# US 10,770,603 B2 · Device and method for operating cameras and light sources comprising controlled illumination light with a pulse duration corresponds to the exposure time of a camera

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- Number: US 10,770,603 B2
- Document ID: US10770603B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/702,300
- Filed: 2019-12-03
- Published: 2020-04-02
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-01
- Assignees: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Symbol Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Paul D. Haist; Alexandre Obotnine
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10770603B2

## CPC

- H10F 77/413: {directly associated or integrated with the devices, e.g. back reflectors (directly associated or integrated with photovoltaic cells H10F77/42)}
- G06F 3/0421: {by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen}
- G06K 7/10732: {Light sources}
- G06K 7/10752: {Exposure time control}
- H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means
- H04N 23/661: Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
- H04N 23/73: by influencing the exposure time
- H04N 23/74: by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
- H04N 23/81: for suppressing or minimising disturbance in the image signal generation
- H04N 23/90: Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
- H10F 39/806: {Optical elements or arrangements associated with the image sensors}
- H10F 77/40: Optical elements or arrangements (surface textures H10F77/70)
- H10F 77/42: directly associated or integrated with photovoltaic cells, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
- Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Provided herein is a device and method for improved operating of cameras and light sources of a mobile automation apparatus. Light sources are operated to periodically provide illumination light for a camera operating according to a given exposure time and frequency, with a pulse duration having a respective frequency that is an integer multiple of the camera frequency, and higher than a threshold frequency where successive activations of the light sources are imperceptible. Furthermore, a light source paired with a camera is located at a distance from the paired camera that illuminates an object imaged by the paired camera, and where parasitic reflections from the paired light source are not reflected into the paired camera.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device comprising:
a camera, configured to acquire images periodically according to an exposure time and at a first frequency; and
at least one light source configured to periodically provide illumination light for the camera, the illumination light having a pulse duration that corresponds to the exposure time and having a second frequency that is an integer multiple of the first frequency, wherein successive activations of the at least one light source are imperceptible to an observer when the second frequency is higher than a threshold frequency.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein each of the exposure time and the pulse duration are about 0.5 ms.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the first frequency is about 5 Hz and the second frequency is about 100 Hz.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the threshold frequency is greater than 70 Hz.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source and the camera are powered by a battery.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the exposure time is selected to eliminate blur from the images acquired by the camera when the device is moving at a predetermined speed.

### Claim 8

A method comprising:
at a device comprising a controller, a camera and at least one light source, controlling, using the controller, the camera to acquire images periodically according to an exposure time and at a first frequency; and
controlling, using the controller, the at least one light source to periodically provide illumination light for the camera, the illumination light having a pulse duration that corresponds to the exposure time and having a second frequency that is an integer multiple of the first frequency, wherein successive activations of the at least one light source are imperceptible to an observer when the second frequency is higher than a threshold frequency.