Barcode-reading enhancement system for a computing device that comprises a camera and an illumination system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10192086-B2
Application number	US-201414527645-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2014
Priority date	Oct 4, 2012
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

A barcode reading enhancement system for a mobile device may include an optic system aligning with a camera lens of the mobile device to define a barcode reading lens system. The barcode reading lens system may be defined by a combination of the camera lens and the optic system. The barcode reading lens system may provide a system field of view that is different from a camera field of view of the camera lens. The barcode reading enhancement system may also include an illumination optic system aligning with an illumination torch of the mobile device to define an exposure illumination system. The exposure illumination system may emit a system illumination field with a system angular size that is different from a torch angular size of a torch illumination field emitted by the illumination torch. The system field of view and the system illumination field may substantially overlap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A barcode reading enhancement system for a mobile device, the mobile device being selected from the group consisting of smartphones, tablets, and combinations thereof, the mobile device comprising a processor, a display screen, memory, an illumination torch, and a camera comprising a camera lens and an image sensor, the barcode reading enhancement system comprising:
an optic system aligning with the camera lens to define a barcode reading lens system, the barcode reading lens system being defined by a combination of the camera lens and the optic system, the barcode reading lens system providing a system field of view which is different from a camera field of view of the camera lens; and
an illumination optic system aligning with the illumination torch of the mobile device to define an exposure illumination system, wherein the illumination optic system comprises an illumination lens that is positioned within a torch illumination field of the illumination torch, and wherein the illumination lens modifies the torch illumination field such that the exposure illumination system emits a system illumination field with a system angular size that is different from a torch angular size of the torch illumination field emitted by the illumination torch;
wherein the system field of view and the system illumination field substantially overlap;
wherein the optic system is housed in a first chamber of an attachment securable to an external surface of the mobile device; and
wherein the illumination optic system is housed in a second chamber of the attachment, the second chamber being optically isolated from the first chamber to prevent illumination from the illumination torch from entering the camera without first reflecting from an object within the system field of view.

2. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 1 , further comprising: a mobile barcode reading application comprising executable code stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor:
activates the illumination torch to emit illumination through the illumination optic system into the system illumination field;
causes the camera to capture an image of a barcode within the system field of view; and
decodes the image of the barcode.

3. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 1 , wherein the memory of the mobile device comprises an operating system executable by the processor, the barcode reading enhancement system further comprising:
a mobile barcode reading application comprising executable code stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor:
instructs the operating system to activate the illumination torch to emit illumination through the illumination optic system into the system illumination field;
instructs the operating system to cause the camera to capture an image of a barcode within the system field of view; and
decodes the image of the barcode.

4. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 1 , wherein:
the attachment comprises a first interior surface, wherein the first interior surface cooperates with a second interior surface to define a cavity, wherein the cavity is dimensioned such that the first and second interior surfaces frictionally engage the mobile device to retain at least a portion of the mobile device within the cavity.

5. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mobile barcode reading application comprising executable code stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor:
activates the illumination torch to emit illumination through the illumination optic system into the system illumination field;
causes the camera to capture an image of a barcode within the system field of view; and
decodes the image of the barcode.

6. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 1 , wherein the memory of the mobile device comprises an operating system executable by the processor, the barcode reading enhancement system further comprising:
a mobile barcode reading application comprising executable stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor:
instructs the operating system to activate the illumination torch to emit illumination through the illumination optic system into the system illumination field;
instructs the operating system to cause the camera to capture an image of a barcode within the system field of view; and
decodes the image of the barcode.

7. A barcode reading enhancement system for a mobile device, the mobile device being selected from the group consisting of smartphones, tablets, and combinations thereof, the mobile device comprising a processor, a display screen, an illumination torch, a camera, and memory, the camera comprising a camera lens positioned parallel to a back surface of the mobile device and having a camera field of view extending orthogonally from the back surface, the back surface being opposite the display screen on a face surface of the mobile device, the barcode reading enhancement system comprising:
an optic system aligning with the camera lens to define a barcode reading lens system, the barcode reading lens system being defined by a combination of the camera lens and the optic system, the barcode reading lens system providing a system field of view which is different in both angular size and optical pathway direction from the camera field of view; and
an illumination optic system aligning with the illumination torch of the mobile device to define an exposure illumination system, wherein the illumination optic system comprises an illumination lens that is positioned within a torch illumination field of the illumination torch, and wherein the illumination lens modifies the torch illumination field such that the exposure illumination system emits a system illumination field with a system angular size that is different from a torch angular size of the torch illumination field emitted by the illumination torch;
wherein the system illumination field is directed into the system field of view;
wherein the optic system is housed in a first chamber of an attachment securable to an external surface of the mobile device; and
wherein the illumination optic system is housed in a second chamber of the attachment, the second chamber being optically isolated from the first chamber to prevent illumination from the illumination torch from entering the camera without first reflecting from an object within the system field of view.

8. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 7 , further comprising: a mobile barcode reading application comprising executable code stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor:
activates the illumination torch to emit illumination through the illumination optic system into the system illumination field;
causes the camera to capture an image of a barcode within the system field of view; and
decodes the image of the barcode.

9. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 7 , wherein the memory of the mobile device comprises an operating system executable by the processor, the barcode reading enhancement system further comprising:
a mobile barcode reading application comprising executable code stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor:
instructs the operating system to activate the illumination torch to emit illumination through the illumination optic system into the system illumination field;
instructs the operating system to cause the camera to capture an image of a barcode within the system field of view; and
decodes the image of the barcode.

10. The barcode reading enhancement system of claim 7 , wherein:
the attachment comprises a first interior surface, wherein the first interior surface cooperates with a second i

Assignees

• Code Corp

Inventors

• Powell George
• Hoobler Ryan
• Russell Garrett
• Lei Ming
• Ashby Mark

Classifications

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• H01M50/262

  with fastening means, e.g. locks · CPC title

• H01M50/247

  specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers · CPC title

• H01M50/202

  Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery · CPC title

• H01M50/271

  Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings · CPC title