Adaptive data reader and method of operating

A method for data reading comprising the steps of

• capturing, via a data reader, a first set of images of an item bearing an optical code;
• performing an analysis of the first set of images to determine whether the item is in a recognized item class, wherein the step of performing an analysis of the first set of images includes recognizing a first shape nested within a similar second shape to identify an item bearing an optical code on a display screen;
• automatically setting adjusted operating of the data reader based on the analysis of the first set of images of whether the item is in the recognized item class;
• capturing, via the data reader, a second set of images of the item bearing the optical code using the adjusted operating parameters;
• and
• processing the second set of images to decode the optical code appearing in the second set of images of the item.

A system for data reading comprising:

• an imager for capturing an image of an item bearing an optical code;
• an illumination source for illuminating the item;
• and
• a controller for operating the imager and the illumination source, wherein the controller is programmed to,
• operate the imager to capture a first set of images of the item bearing an optical code;
• analyze the first set of images to determine whether the item is in a recognized item class comprising items bearing an optical code on or under a relatively highly reflective surface;
• automatically adjust operating parameters of the imager and the illumination source based on whether the item is in the recognized item class;
• operate the imager to capture a second set of images of the item using the adjusted operating parameters;
• and
• analyze the optical code appearing in the second set of images of the item.

A method for data reading comprising the steps of:

• capturing, via a data reader, a first set of images of an item bearing an optical code;
• creating a histogram based on the first set of images;
• analyzing the histogram to determine whether the histogram is bi-modal;
• automatically adjusting operating parameters of the data reader based on whether the histogram is bi-modal;
• capturing, via the data reader, a second set of images of the item bearing the optical code using the adjusted operating parameters;
• and
• processing the second set of images to decode the optical code appearing in the second set of images of the item.