Barcode reading device that controls illumination without signaling from an image sensor
AssigneeThe Code Corporation
InventorsMark Ashby, Ryan Hoobler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A barcode reading device includes an image sensor comprising a photosensor array and control circuitry configured to control an exposure period for the photosensor array. The barcode reading device also includes one or more illumination sources configured to generate illumination for illuminating a target area. The barcode reading device also includes circuitry that is configured to read out image data from the photosensor array in response to a trigger signal. The circuitry is also configured to, independent of controlling the exposure period for the photosensor array, illuminate a target area by activating the one or more illumination sources in response to the trigger signal.
Claims16
A barcode reading device, comprising:
- an image sensor comprising a photosensor array and control circuitry configured to control an exposure period for the photosensor array;
- one or more illumination sources configured to generate illumination for illuminating a target area;
- and
- circuitry configured to:
- read out image data from the photosensor array in response to a trigger signal, wherein the trigger signal comprises a plurality of trigger pulse signals that occur at fixed intervals, and wherein an interval between successive trigger pulse signals is greater than an amount of time that is required to read out a frame of the image data from the photosensor array;
- and
- independent of controlling the exposure period for the photosensor array, illuminate the target area by switching an illumination signal between an on value that activates the one or more illumination sources and an off value that deactivates the one or more illumination sources with each successive trigger pulse signal.
A barcode reading device, comprising:
- an image sensor comprising a photosensor array and control circuitry configured to control an exposure period for the photosensor array;
- one or more illumination sources configured to generate illumination for illuminating a target area;
- a decoder that is configured to generate a trigger signal in response to detecting a trigger condition, wherein the trigger signal comprises a plurality of trigger pulse signals generated at a pulse frequency, and wherein the plurality of trigger pulse signals comprise a first plurality of trigger pulse signals interspersed with a second plurality of trigger pulse signals;
- readout circuitry that is configured to read out image data from the photosensor array in response to the trigger signal;
- and
- illumination circuitry configured to generate an illumination signal and to activate, independent of any signaling from the image sensor, the one or more illumination sources for illuminating the target area in response to the trigger signal, wherein the illumination signal causes the one or more illumination sources to be activated following the first plurality of trigger pulse signals and to be deactivated following the second plurality of trigger pulse signals.
A barcode reading device, comprising:
- an image sensor comprising a photosensor array and control circuitry configured to control an exposure period for the photosensor array;
- one or more illumination sources configured to generate illumination for illuminating a target area;
- a decoder that is configured to generate a trigger signal in response to detecting a trigger condition, wherein the trigger signal comprises a plurality of trigger pulse signals;
- memory comprising an image buffer;
- readout circuitry that is configured to, in response to each trigger pulse signal, read out a frame of image data from the photosensor array and store the frame of image data to the image buffer;
- and
- illumination circuitry configured to activate, independent of any signaling from the image sensor, the one or more illumination sources for illuminating the target area in accordance with an illumination signal, wherein the plurality of trigger pulse signals cause the illumination signal to alternate between an on value corresponding to activating the one or more illumination sources and an off value corresponding to deactivating the one or more illumination sources.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.