Method of reading code symbols using a digital image capturing and processing system employing a micro-computing platform with an event-driven multi-tier software architecture

A method of reading code symbols using a digital image capturing and processing system, said method comprising the sequence of steps:

• (a) providing a digital image capturing and processing system contained within a housing having a light transmission window, and including the following subsystems and components:
• (i) an image formation and detection subsystem having image formation optics providing a field of view (FOV) extending from an area-type image detecting array with rows of sensor elements, through said light transmission window, to an object positioned outside of said housing,
• (ii) an illumination subsystem having at least one illumination array for producing a beam of illumination within said FOV for illuminating the object disposed within at least a portion of said FOV,
• (iii) an image capturing and buffering subsystem for capturing and buffering area-type (2D) digital images of the object within said FOV, detected by said area-type image detecting array,
• (iv) a digital image processing subsystem for processing said 2D digital images and producing processed image data,
• (v) an input/output subsystem for receiving processed image data produced by said digital image processing subsystem,
• (vi) a system control subsystem for controlling and/or managing one or more of said subsystems defined above, and
• (vii) a micro-computing platform implementing at least portions of said digital image processing subsystem, said input/output subsystem, and said system control subsystem, and controlling and/or coordinating operations of said subsystems,
• wherein said micro-computing platform includes a microprocessor, a memory architecture, and a multi-tier software architecture characterized by an operating system (OS) layer, a system core (SCORE) layer, and an application layer,
• wherein said OS layer includes one or more software modules selected from the group consisting of an OS kernel module, an OS file system module, and device driver modules,
• wherein said SCORE layer includes one or more of the software modules selected from the group consisting of a tasks manager module, an events dispatcher module, an input/output manager module, a user commands manager module, the timer subsystem module, an input/output subsystem module and an a memory control subsystem module, and
• wherein said application layer includes one or more software modules selected from the group consisting of a code symbol decoding module, a function programming module, an application events manager module, a user commands table module, and a command handler module;
• (b) initializing said micro-computing platform;
• (c) positioning the object within said FOV;
• (d) generating a triggering event within said multi-tier software architecture so as to cause rows of sensor elements in said area-type image detecting array to become ready for integration of light imaged on said area-type image detecting array;
• (e) when said rows of sensor elements in said area-type image detecting array are ready for integration of light on said area-type image detecting array,
• (1) automatically producing a field of illumination from said illumination subsystem, and illuminating the object present within said FOV, and
• (2) automatically detecting one or more 2D digital images of the illuminated object formed on said area-type image detecting array while said object is being illuminated by said field of illumination;
• (g) automatically capturing and buffering said one or more detected 2D digital images of the object using said image capturing and buffering subsystem;
• (h) processing the one or more captured and buffered 2D digital images using said digital image processing subsystem, and producing symbol character data representative of one or more code symbols graphically represented in said one or more detected 2D digital images;
• and
• (i) outputting processed image data to an external host system or other information receiving or responding device, using said input/output subsystem.