Patent Grant
9058527
The present invention relates to optical readers in general and specifically, to an optical reader having an image sensor array.
Designs have been proposed for bar code decoding devices having picture taking functionality.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,176, a picture taking bar code reading device is described that is equipped to output bar code data and associated image data. In one example described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,176, output image data is image data representing a handwritten signature. The image data output by the bar code decoding device may be subject to size correction, image orientation adjustment and image distortion correction image processing for correcting distortion resulting from an image being captured at an angle.
In U.S. Publication No. US2002/0171745, a picture taking bar code reading device is described which is in communication with a remote computer. The bar code reading device sends image data and associated bar code data to the remote computer. In one combined bar code/image data transmission scheme described in U.S. Publication No. US2002/0171745, an image data file in .PDF, .TIFF, or .BMP filed format is created at a data collection device which includes an image representation of a decoded bar code message and an image representation of the package including the bar code encoding the decoded message.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,569 a picture taking bar code reading device is described that includes a color image sensor and a classification circuit which classifies image data as being either bi-tonal image data or color image data.
In U.S. Publication No. US2005/0001035 a picture taking bar code reading device is described which executes either a picture taking exposure control algorithm or bar code decoding exposure control algorithm depending on which mode is selected.
While the above references describe significant improvements in the art, there remains a need for improvement in the art of a picture taking optical reader which is capable of picture taking functionality and excellent bar code decoding functionality.
Performance of an optical reader may be hindered where an optical reader is operated to read bar code symbols or other indicia of a substrate having a “shiny” surface. Such substrates can include, e.g., metal, glass, and laminated plastic. Light rays emanating from a reader that are projected on a highly reflective shiny surface of a substrate may be substantially entirely reflected directly onto a reader image sensor array. Artisans skilled in the art of optical readers regard a “specular reflection” read condition to have occurred where a substantial percentage of light rays are reflected from a substrate and directed onto a reader image sensor array. Light rays are said to be reflected at a “specular” angle when light rays are reflected from a substrate at about the angle of incidence. Specular reflection tends to saturate a reader image sensor array to cause decoding failures. There is a need for an optical reader configured so that specular reflection read errors are reduced.
The objects and features of the invention can be better understood with reference to the drawings described below, and the claims.
a is an electrical block diagram of a hand held optical reader of the invention including a hybrid monochrome and a color sensing solid state image sensor array;
b is a block diagram of an alternative image sensor array which may be incorporated into an optical reader according to the invention;
c is a schematic block diagram illustrating an RF communications circuit according to the invention;
d is a schematic block diagram illustrating a display according to the invention;
e is a schematic view illustrating incorporation of a decode circuit, a signature autodiscrimination circuit, a demosaicing circuit, and a fusion circuit into an optical reader according to the invention;
a-2d are various partial exploded top views of an embodiment of a solid state image sensor array according to the invention;
a is a cutaway exploded side view of a monochrome pixel according to one embodiment of the invention;
b is a top view of the pixel shown in
c is a cutaway exploded side view of a color sensitive pixel in one embodiment of the invention;
d is a top view of the pixel shown in
a is an electrical block diagram of an embodiment of an image sensor according to the invention;
b is an electrical block diagram of an image sensor array of the invention showing incorporation of reset control lines in the image sensor array;
c is a timing diagram illustrating coordinated exposure control timing pulses and reset control timing pulses according to the invention;
a-5e are various partial exploded top views of an embodiment of a solid state image sensor array according to the invention;
f is a top perspective view of an image sensor integrated circuit chip incorporating an image sensor array according to the invention with an exploded view portion illustrating a pixel pattern of color sensitive “clusters” of pixels which pattern may be distributed throughout the array;
g-5i are top perspective views of image sensor integrated circuit chips incorporating a linear bar code symbol optimized image sensor array according to the invention with respective exploded view portions illustrating pixel patterns including “zones” of monochrome pixels and “zones” of color sensitive pixels;
j is a top perspective view of an image sensor integrated circuit chip incorporating a linear symbol optimized image sensor array according to the invention;
a is a cutaway exploded side view of a monochrome pixel according to one embodiment of the invention;
b is a top view of the pixel shown in
c is a cutaway exploded side view of a color sensitive pixel in one embodiment of the invention;
d is a top view of the pixel shown in
a is an electrical block diagram of an embodiment of an image sensor according to the invention;
b is an electrical block diagram of an image sensor array of the invention showing incorporation of reset control lines in the image sensor array;
c and 7d are schematic top views illustrating alternative configurations for a reset control system including separate sets of reset control lines for resetting a first subset of rows of pixels independent of resetting second subset of rows of pixels of an image sensor array according to the invention;
a is an exploded perspective view of an imaging module according to the invention;
b and 8c are front and side views, respectively, of the imaging module shown in
d shows an illumination and aiming pattern which may be projected by an optical reader according to the invention;
e is a top view of an alternative imaging module incorporating a laser based aiming pattern generating system;
f is a front view of a polarizer plate which may be included as part of an imaging module herein, e.g., the imaging middle shown in
a and 9b are physical form views of various hand held optical readers according to the invention;
c is a perspective view of a hand held mobile telephone (a “cell phone”) which may incorporate a hybrid monochrome and color image sensor array according to the invention and which may be configured according to the invention;
a is an application schematic view illustrating a first optical reader according to the invention and a second remotely located optical reader according to the invention being operated to take first and second digital pictures of a parcel at first and second locations that are a distance apart for purposes of determining whether the parcel was damaged during delivery from the first location to the second location;
b is another application schematic view illustrating an optical reader being used to take a color picture of a delivery vehicle;
a is an application schematic diagram according to the invention illustrating an optical reader according to the invention being used to read bar codes of a vehicle and to take color pictures of a vehicle;
b is a view of a VIN sticker which may be disposed on the vehicle of
c is a view of a VIN plate which may be disposed on the vehicle of
d is a view of a vehicle registration sticker which may be disposed on the vehicle of
e is a view of an optical reader programmed to display a GUI form assisting an application wherein an optical reader, according to the invention, is utilized to decode bar code symbols and to take color pictures of a vehicle;
a-14c are various flow diagrams illustrating the invention;
d-14f are additional flow diagrams illustrating examples of operation of an optical reader according to the invention in an indicia decode mode of operation;
g and 14h are additional flow diagrams illustrating examples of operation of an optical reader according to the invention in a picture taking mode of operation;
i is a flow diagram illustrating operation of a fusion circuit of an optical reader according to the invention which processes monochrome and color image data to produce a high resolution visual display color frame of image data;
a-15e are various image capture initiation control signal timing diagrams illustrating the invention;
a-16c illustrate various pixelized frames of image data which may be captured by an optical reader according to the invention;
a is an electrical block diagram of an optical reader according to the invention having a plurality of imaging modules;
b and 17c illustrate alternative hardware blocks that can be utilized with the electrical circuit of
d and 17e illustrate imaging modules which may be utilized with the reader of
f and 17g illustrate exemplary optical readers incorporating a pair of imaging modules;
a is a schematic view of a cyan-magenta-yellow (CMY) image sensor array in accordance with the invention which may be incorporated into an optical reader according to the invention and which may be controlled to generate both a decode frame of image data and a visual display color frame of image data;
a is a schematic view of a hybrid monochrome and polarizer image sensor array in accordance with the invention which may be incorporated in an optical reader according to the invention;
b is a top perspective view of a hybrid monochrome and polarizer image sensor array according to the invention with an exploded view section illustrating a pattern of light polarizing pixels that may be distributed throughout the image sensor array;
c is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary operational mode of an optical reader according to the invention which incorporates a hybrid monochrome and polarizer image sensor array according to the invention;
a and 20b are top perspective views of a monochrome polarizer and color sensitive image sensor array according to the invention with an exploded view section illustrating a pattern of light polarizing pixels and color sensitive pixels that may be distributed throughout the array;
a is a schematic block diagram of an autodiscrimination circuit which may be utilized with the invention;
b is a process for practicing principles of the invention including automatically discriminating between different dataform types;
c shows one embodiment of a plurality of curvelent detector maps which may be utilized with the invention;
d shows another embodiment of a plurality of curvelent detector maps which may be utilized with the invention;
e is a diagrammatic representation of a histogram analysis which may be performed in one embodiment of the invention;
f-22i are diagrammatic representations of an image data segmentation process according to embodiments of the invention.
There is provided in one embodiment an optical reader having an image sensor array. In one embodiment, the image sensor array can include a first subset of pixels and a second subset of pixels. The first subset of pixels can be devoid of light polarizing filter elements, and the second subset of pixels can be light polarizing pixels including light polarizing filter elements. An optical reader can be configured to selectively read out image data from an image sensor array's light polarizing pixels.
An optical reader image sensor array of the invention can include light polarizing pixels, each light polarizing pixel having a light polarizing filter element (light polarizing filter) that significantly attenuates polarized light rays generated from an appropriately polarized light source and reflected at a specular angle; thus, reducing the contribution of specularly reflected light rays to generated image signals from the polarizing pixels. In one embodiment, a first subset of pixels of an optical reader image sensor array are monochrome pixels and a second subset of pixels are light polarizing pixels. For decoding decodable indicia in specular reflection read conditions, image data corresponding to the light polarizing pixels can be selectively transferred to a decode circuit, either by way of selecting reading out image data from the light polarizing pixels, or by selectively extracting image data corresponding to light polarizing pixels from a frame of image data including image data in addition to image data corresponding to light polarizing pixels.
In another embodiment, there is provided a picture taking optical reader having a hybrid monochrome and color (monocolor) solid state image sensor array. The hybrid image sensor array comprises a plurality of pixels including a first subset of pixels and a second subset of pixels, wherein the first subset of pixels are monochrome pixels and the second subset of pixels are color sensitive pixels having wavelength selective color filter elements.
In one embodiment, the monochrome first subset of pixels is formed in a checkerboard pattern, and voids are formed at the corners of pixels of the first subset, such that combinations of voids of adjacent pixels define open areas. Pixels of the color sensitive second subset of pixels are formed at the open areas, and wavelength selective filter elements are formed on pixels of the second subset but not on pixels of the first subset.
In another embodiment, an optical reader solid state image sensor array includes a plurality of pixels formed in a plurality of rows on an IC chip in a checkerboard pattern wherein each pixel has approximately the same dimension. The majority of pixels of the image sensor array are monochrome pixels of the first subset. Color sensitive pixels of the second subset are at spaced apart positions and are uniformly or substantially uniformly distributed throughout the image sensor array. Color sensitive pixels may be distributed in the array in a specific pattern of uniform distribution such as a period of P=2, where every other pixel of every other row of the image sensor array is a color sensitive pixel, or a period of P=4 where, for every fourth row of pixels of the array, every fourth pixel is a color sensitive pixel.
A hybrid monochrome and color sensing solid state image sensor array of the invention may be incorporated in an imaging module which, in addition to having an image sensor array constructed in accordance with the invention includes such elements as an imaging lens, an illumination assembly including a field illumination assembly, an aiming illumination assembly and a support member for supporting the above elements. An imaging module, in turn, may be incorporated into a hand held housing which encapsulates and supports the imaging assembly.
Utilizing complementary metal-oxide-silicon (CMOS) integrated circuit fabrication technologies the image sensor array in one embodiment can be made to have selectively addressable pixels. Where the image sensor array is constructed to have selectively addressable pixels, pixels of the first subset of pixels can be selectively addressed independent of the second subset of pixels so that image data corresponding to the first subset of pixels is selectively read out independent of the second subset of pixels. Image sensor arrays having selective read out capability can be provided utilizing alternative fabrication technologies.
In a further aspect, an optical reader according to the invention includes separate and independently controllable reset control lines for resetting monochrome pixels and color sensitive pixels of the image sensor array. During exposure periods for exposing color sensitive pixels, monochrome pixels may be driven into reset. During exposure periods for exposing monochrome pixels, color sensitive pixels may be driven into reset. Driving pixels not being selectively addressed for image data read out into a reset state reduces cross-talk between pixels of the image sensor array.
By incorporating within a single low cost image sensor array a combination of monochrome pixels and color sensitive pixels, an optical reader according to the invention provides indicia decoding performance approximately equal to the performance of an optical reader having an all monochrome image sensor array, and picture taking performance (i.e., the ability to obtain visual display quality color frames of image data) approximately equal to or superior to that of a digital camera incorporating an all color pixel image sensor array, wherein each pixel of the array includes a wavelength selective filter element.
An electrical block diagram of an optical reader 100 according to the invention is shown in
In a further aspect, reader 100 includes a radio frequency (RF) communication interface 571. Radio frequency communication interface 571 may include one or more radio transceivers. Referring to the schematic diagram of
Referring to
A visual display color frame of image data as referred to herein, in one embodiment is an image frame including a set of color indicating data at each of a plurality of pixel positions, wherein each set of color indicating data represents a color at a discrete position of a target 1850 (shown in
In one specific example, the set of color indicating data for each pixel position of a visual display color frame of image data output by demosaicing circuit 1706 or fusion circuit 1708 are RGB data sets including 24 bits of information, wherein the first 8 bits represent a red color scale value (red value) for the pixel position, the second 8 bits represent a green color scale value (green value) for the pixel position and the third 8 bits represent a blue color scale value (blue value) for the pixel position.
A major feature of the invention is the construction of the optical reader's image sensor array various embodiments of which are shown and described throughout several views including the views of
A first embodiment of a hybrid monochrome and color sensitive (monocolor) solid state image sensor array is shown and described in
Referring to
In the version of image sensor array 182A shown in
Exploded physical form views of an image sensor pixel array 182A, where array 182A is configured to operate in a global electronic shutter operating mode are shown and described in
A color sensitive pixel 250C of image sensor array 182A is described with reference to
Microlenses 320 as shown in
Color sensitive pixel 250C of image sensor array 182A as best seen by a comparison between
A transistor count of a pixel 250C of image sensor array 182A may readily be reduced by eliminating optically shielded floating diffusion 306 in which charges are stored on a temporary basis to facilitate global electronic shutter operation. Accordingly, in one embodiment, monochrome pixels 250M of image sensor array 182A have more transistors than color sensitive pixels 250C but are capable of being exposed on a global electronic shutter basis, whereas color sensitive pixels 250C have fewer transistors than monochrome pixels 250M but are not capable of being exposed on a global electronic shutter basis. In yet another embodiment with reference to image sensor array 182A having smaller dimensioned color sensitive pixels than monochrome pixels, the relatively larger monochrome pixels 250M have a transistor count sufficient to facilitate global shutter operation, but the relatively smaller color sensitive pixels 250C are passive pixels requiring off-pixel amplification, and comprise a single transistor each. Further aspects of global electronic shutter and rolling shutter operations relative to image sensor arrays which may be incorporated into reader 100 are described herein.
Referring to
Among the control lines forming interconnect grid 262 of image sensor array 182A are pixel reset control lines. When pixels are reset by application of an appropriate control signal on a reset control line, residual charges which have accumulated on the pixels are connected temporarily to VDD so that built up charges on pixels of the image sensor array drain out of the pixels. In accordance with the invention, image sensor array 182A includes separate reset control lines for monochrome pixels 250M and color pixels 250C. Referring to
In certain operating modes optical reader 100 selectively reads out a windowed frame of image data comprising image data from monochrome pixels 250M. In other operating modes, optical reader 100 selectively reads out a windowed frame of image data comprising image data from color pixels 250C. In accordance with the invention, a reset control timing pulse can be applied to image sensor array 182A during the time that a windowed frame of image data is being captured to reset pixels of image sensor array 182A that are not being selectively addressed for image data read out. As shown by the timing diagram of
With further reference to
Referring again to the view of
An alternative construction for an image sensor array according to the invention is described with reference to
The above referenced MT9V022 and MT9M413 image sensor IC chips manufactured by Micron, Inc., and KAC-0311 image sensor IC chip by Kodak, Inc. are CMOS image sensor IC chips that may be operated in a global electronic shutter mode such that all rows of pixels subject to image data read out have common exposure periods; that is, all rows of pixels subject to image data read out for reading out a frame of image data (i.e., full frame or “windowed frame”) have a common exposure start time and a common exposure stop time. For global electronic shutter operation, an exposure control timing pulse, as will be described herein is applied to the image sensor array. Exposure of each row of pixels subject to image data read out begins at the leading edge of the exposure control timing pulse and ends at the falling edge of the exposure control timing pulse. In its technical literature, Micron, Inc. uses the trademark TRUESNAP with reference to a global electronic shutter operating mode.
Referring to
In the embodiment of
Additional views of image sensor array 182B including a subset of monochrome pixels 250M and a subset of color sensitive pixels 250C, wherein each pixel of the image sensor array has substantially equal dimensions are shown and described in connection with
Referring to the version of
Each cluster 257 in the version of
Cluster 257G includes three horizontally adjacent green pixels. Cluster 257R includes three horizontally adjacent red pixels. Cluster 257B includes three horizontally adjacent blue pixels. As will be described further in connection with
Referring now to the versions of image sensor array 182B shown in
Referring to the version of
Referring to
In the version of image sensor array 182B as shown in
The version of image sensor array 182B shown in
It will be seen that the versions of image sensor array 182B shown in
In
A color sensitive pixel 250C of image sensor array 182B is described with reference to
A high level electrical block diagram of image sensor array 182B is shown in
Reset control lines of interconnect grid 262 are shown in
Referring to
It is noted that with the configuration of
Another configuration for providing separately and independently resetting monochrome pixels 250M and color sensitive pixels 250C of image sensor array 182B is shown and described with reference to
Referring to
Features respecting specific embodiments of an image sensor array according to the invention have been described in connection with the views of
Optical reader 100 can be programmed or otherwise be configured to selectively address a first plurality of pixels in an image sensor array 182A, 182B, 182C, 182D, 182E, 182F, 182G, 182H independently of selectively addressing a second plurality of pixels of the image sensor array so that image data can be read out of the first plurality of pixels independently of the second plurality of pixels. In one operating mode optical reader 100 selectively addresses the first subset of pixels and reads out image data from first subset of pixels independently of the second color sensitive subset of pixels. In another operating mode optical reader 100 selectively addresses the second subset of pixels and reads out image data from the second subset of pixels independently of the first subset of pixels 250M. Where optical reader 100 selectively addresses and selectively reads out only a subset of pixels of an image sensor array, the resulting frame of image data read out of the image sensor array may be referred to as a “windowed frame” of image data. When a windowed frame of image data is read out, the frame rate of the image sensor array is normally increased relative to a normal frame rate of the image sensor array.
Image sensor array 182A, 182B, 182C, 182D, 182E, 182F, 182G, 182H can be configured to have a rolling shutter operating mode and a global shutter operating mode. When a rolling shutter operating mode is entered, rows of pixels of image sensor array are exposed sequentially. The term “rolling” shutter is used because when in a rolling shutter operating mode an exposure period for a row of pixels generally begins prior to a time an exposure period for a previous row has ended.
When operated in a global electronic shutter operating mode, pixels from several rows of an image sensor array are exposed simultaneously. That is, when operated in a global electronic shutter operating mode, transistor components (for example, transfer gates 304 and reset gates 308 of the array as shown in the embodiments of
Image sensor array 182A, 182B, 182C, 182D, 182E, 182F, 182G, 182H of optical reader 100 may be constructed to be operated in a rolling shutter mode of operation only; that is, in one specific embodiment an image sensor array of optical reader 100 can only be controlled to expose pixels of the image sensor array on a rolling shutter basis and cannot be controlled so that pixels of image sensor array are exposed on a global electronic shutter basis. In another embodiment, an image sensor array incorporated in optical reader 100 is constructed to be operated in a global electronic shutter operational mode only and is incapable of operation in a rolling shutter mode.
Image sensor array 182A, 182B, 182C, 182D, 182E, 182F, 182G, 182H can be constructed to be operated in either of a global electronic shutter operation mode or a rolling shutter operational mode. Where an image sensor array incorporated in optical reader 100 is constructed to be operational in either of a rolling shutter operational mode or a global shutter operational mode, the switching between rolling shutter and global shutter operational modes may be made in response to a receipt of operator instructions to change the shutter mode. The switching between rolling shutter and global shutter operational modes may also be automatic and dynamic in response to the sensing of a predetermined criteria being satisfied. An image sensor array equipped optical reader 100 having both rolling shutter and global shutter operational modes is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/077,975, filed Mar. 11, 2005 entitled, Bar Code Reading Device With Global Electronic Shutter Control, which is incorporated herein by reference. An image sensor array constructed to be operated in either of a rolling shutter or global shutter operational mode is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,552,323 entitled, “Image Sensor With A Shared Output Signal Line” which is incorporated by reference.
Image sensor array 182A, 182B, 182C, 182D, 182E, 182F, 182G, 182H can be constructed so that certain pixels of the image sensor array are capable of being exposed on either a rolling shutter basis or a global shutter basis and certain other pixels of the image sensor array are capable of being exposed only on a rolling shutter basis and are not capable of being exposed on a global electronic shutter basis.
It has been described with reference specifically to image sensor array 182A, and image sensor array 182B that it may be advantageous to incorporate into an image sensor array of optical reader 100 separately controllable reset control lines 262, 262R-M and 262, 262R-C for resetting monochrome pixels separately and independently of color sensitive pixels to thereby reduce pixel cross talk. It will be understood that it may be advantageous to incorporate separately and independently controllable reset control lines into an image sensor array 182A, 182B, 182C, 182D, 182E, 182F, 182G, 182H according to the invention whenever image data is selectively read out of a first subset of image data and it is desired to reduce cross talk from pixels of the image sensor array external to the first subset of pixels. For example, in optical reader 100 incorporating a cyan-magenta-yellow (CMY) image sensor array 182C as shown in
While an image sensor array 182A, 182B, 182C, 182D, 182E, 182F, 182G, 182H is conveniently provided by a CMOS image sensor array fabricated utilizing complementary metal-oxide-silicone integrated circuit fabrication technologies, an image sensor array 182A, 182B, 182C, 182D, 182E, 182F, 182G, 182H may also be a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor array, or a CID image sensor array or an image sensor array of another fabrication technology. In various embodiments of the invention described herein, it is advantageous to read out less than a full frame of image data, i.e., a read out of a “windowed frame” of image data which may also be referred to as an image region of interest (ROI). An example of a CCD image sensor array integrated circuit chip having windowing capability is the KODAK KAI-0340 image sensor array IC chip available from Eastman Kodak Corporation of Rochester, N.Y. The KAI-0340 image sensor array IC chip has various operational modes that are selectable utilizing various input switch setups. For example, setting a SW1 switch to the HIGH position causes charge in outer vertical resisters of the image sensor array to be dumped before it reaches the horizontal register, facilitating the selective read out of image data from center columns of the array only. Setting the SW2 switch of the KAI-0340 image sensor array chip changes diode transfer clock timing such that only charge from the center rows is transferred to vertical registers, facilitating the selective read out of image data from center rows of the image sensor array only. Accordingly, where image sensor array 182B is configured according to the version shown in
Additional aspects of the invention are described with reference to the physical form views of
An optical reader 100 of the invention, as shown in the embodiment of
A reader imaging module may be incorporated into one of a hand held housing as shown in
Referring to further aspects of optical reader 100, optical reader 100 may incorporate a graphical user interface (GUI) 3170 enabling selection between various operating modes. With GUI 3170 an operator moves pointer 3172 to a selected icon and clicks on the icon to configure optical reader 100 in accordance with an operating mode associated with the selected icon. Reader 100 may include pointer mover 512 (otherwise termed a navigation matrix) to facilitate movement of the pointer 3172. Buttons 512B of pointer mover 512 facilitate selection of an icon of a GUI interface that is supported by incorporating a multitasking operating system (OS) into reader 100 such as WINDOWS CE. GUI 3172 may be developed using various open standard languages as HTML/Java or XML/Java.
In the embodiment of
Selection of decode icon 3162 drives optical reader 100 into an indicia decode mode so that a next time a trigger signal is received, optical reader 100 captures a frame of image data and attempts to decode a bar code symbol or other decodable indicia (e.g., an OCR character) represented therein and outputs a decoded out message to display 504, or a spaced apart device 150, as is described with reference to
Optical reader 100 is configured so that optical reader 100 receives a trigger signal when manual trigger 216 is manually depressed by an operator. Optical reader 100 may also be configured so that a trigger signal is received by the sensing of an object in the proximity of reader 100 or by the sending of a serial trigger command to reader 100 from a spaced apart device, 150, as shown in
A flow diagram illustrating operation of optical reader 100 in one embodiment is described with reference to
An example of an indicia decode process 1200 is described with reference to
For the capturing of frames of image data (i.e., “test” frames and/or frames for use in decoding, picture taking or other processing or storage) control circuit 552 (
Image capture initiation control signals are described in greater detail with reference to
In one embodiment as shown in
When exposure control timing pulse 354 is received by an image sensor IC chip and optical reader 100 is configured in a global electronic shutter operating mode, pixels from several rows of image sensor array 182A, 182B, 182C, 182D, 182E, 182F, 182G, 182H are simultaneously exposed to light for the duration of the pulse. That is, when optical reader 100 is configured in an global electronic shutter operating mode, each of several rows of image sensor array 182A, 182B, 182C, 182D, 182E, 182F, 182G, 182H that are subject to image data read out have common exposure periods such that the exposure period for each row of pixels the image sensor array subject to image data read out begins at a common exposure start time and ends at a common exposure stop time. The exposure period for each row of pixels image sensor array 182A, 182B, 182C, 182D, 182E, 182F, 182G, 182H subject to image data read out begins at the leading edge of exposure control timing pulse 354, 354′, 354″, 354′″ and ends at the falling edge of exposure control timing pulse 354, 354′, 354″, 354′″.
When read out control timing pulse 368 is received by image sensor IC chip 1082B, image data is read out from the image sensor array. Image signals corresponding to pixels of the image sensor array are converted into digital form by analog-to-digital converter 1086 and transferred into memory 560 by FPGA 580.
Optical reader 100 may be configured so that at step 1204 when reading out image data, optical reader 100 reads a “windowed frame” of image data. As indicated herein, a windowed frame of image data may be read out by selectively addressing pixels of a desired region of interest or window. A windowed frame of image data read out during frame capture at step 1204 may comprise pixel values corresponding to all or substantially all monochrome pixels 250M of an image sensor array. With further reference to the timing diagrams of
When frames are obtained at step 1204, they are obtained in a form suitable to facilitate indicia decoding such as bar code symbol decoding or OCR decoding. With the windowed frame of image data read out at step 1204 from a hybrid monochrome and color image sensor array 182A, 182B including only image data corresponding to monochrome pixels and no image data corresponding to color sensitive pixels 250C, control circuit 552 at step 1204 may store gray scale values into RAM 560, each pixel value representing an intensity of light at a particular monochrome pixel of image sensor array 182A, 182B. The frame of image data obtained at step 1204 may include e.g., 8 bit gray scale pixel values, 10 bit gray scale pixel values or 12 bit gray scale pixel values. Since numerous legacy bar code decoding and OCR decoding schemes are designed to operate on monochrome gray scale image data or binarized image data derived from gray scale image data, the selective addressing of monochrome pixels 250M in the capturing of a monochrome image frame yields a frame that is well suited for being subjected to indicia decoding processing. Of course, in certain applications, control circuit 552 at step 1204 may obtain a decode frame of image data including color image data. For example, where decode circuit 1702 is configured to decode color encoded bar code symbols, it is advantageous for control circuit 552 to obtain a decode frame of image data including color image data at step 1204.
In the execution of step 1204, control circuit 552 may carry out a plurality of alternative processes in obtaining a decode frame of image data. Referring to the flow diagram of
Referring to the flow diagram of
Referring to the flow diagram of
In one method of the invention, the correlation between a pair of horizontally oriented scan lines is calculated along with a correlation between a pair of vertically oriented scan lines. The two correlation measurements are then compared. If row scan lines are more closely correlated, column adjacent pixels are selected for interpolation. If column scan lines are more closely correlated, row adjacent pixels are selected for interpolation. An exemplary set of code for calculating a first derivative correlation for a pair of scan lines (horizontal or vertical) is presented by Table 1.
A set of code for interpolating missing color pixel position values by one of three methods (simple averaging, first derivative correlation, and simple correlations) wherein “M-set” refers to the monochrome set of pixels is presented in Table 2.
At step 1210, optical reader 100 transfers the frame of image data obtained at step 1204, to an indicia decode circuit 1702 which may be a bar code symbol decoding circuit or autodiscrimination circuit 1704 including an indicia decode circuit 1702. In one embodiment, decode circuit 1702 decodes 1D and 2D bar code symbols and OCR characters. Autodiscrimination circuit 1704 may decode 1D and 2D bar code symbols and OCR characters (decodable indicia) and automatically discriminate between decodable indicia and handwritten characters. In the event that autodiscrimination circuit 1704 recognizes the presence of handwritten character information, autodiscrimination circuit 1704 automatically outputs to display 504 and/or a spaced apart device 150 image data representing the handwritten character image data. Further details of indicia decode circuit 1702 and autodiscrimination circuit 1704 are described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/077,975, filed Mar. 11, 2005, incorporated by reference and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/958,779, filed Oct. 5, 2004, also incorporated herein by reference.
In general, indicia decoding accuracy is expected to increase with an increase in the percentage of monochrome pixels of image sensor array 182A, 182B. With image sensor array 182B having a period of P=2, every other row of pixels of image sensor array 182B are all monochrome pixels. Thus, horizontal scan lines can be launched through horizontal rows of pixel values of a frame of image data obtained utilizing a P=2 image sensor array 182B during attempts to decode a linear bar code symbol without substantial reduction in performance relative to a frame obtained utilizing an all monochrome pixel image sensor array. For decoding linear bar code symbols, control circuit 552 may read image data along scan lines, such as scan lines defined by a horizontal row of pixel positions to determine the relative widths of bars and spaces of a symbol and then decode the symbol through table lookup to determine a set of decoded character data corresponding to the bar space information.
At step 1212 control circuit 552 receives a decoded output message from decode circuit 1702 or autodiscrimination circuit 1704. The message received by control circuit 552 at step 1212 may be e.g., a decoded bar code message or a set of decoded OCR characters. At step 1214 optical reader 100 outputs a decoded out message. At step 1214 control circuit 552 may send decoded out bar code data and/or decoded OCR data to display 504 or to a spaced apart device 150 or to a data storage memory location of reader 100, or system 145 as described in
Examples of spaced apart devices 150 which may be in communication with optical reader 100 are shown and described in connection with
All of the steps of process 1200 are carried out automatically in response to the receipt of a trigger signal. The steps of process 1200 continue automatically until a stop condition is satisfied. A stop condition may be e.g., the receipt of a trigger stop signal as may be generated by release of trigger 216 or the successful decoding of a predetermined number of bar code symbols. As indicated by return line 1211 of
Interpolating monochrome pixel values for “missing pixels” pixel positions is particularly advantageous where a hybrid monochrome and color image sensor array according to the invention includes a high number of color sensitive pixels distributed at spaced apart pixel positions throughout image sensor array. In other instances as alluded to previously in connection with the flow diagram of
It may also be useful to obtain a decode frame of image data at step 1204 without interpolation of monochrome pixel values where optical reader 100 includes a linear bar code symbol optimized image sensor array 182B of one of the versions described in connection with
With further reference to the application view of
Monochrome pixels 250M transmit more light than color sensitive pixels 250C. Therefore, resetting monochrome pixels 250M that are not selectively addressed and which are adjacent to a region of interest during an exposure period can be expected to have a greater benefit in terms of improving the overall signal to noise ratio of reader 100 than resetting color sensitive pixels 250C that are adjacent to a region of interest during an exposure period.
With still further reference to the application view of
Referring again to the flow diagram of
Referring to the steps of picture taking process 1400, optical reader 100 at step 1402 receives a trigger signal as may be generated e.g., by depression of a manual trigger an object in the proximity of reader 100 being sensed or receipt of a serial command. At step 1403 control circuit 552 captures a plurality of “test” or parameter determination frames of image data. The frames of image data captured at step 1403 are not output for visual display; but rather are processed in order to determine operational parameters (exposure setting, gain illumination). Alternatively, step 1404 can be avoided and control circuit 552 can instead load operational parameters that were derived during a past image capture operation. At step 1404 control circuit 552 obtains a “visual display” image frame of image data. A visual display color frame of image data is one that is generated for visual display on a display and may include three color scale values for each pixel position of the plurality of pixel positions of the frame. A visual display frame after being obtained is sent to a display for visual display of an image or to a memory location for future display. In the embodiment of
An image captured as part of obtaining at step 1404 may be one that is captured in accordance with the timing diagrams of
However, depending on the application, it may be desirable to increase the illumination intensity of optical reader 100 during capture of color image data relative to the intensity during capture of monochrome image data to compensate for the signal reduction affect of color filter elements 260R, 260G, 260B, 260M, 260C. In a further aspect, optical reader 100 can have a plurality of operator selectable configuration settings. Optical reader 100 can be configured so that activation of button 3150 toggles through a sequence of options one of which may be selected by actuation of a key of keyboard 508. As shown by Table 3, where e=exposure, g=gain, and i=illumination intensity, a selection of a configuration setting can result in a differentiation between the imaging parameters of reader 100 during read out of monochrome image data at step 1204 and the imaging parameters of reader 100 during read out of color image data at step 1404. Configuration setting 1 is a base line setting wherein there is no differentiation between monochrome read out and color image data read out imaging parameters. Configuration setting 2 has been described above. With configuration setting 2, there is no illumination during read out of color image data at step 1404. Configuration setting 3 has also been described above. With configuration setting 3, illumination intensity is increased for read out of color image data. With configuration setting 4, illumination intensity for read out of monochrome image data can be increased. For example, as described herein, illumination pattern 1830 and aiming pattern 1838 can be projected simultaneously during read out of monochrome image data corresponding to a monochrome zone 2500M of pixels. With configuration setting 5, exposure time is boosted for read out of color image data and with configuration setting 6, gain is boosted for read out of color image data. Configuration setting 3 is highly useful where optical reader 100 includes a long distance flash illumination light source 160, 160X or where optical reader 100 is used for picture taking at close range.
In executing the obtaining visual display color frame of image data step 1404, optical reader 100 may carry out a variety of alternative processes. With reference to the flow diagram of
Referring to the flow diagram of
At step 1406, optical reader 100 automatically transfers the color filter array image data frame captured at step 1405 to a demosaicing circuit 1706 (
A particular example of optical reader 100 executing step 1404 is described with reference to
In another aspect of the invention, the accuracy with which color scale values for each pixel position may be interpolated can be enhanced by utilizing monochrome pixel values in the color scale value interpolation process. Referring to red pixel position P32 of frame 5204, it has been described that color scale values at green pixel positions P31, P22, P42, P33 may be averaged for interpolating a green color scale value at pixel position P32. In another method, monochrome pixel values at positions P33, P22, P42, P33 may be utilized for enhancing the interpolation of a green pixel value at position P32. The monochrome pixel values at positions P33, P22, P42, P33 may be interpolated from monochrome pixel values by one of the monochrome pixel interpolation methods described herein. Then, the color scale value at each pixel position, P32, P22, P42, P33 may be offset by a value, Delta, equal to the difference between the interpolated monochrome pixel values at the position being interpolated and the monochrome pixel value at the position contributing to the interpolation calculation. Thus, a green color scale value at position P32 may be calculated according to Eq. A.
Similarly, a blue color scale value at position P42 may be interpolated according to the formula of Equation B.
An exemplary algorithm for interpolating a color scale value at a color pixel position utilizing monochrome pixel values is presented in Table 4 where “C-set” refers to color pixel values and “M-set” refers to monochrome pixel values.
Regarding step 1, it is noted that there will normally be two neighborhood color or “C-set” pixels where blue or red values are interpolated at a green pixel position, and in other cases four neighborhood color pixels.
Another particular example of optical reader 100 executing steps 1405 and 1406 is explained with reference to
R=W−Cy (Eq. 1)
G=Mg+Cy−W (Eq. 2)
B=W−Mg (Eq. 3)
In the process described relative to the flow diagram of
At step 1408 control circuit 552 captures a color filter array image data frame by selectively addressing color pixels 250C of an image sensor array and selectively reading out image data from color sensitive pixels 250M. The frame of image data captured at step 1408 is a windowed frame of image data. For reduction of cross talk resulting from light entering monochrome pixels 250M, the monochrome pixels of image sensor array 182A, 182B may be reset using reset control timing pulse 370, 370′, 370″, 370′″ at the time that exposure control timing pulse 354, 354′, 354″, 354′″ is applied to expose color pixels for capture of a color filter pattern image frame at step 1408.
At step 1409 control circuit 552 captures a monochrome frame of image data by selectively addressing monochrome pixels 250M of array 182A, 182B and selectively reading out image data from monochrome 280M pixels. The frame of image data captured at step 1409 is a windowed frame of image data. For reduction of cross-talk resulting from light entering color pixels 250C the color pixels of image sensor array 182 may be reset using reset control timing pulse 370, 370′, 370″, 370′″ at the time that exposure control timing pulse 354, 354′, 354″, 354′″ is applied to expose monochrome pixels for capture of a monochrome, typically gray scale or binarized image frame at step 1409.
At step 1410 control circuit 552 transfers both the color filter array frame captured at step 1408 and the monochrome image frame captured at step 1409 to fusion circuit 1708. Fusion circuit 1708 takes as inputs the color filter array image data frame and the monochrome image data frame and processes them into a high resolution visual display color frame of image data.
Referring to
At step 1446 control circuit 552 generates an RGB image having resolution equal to the color sensitive subset of pixels of image sensor array 182B. In an RGB image, each pixel of the image is represented by a red color value, a green color value and a blue color value. The RGB image generated at step 1446 may have the same characteristics as the visual display image received by optical reader 100 at step 1407 of the alternative process described in connection with
Ic=0.299R+0.587G+0.144B (Eq. 4)
Control circuit 552 at step 1460 then calculates an intensity value delta, D, for each pixel position, (Px, Py) utilizing a monochrome image intensity value Im and an expanded image color intensity value, at each pixel position. Control circuit 552 at step 1460 may calculate an intensity value delta for each pixel position of the monochrome and expanded color image according to the formula
D(Px,Py)=Im(Px,Py)−Ic(Px,Py) (Eq. 5)
At step 1464, control circuit 552 updates the RGB data set color scale values of the expanded RGB color image using the set of formulas
R′(Px,Py)=R(Px,Py)+D(Px,Py) (Eq. 6)
G′(Px,Py)=G(Px,Py)+D(Px,Py) (Eq. 7)
B′(Px,Py)=B(Px,Py)+D(Px,Py) (Eq. 8)
At step 1468 control circuit 552 truncates RGB data set color scale values that are greater than 255 (where an 8 bit gray scale is used). After control circuit 552 truncates RGB values greater than 255, control circuit 552 at step 1770 outputs a visual display color frame of image data having a spatial resolution equal to or approximately equal to the overall pixel resolution of image sensor array 182B. The visual display color frame of image data output at step 1770 may have a number of RGB data sets equal to the overall pixel count (e.g., monochrome pixels plus color sensitive pixels) of image sensor array 182B.
At step 1411 optical reader 100 receives from fusion circuit 1708 a high resolution visual display color frame of image data. The visual display color frame of image data received at step 1411 may include a pixel resolution equal to or on the order of the pixel resolution of image sensor array 182B. Optical reader 100 may be regarded as having received a visual display color frame of image data when fusion circuit 1708 outputs a visual display color frame of image data at step 1470.
When executing process 1440, control circuit 552 fuses monochrome and color image data to produce a high resolution visual display color frame of image data. When executing the alternative process described with reference to the flow diagram of
In general, increasing the percentage of monochrome pixels 250M in image sensor array 182A, 182B increases indicia decoding accuracy, while increasing the percentage distribution of color sensitive pixels 250C in image sensor array increases color reproduction accuracy. Because of the light transmissivity of monochrome pixels, an image obtained utilizing an image sensor array having a higher percentage of monochrome pixels 250M has a higher signal to noise ratio than an image obtained utilizing an image sensor array having a smaller percentage of monochrome pixels 250M. Accordingly, an image obtained utilizing an image sensor array having a higher percentage of monochrome pixels often produces an image with greater detail and improved overall visual quality.
Optical reader 100 in another aspect may incorporate the structure shown in
Referring to further steps of process 1400, control circuit 552 at step 1412 outputs the visual display color frame of image data obtained at step 1404. At step 1412 control circuit 552 may output a visual display color frame of image data to display 504 for visual observation by an operator or to a designated color frame storage memory location of reader 100 such as a designated frame memory storage location of Flash memory 564 or to another frame memory location of system 145. Where control circuit 552 is incorporated in hand held housing 101, control circuit 552 at step 1410 may also send a visual display color frame of image data to spaced apart device 150, as shown in
Optical reader 100 can be configured so that all the steps of process 1400 are carried out automatically in response to receipt of a trigger signal until a stop condition is satisfied. A stop condition may be the receipt of a trigger stop signal such as may be generated by the release of trigger 216.
In the embodiments of
While process 1200 and process 1400 may be carried out in the alternative, process 1200 and process 1400 may also be executed contemporaneously. For example, while control circuit 552 obtains a decode frame at step 1204, control circuit 552 may obtain a visual display color frame of image data at step 1404. Control circuit 552 may obtain a color frame of image data as a decode frame at step 1204 and then outputs that frame at step 1212 as visual display color frame of image data. Control circuit 552 at step 1412 may output a visual display color frame of image data and contemporaneously transfer that frame of image data to decode circuit 1702. In general, reader 100 may be configured so that whenever control circuit 552 obtains a decode frame at step 1204, control circuit 552 may store that frame for later processing, which processing may include processing for generating a visual display color frame of image data and which processing may be responsive to an operator input command to perform such processing. Optical reader 100 may also be configured so that when control circuit 552 obtains a visual display color frame of image data at step 1404, control circuit may store that frame for further processing, which processing may include transferring that frame to decode circuit 1702 or autodiscrimination circuit 1704, and which processing may be responsive to an operator input command to perform such processing.
Another embodiment of the invention is described with reference to
The reader 100 shown in the electrical block diagram of
Optical reader 100 as shown in
When an image is captured by the two imaging module readers of
Further aspects of a dual imaging module reader are described with reference to
Exemplary imaging modules supporting various types of image sensor IC chips arc shown in
Referring to
In one application, the optical reader 100 of
With further reference to the reader electrical block diagram shown in
Each pixel 250 of image sensor array 182C includes a color filter element; namely one of a cyan color filter element, a magenta color filter element or a yellow color filter element. Yellow color filter elements have excellent light transmittance (approaching the transmittance of a monochrome pixel). Further, it is seen that in accordance with the CMY color filter pattern shown in
According to the invention, an optical reader including a CMY image sensor array 182C as shown in
In a further aspect of the optical reader described in connection with
“Mg”) and cyan (labeled “Cy”) pixels independent from the resetting of yellow pixels (labeled “Y”). Accordingly, when image data at step 1204 is read out selectively from yellow pixels, the magenta and cyan pixels of image sensor array 182C may be driven into reset to eliminate electron diffusion cross talk and to reduce cross talk attributable to photons entering image sensor array 182C through magenta and cyan color pixels 250C.
When obtaining a visual display color frame of image data as described at step 1404 of the flow diagram
Control circuit 552 at step 1404 where the reader includes a CMY image sensor array 182C may transform the CMY visual display image into an RGB visual display image utilizing a CMY to RGB transformation process as described herein.
The performance of optical reader 100 may be hindered where optical reader 100 is operated to read bar code symbols or other indicia disposed on a substrate having a shiny surface (e.g., metal, glass, laminated, plastic, etc.). Light rays emanating from light sources 160 of reader 100 that are projected on a highly reflective shiny surface of a substrate, s, may be substantially entirely reflected directly on to image sensor array 182. “Specular” reflection is said to occur where a substantial percentage of light rays are reflected and directed onto image sensor array 182. Light rays are said to be reflected at a “specular angle” when light rays are reflected from a surface at about the angle of incidence. Specular reflection tends to saturate image sensor array 182 to cause decoding failures. The optical reader 100 described in connection with
Image sensor array 182G includes a first subset of monochrome pixels 250M and a second subset of light polarizing pixels 250P. Light polarizing pixels 250P of image sensor array 182G include light polarizing filter elements 261 (alternatively termed “light polarizing filters,” or simply “light polarizers”) typically formed at each polarizing pixel 250P in the position of filter 260 as shown in the color pixel views of
According to the invention, optical reader 100 including image sensor array 182G may be configured to selectively address light polarizing pixels 250P and selectively read out image data from light polarizing pixels 250P to generate image data for subjecting to decoding which is likely to result in successful reading of bar codes or other indicia notwithstanding the image data being obtained during specular reflections read conditions.
Referring to
Referring to the view of
Referring to the flow diagram of
At step 1904 optical reader 100 obtains a specular reflection read condition decode frame of image data. Control circuit 552 obtains a specular reflection condition decode frame of image data at step 1902 by selectively addressing light polarizing pixels 250P of image sensor array 182G and selectively reading out image data from light polarizing pixels 250P only. In another aspect of image sensor array 182G that may be incorporated in optical reader 100, image sensor array 182G may include separate reset control lines for resetting monochrome pixels 250M separately and independently of light polarizing pixels 250P. Image sensor array 182G may have separate sets of reset control lines as described in connection with image sensor array 182G, particularly in connection with
Accordingly, when control circuit 552 selectively addresses light polarizing pixels 250P for read out of image data from light polarizing pixels 250P, control circuit 552 drives monochrome pixels 250M into reset. Resetting of monochrome pixels 250M is synchronized with the exposure period for exposing light polarizing pixels 250P as described herein.
Driving monochrome pixels 250M into reset while light polarizing pixels 250P are exposed eliminates electron diffusion cross talk and reduces cross talk resulting from photon penetration to image sensor array 182G.
At step 1904, control circuit 552 may interpolate pixel values at pixel positions corresponding to missing pixel positions. At step 1906 control circuit 552 transfers the specular reflection condition decode frame of image data obtained at step 1904 to indicia decode circuits 1702 or autodiscrimination circuit 1704 as are described in connection with
At step 1908 control circuit 552 receives decoded output data output by decode circuit 1702 or signature autodiscrimination circuit 1704. At step 1910 control circuit 552 outputs decoded out data, e.g., by transferring decoded out data to an on reader display 504 or to a spaced apart display 1504 or else stores decoded data in appropriate memory address location of system 145 (
A process has been described with reference to the flow diagram of
The elements of a hybrid monochrome and color image sensor array (such as image sensor array 182A or 182B) as described herein can be combined with the elements of a hybrid monochrome and light polarizing image sensor array 182G into a single image sensor array.
In general, optical reader 100 including image sensor array 182H selectively reads out image data from monochrome pixels 250M in obtaining a decode frame of image data for transferring to a decode circuit 1702 under normal read conditions. Optical reader 100 selectively reads out image data from color sensitive pixels 250C when obtaining image data for use when obtaining a visual display color frame of image data. Optical reader 100 selectively reads out image data from light polarizing pixels 250P, or selectively extracts image data corresponding to pixels 250P from a frame of image data when optical reader 100 senses that a specular reflection is present or when an operator pursuant to operator control drives optical reader 100 into a reduced specular reflection read error decode mode of operation. An optical reader 100 including image sensor array 182H may operate in accordance with the picture taking and decode mode flow diagram as described in connection with
For enhancing the performance of an optical reader according to the invention, having an image sensor array such as image sensor array 182G, 182H including light polarizing filters, optical reader 100 may incorporate emit optics light polarizers (which may alternatively be termed “light polarizing filter elements” or “light polarizing filters”). For example, a reader imaging module, e.g., module 1802A can include an optical plate 1962 as shown in
Further aspects of indicia decode circuit module 1702 and autodiscrimination circuit module 1704 are described with reference to
Optical reader 100 may also include an autodiscriminating circuit 1704. Referring to
As shown in this embodiment, the image processing and analysis circuit 21208 comprises a feature extraction circuit 21212, a generalized classifier circuit 21216, a signature data processing circuit 21218, an OCR decode circuit 21222, and a graphics analysis circuit 21224 that are in communication with each other. In addition, as shown in
b shows a process 21300 for employing one embodiment of the invention utilizing the autodiscrimination circuit shown in
In one embodiment if the decode attempt is not successful, the image data is transferred (step 21326) to the image processing and analysis circuit 21208. In another embodiment, the image data is processed in parallel with the attempt to decode the dataform data. In one such embodiment, the process that completes first (i.e., dataform decode attempt or the image processing) outputs its data (e.g., a decoded bar code or a captured signature) and the other parallel process is terminated. In a further embodiment, the image data is processed in response to the decoding of the dataform. In one such embodiment, a bar code encodes item information such as shipping label number and information indicating that a signature should be captured.
Within the image processing and analysis circuit 21208, the image data is processed by the feature extraction circuit 21212. In general, the feature extraction circuit generates numeric outputs that are indicative of the texture of the image data. As indicated above, the texture of the image data refers to the characteristics of the type of data contained in the image data. Common types of texture include one or two-dimensional bar code texture, signature texture, graphics texture, typed text texture, handwritten text texture, drawing or image texture, photograph texture, and the like. Within any category of texture, sub-categories of texture are sometimes capable of being identified.
As part of the processing of the image data by the feature extraction circuit 21212, the image data is processed (step 21328) by the binarizer circuit 21226. The binarizer circuit 21226 binarizes the grey level image into a binary image according to the local thresholding and target image size normalization. With the image data binarized, the image data is processed (step 21332) by the line thinning circuit 21228 to reduce multi-pixel thick line segments into single pixel thick lines. With binarized line thinned image data, the image data is processed (step 21336) by the convolution circuit 21230.
In general, the convolution circuit 21230 convolves the processed image data with one or more detector maps designed according to the invention to identify various textural features in the image data. In one embodiment, the convolution circuit 21230 generates a pair of numbers, the mean and variance (or standard deviation), for each convolved detector map.
According to one embodiment, these 24 numbers are representative of the curved or signature texture of the processed image data.
Further processing of the image data includes the outputs from the feature extraction circuit 21212 being fed (step 21340) into the generalized classified circuit 21216. The generalized classifier circuit 21216 uses the numbers generated by the feature extraction circuit as inputs to a neural network, a mean square error classifier or the like. These tools are used to classify the image data into general categories. In embodiments employing neural networks, different neural network configurations are contemplated in accordance with the invention to achieve different operational optimizations and characteristics. In one embodiment employing a neural network, the generalized classifier circuit 21212 includes a 24+12+6+1=43 nodes Feedforward, Back Propagation Multilayer neural network. The input layer has 24 nodes for the 12 pairs of mean and variance outputs generated by a convolution circuit 21230 employing the 12 curvelet detector maps 21250. In the neural network of this embodiment, there are two hidden layers of 12 nodes and 6 nodes respectively. There is also one output node to report the positive or negative existence of a signature.
In another embodiment employing a neural network, the 20 curvelet detector maps 21260 shown in
In some embodiments, the generalized classifier circuit 21216 is capable of classifying data into an expanded collection of categories. For example, in some embodiments the generalized classifier circuit 21216 specifies whether the image data contains various data types such as a signature; a dataform; handwritten text; typed text; machine readable text; OCR data; graphics; pictures; images; forms such as shipping manifest, bill of lading, ID cards, and the like; fingerprints, biometrics such as fingerprints, facial images, retinal scans and the like, and/or other types of identifiers. In further additional embodiments, the generalized classifier circuit 21216 specifics whether the image data includes various combinations of these data types. In some embodiments, the general classifier circuit 21216 specifies whether the image data contains a specified type of data or not. In one such embodiment the image processing and analysis circuit 21208 is contained within an identification circuit that outputs an affirmative or negative response depending on the presence or absence of the specified data type, such as a signature or a biometric in the image data.
In one embodiment once the presence of a signature has been confirmed and its general orientation determined, image data is transferred (step 21344) to the signature data processing circuit 21218. In one embodiment, the signature data processing circuit 21218 is used to detect the boundaries of the signature in the image data. In one embodiment, the signature boundary is detected using a histogram analysis. As shown in
In one embodiment, once the boundaries of the signature have been determined, the signature data processing circuit 21218 crops the image data and extracts the signature image data. In one such embodiment, the cropping is performed by an image modification circuit that generates modified image data in which a portion of the image data not including the signature has been deleted. In other embodiments, various compression techniques are employed to reduce the memory requirements for the signature image data. One such technique includes the encoding of the signature image data by run length encoding. According to this technique, the length of each run of similar binarizcd values (i.e., the length of each run of 1 or 0) for each scan line is recorded as a means of reconstructing a bit map. Another encoding technique treats the signature image data as a data structure where the elements of the data structure consist of vectors. According this encoding technique, the signature is broken down into a collection of vectors. The position of each vector in combination with the length and orientation of each vector is used to reconstruct the original signature. In one such embodiment, the encoding process generates a new vector whenever the curvature for a continuous pixel run exceeds a specified value. A further compression technique employs B-Spline curve fitting. This technique has the capacity to robustly accommodate curvature and scaling issues.
In various embodiments, the signature image data or a compressed or encoded version of the signature image data is stored locally on a dedicated memory device. In one such embodiment, the local memory device can be a detachable memory device such as a CompactFlash memory card or the like described in more detail below. In another embodiment, the signature image data is stored in a volatile or non-volatile portion of general purpose memory and downloaded at a future time. In a further embodiment, the signature image data can be transmitted via wired or wireless means either at the time of capture or at a later point, such as when a data collection session has been completed.
In another embodiment, the signature data processing circuit 21218 does not perform a histogram analysis but simply stores in memory the entire image or a compressed version once the presence of a signature has been determined. In a further embodiment to save processing time, the initial image analysis is performed on a lower resolution image. Once the presence of a signature is determined in this embodiment, a higher resolution image is taken. In one embodiment, a signature extraction histogram analysis is performed on this image. Next, the image is stored in memory in either compressed or original format. In some embodiments, the image data is combined with other data to form a record for a particular item such as a package or shipping envelope. As mentioned above, some of the additional data that can be collected by the optical reader 100 and stored with or separate from the signature data includes but is not limited to dataform data, handwritten text data, typed text data, graphics data, image or picture data, and the like.
As part of its operations, the image processing and analysis circuit 21208 can be designed to perform specialized tasks for different data types. For example, if the generalized classifier circuit 21216 determines that the image data contains typed or machine readable text, the image data can be collected, possibly histogram analyzed, and stored or alternatively, the image data can be transferred to the OCR decoding circuit 21222. Similarly, if the generalized classifier circuit 21216 determines that the image data includes a graphic element, the image data can be transferred to the graphics analysis circuit 21224 for processing. In one embodiment, the graphics analysis circuit 21224 is configured to recognize and decode predefined graphics. In one such embodiment, the graphics analysis can include determining which, if any, boxes have been selected in the billing and shipping instructions on a shipping label. In a further embodiment, the graphics analysis can include locating and decoding the typed or handwritten text contained in the zip code box on a shipping label. In an alternative embodiment, the optical reader 100 can be configured to automatically attempt decode operations in addition to the dataform decode, such as OCR decoding or graphics decoding, prior to the activation of the feature extraction circuit 21212.
In another embodiment, the image processing and analysis circuit 21208 segments the image data into regions and performs a feature extraction and general classification analysis on each region. In one embodiment as shown in
In one embodiment, the segmentation process is used to identify the location of a signature in image data the might include additional elements such as dataforms including bar code dataforms, text, graphics, images and the like. In one such embodiment the generalized classifier circuit 21216 classifies the contents of each region of the segmented image data. The region containing the signature is then extracted by the signature data processing circuit 21218. In one embodiment if multiple regions are indicated as containing signature data, the signature data processing circuit 21218 analyzes the arrangement of these regions to identify the region most likely to contain the image data. In a further embodiment when multiple regions are indicated as containing signature data, the image processing and analysis circuit 21208 establishes a feedback loop where additional segmented regions are generated and analyzed until a single segmented region containing signature data is located.
Additional image processing operations which may be carried out by optical reader 100 are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/958,779, filed Oct. 5, 2004 entitled, “System And Method To Automatically Discriminate Between A Signature And A Barcode” and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Various applications which may be carried out by any of the optical readers 100 that have been described herein have been described with reference to
In an application for utilizing optical reader 100 relative to vehicle 1282, several identifiers of vehicle 1282 may be decoded and several color pictures of vehicle 1282 may be taken. The decoded message data together with the color picture data may then be uploaded to a remote server 184 (
Optical reader 100 may be configured so that when an operator actuates a designated user interface control button such as button 3158 (
While the present invention has necessarily been described with reference to a number of specific embodiments, it will be understood that the time, spirit, and scope of the present invention should be determined only with reference to the following claims:
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/493,348 filed Jun. 11, 2012, and entitled “Apparatus Having Hybrid Monochrome and Color Image Sensor Array” (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,720,785), which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/853,090 filed Aug. 9, 2012 entitled, “Optical Reader Having Reduced Specular Reflection Read Failures” (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,196,839), which is a divisional of U. S. patent application Ser. No. 11/445,930 filed Jun. 2, 2006 entitled, “Optical Reader Having Reduced Specular Reflection Read Failures” (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,770,799) which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60,687,606, filed Jun. 3, 2005 and titled “Digital Picture Taking Optical Reader Having Hybrid Monochrome And Color Image Sensor Array,” and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/690,268, filed Jun. 14, 2005 and titled “Digital Picture Taking Optical Reader Having Hybrid Monochrome And Color Image Sensor Array,” and to U. S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/692,890 filed Jun. 22, 2005, entitled “Digital Picture Taking Optical Reader Having Hybrid Monochrome And Color Image Sensor Array” and to U. S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/694,371 filed Jun. 27, 2005 entitled “Digital Picture Taking Optical Reader Having Hybrid Monochrome And Color Image Sensor Array”. The referenced U. S. patent application Ser. No. 12/853,090 and the referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/445,930 and all of the aforementioned provisional patent applications specifically reference (Provisional Patent Application No. 60/694,371, Provisional Patent Application No. 60/692,890, Provisional Patent Application No. 60/690,268 and Provisional Patent Application No. 60/687,606) are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. The aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/445,930 is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/174,447 filed Jun. 30, 2005 entitled, “Digital Picture Taking Optical Reader Having Hybrid Monochrome And Color Image Sensor” (now U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0274171) which is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20140203084 A1 | Jul 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60687606 | Jun 2005 | US | |
| 60690268 | Jun 2005 | US | |
| 60692890 | Jun 2005 | US | |
| 60694371 | Jun 2005 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12853090 | Aug 2010 | US |
| Child | 13493348 | US | |
| Parent | 11445930 | Jun 2006 | US |
| Child | 12853090 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13493348 | Jun 2012 | US |
| Child | 14221874 | US |
