Trainable handheld optical character recognition systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10068153-B2
Application number	US-201514885065-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2015
Priority date	Aug 21, 2012
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

A handheld scanner incorporates vision software to allow the handheld scanner to be trained for OCR. The handheld scanner can include a user interface to allow a user to associate an image of a mark with electronic data for the mark. The user interface, along with a range finder, can also be used to influence variables that affect the quality of an image scan, thereby improving the quality of results for the image scan and/or decode process. The handheld scanner can also use a font description file during the decode process. The font description file can be generated using a synthetic image file of a character. The synthetic image file can be created by interpreting a marker font file.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A handheld scanner comprising:
a scanner subassembly, the scanner subassembly including a vision sensor, a processor coupled to the vision sensor, and memory coupled to the processor;
a user interface coupled to the scanner subassembly, the user interface including a visual display for viewing a live image of at least a portion of a mark to be scanned, the visual display including a region of interest viewable on the visual display, the region of interest to enable a user to position the handheld scanner for optimal X-Y position of the handheld scanner;
vision software executable by the processor, the vision software operable to digitally interpret a marker font file to decode a subsequent image of the mark, the marker font file describing the mark, the vision software further operable to digitally translate the marker font file into a synthetic image file; and
an OCR algorithm configured to train the handheld scanner using the synthetic image file.

2. The handheld scanner according to claim 1 :
wherein the vision software is operable to digitally associate the marker font file with desired electronic data and to generate a font description file, the font description file usable to decode the subsequent image of the mark.

3. The handheld scanner according to claim 1 :
wherein the synthetic image file is stored in the memory.

4. The handheld scanner according to claim 1 :
wherein the synthetic image file is digitally associated with the desired electronic data to generate a font description file.

5. The handheld scanner according to claim 1 :
further including a range finder coupled to the scanner subassembly, the range finder extending from a face of the scanner subassembly a predetermined distance, the predetermined distance to provide an optimal working distance for a scan, the range finder extending off of the face of the scanner subassembly substantially parallel to an optical axis of the vision sensor.

6. The handheld scanner according to claim 1 :
wherein the user interface comprises a portable data terminal.

7. The handheld scanner according to claim 1 :
further including at least one of a visual feedback device and an audio feedback device to provide feedback to a user indicating the mark is within the region of interest.

8. The handheld scanner according to claim 5 :
further including a light source on the scanner subassembly to provide illumination, the range finder comprising a diffusive material, and the illumination passing through the range finder diffusive material to provide diffuse illumination on the mark.

9. A handheld scanner comprising:
a scanner subassembly, the scanner subassembly including a vision sensor, a processor coupled to the vision sensor, and memory coupled to the processor;
a range finder coupled to the scanner subassembly, the range finder extending from a face of the scanner subassembly a predetermined distance, the predetermined distance to provide an optimal working distance for a scan, the range finder extending off of the face of the scanner subassembly substantially parallel to an optical axis of the vision sensor;
vision software executable by the processor, the vision software operable to digitally interpret a marker font file to decode a subsequent image of the mark, the marker font file describing the mark, the vision software further operable to digitally translate the marker font file into a synthetic image file; and
an OCR algorithm configured to train the handheld scanner using the synthetic image file.

10. The handheld scanner according to claim 9 :
wherein the vision software is operable to digitally associate the marker font file with desired electronic data and to generate a font description file, the font description file usable to decode the subsequent image of the mark.

11. The handheld scanner according to claim 9 :
wherein the synthetic image file is stored in the memory.

12. The handheld scanner according to claim 9 :
wherein the synthetic image file is digitally associated with the desired electronic data to generate a font description file.

13. The handheld scanner according to claim 9 :
further including a user interface coupled to the scanner subassembly, the user interface including a visual display for viewing a live image of at least a portion of a mark to be scanned, the visual display including a region of interest viewable on the visual display, the region of interest to enable a user to position the handheld scanner for optimal X-Y position of the handheld scanner.

14. The handheld scanner according to claim 9 :
further including a constant focus lens assembly to provide a substantially constant magnification for a predetermined range of working distances.

15. The handheld scanner according to claim 9 :
further including a measurement device, the measurement device to determine a distance to the mark, the processor using the distance to the mark for a scale determination.

16. The handheld scanner according to claim 9 :
further including a computer coupled to the scanner subassembly, the computer including vision software operable to download the electronic image of the mark, associate the electronic image of the mark with desired electronic data, and to generate a font description file of the associated mark; and
the computer operable to upload the font description file to the handheld scanner subassembly, the font description file usable by the processor to decode a subsequent image of the mark.

17. A handheld scanner comprising:
a scanner subassembly, the scanner subassembly including a vision sensor, a processor coupled to the vision sensor, and memory coupled to the processor;
a user interface coupled to the scanner subassembly, the user interface including a visual display for viewing a live image of at least a portion of a mark to be scanned, the visual display including a region of interest viewable on the visual display, the region of interest to enable a user to position the handheld scanner for optimal X-Y position of the handheld scanner;
a range finder coupled to the handheld scanner subassembly, the range finder extending from a face of the scanner subassembly a predetermined distance, the predetermined distance to provide an optimal working distance for a scan, the range finder extending from the face of the scanner subassembly substantially parallel to an optical axis of the vision sensor;
vision software executable by the processor, the vision software operable to digitally interpret a marker font file to decode a subsequent image of the mark, the marker font file describing the mark, the vision software further operable to digitally translate the marker font file into a synthetic image file; and
an OCR algorithm configured to train the handheld scanner using the synthetic image file.

18. The handheld scanner according to claim 17 :
wherein the vision software is operable to digitally associate the marker font file with desired electronic data and to generate a font description file, the font description file usable to decode the subsequent image of the mark.

19. The handheld scanner according to claim 17 :
wherein the synthetic image file is stored in the memory.

20. The handheld scanner according to claim 17 :
wherein the synthetic image file is digitally associated with the desired electronic data to generate a font description file.

21. The handheld scanner according to claim 17 :
wherein the range finder comprises a plurality of fi

Assignees

• Negro James A
• Gerst Carl W
• Cognex Corp

Inventors

• Negro James A
• Gerst Carl W

Classifications

• G06V30/1914

  Determining representative reference patterns, e.g. averaging or distorting patterns; Generating dictionaries, e.g. user dictionaries · CPC title

• G06V10/70

  using pattern recognition or machine learning (optical pattern recognition or electronic computations therefor G06V10/88) · CPC title

• G06F18/41

  Interactive pattern learning with a human teacher · CPC title

• G06V30/142 Primary

  using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments · CPC title

• H04N23/635

  Region indicators; Field of view indicators · CPC title