Claims
- 1. An optical reader comprising:
a first imaging module having a first imaging axis and a first best focus distance; a second imaging module having a second imaging axis and a second best focus distance, said second best focus distance being at least one inch a part from said first best focus distance; wherein each of said first and second imaging modules includes an image sensor having an array of photosensitive elements, a support assembly, and at least one illumination LED; wherein one of said imaging modules is a one dimensional imaging module including a linear array of photosensitive elements and one of said imaging modules is a two dimensional imaging module including a two dimensional array of photosensitive elements; a control circuit in communication with each of said first and second imaging modules; a hand held housing encapsulating said first imaging module, said second imaging module, and said control circuit; wherein said control circuit is programmed, in response to receipt of a trigger signal, to:
(a) capture a first frame of image data via actuation of said at least one illumination LED and said image sensor of said first imaging module; (b) determine whether said first frame of image data includes decodable indicia; (c) automatically subject to a decode attempt a second frame of image data if said determination step (b) indicates that decodable indicia is not or is likely not represented in said first frame of image data, wherein said second frame of image data is captured via actuation of said at least one LED and said image sensor of said second imaging module.
- 2. The reader of claim 1, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data attempts to decode decodable indicia represented in said first frame of image data.
- 3. The reader of claim 1, wherein said first and second imaging modules are disposed in vertical relation to one another.
- 4. The reader of claim 1, wherein said first and second imaging modules are disposed in horizontal relation to one another.
- 5. The reader of claim 1, wherein said imaging modules are disposed so that said first and second imaging axes converge toward one another forward of said reader.
- 6. The reader of claim 1, wherein said imaging modules are disposed so that said first and second imaging axes diverge apart from one another forward of said reader.
- 7. The reader of claim 1, wherein said control circuit captures said second frame of image data contemporaneously while capturing said first frame of image data.
- 8. The reader of claim 1, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data preliminarily evaluates image data of said first frame without attempting to decode decodable indicia represented therein.
- 9. The reader of claim 8, wherein said control circuit in preliminarily evaluating said image data evaluates said image data to determine whether a saturation condition is present.
- 10. The reader of claim 1, wherein said trigger signal is an automatically generated trigger signal generated by decodable indicia being moved in a field of view of said reader.
- 11. The reader of claim 1, further comprising a trigger, wherein said trigger signal is generated when said trigger is pulled.
- 12. The reader of claim 1, wherein said housing is a gun-style housing.
- 13. An optical reader comprising:
a first imaging module having a first imaging axis; a second imaging module having a second imaging axis; wherein each of said first and second imaging modules includes an image sensor having an array of photosensitive elements, a support assembly, and at least one illumination LED; a control circuit in communication with each of said first and second imaging modules; a hand held housing encapsulating said first imaging module, said second imaging module, and said control circuit; wherein said control circuit is programmed, in response to receipt of a trigger signal, to:
(a) capture a first frame of image data via actuation of said at least one illumination LED and said image sensor of said first imaging module; (b) determine whether said first frame of image data includes decodable indicia; (c) automatically subject to a decode attempt a second frame of image data if said determination step (b) indicates that decodable indicia is not or is likely not represented in said first frame of image data, wherein said second frame of image data is captured via actuation of said at least one LED and said image sensor of said second imaging module.
- 14. The reader of claim 13, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data attempts to decode decodable indicia represented in said first frame of image data.
- 15. The reader of claim 13, wherein said first and second imaging modules are disposed in vertical relation to one another.
- 16. The reader of claim 13, wherein said first and second imaging modules are disposed in horizontal relation to one another.
- 17. The reader of claim 13, wherein said imaging modules are disposed so that said first and second imaging axes converge toward one another forward of said reader.
- 18. The reader of claim 13, wherein said imaging modules are disposed so that said first and second imaging axes diverge apart from one another forward of said reader.
- 19. The reader of claim 13, wherein said control circuit captures said second frame of image data contemporaneously while capturing said first frame of image data.
- 20. The reader of claim 13, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data preliminarily evaluates image data of said first frame without attempting to decode decodable indicia represented therein.
- 21. The reader of claim 19, wherein said control circuit in preliminarily evaluating said image data evaluates said image data to determine whether a saturation condition is present.
- 22. The reader of claim 13, wherein said first imaging module is a 1D imaging module and wherein said second imaging module is a 2D imaging module.
- 23. The reader of claim 13, wherein said first and second imaging modules are configured to have first and second best focus distances, wherein said first best focus distance is at least 1 inch apart from said second best focus distance.
- 24. The reader of claim 13, wherein said trigger signal is an automatically generated trigger signal generated by decodable indicia being moved in a field of view of said reader.
- 25. The reader of claim 12, wherein said housing is a gun-style housing.
- 26. The reader of claim 13, further comprising a trigger, wherein said trigger signal is generated when said trigger is pulled.
- 27. An optical reader comprising:
a portable housing; a first imaging module having a first imaging axis; a second imaging module having a second imaging axis, wherein said first and second imaging modules are disposed so that said first and second imaging axes converge toward one another; wherein each of said first and second modules includes an image sensor having an array of photosensitive elements, a support assembly, and at least one illumination LED; a control circuit in communication with each of said first and second imaging modules; wherein said first and second imaging modules are encapsulated in said portable gun style housing, and wherein said control circuit is programmed, in response to receipt of a trigger signal to:
(a) capture a first frame of image data via actuation of said illumination LED and said image sensor of said first imaging module; (b) determine whether said first frame of image data includes decodable indicia; (c) automatically subject to a decode attempt a second frame of image data if said determination step (b) indicates that decodable indicia is not or is likely not represented in said first frame, wherein said second frame of image data is captured via actuation of said at least one LED of said second imaging module and said image sensor of said first imaging module, wherein no illumination LED of said first imaging module is actuated when said second frame of image data is captured.
- 28. The reader of claim 27, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data attempts to decode decodable indicia represented in said first frame of image data.
- 29. The reader of claim 27, wherein said control circuit captures said second frame of image data contemporaneously while capturing said first frame of image data.
- 30. The reader of claim 27, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data preliminarily evaluates image data of said first frame without attempting to decode decodable indicia represented therein.
- 31. The reader of claim 27, wherein said control circuit in preliminarily evaluating said image data evaluates said image data to determine whether a saturation condition is present.
- 32. The reader of claim 27, wherein said first imaging module is a 1D imaging module and wherein said second imaging module is a 2D imaging module.
- 33. The reader of claim 27, wherein said first and second imaging modules are configured to have first and second best focus distances, wherein, said first best focus distance is at least 1 inch apart from said second best focus distance.
- 34. The reader of claim 27, wherein said trigger signal is an automatically generated trigger signal generated by decodable indicia being moved in a field of view of said reader.
- 35. The reader of claim 27, further comprising a trigger, wherein said trigger signal is generated when said trigger is pulled.
- 36. The reader of claim 27, wherein said first portable housing is a gun-style housing.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/161,950 filed Jun. 4, 2002 entitled “Optical Reader Having a Plurality of Imaging Modules.” This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Atty. Docket No. 283-355.02) filed May 19, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/252,484 filed Sep. 23, 2002, entitled “Long Range Optical Reader,” which claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of provisional Application No. 60/387,842 filed Jun. 11, 2002, entitled “Long Range Optical Reader.” In addition to the claim of priority of Application No. 60/387,842 through the priority claim of application Ser. No. ______ (Atty. Docket No. 283-355.02) and application Ser. No. 10/252,484, this application claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Application No. 60/387,842 independent of the priority claim to Application No. 60/387,842 based on application Ser. No. ______ (Atty. Docket No. 283-355.02) and application Ser. No. 10/252,484. The priorities of all of the above applications are claimed. All of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60387842 |
Jun 2002 |
US |
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60387842 |
Jun 2002 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10161950 |
Jun 2002 |
US |
Child |
10453796 |
Jun 2003 |
US |
Parent |
10252484 |
Sep 2002 |
US |
Child |
10453796 |
Jun 2003 |
US |