according to the present invention may have different working distances. An illumination light assembly is also mounted in the reader 102. The illumination light assembly includes an illumination light source, such as at least one light emitting diode (LED) 210 and at least one illumination lens 212, and preferably a plurality of illumination LEDs and illumination lenses configured to form a substantially uniform distributed illumination pattern of illumination light on and along the barcode 208 to be read by image recording. At least a portion of the scattered and/or reflected return light is derived from the illumination pattern of light on and along the barcode 208.
    A directional light assembly may also be mounted in the reader 102 and preferably includes a directional light source 214, (e.g., one or more directional LEDs), and a directional lens 216 for generating and directing a visible directional light beam away from the reader 102 onto the barcode 208 The directional light beam has a cross-section with a pattern, e.g., a generally circular spot or cross hairs for placement in the center of the barcode 208, or a line for placement over the barcode 208, or a series of framing lines to define the field of view , to assist an operator in visually locating the barcode 208 within the field of view prior to image acquisition.
    As also shown in FIG. 2, the imager 200, the illumination LED 210, and the aiming LED 214 are operably connected to a processor 218 (such as a programmed microprocessor) operable to control the operation of these components. A memory 220 is connected and accessible to the processor 218. Preferably, the processor 218 is the same as the one used to process the captured return light from the illuminated barcode 208 to obtain data related to the barcode 208. When a barcode is successful is read, the processor 218 may store a successful decoding signal in the memory 220 or send the successful decoding signal to connect hardware 224 such as a point of sale system (POS).
    The barcode 208 will be read by the reader 102 as long as it is within the operating range of the reader 102, unless one or more threshold ranges are set by a user. There are cases where a user does not want barcodes to be read outside a desired reading distance.
    The present invention allows for the selection of threshold read ranges through the use of a pixel-per-module (PPM) threshold. The PPM is a number reflecting the number of pixels of the imager 200 that are occupied by the smallest width bar 222 of the barcode 208. The smallest width bar 222 of the barcode 208 defines a module of the barcode.
    A barcode 208 can be classified at the time of printing by the width of the narrowest line of the barcode. For example, the narrowest element between all the bars and spaces of barcode 208 may be 13 mils wide, and a user may be known to be wild when the reader reads and captures 102 “13 mil” barcodes at a desired reading distance of up to 12 inches , but does not record information related to 13 mil barcodes that are within the working range of the reader 102 but not outside the desired reading distance.
    To achieve this, predetermined PPM threshold ranges are used. In an example, if a 13 mil barcode is placed 12 inches from a reader, the PPM of that barcode is 3 pixels. As the barcode is brought closer to the reader, the PPM will increase (because the width of the light from the narrowest bar of the code when it falls on the imager 200 increases as the barcode approaches the reader). In other words, for a barcode from that module, any time the PPM is 3 pixels or greater, it may be known that the barcode is within the desired working range (in this case, 12 inches away from the reader 102 or closer).
    In this example, it is determined that if the PPM is less than 3 pixels, the barcode is outside the desired reading distance. Thus, the processor 218 may determine that such a barcode will not be read, or that it may be read and not stored in the memory 220. Alternatively, the barcode may be associated with information by the processor 218, but such information may not. are passed to some connected hardware 224 of the reader 102.
    It may be desirable to effectively only read barcodes located closer than a desired maximum reading distance from the reader 102. In such cases, only barcodes equal to or greater than a predetermined PPM threshold will be read and stored. However, in some cases it may be useful to read and store barcode information for barcodes that are larger than a desired minimum reading distance. In these cases, only barcodes with PPMs equal to or less than a predetermined PPM will be read (as long as they are within the working distance of the reader 102).
    In other cases, it may be useful for systems and methods of the present invention to read and record information for barcodes that are further than a desired minimum reading distance from the reader and also closer than a desired maximum reading distance from the reader. In these cases, only information for barcodes with PPMs equal to or less than a predetermined maximum PPM and equal to or greater than a predetermined minimum PPM is read and stored.
    In the examples above, while the systems are described as operating in “equal to or greater than” or “equal to or less than” equations, it is to be understood that these systems will operate in substantially the same manner as “less than” or “less than” greater than” equations are used.
    Failure to read barcodes that fall outside a predetermined PPM threshold can be achieved in a number of ways. In one embodiment, the processor 218 is adapted to analyze the PPMs of detected barcodes to recognize when the PPM of a detected barcode is outside the predetermined PPM threshold range. In such a case, the processor 218 may refrain from generating a successful decoding signal relevant to the detected barcode. In other instances, processor 218 may refrain from storing information related to barcodes that fall outside the predetermined PPM threshold range in memory 220. In other embodiments, processor 218 may refrain from forwarding information related to barcodes outside of the specified PPM threshold range. the predetermined PPM threshold range falls to connected hardware 224 such as a POS system or a connected memory disk. fig. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a scanning station 300 includes a bioptic barcode reader 302 . Unlike the reader 102 shown in FIG. 1, the biopsy barcode reader 302 has a housing 303 and is located in a fixed position within the scanning station 300. In this embodiment, articles placed on the scanning surface 304 having barcodes within the FOV 306 of the biopsy reader 302 are read unless the barcodes are outside the predetermined PPM threshold range. Three predetermined distance thresholds, which can be effectively set by PPM thresholds, 308, 310, and 312, are shown in FIG. 3. For example, if the furthest threshold 312 is set, and the reader 302 is set to read barcodes only closer than that threshold 312, then only barcodes closer than the threshold 312 are actually read.
    Threshold range selection may be accomplished through the use of switches 314 and 316 provided on reader 302. As with reader 102, above, reader 302 may be used in a point of sale, in which case reader 302, and preferably a processor of the reader is communicatively connected to a point of sale processor 318 of the point of sale system. The point of sale processor 318 can perform a variety of functions, such as associating prices with scanned items and generating point of sale payment requirements.
    PPM threshold range can be set by a user in a number of ways. In one embodiment, readers 102 or 302 of the present invention are preset in a desired maximum reading distance mode. In such a mode, readers are controlled by the user to read only barcodes that are less than a desired maximum reading distance from the reading window. In this embodiment, the user can select the desired maximum reading distance by using an interface (such as switches 122 and 124 in Fig. 1 and 314 and 316 in Fig. 3) to maintain a minimum PPM for effective reading.
    Additionally, readers may be preset in a desired minimum reading distance mode. In such a mode, readers are controlled by the user to only read barcodes that are greater than a desired minimum reading distance from the reading window (but still within the working distance of the reader). In this embodiment, the user can select the desired minimum reading distance using an interface (such as switches 122 and 124 in Fig. 1 and 314 and 316 in Fig. 3) to maintain a maximum PPM for effective barcode reading. .
    In other embodiments, predetermined PPM threshold ranges for successful barcode reading are set by the user by scanning one or more parameter barcodes with the barcode reader. fig. 4 shows a number of parameter barcodes for use in such embodiments.
    In one embodiment, a user can scan direct range codes 400, 402, and 404 to quickly set a desired PPM threshold range for successful barcode reading. If a user knows that only barcodes that are very close to the reader should be successfully decoded, the barcode near range 400 is scanned. If the user wants an average range for barcodes to be decoded, the average range barcode 402 is scanned, and if the user wants a maximum distance range for the successful decodings, the maximum range barcode 404 is scanned.
    In one embodiment, the user can directly program a predetermined PPM threshold range by scanning the programming mode barcode 406, which places the reader in a programming mode. Then, one or more number barcodes (designated generic number barcode 408) are scanned to preset the predetermined PPM threshold range. For example, in an embodiment if the user wants the reader to only read barcodes with a PPM of 3 or greater, then the user can scan the programming mode barcode 406 and then the number “3” between the digit barcodes 408, in which case the reader would be set to successfully decode barcodes with PPMs of 3 or greater.
    In another embodiment, a PPM matching mode barcode 410 can be scanned, which places the reader in a matching mode that increases and decreases the maximum and minimum PPMs for successful decoding of the reader, thereby setting the predetermined PPM threshold range. In this embodiment, the user scans one or more of the increase min PPM barcode 412, the decrease min PPM barcode 414, the increase max PPM barcode 416, or the decrease max PPM barcode 418 to set a predetermined PPM threshold range that corresponds to with a desired reading distance range.
    fig. 5 illustrates a flowchart showing the steps involved in decoding only barcodes meeting a predetermined PPM threshold range according to some embodiments of the present invention. The steps shown in fig. For example, 5 may be performed by a processor 218. As shown in block 500, a predetermined PPM threshold range is stored according to user selection of this range. This may be stored in working memory of a processor or in memory 220 of a barcode reader as shown in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, a standard predetermined PPM threshold range is provided and stored without the need for user selection.
    Then, as shown in block 502, the PPM of a barcode being scanned is determined. As shown in block 504, the PPM of the barcode being scanned is compared to the predetermined PPM threshold range. Next, as shown in decision block 506, it is determined whether the PPM of the barcode being scanned falls within the predetermined PPM threshold range. If the PPM of the barcode being scanned does not fall within the predetermined PPM threshold range, a successful decoding signal is not generated, as shown in block 508.
    If the PPM of the barcode being scanned falls within the predetermined PPM threshold range, a successful decoding signal is generated as shown in block 510.
    Systems and methods of the present invention can be used to read a variety of types of barcodes.
    For example, black barcodes on white backgrounds and white barcodes on black backgrounds can be read, but other color combinations (such as a green barcode on a yellow background) can also be read.
    Embodiments of the present invention may be particularly advantageous because they allow the user to set effective reading distances of a barcode reader using only the electronic hardware provided in the barcode reader. This can be advantageous as opposed to providing only optical modulation (e.g., by controlling the power of the reader's illumination light source, or by adjusting the lens assembly 204) because a wide range of desired reading distances can be achieved without changes in the reader hardware. In some embodiments of the present invention, desired minimum and maximum reading distances of between 5 centimeters and 20 centimeters are attainable only by adjusting predetermined PPM threshold ranges as described herein.
    Embodiments of the present invention can be used with 2D barcodes, in which case the module is the smallest pixel of the 2D barcode.
    Processors for use with embodiments of the present invention, such as processor 218 as shown in FIG. 2 are preferably capable of executing instructions to implement, for example, operations of the exemplary methods described herein, as can be illustrated by the drawings accompanying this description. Other examples of logic circuits capable of implementing, for example, operations of the exemplary methods described herein include field programmable gate arrays (FPGASs) and application specific integrated circuits (ASICS).
    The exemplary processor 218 cooperates with the memory 220 to obtain, for example, machine-readable instructions stored in the memory 220 and corresponding, for example, to the operations described herein and represented by the flowchart of this disclosure. Additionally or alternatively, machine-readable instructions corresponding to the exemplary operations described herein may be stored on one or more removable media (eg, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, removable flash memory, etc.) which may be coupled to the processor 218 to access machine-readable instructions stored thereon.
    The exemplary processor may also include or be connected to a network interface to allow communication with other machines over, for example, one or more networks. A network interface may include any suitable type of communication interface(s) (e.g., wired and/or wireless interfaces) configured to function in accordance with any suitable protocol(s).
    Processors for use in the present invention may also include input/output (I/O) interfaces to enable reception of user input and communication of output data to the user.
    The above description refers to a block diagram of the accompanying drawings. Alternative implementations of the example represented by the block diagram include one or more additional or alternative elements, processes and/or devices. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the example blocks of the scheme may be combined, divided, rearranged, or omitted. Components represented by the blocks of the scheme are implemented by hardware, software, firmware, and/or any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. In some examples, at least one of the components represented by the blocks is implemented by a logic circuit. As used herein, the term "logic circuit" is expressly defined as a physical device comprising at least one hardware component that has been configured (eg, via operation in accordance with a predetermined configuration and/or via execution of stored machine-readable instructions) to operate one or more machines and/or perform actions on one or more machines. Examples of a logic circuit include one or more processors, one or more co-processors, one or more microprocessors, one or more processors, one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICS), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), one or more microprocessor units (MCUs), one or more hardware accelerators, one or more special-purpose computer chips, and one or more system-on-a-chip (SoC) devices. Some examples of logic circuits, such as ASICs or FPGAs, are specifically configured hardware for performing operations (e.g., one or more of the operations described herein and represented by the flowcharts of this disclosure, if any). Some examples of logic circuits are hardware that executes machine-readable instructions to perform operations (e.g., one or more of the operations described herein and represented by the flowcharts of this disclosure, if any). Some examples of logic circuits involve a combination of specifically configured hardware and hardware that executes machine-readable instructions.
    The above description refers to various operations described herein and flow charts that may be added hereto to illustrate the flow of these operations. Such flowcharts are representative of exemplary methods described herein. In some examples, the methods represented by the flowcharts implement the device represented by the block diagrams. Alternative implementations of exemplary methods described herein may include additional or alternative operations. Furthermore, operations of alternative implementations of the methods described herein may be combined, divided, rearranged, or omitted. In some examples, the operations described herein are implemented by machine-readable instructions (eg, software and/or firmware) stored on a medium (eg, a tangible machine-readable medium) for executing one or more logic circuits (eg, processor (and)). In some examples, the operations described herein are implemented by one or more configurations of one or more specifically designed logic circuits (e.g., ASIC(s)). In some examples, the operations described herein are implemented by a combination of specifically designed logic circuit(s) and machine readable instructions stored on a medium (e.g., a tangible machine readable medium) for execution by logic circuit(s).
    As used herein, each of the terms "tangible machine-readable medium," "non-temporarily machine-readable medium" and "machine-readable storage device" is expressly defined as a storage medium (eg, a hard disk shell, a digital versatile disk, a compact disk, flash memory, read-only memory, random access memory, etc.) on which machine-readable instructions (eg, program code in the form of, for example, software and/or firmware) are stored for any suitable length of time (eg, permanent , for an extended period of time (eg, while a program associated with the machine-readable instructions is being executed), and/or a short period of time (eg, while the machine-readable instructions are being cached and/or during a buffering process)) . Further, as used herein, each of the terms "tangible machine-readable medium," "non-temporarily machine-readable medium" and "machine-readable storage device" is expressly defined to exclude propagating signals. That is, as used in each claim of this patent, none of the terms "tangible machine-readable medium," "non-temporarily machine-readable medium," and "machine-readable storage device"
    are read to be implemented by a propagating signal.
    Specific embodiments have been described in the foregoing specification. However, those skilled in the art realize that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.
    Additionally, the described embodiments/examples/implements should not be interpreted as mutually exclusive, and should instead be construed as potentially combinable if such combinations are permissive in any way. In other words, any feature disclosed in any of the above-mentioned embodiments/examples/implements may be included in any of the other above-mentioned embodiments/examples/implements.
    The benefits, solutions to problems, and any of the element(s) that may cause or make any benefit or solution more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims. The claimed invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any changes made during the granting procedure of this application and any equivalents of those claims as granted. For clarity and concise description, features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be understood that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described. It will be appreciated that the embodiments shown have the same or similar components, except where they are described as different.
    In addition, relational terms such as first and second, above and below, and the like may be used throughout this document only to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring any actual such relationship or sequence between such entities or actions or imply. The terms "comprises", "comprising", "has", "have", "contains", "containing", "with" or any other variant thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion such that a process, process, article or device that includes a list of elements includes not only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly stated or inherent in such process, method, article or device. An element followed by "comprises...a", "has...a", "contains...a", "with...a" does not exclude, without further restrictions, the existence of additional identical elements in the process, the method , has, contains, from, the item or device comprising the element. The term "one" is defined as one or more unless expressly stated herein. The terms "substantially", "substantially", "about" or any other version thereof are defined as being within the meaning of those skilled in the art, and in a non-limiting embodiment, the term is defined as being within 10 %, in another version within 5%, in another version within 1% and in another version within 0.5%. The term "linked" as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is "configured" in a certain way is at least configured that way, but can also be configured in ways not listed.
    The Summary of the Disclosure is provided to enable the reader to quickly determine the nature of the technical disclosure. It has been submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, it can be seen from the foregoing Detailed Description that various functions have been grouped together in different embodiments for the purpose of streamlining disclosure.
    This manner of disclosure should not be interpreted as reflecting an intent that the claimed performances require more features than are expressly stated in any claim.
    As the following claims show, the inventive subject matter of the invention lies precisely in less than all the features of a single disclosed embodiment.
    Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing alone as a subject matter claimed separately.
    The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures is not useful for an advantage.
    Many variants will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
    All variants are deemed to fall within the scope of the invention defined in the following claims.
    权利要求:
    Claims (19)
    [1]
    A barcode reader comprising: a housing; an imaging assembly positioned at least partially within the housing, the imaging assembly comprising an image sensor having a plurality of pixels, the image sensor configured to capture images of an environment appearing within a field of view (FOV) of the optical imaging assembly; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly, the at least one processor configured to decode a barcode comprising a plurality of stripes, the at least one processor further configured to: a pixel-per-module (PPM ) determining the barcode based on a number of pixels occupying a narrowest stripe of the plurality of stripes when the barcode is captured in an image by the image sensor; analyze whether the PPM falls within a predetermined PPM threshold range; in response to the PPM falling within the predetermined PPM threshold range, generating a successful decoding signal indicating successful decoding of the barcode; and in response to the PPM falling outside the predetermined PPM threshold range, to refrain from generating the successful decoding signal indicating the successful decoding of the barcode.
    [2]
    The barcode reader of claim 1, wherein the barcode reader is a bi-optical reader.
    [3]
    The barcode reader according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the barcode reader is a portable reader.
    [4]
    A barcode reader according to any preceding claim wherein the predetermined PPM threshold range is defined by a user.
    [5]
    A barcode reader according to any preceding claim wherein the predetermined PPM threshold range corresponds to a desired reading distance range of the barcode reader, said desired reading distance range being a subset of the operating range of the barcode reader.
    [6]
    The barcode reader of claim 5, wherein said desired reading distance range is selected from one of: a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the working range and closer than a desired maximum reading distance:; a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the working range and beyond a desired minimum reading distance; and a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the working range and both beyond a desired minimum reading distance and closer than a desired maximum reading distance.
    [7]
    A barcode reader according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined PPM threshold range is selected by a user via a selector device provided on said housing.
    [8]
    The barcode reader according to claim 7, wherein said selector device is a button.
    [9]
    The barcode reader of claim 7, wherein said selector device is one or more conductive pads.
    [10]
    The barcode reader of any preceding claim, wherein the predetermined PPM threshold range is selected by a user via a parameter barcode scanned by the barcode reader.
    [11]
    A transaction processing system comprising: a barcode reader according to any one of claims 1 to 10; and a point of sale system having a point of sale processor configured to receive said successful decryption signal and process a transaction in response to receipt of said successful decryption signal.
    [12]
    The transaction processing system of claim 11 wherein said point of sale processor is further configured to associate said successful decoding signal with an item and with a price for said item.
    [13]
    A method of electro-optical reading of a barcode comprising a plurality of stripes located within a range of operating distances of a barcode reader, comprising: capturing light from the symbol across a field of view of an image sensor having a plurality of pixels; determining a pixel-per-module (PPM) of the barcode based on a number of pixels occupying a narrowest stripe of the plurality of stripes when the barcode is captured in an image by the image sensor; comparing the PPM of the barcode to a predetermined PPM threshold range; and generating a successful decoding signal only if said PPM of the barcode is within said predetermined PPM threshold range 1s.
    [14]
    The method of claim 13 wherein said predetermined PPM threshold range corresponds to a desired reading distance range of the barcode reader, said desired reading distance range being a subset of the operating range of the barcode reader.
    [15]
    The method of claim 14 wherein said desired reading distance range is selected from one of: a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the working range and closer than a desired maximum reading distance; a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the working range and beyond a desired minimum reading distance; and a desired reading distance range consisting of all distances within the working range and both beyond a desired minimum reading distance and closer than a desired maximum reading distance.
    [16]
    The method of any one of claims 13 to 15 further comprising storing said predetermined PPM threshold range in response to user selection of said predetermined PPM threshold range.
    [17]
    The method of claim 16 wherein user selection of said predetermined PPM threshold range is accomplished via reading one or more parameter barcodes.
    [18]
    The method of claim 16 wherein user selection of said predetermined PPM threshold range is achieved through the use of switches provided by said barcode reader.
    [19]
    The method of any one of claims 13 to 18 further comprising sending said successful decoding signal to external hardware associated with said barcode reader.
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
    US9202094B1|2015-12-01|Aiming pattern shape as distance sensor for barcode scanner
    US8162224B2|2012-04-24|Method of setting amount of exposure for photodetector array in barcode scanner
    US8847150B2|2014-09-30|Object detecting system for imaging-based barcode readers
    US9298957B2|2016-03-29|Detecting window deterioration on barcode scanning workstation
    US8950676B2|2015-02-10|Image capture based on working distance range restriction in imaging reader
    BE1026258A9|2020-01-07|DECODERING OF DESIGNATED BARCODE IN FIELD OF VISION OF BARCODE READER
    US9734375B2|2017-08-15|Method of controlling exposure on barcode imaging scanner with rolling shutter sensor
    BE1027668B1|2022-01-10|SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USER CHOICE OF BARCODE SCANNING RANGE
    US8590793B2|2013-11-26|Imaging-based barcode readers having curved window
    KR101488629B1|2015-01-30|Method and apparatus for capturing form document with imaging scanner
    JP6095024B2|2017-03-15|Image processing device based on scanning resolution setting in image reader
    BE1026236B1|2020-07-17|Optimized barcode decoding in multi imaging barcode readers and imaging basic modules
    US8056809B2|2011-11-15|Image enhancement in imaging system
    US8686338B2|2014-04-01|Method and apparatus for controlling output of the solid-state imager in a barcode reader
    US20110290885A1|2011-12-01|Method and apparatus for increasing brightness of aiming pattern in imaging scanner
    US9507989B2|2016-11-29|Decoding barcode using smart linear picklist
    US20210334487A1|2021-10-28|Method for accurate object tracking with color camera in multi planar scanners
    US9798914B1|2017-10-24|System for and method of efficiently processing targets to be electro-optically read by image capture
    US20190286858A1|2019-09-19|Barcode Readers Having Multiple Image Sensors and Methods Associated Therewith
    BE1026830A1|2020-06-30|AUTHENTICATION FOR CONNECTING A BARCODE READER TO A CLIENT COMPUTER DEVICE
    US20080023555A1|2008-01-31|Aperture stop in imaging reader
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    US20210133410A1|2021-05-06|
    BE1027668A1|2021-05-07|
    WO2021086508A1|2021-05-06|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    US5798515A|1996-04-03|1998-08-25|Symbol Technologies, Inc.|Optical scanner with fast zoom capability and scanning system|
    US20060113390A1|2002-12-17|2006-06-01|Takeharu Muramatsu|Barcode recognition apparatus|
    US8800874B2|2009-02-20|2014-08-12|Datalogic ADC, Inc.|Systems and methods of optical code reading using a color imager|
    US20120095823A1|2000-10-02|2012-04-19|Sht Co., Ltd.|Sale method and system employing product price varying dependent upon valid date of product|
    JP4301775B2|2002-07-18|2009-07-22|シャープ株式会社|Two-dimensional code reading device, two-dimensional code reading method, two-dimensional code reading program, and recording medium for the program|
    法律状态:
    2022-02-09| FG| Patent granted|Effective date: 20220110 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    US16/672,008|US20210133410A1|2019-11-01|2019-11-01|Systems and methods for user choice of barcode scanning range|
    [返回顶部]