Devices and methods employing dual target auto exposure
AssigneeHand Held Products, Inc.
InventorsTimothy P. Meier, Stephen P. Deloge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The method includes automatically adjusting a first control parameter in a device for capturing a first plurality of images, automatically adjusting a second control parameter in the device for capturing a second plurality of images such that automatic adjustment of the first control parameter is interspersed with, separate from, and obtained generally concurrently with the automatic adjustment of the second control parameter. The adjustment of the first control parameter being determined differently compared to adjustment of the second control parameter. The method may include attempting to decode a decodable indicia utilizing one or more images of the first and second plurality of images.
Claims24
A device, comprising:
- an imaging subsystem for capturing images;
- wherein the device is configured for:
- acquiring a first plurality of images based on a first control parameter;
- adjusting the first control parameter for a first subsequent image of the first plurality of images based on a first prior image of the first plurality of images;
- acquiring a second plurality of images based on a second control parameter that is different from the first control parameter;
- adjusting the second control parameter for a second subsequent image of the second plurality of images based on a second prior image of the second plurality of images;
- determining if the first plurality of images provides higher quality images than the second plurality of images;
- if the first plurality of images provides higher quality images than the second plurality of images, decoding an indicia in one or more images from the first plurality of images;
- and
- if the first plurality of images does not provide higher quality images than the second plurality of images, decoding an indicia in one or more images from the second plurality of images.
2-3. (canceled)
5-8. (canceled)
An indicia reader, comprising:
- an illumination subsystem for projecting an illumination pattern;
- an imaging subsystem for capturing images;
- wherein the indicia reader is configured for:
- acquiring a first plurality of images;
- while acquiring the first plurality of images, projecting the illumination pattern based on a first control parameter;
- adjusting the first control parameter for a first subsequent image of the first plurality of images based on a first prior image of the first plurality of images;
- acquiring a second plurality of images;
- while acquiring the second plurality of images, not projecting the illumination pattern based on a second control parameter that is different from the first control parameter;
- adjusting the second control parameter for a second subsequent image of the second plurality of images based on a second prior image of the second plurality of images;
- determining a quality score of an image from the first plurality of images and/or the second plurality of images;
- and
- if the quality score is above a threshold predetermined criteria and/or above a prior image quality, decoding an indicia in the image having the quality score above the threshold predetermined criteria and/or above the prior image quality.
10-12. (canceled)
A method, comprising:
- acquiring, with an imaging subsystem comprising an image sensor, a first plurality of images based on a first control parameter;
- adjusting the first control parameter for a first subsequent image of the first plurality of images based on a first prior image of the first plurality of images;
- acquiring, with the imaging subsystem, a second plurality of images based on a second control parameter that is different from the first control parameter;
- adjusting the second control parameter for a second subsequent image of the second plurality of images based on a second prior image of the second plurality of images;
- determining which of the first plurality of images or the second plurality of images provides higher quality images;
- if the first plurality of images provides higher quality images, evaluating only frames of the first plurality of images to determine if a particular frame is suitable for a decode attempt;
- and
- if the second plurality of images provides higher quality images, evaluating only frames of the second plurality of images to determine if a particular frame is suitable for a decode attempt.
14-20. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.