Method for automatic regulation of the characteristics of an optical code reading system

A method for automatic regulation of at least one characteristic variable of an optical code reading system, comprising iteratively repeating the steps of:

• a) acquiring an image (30) comprising at least one optical code containing extractable information;
• b) attempting (85) a reading of said at least one optical code in said image whereby attempting to obtain at least some of said contained information;
• c) verifying whether said reading has been completed successfully;
• d) if said reading has been completed successfully, detecting (105, 110) said characteristic variable of said image;
• and
• e) if said reading has been successfully completed, modifying (170, 175, 195) at least one controlled parameter to cause a variation of said characteristic variable, whereby to enhance the extractability of said contained information, said controlled parameter being modified by a quantity contained between a minimum and a maximum value, said minimum value being such as to allow evaluation of said variation of said detected characteristic variable and said maximum value being such that said step c) of verifying has a positive outcome in a following repetition.

A method for automatic regulation of at least one characteristic variable of an optical code reading system, comprising the steps of:

• a) acquiring an image (30) comprising at least one optical code containing information;
• b) attempting (85) a reading of said at least one optical code in said image, whereby attempting to extract at least some of said contained information;
• c) verifying whether said reading has been completed successfully;
• d) if said reading has been completed successfully, detecting (105, 110) at least one characteristic variable of said image;
• and
• e) if said reading has been successfully completed, modifying (170, 175, 195) at least one controlled parameter to cause a variation of said detected characteristic variable of said image,
• wherein said characteristic variable is at least one member selected from the group consisting of image brightness and focusing quality.

A method for automatic regulation of at least one characteristic variable of an optical code reading system, comprising the steps:

• of;
• a) acquiring an image (30) comprising at least one optical code containing extractable information;
• b) attempting (85) a reading of said at least one optical code in said image, whereby attempting to extract at least some of said contained information;
• c) verifying whether said reading has been completed successfully;
• d) if said reading has been completed successfully, detecting (105, 110) at least one characteristic variable of said image;
• and
• e) if said reading has been successfully completed, modifying (170, 175, 195) at least one controlled parameter to cause a variation of said detected characteristic variable of said image, whereby to enhance the extractability of said contained information,
• wherein said at least one controlled parameter is selected from the group consisting of focusing position, image acquisition sensitivity, lighting power, reading decision-making threshold value and scanning speed.

A method of operating an optical code reading system having at least one controlled parameter acting on the variation of at least one characteristic variable of the optical code reading system, comprising the steps of:

• a) acquiring an image, comprising at least one optical code containing information, at a working point of said optical code reading system;
• b) attempting a reading of said at least one optical code in said image, whereby attempting to obtain said contained information;
• c) verifying whether said reading has been completed successfully;
• d1) if said verification has a negative result, maintaining a current value of said at least one parameter;
• d2) if said verification has a positive result:
• e) detecting at least one characteristic variable for said image;
• and
• f) performing a fine regulation step of said working point by modifying said at least one controlled parameter acting on the variation of said at least one characteristic variable,
• wherein said at least one controlled parameter is selected from the group consisting of focusing position, image acquisition sensitivity, lighting power, reading decision-making threshold value and scanning speed, and wherein said at least one characteristic variable is at least one member selected from the group consisting of image brightness and focusing quality.