US 6,283,374 B1 · Symbology imaging and reading apparatus and method

A hand-held data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information;

comprising:
(a) an optical illuminating head including an optically transmissive window disposed proximate a leading end portion of said head;
(b) illumination apparatus means operable for illuminating symbology through said transmissive window;
and
(c) an elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to a rear wall of said head to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator and a distal end extending away from said head, said head having an exterior configuration extending rearwardly from a front end thereof and which is sized and shaped to facilitate the cupping or holding of said head by an operator;
(d) said illumination apparatus means including:
(i) illuminator means for projecting diffuse illumination in a predetermined configuration and in a predetermined direction;
(ii) illumination means for casting illumination upon said illuminator means;
(iii) at least a portion of a surface of said illuminator means, when illumination from said illumination means is cast thereupon, projecting said diffuse illumination in said predetermined direction.

6 more elements

A method of manipulating a hand-held imager/reader for imaging machine readable encoded symbology;

comprising:
(a) providing the imager/reader with a head and a generally elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to said head so as to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator in a first gripping mode and with a distal end extending away from said head;
(b) providing said head with a leading end portion and an exterior configuration sized and shaped to facilitate cupping and holding said head by an operator in a second gripping mode;
(c) arranging a plurality of substantially lambertian illumination emitting devices within said head and into an array so that each such device, when energized, will cast its illumination in a predetermined direction;
and
(d) providing an illuminator with at least a first diffusing surface and positioning said illuminator so that said light diffusing surface receives illumination from said illumination emitting devices and projects diffuse light along a predetermined light path and in a second predetermined direction opposite to said first predetermined direction and to be toward where a target might be positioned for imaging.

3 more elements

A hand-held data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information;

comprising:
(a) an optical illuminating head including an optically transmissive window disposed proximate a leading end portion of said head;
(b) illumination apparatus means operable for illuminating symbology through said transmissive window;
and
(c) an elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to a rear wall of said head to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator and a distal end extending away from said head, said head having an exterior configuration extending rearwardly from a front end thereof and which is sized and shaped to facilitate the cupping and holding of said head by an operator;
(d) a two-dimensional photodetector, having an active area, positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said optically transmissive window;
and
(e) a variable focus optical system including an objective taking lens positioned with respect to said two-dimensional photodetector to image a symbology target onto said active area thereof, said objective taking lens including one or more stationary lens elements fixedly aligned along an optical axis and at least a focusing means that is rotatable about an axis offset with respect to said optical axis, said focusing means including at least two focusing zones and being moveable transversely with respect to said optical axis, to change the focus of said objective taking lens, as said focusing means rotates for selected periods, including between at least said two focusing zones, so that said objective taking lens can image over working distances that at least partially overlap.

5 more elements

A method of manipulating a hand-held imager/reader for imaging machine readable encoded symbology;

comprising:
(a) providing the imager/reader with a head and a generally elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to said head so as to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator in a first gripping mode and with a distal end extending away from said head;
(b) providing said head with a leading end portion and an exterior configuration sized and shaped to facilitate cupping and holding said head by an operator in a second gripping mode;
(c) arranging a substantially lambertian illumination emitting device within said head so that such devices, when energized, will cast diffuse illumination towards and upon the symbology;
(d) providing, within the hand-held imager/reader, an objective taking lens, a two-dimensional photodetector having an active area and a rotatable focusing element;
(e) positioning said photodetector behind the objective taking lens by a predetermined distance;
(f) aiming the imager/reader so that the symbology is located within a field of view of said objective taking lens and said two-dimensional photodetector;
(g) selectively rotating said focusing element such that said focusing element moves transversely with respect to said optical axis of said objective taking lens to change the focus of said objective taking lens between at least two focusing zones so that said objective taking lens can image both linear and matrix symbplogies over working distances that at least partially overlap with respect to linear and matrix symbologies;
(h) forming a series of images of the symbology via the objective taking lens, onto said two-dimensional photodetector as the focusing element rotates and determining the range separating said objective taking lens and the symbology;
(i) determining a best focusing zone of said focusing element that most sharply images the symbology in accordance with the range determined as said focusing element rotates;
and
(j) capturing an image of the symbology with said two-dimensional photodetector when said best focusing zone of said focusing element is in alignment with said objective taking lens.

9 more elements

A hand-held data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information;

comprising:
(a) an optical illuminating head including an optically transmissive window disposed proximate a leading end portion of said head;
(b) illumination apparatus means operable for illuminating symbology through said transmissive window;
and
(c) an elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to a rear wall of said head to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator and a distal end extending away from said head, said head having an exterior configuration extending rearwardly from a front end thereof and which is sized and shaped to facilitate the cupping and holding of said head by an operator;
(d) a two-dimensional photodetector having an active area, positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said optically transmissive window;
(e) focusing means having a plurality of focusing zones, control means for controlling said focusing means and said two-dimensional photodetector to determine an optimum focus state;
(f) said focusing means being controlled by said control means to provide image data to said two-dimensional photodetector for each of said at least two of said plurality of focusing zones;
(g) said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector shifting out said image data one line at a time, and storing a central portion of said image data in a memory in said control means;
and
(h) said control means evaluating transitions between light and dark data in said central portion of said image data to produce a representative value for each of said at least two focusing zones, wherein a largest representative value indicates which of said focusing zones provides the best focus.

8 more elements

A method of manipulating a hand-held imager/reader for imaging machine readable encoded symbology;

comprising:
(a) providing the imager/reader with a head and a generally elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to said head so as to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator in a first gripping mode and with a distal end extending away from said head;
(b) providing said head with a leading end portion and an exterior configuration sized and shaped to facilitate cupping and holding said head by an operator in a second gripping mode;
(c) arranging a substantially lambertian illumination emitting device within said head so that such device, when energized, will cast its illumination in a predetermined direction;
and
(d) providing within the hand-held imager/reader an objective taking lens, a two-dimensional photodetector having an active area and a rotatable focusing element having at least two focusing zones;
(e) positioning said photodetector behind the objective taking lens by a predetermined distance;
(f) aiming the imager/reader so that the symbology to be imaged is located within a field of view of said objective taking lens and said two-dimensional photodetector;
(g) selectively rotating said focusing element such that said at least a portion of said focusing element moves transversely with respect to said optical axis of said objective taking lens and changes the focus of said objective taking lens between at least said two focusing zones;
(h) providing multiple illumination conditions of said symbology;
(i) capturing an image of said symbology in said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector for each of said multiple illumination conditions;
(j) determining optimum illumination by calculating edge totals for each image data received by said two-dimensional photodetector;
(k) comprising said edge totals for all of said multiple illumination conditions to determine a largest edge total, and
(l) utilizing said largest edge total as an indicator of optimum illumination.

11 more elements

A hand-held data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information;

comprising:
(a) an optical illuminating head including an optically transmissive window disposed proximate a leading end portion of said head;
(b) illumination apparatus means operable for illuminating symbology through said transmissive window;
and
(c) said illumination apparatus means including:
(i) illuminator means for projecting diffuse illumination in a predetermined Configuration and in a predetermined direction;
(ii) illumination means for casting illumination upon said illuminator means;
(iii) at least a portion of a surface of said illuminator means, when illumination from said illumination means is cast thereupon, projecting said diffuse illumination in said predetermined direction;
(d) a two-dimensional photodetector, having an active aria, positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said optically transmissive window;
and
(e) a variable focus optical system including an objective taking lens positioned with respect to said two-dimensional photodetector to image a symbology target on said active area thereof, said objective taking lens including one or more stationary lens elements fixedly aligned along an optical axis and at least a focusing means that is rotatable about an axis offset with respect to said optical axis, said focusing means being moveable transversely with respect to said optical axis, to change the focus of said objective taking lens, as said focusing means rotates for selected periods, between at least two focusing zones, so that said objective taking lens can image over working distances that at least partially overlap.

8 more elements

A method of manipulating a hand-held imager/reader for imaging machine readable encoded symbology;

comprising:
(a) arranging a plurality of substantially liambertian illumination emitting devices within said head and into an array so that each such device, when energized, will cast its illumination in a predetermined direction;
and
(b) providing an illuminator with at least a first diffusing surface-and positioning said illuminator so that said light diffusing surface receives illumination from said illumination emitting devices and projects diffuse light along a predetermined light path and in a second predetermined direction opposite to said first predetermined direction and to be toward where a target might be positioned for imaging;
(c) providing within the hand-held imager/reader an objective taking lens, a two-dimensional photodetector having an active area and a rotatable focusing element;
(d) positioning said photodetector behind the objective taking lens by a predetermined distance;
(e) aiming the imager/reader so that the symbology is located within a field of view of said objective taking lens and said two-dimensional photodetector;
(f) selectively rotating said focusing element such that said focusing element moves transversely with respect to said optical axis of said objective taking lens to continuously change the focus of said objective taking, lens between at least two focusing zones so that said objective taking lens can image both linear and matrix symbologies over working distances that at least partially overlap with respect to linear and matrix symbologies;
(g) forming a series of images of the symbology via the objective taking lens, onto said two-dimensional photodetector as the focusing element rotates and determining the range separating said objective taking lens and the symbology;
(h) determining a best focusing zone of said focusing element that most sharply images the symbology in accordance with the range determined as said focusing element rotates;
and
(i) capturing an image of the symbology with said two-dimensional photodetector when said best focusing zone of said focusing element is in alignment with said objective taking lens.

9 more elements

A data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information, comprising;

(a) a housing;
(b) an optically transmissive window carried by said housing;
(c) illuminating apparatus disposed within said housing and positioned therein to project diffuse illumination through said window and towards symbology when disposed within the vicinity of said window;
(d) a two-dimensional photodetector, having an active area, positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said window;
and
(e) a variable focus optical system having an optical axis and including a focusing means that is rotatable about a focusing axis that is offset with respect to said optical axis and movable transversely, with respect to said optical axis, to change the focus of said variable focus optical system as said focusing means rotates for selected periods between at least two focusing zones of said focusing means, so that said variable focus optical system can image the symbology over predetermined working distances.

3 more elements

A hand-held data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information;

comprising:
(a) an optical illuminating head including an optically transmissive window disposed proximate a leading end portion of said head;
(b) an elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to a rear wall of said head to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator and a distal end extending away from said head, said head having an exterior configuration extending rearwardly from a front end thereof and which is sized and shaped to facilitate the cupping and holding of said head by an operator;
(c) illumination apparatus means operable for illuminating symbology through said transmissive window;
(d) said illumination apparatus means including:
(i) illuminator means for projecting diffuse illumination in a predetermined configuration and in a predetermined direction;
(ii) illumination means for casting illumi-nation upon said illuminator means;
(iii) at least a portion of a surface of said illuminator means, when illumination from said illumination means is cast thereupon, projecting said diffuse illumination in said predetermined direction;
(e) a two-dimensional photodetector selected from the group consisting of CCD and CMOS photodetectors;
having an active area, positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said optically transmissive window;
(f) a variable focus optical system including an objective taking lens positioned with respect to said two-dimensional photodetector to image a symbology target on said active area thereof, said objective taking lens including one or more stationary lens elements fixedly aligned along an optical axis and at least a focusing means that is rotatable about an axis offset with respect to said optical axis, said focusing means being moveable transversely with respect to said optical axis, to change the focus of said objective taking lens, as said focusing means rotates for selected periods, between at least two focusing zones, so that said objective taking lens can image over working distances that at least partially overlap;
and
(g) control means for controlling said focusing means and said two-dimensional photodetector to determine an optimum focus state;
(h) said focusing means being controlled by said control means to provide image data to said two-dimensional photodetector for each of said at least two focusing zones;
(i) said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector shifting out said image data one line at a time, and storing a central portion of said image data in a memory in said control means;
and
(j) said control means evaluating transitions between light and dark data in said central portion of said image data to produce a representative value for each of said at least two focusing zones, wherein a largest representative value indicates which of said focusing zones provides the best focus;
(k) said two-dimensional photodetector having a resolution of 659 by 494 pixels in said active area and being controlled to quickly pass 246 lines of data through without storing said 246 lines in memory, and said control portion of said imager including substantially ten lines of data for which said two-dimensional photodetector is controlled to analyze at a rate slower than the rate at which said 246 lines were passed;
said two-dimensional photo-detector being thereafter controlled to be reset.

16 more elements

A hand-held data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information;

comprising:
(a) an optical illuminating head including an optically transmissive window disposed proximate a leading end portion of said head;
(b) an elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to a rear wall of said head to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator and a distal end extending away from said head, said head having an exterior configuration extending rearwardly from a front end thereof and which is sized and shaped to facilitate the cupping and holding of said head by an operator;
(c) illumination apparatus means operable for illuminating symbology through said transmissive window;
(d) said illumination apparatus means including:
(i) illuminator means for projecting diffuse illumination in a predetermined configuration and in a predetermined direction;
(ii) illumination means for casting illumi-nation upon said illuminator means;
(iii) at least a portion of a surface of said illuminator means, when illumination from said illumination means is cast thereupon, projecting said diffuse illumination in said predetermined direction;
(e) a two-dimensional photodetector selected from the group consisting of CCD and CMOS photodetectors;
having an active area, positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said optically transmissive window;
(f) a variable focus optical system including an objective taking lens positioned with respect to said two-dimensional photodetector to image a symbology target on said active area thereof, said objective taking lens including one or more stationary lens elements fixedly aligned along an optical axis and at least a focusing means that is rotatable about an axis offset with respect to said optical axis, said focusing means being moveable transversely with respect to said optical axis, to change the focus of said objective taking lens, as said focusing means rotates for selected periods, between at least two focusing zones, so that -said objective taking lens can image over working distances that at least partially overlap;
and
(g) control means for controlling said focusing means and said two-dimensional photodetector to determine an optimum focus state;
(h) said focusing means being controlled by said control means to provide image data to said two-dimensional photodetector for each of said at least two focusing zones;
(i) said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector shifting out said image data one line at a time, and storing a central portion of said image data in a memory in said control means;
and
(j) said control means evaluating transitions between light and dark data in said central portion of said image data to produce a representative value for each of said at least two focusing zones, wherein a largest representative value indicates which of said focusing zones provides the best focus;
(k) said two-dimensional photodetector being such as to receive said image data for multiple illumination conditions, as provided by said illumination means, said control means calculating edge totals for each image with optimum illumination being determined for the one of said multiple illumination states having the largest edge total.

15 more elements

A hand-held data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information;

comprising:
(a) an optical illuminating head including an optically transmissive window disposed proximate a leading end portion of said head;
(b) an elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to a rear wall of said head to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator and a distal end extending away from said head, said head having an exterior configuration extending rearwardly from a front end thereof and which is sized and shaped to facilitate the cupping and holding of said head by an operator;
(c) illumination apparatus means operable for illuminating symbology through said transmissive window;
(d) said illumination apparatus means including:
(i) illuminator means for projecting diffuse illumination in a predetermined configuration and in a predetermined direction;
(ii) illumination means for casting illumi-nation upon said illuminator means;
(iii) at least a portion of a surface of said illuminator means, when illumination from said illumination means is cast thereupon, projecting said diffuse illumination in said predetermined direction;
(e) a two-dimensional protodetector selected from the group consisting of CCD and CMOS photodetectors;
having an active area, positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said optically transmissive window;
and
(f) a variable focus optical system including an objective taking lens positioned with respect to said two-dimensional photodetector to image a symbology target on said active area thereof, said objective taking lens including one or more stationary lens elements fixedly aligned along an optical axis and at least a focusing means that is rotatable about an axis offset with respect to said optical axis, said focusing means being moveable transversely with respect to said optical axis, to change the focus of said objective taking lens, as said focusing means rotates for selected periods, between at least two focusing zones, so that said objective taking lens can image over working distances that at least partially overlap;
(g) said focusing means comprising a focusing disk with at least twelve optical plates to provide different focal lengths, said focusing disk being rotatable so that each of said at least twelve optical plates can move into an optical path of said imager;
(h) a microprocessor for controlling said focusing means and operation of said two-dimensional photodetector, so that said two-dimensional photo-detector performs image capture for each of said at least twelve optical plates;
(i) said microprocessor controlling said two-dimensional photodetector to shift out said image data, one line at a time;
(j) said microprocessor evaluating transitions between light and dark data in a central set of said lines to produce a representative value for each of said at least twelve optical plates, wherein a largest representative value corresponds to one of said optical plates producing optimum focus.

13 more elements

A hand-held data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information;

comprising:
(a) an optical illuminating head including an optically transmissive window disposed proximate a leading end portion of said head;
(b) illumination apparatus means operable for illuminating symbology through said transmissive window;
(c) an elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to a rear wall of said head to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator and a distal end extending away from said head, said head having an exterior configuration extending rearwardly from a front end thereof and which is sized and shaped to facilitate the cupping and holding of said head by an operator;
(d) a two-dimensional photodetector, selected from the group consisting of CCD and CMOS potodetectors, having an active area, positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said optically transmissive window;
(e) a variable focus optical system including an objective taking lens positioned with respect to said two-dimensional photodetector to image a symbology target onto said active area thereof, said objective taking lens including one or more stationary lens elements fixedly aligned along an optical axis and at least a focusing means that is rotatable about an axis offset with respect to said optical axis, said focusing means including at least two focusing zones and being moveable transversely with respect to said optical axis, to change the focus of said objective taking lens, as said focusing means rotates for selected periods, including between at least said two focusing zones, so that said objective taking lens can image over working distances that at least partially overlap;
and
(f) control means for controlling said focusing means and said two-dimensional photodetector to determine an optimum focus state;
(g) said focusing means being controlled by said control means to provide image data to said two-dimensional photodetector for each of said at least two focusing zones;
(h) said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector shifting out said image data one line at a time, and storing a central portion of said image data in a memory in said control means;
(i) said control means evaluating transitions between light and dark data in said central portion of said image data to produce a representative value for each of said at least two focusing zones, wherein a largest representative value indicates which of said focusing zones provides the best focus;
(j) said CCD having a resolution of 659 by 494 pixels in said active area, and being controlled to quickly pass 246 lines of data through without storing said 246 lines in memory, and said control portion of said image includes substantially ten lines of data for which said CCD is controlled to analyze at a rate slower than the rate at which said 246 lines were passed;
said CCD being thereafter being controlled to be reset.

10 more elements

A hand-held data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information;

comprising:
(a) an optical illuminating head including an optically transmissive window disposed proximate a leading end portion of said head;
(b) illumination apparatus means operable for illuminating symbology through said transmissive window;
(c) an elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to a rear wall of said head to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator and a distal end extending away from said head, said head having an exterior configuration extending rearwardly from a front end thereof and which is sized and shaped to facilitate the cupping and holding of said head by an operator;
(d) a two-dimensional photodetector, selected from the group consisting of CCD and CMOS potodetectors, having an active area, positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said optically transmissive window;
(e) a variable focus optical system including an objective taking lens positioned with respect to said two-dimensional photodetector to image a symbology target onto said active area thereof, said objective taking lens including one or more stationary lens elements fixedly aligned along an optical axis and at least a focusing means that is rotatable about an axis offset with respect to said optical axis, said focusing means including at least two focusing zones and being moveable transversely with respect to said optical axis, to change the focus of said objective taking lens, as said focusing means rotates for selected periods, including between at least said two focusing zones, so that said objective taking lens can image over working distances that at least partially overlap;
and
(f) control means for controlling said focusing means and said two-dimensional photodetector to determine an optimum focus state;
(g) said focusing means being controlled by said control means to provide image data to said two-dimensional photodetector for each of said at least two focusing zones;
(h) said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector shifting out said image data one line at a time, and storing a central portion of said image data in a memory in said control means;
(i) said control means evaluating transitions between light and dark data in said central portion of said image data to produce a representative value for each of said at least two focusing zones, wherein a largest representative value indicates which of said focusing zones provides the best focus;
(j) said two-dimensional photodetector being constructed to receive said image data for multiple illumination conditions, as provided by said illumination means, said control means being able to calculate edge totals for each image and optimum illumination being determined for one of said multiple illumination states having a largest edge total.—

9 more elements

A hand-held data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information;

comprising:
(a) an optical illuminating head including an optically transmissive window disposed proximate a leading end portion of said head;
(b) illumination apparatus means operable for illuminating symbology through said transmissive window;
(c) an elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to a rear wall of said head to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator and a distal end extending away from said head, said head having an exterior configuration extending rearwardly from a front end thereof and which is sized and shaped to facilitate the cupping and holding of said head by an operator;
(d) a two-dimensional photodetector, selected from the group consisting of CCD and CMOS potodetectors, having an active area, positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said optically transmissive window;
(e) a variable focus optical system including an objective taking lens positioned with respect to said two-dimensional photodetector to image a symbology target onto said active area thereof, said objective taking lens including one or more stationary lens elements fixedly aligned along an optical axis and at least a focusing means that is rotatable about an axis offset with respect to said optical axis, said focusing means including at least two focusing zones and being moveable transversely with respect to said optical axis, to change the focus of said objective taking lens, as said focusing means rotates for selected periods, including between at least said two focusing zones, so that said objective taking lens can image over working distances that at least partially overlap;
and
(f) control means for controlling said focusing means and said two-dimensional photodetector to determine an optimum focus state;
(g) said focusing means being controlled by said control means to provide image data to said two-dimensional photodetector for each of said at least two focusing zones;
(h) said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector shifting out said image data one line at a time, and storing a central portion of said image data in a memory in said control means;
(i) said control means evaluating transitions between light and dark data in said central portion of said image data to produce a representative value for each of said at least two focusing zones, wherein a largest representative value indicates which of said focusing zones provides the best focus;
(j) said focusing means comprising a focusing disk with at least twelve optical plates to provide different focal lengths, said focusing disk being rotatable so that each of said at least twelve optical plates can move into an optical path of said imager;
(k) a microprocessor for controlling said focusing means and operation of said two-dimensional photodetector, so that said two-dimensional photodetector performs image capture for each of predetermined number of said optical plates;
(l) said microprocessor controlling said two-dimensional photodetector to shift out said image data, one line at a time;
and
(m) said microprocessor being constructed to evaluate transitions between light and dark data in a central set of said lines to produce a representative value for each of said optical plates for which an image is to be captured wherein a largest representative value corresponds to one of said optical plates producing optimum focus.

13 more elements

A method of manipulating a hand-held imager/reader for imaging machine readable encoded symbology;

comprising:
(a) providing the imager/reader with a head and a generally elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to said head so as to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator in a first gripping mode and with a distal end extending away from said head;
(b) providing said head with a leading end portion and an exterior configuration sized and shaped to facilitate cupping and holding said head by an operator in a second gripping mode;
(c) arranging a substantially lambertian illumination emitting device within said head so that such devices, when energized, will cast diffuse illumination towards and upon the symbology;
(d) providing, within the hand-held imager/reader, an objective taking lens, a two-dimensional photodetector having an active area and a rotatable focusing element;
(e) positioning said photodetector behind the objective taking lens by a predetermined distance;
(f) aiming the imager/reader so that the symbology is located within a field of view of said objective taking lens and said two-dimensional photodetector;
(g) selectively rotating said focusing element such that said focusing element moves transversely with respect to said optical axis of said objective taking lens to change the focus of said objective taking lens between at least two focusing zones so that said objective taking lens can image both linear and matrix symbologies over working distances that at least partially overlap with respect to linear and matrix symbologies;
(h) forming a series of images of the symbology via the objective taking lens, onto said two-dimensional photodetector as the focusing element rotates and determining the range separating said objective taking lens and the symbology;
(i) determining a best focusing zone of said focusing element that most sharply images the symbology in accordance with the range determined as said focusing element rotates;
(j) capturing an image of the symbology with said two-dimensional photodetector when said best focusing zone of said focusing element is in alignment with said objective taking lens;
(k) selecting said illumination emitting device to be of a predetermined size;
and
(l) electrically interconnecting said illumination emitting device with electrically conductive material of predetermined size and positioning said illuminating emitting device and electrically conductive material to minimize shadows upon the target and/or so that shadows thereof on the target will be out of focus and appear to be smeared when imaged.

11 more elements

A method of manipulating a hand-held imager/reader for imaging machine readable encoded symbology;

comprising:
(a) providing the imager/reader with a head and a generally elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to said head so as to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator in a first gripping mode and with a distal end extending away from said head;
(b) providing said head with a leading end portion and an exterior configuration sized and shaped to facilitate cupping and holding said head by an operator in a second gripping mode;
(c) arranging a substantially lambertian illumination emitting device within said head so that such devices, when energized, will cast diffuse illumination towards and upon the symbology;
(d) providing, within the hand-held imager/reader, an objective taking lens, a two-dimensional photodetector having an active area and a rotatable disc focusing element;
(e) positioning said photodetector behind the objective taking lens by a predetermined distance;
(f) aiming the imager/reader so that the symbology is located within a field of view of said objective taking lens and said two-dimensional photodetector;
(g) selectively rotating said focusing element such that said focusing element moves transversely with respect to said optical axis of said objective taking lens to change the focus of said objective taking lens between at least two focusing zones so that said objective taking lens can image both linear and matrix symbologies over working distances that at least partially overlap with respect to linear and matrix symbologies;
(h) forming a series of images of the symbology via the objective taking lens, onto said two-dimensional photodetector as the focusing element rotates and determining the range separating said objective taking lens and the symbology;
(i) determining a best focusing zone of said focusing element that most sharply images the symbology in accordance with the range determined as said focusing element rotates;
(j) capturing an image of the symbology with said two-dimensional photodetector when said best focusing zone of said focusing element is in alignment with said objective taking lens;
(k) providing multiple illumination conditions of said symbology;
(l) capturing an image of said symbology in said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector for each of said multiple illumination conditions;
(m) determining optimum illumination by calculating edge totals for each image data received by said two-dimensional photodetector;
(n) comparing said edge total for all of said multiple illumination conditions to determine a largest edge total;
(o) utilizing said largest edge total as an indicator of optimum illumination;
(p) controlling said two-dimensional photodetector to quickly pass 246 lines of data through without storing said 246 lines in memory;
(q) including substantially ten lines of data within a contol portion of said image;
(r) controlling said two-dimensional photodetector to analyze at a rate slower than the rate of which said 246 lines are to be-passed;
and
(s) controlling said two-dimensional photodetector to thereafter be reset.

18 more elements

A method of manipulating a hand-held imager/reader for imaging machine readable encoded symbology;

comprising:
(a) providing the imager/reader with a head and a generally elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to said head so as to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator in a first gripping mode and with a distal end extending away from said head;
(b) providing said head with a leading end portion and an exterior configuration sized and shaped to facilitate cupping and holding said head by an operator in a second gripping mode;
(c) arranging a substantially lambertian illumination emitting device within said head so that such devices, when energized, will cast diffuse illumination towards and upon the symbology;
(d) providing, within the hand-held imager/reader, an objective taking lens, a two-dimensional photodetector having an active area and a rotatable disc focusing element;
(e) positioning said photodetector behind the objective taking lens by a predetermined distance;
(f) aiming the imager/reader so that the symbology is located within a field of view of said objective taking lens and said two-dimensional photodetector;
(g) selectively rotating said focusing element such that said focusing element moves transversely with respect to said optical axis of said objective taking lens to change the focus of said objective taking lens between at least two focusing zones so that said objective taking lens can image both linear and matrix symbologies over working distances that at least partially overlap with respect to linear and matrix symbologies;
(h) forming a series of images of the symbology via the objective taking lens, onto said two-dimensional photodetector as the focusing element rotates and determining the range separating said objective taking lens and the symbology;
(i) determining a best focusing zone of said focusing element that most sharply images the symbology in accordance with the range determined as said focusing element rotates;
(j) capturing an image of the symbology with said twodimensional photodetector when said best focusing zone of said focusing element is in alignment with said objective taking lens;
(k) providing multiple illumination conditions of said symbology;
(l) capturing an image of said symbology in said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector for each of said multiple illumination conditions;
(m) determining optimum illumination by calculating edge totals for each image data received by said two-dimensional photodetector;
(n) comparing said edge total for all of said multiple illumination conditions to determine a largest edge total;
(o) utilizing said largest edge total as an indicator of optimum illumination;
(p) said two-dimensional photodetector receiving said image data for multiple illumination conditions, as provided by said illumination apparatus means;
and
(q) said control means calculating edge totals for each image and determining optimum illumination for one of said multiple illumination states having a largest edge total.

16 more elements

A method of manipulating a hand-held imager/reader for imaging machine readable encoded symbology;

comprising:
(a) providing the imager/reader with a head and a generally elongated handle having a proximal portion coupled to said head so as to define a neck grippable by thumb and index finger of an operator in a first gripping mode and with a distal end extending away from said head;
(b) providing said head with a leading end portion and an exterior configuration sized and shaped to facilitate cupping and holding said head by an operator in a second gripping mode;
(c) arranging a substantially lambertian illumination emitting device within said head so that such devices, when energized, will cast diffuse illumination towards and upon the symbology;
(d) providing, within the hand-held imager/reader, an objective taking lens, a two-dimensional photodetector having an active area and a rotatable disc focusing element;
(e) positioning said photodetector behind the objective taking lens by a predetermined distance;
(f) aiming the imager/reader so that the symbology is located within a field of view of said objective taking lens and said two-dimensional photodetector;
(g) selectively rotating said focusing element such that said focusing element moves transversely with respect to said optical axis of said objective taking lens to change the focus of said objective taking lens between at least two focusing zones so that said objective taking lens can image both linear and matrix symbologies over working distances that at least partially overlap with respect to linear and matrix symbologies;
(h) forming a series of images of the symbology via the objective taking lens, onto said two-dimensional photodetector as the focusing element rotates and determining the range separating said objective taking lens and the symbology;
(i) determining a best focusing zone of said focusing element that most sharply images the symbology in accordance with the range determined as said focusing element rotates;
(j) capturing an image of the symbology with said two-dimensional photodetector when said best focusing zone of said focusing element is in alignment with said objective taking lens;
(k) providing multiple illumination conditions of said symbology;
(l) capturing an image of said symbology in said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector for each of said multiple illumination conditions;
(m) determining optimum illumination by calculating edge totals for each image data received by said two-dimensional photodetector;
(n) comparing said edge total for all of said multiple illumination conditions to determine a largest edge total;
(o) utilizing said largest edge total as an indicator of optimum illumination;
(p) forming said focusing element with a plurality of optical plates to provide different focal lengths, and rotating same so that selected ones of said optical plates are moved into an optical path of said imager;
(q) providing a microprocessor for controlling said focusing element and operation of said two-dimensional photodetector, so that said two-dimensional photodetector performs image capture for said selected ones of said optical plates;
(r) said microprocessor controlling said two-dimensional detector to shift out said image data, one line at a time;
and
(s) said microprocessor evaluating transitions between light and dark data in a central set of said lines to produce a representative value for each of said selected ones of said optical plates, wherein a largest representative value corresponds to one of said optical plates producing optimum focus.

18 more elements

A hand-held data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information;

comprising:
(a) an optical illuminating head including an optically transmissive window disposed proximate a leading end portion of said head;
(b) illumination apparatus means operable for illuminating symbology through said transmissive window;
and
(c) said illumination apparatus means including:
(i) illuminator means for projecting diffuse illumination in a predetermined configuration and in a predetermined direction;
(ii) illumination means for casting illumi-nation upon said illuminator means;
(iii) at least a portion of a surface of said illuminator means, when illumination from said illumination means is cast thereupon, projecting said diffuse illumination in said predetermined direction;
(d) a two-dimensional photodetector, having an active area, positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said optically transmissive window;
(e) a variable focus optical system including an objective taking lens positioned with respect to said two-dimensional photodetector to image a symbology target on said active area thereof, said objective taking lens including one or more stationary lens elements fixedly aligned along an optical axis and at least a focusing means that is rotatable about an axis offset with respect to said optical axis, said focusing means being moveable transversely with respect to said optical axis, to change the focus of said objective taking lens, as said focusing means rotates for selected periods, between at least two focusing zones, so that said objective taking lens can image over working distances that at least partially overlap;
(f) rangefinding means for determining the distance from said variable focus optical system to an object to be imaged and providing a ranging signal that varies in correspondence with object distance;
(g) control means for controlling said focusing means and said two-dimensional photodetector to determine an optimum focus state;
(h) said focusing means being controlled by said control means to provide image data to said two-dimensional photodetector for each of said at least two focusing zones;
(i) said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector shifting out said image data one line at a time, and storing a selected portion, or selected portions, of said image data in a memory in said control means;
(j) said control means evaluating transitions between light and dark data in said selected portion or portions of said image data to produce a representative value for each of said at least two focusing zones, wherein a largest representative value indicates which of said focusing zones provides the best focus;
(k) said two-dimensional photodetector including a CCD with a resolution of 659 by 494 pixels in said active area;
and
(l) said CCD being controllable to quickly pass 246 lines of data through without storing said 246 lines in memory, with said control portion of said image to include substantially ten lines of data for which said CCD is to be controlled to analyze at a rate slower than the rate at which said 246 lines were passed;
said CCD being thereafter controlled to be reset.

16 more elements

A hand-held data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information;

comprising:
(a) an optical illuminating head including an optically transmissive window disposed proximate a leading end portion of said head;
(b) illumination apparatus means operable for illieinating symbology through said transmissive window;
and
(c) said illumination apparatus means including:
(i) illuminator means for projecting diffuse illumination in a predetermined configuration and in a predetermined direction;
(ii) illumination means for casting illumi-nation upon said illuminator means;
(iii) at least a portion of a surface of said illuminator means, when illumination from said illumination means is cast thereupon, projecting said diffuse illumination in said predetermined direction;
(d) a two-dimensional photodetector, having an active area, positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said optically transmissive window;
(e) a variable focus optical system including an objective taking lens positioned with respect to said two-dimensional photodetector to image a symbology target on said active area thereof, said objective taking lens including one or more stationary lens elements fixedly aligned along an optical axis and at least a focusing means that is rotatable about an axis offset with respect to said optical axis, said focusing means being moveable transversely with respect to said optical axis, to change the focus of said objective taking lens, as said focusing means rotates for selected periods, between at least two focusing zones, so that said objective taking lens can image over working distances that at least partially overlap;
(f) rangefinding means for determining the distance from said variable focus optical system to an object to be imaged and providing a ranging signal that varies in correspondence with object distance;
(g) control means for controlling said focusing means and said two-dimensional photodetector to determine an optimum focus state;
(h) said focusing means being controlled by said control means to provide image data to said two-dimensional photodetector for each of said at least two focusing zones;
(i) said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector shifting out said image data one line at a time, and storing a selected portion, or selected portions, of said image data in a memory in said control means;
(j) said control means evaluating transitions between light and dark data in said selected portion or portions of said image data to produce a representative value for each of said at least two focusing zones, wherein a largest representative value indicates which of said focusing zones provides the best focus;
(k) said two-dimensional photodetector is to receive said image data for multiple illumination conditions, as provided by said illumination means;
and
(l) said control means is to calculate edge totals for each image and optimum illumination is determined for one of said multiple illumination states having a largest edge total.—

15 more elements

A hand-held data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information;

comprising:
(a) an optical illuminating head including an optically transmissive window disposed proximate a leading end portion of said head;
(b) illumination apparatus means operable for illuminating symbology through said transmissive window;
and
(c) said illumination apparatus means including:
(i) illuminator means for projecting diffuse illumination in a predetermined configuration and in a predetermined direction;
(ii) illumination means for casting illumi-nation upon said illuminator means;
(iii) at least a portion of a surface of said illuminator means, when illumination from said illumination means is cast thereupon, projecting said diffuse illumination in said predetermined direction;
(d) a two-dimensional photodetector, having an active area, positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said optically transmissive window;
(e) a variable focus optical system including an objective taking lens positioned with respect to said two-dimensional photodetector to image a symbology target on said active area thereof, said objective taking lens including one or more stationary lens elements fixedly aligned along an optical axis and at least a focusing means that is rotatable about an axis offset with respect to said optical axis, said focusing means being moveable transversely with respect to said optical axis, to change the focus of said objective taking lens, as said focusing means rotates for selected periods, between at least two focusing zones, so that said objective taking lens can image over working distances that at least partially overlap;
(f) rangefinding means for determining the distance from said variable focus optical system to an object to be imaged and providing a ranging signal that varies in correspondence with object distance;
(g) control means for controlling said focusing means and said two-dimensional photodetector to determine an optimum focus state;
(h) said focusing means being controlled by said control means to provide image data to said two-dimensional photodetector for each of said at least two focusing zones;
(i) said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector shifting out said image data one line at a time, and storing a selected portion, or selected portions, of said image data in a memory in said control means;
(j) said control means evaluating transitions between light and dark data in said selected portion or portions of said image data to produce a representative value for each of said at least two focusing zones, wherein a largest representative value indicates which of said focusing zones provides the best focus;
(k) said focusing means comprising a focusing disk with at least twelve optical plates to provide different focal lengths, said focusing disk being rotatable so that each of said at least twelve optical plates can move into an optical path of said imager;
(l) a microprocessor for controlling said focusing means and operation of said two-dimensional photodetector, so that said two-dimensional photodetector performs image capture for each of said at least twelve optical plates;
(m) said microprocessor controlling said two-dimensional photodetector to shift out said image data, one line at a time;
and
(n) said microprocessor evaluating transitions between light and dark data in a selected set of said lines to produce a representative value for each of said at least twelve optical plates, wherein a largest representative value corresponds to one of said optical plates producing optimum focus.

17 more elements

The data-collection apparatus for imaging machine readable symbology of coded information, comprising;

(a) a housing;
(b) an optically transmissive window carried by said housing;
(c)-illuminating apparatus disposed within said housing and positioned therein to project diffuse illumination through said window and towards symbology when disposed within the vicinity of said window;
(d) a two-dimensional photodetector, having an active area, positioned at a predetermined location with respect to said window;
(e) a variable focus optical system having an optical axis and including a focusing means that is rotatable about a focusing axis that is offset with respect to said optical axis and movable transversely, with respect to said optical axis, to change the focus of said variable focus optical system as said focusing means rotates for selected periods between at least two focusing zones of said focusing means, so that said variable focus optical system can image the symbology over predetermined working distances;
(f) said focusing means including a plurality of optical plates, each of different thickness, to change the optical path length of said variable focus optical system so that symbology positioned at different locations within the field of view of said variable focus optical system will be acceptably imaged on said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector;
(g) control means for controlling said focusing means and said two-dimensional photodetector to determine an optimum focus;
(h) said control means controlling said focusing means to provide image data to said two-dimensional photodetector for each of said at least two focusing zones;
(i) said active area of said two-dimensional photodetector shifting out said image data one line at a time, and storing a selected portion of said image data in a memory in said control means;
(j) said control means evaluating transitions between light and dark data in said selected portion of said image data for, producing a representative value for each of said at least two focusing zones, wherein a largest representation value indicates which of said focusing zones provides the best focus;
(k) said two-dimensional photodetector including a CCD with a resolution of 659 lines by 494 pixels in said active area;
and
(l) said CCD is to be controlled to pass said selected portion of said image data to a memory at a first predetermined rate and to effectively dump the rest of the image data at a dump rate which is faster then said first predetermined rate.

10 more elements

Symbology imaging and reading apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Symbology imaging and reading apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims102