Device and system for verifying quality of bar codes

An optical reader comprising:

• (A) an imaging assembly comprising a solid state image sensor having a plurality of photosensitive picture elements said imaging assembly further having an imaging lens focusing an image onto said solid state image sensor, said solid state image sensor being selected from the group consisting of a one dimensional image sensor and a two dimensional image sensor;
• (B) an artificial light source;
• (C) a hand held housing encapsulating at least one component of said imaging assembly, said hand held housing further encapsulating said artificial light source;
• (D) a control circuit disposed within said hand held housing, said control circuit being in communication with said imaging assembly and said artificial light source, wherein said control circuit is configured to capture a frame of image data within a memory unit thereof, said frame of image data including a plurality of pixel values;
• (E) at least one of an interpolation module and a high spatial frequency correction module incorporated in said housing, said interpolation module when executed by said reader processing image data input to said interpolation module by determining constructed pixel values corresponding to interpolated pixel positions according to a nonlinear function, said high spatial frequency correction module when executed by said reader enhancing a frequency component of image data input to said high special frequency correction module;
• (F) a bar code decoding module incorporated in said housing;
• (G) wherein said reader is configured so that said reader, in response to receipt of a trigger signal automatically captures a frame of image data and further automatically executes said at least one of said interpolation module and said high spatial frequency error correction module and further automatically executes said decoding module.

A bar code verification system for measuring the quality of a bar code symbol disposed on a substrate, said bar code verification system comprising:

• (A) a bar code verification device having a housing, said bar code verification device further having an imaging assembly disposed in an interior of said housing, said bar code verification device having an image capture module and a bar code quality measurement module, wherein said bar code verification device develops bar code quality measurement data when executing said bar code quality measurement module, said bar code measurement data including at least one of symbol contrast measurement data, edge contrast measurement data, and modulation measurement data, wherein said bar code verification device further has incorporated in said housing at least one artificial light source illuminating said bar code symbol disposed on said substrate, said bar code verification device further having a radio frequency transceiver facilitating wireless data communication with a device spaced apart from said bar code verification device;
• (B) a host processor assembly including a host display, said host processor assembly spaced apart from and in communication with said bar code verification device, said host processor assembly including a user-interactive waveform analysis module enabling an operator of said bar code verification system to view a graphical representation of image data corresponding to said bar code symbol, said user-interactive waveform analysis module further enabling an operator of said bar code verification system to view on said display data determined by said bar code print quality measurement module of said bar code verification device, wherein said host processor assembly and bar code verification device are configured so that said bar code verification device is freely moveable with respect to said host processor assembly, wherein said host processor assembly includes a radio frequency transceiver that is in wireless communication with said radio frequency transceiver of said bar code verification device;
• (C) wherein said system is configured so that said bar code verification device in response to receipt of a trigger signal automatically executes said image capture module to capture image data representing said bar code symbol, and further automatically executes said bar code quality measurement module to develop bar code quality measurement data, wherein said bar code verification device, further in response to receipt of said trigger signal automatically and wirelessly transmits to said spaced apart host processor assembly, when communications capabilities there between are unimpeded, image data corresponding to said bar code symbol together with said bar code quality measurement data developed pursuant to execution of said bar code quality measurement module;
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• (D) wherein said bar code verification device includes an impeded communication mode of operation in which said bar code verification device evaluates present data communications capabilities of said radio frequency transceiver of said bar code verification device, wherein said bar code verification device further in accordance with said impeded communications mode of operation, when determining that data communications are presently impeded, automatically archives image data and bar code print quality measurement data determined by said bar code verification device over the course of more than one decode and measurement session for later uploading to said host processor assembly.

A portable data collection device for use in decoding and measuring a print quality of bar codes, said portable data collection device comprising:

• (A) an imaging assembly including a solid state image sensor and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said solid state image sensor, said solid state image sensor being selected from group consisting of a one dimensional image sensor having at least one row of photosensitive picture elements and a two dimensional image sensor having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of photosensitive picture elements;
• (B) a portable, hand held housing encapsulating a component of said imaging assembly;
• (C) a display disposed on a surface of said device;
• (D) a keyboard disposed on a surface of said device;
• (E) a graphical user interface incorporated into said device, said graphical user interface including a pointer that is displayed on said display, said device being configured so that a location of said pointer on said device is responsive to a user-input command to change a displayed location of said pointer;
• (F) a trigger button disposed on said device;
• (G) a radio frequency transceiver disposed within an interior of said housing facilitating data communications between said portable data collection device and a device spaced apart from said portable data collection device;
• (H) an image capture module incorporated in said device;
• (I) a bar code decoding module further incorporated in said device;
• (J) a bar code print quality measurement module incorporated in said device;
• (K) wherein said device is configured so that when said trigger is actuated, said device automatically executes said image capture module, said bar code decoding module and said bar code print quality measurement module, wherein said device when executing said image capture module captures a frame of image data corresponding to said bar code symbol, wherein said device when executing said bar code decoding module processes a frame of image data to determine a decoded out message, and wherein said device when executing said print quality measurement module determines at least one of a print contrast measurement, an edge contrast measurement and a modulation measurement of said bar code symbol;
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• (L) a user-interactive waveform analysis module incorporated in said device, said user-interactive waveform analysis module enabling said verification device to display data on said display in a plurality of user-selectable display formats, said user-selectable display formats being selectable with use of said graphical user interface, wherein said device in a first of said plurality of user-selectable display formats displays at least a scan reflectance profile of said bar code symbol enabling an operator to discern information respecting a print quality of said bar code symbol by observation of said scan reflectance profile, and wherein said device in a second of said user selectable display formats displays at least one of said scan contrast data, edge contrast data, and said modulation data determined by said device during execution of said print quality measurement module.

A device for verification of a bar code disposed on a horizontal substrate, said device comprising:

• (A) an imaging assembly including a solid state image sensor;
• (B) a hand held housing encapsulating a component of said imaging assembly, said hand held housing having a plurality of surfaces that extend generally upward from said substrate when said device is positioned in a position to measure print quality of said bar code;
• (C) an illumination assembly at least partially disposed in said housing projecting illumination onto said substrate;
• (D) an aperture formed on said housing, said aperture being formed on said housing in such position that an operator can view said bar code through said aperture when said device is positioned in a position over said bar code;
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• (E) at least one alignment formation for aiding alignment of said device relative to said bar code, said at least one alignment formation formed at a bottom of said device, said at least one alignment formation and said aperture being positioned so that an operator can view said at least one alignment formation through said aperture wherein said device is positioned on said horizontal substrate.