Barcode-reading system that automatically adjusts certain outputs based on ambient characteristics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10691906-B2
Application number	US-201816234322-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2018
Priority date	Dec 28, 2017
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A barcode-reading system may include a barcode reader and at least one detector that is configured to detect a characteristic of an environment in which the barcode-reading system is located. The barcode-reading system may also include a controller that is configured to adjust at least one output of the barcode-reading system based on at least one detected characteristic.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A barcode-reading system, comprising:
a barcode reader;
a detector that is configured to detect a characteristic of an environment in which the barcode-reading system is located; and
a controller that is configured to automatically adjust, based on the detected characteristic, at least one of a volume of sound output by the barcode-reading system, a type of targeting illumination used by the barcode-reading system, a color of illumination used by the barcode-reading system, a type or duration of feedback provided by the barcode-reading system, or a feature of an indicator light of the barcode-reading system, wherein the indicator light provides information about a charging status of the barcode reader.

2. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein:
the detector comprises a light detector; and
the detected characteristic comprises ambient illumination.

3. The barcode-reading system of claim 2 , wherein:
the light detector comprises an image sensor; and
the barcode-reading system further comprises processing circuitry that is configured to analyze image data from the image sensor in order to detect the ambient illumination.

4. The barcode-reading system of claim 2 , wherein the light detector comprises a photodiode.

5. The barcode-reading system of claim 2 , wherein
the barcode reader comprises the indicator light.

6. The barcode-reading system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust brightness of the indicator light based on the ambient illumination.

7. The barcode-reading system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust a color of illumination displayed by the indicator light based on the ambient illumination.

8. The barcode-reading system of claim 2 , wherein:
the barcode-reading system further comprises a charging cradle;
the barcode reader comprises the controller; and
the charging cradle comprises the indicator light.

9. The barcode-reading system of claim 2 , wherein:
the barcode-reading system further comprises a charging cradle; and
the charging cradle comprises the controller and the indicator light.

10. The barcode-reading system of claim 2 , wherein:
the barcode-reading system further comprises a speaker; and
the controller is configured to adjust a volume of sound output by the speaker based on the ambient illumination.

11. The barcode-reading system of claim 2 , wherein:
the barcode reader comprises a first targeting illumination source and a second targeting illumination source; and
the controller is configured to determine whether to activate the first targeting illumination source or the second targeting illumination source based on the ambient illumination.

12. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein:
the detector comprises a sound detector;
the detected characteristic comprises ambient noise;
the barcode-reading system further comprises a speaker; and
the controller is configured to adjust a volume of sound output by the speaker based on the ambient noise.

13. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein:
the detector comprises an image sensor;
the detected characteristic comprises a characteristic of a barcode within a field of view of the barcode reader;
the barcode reader comprises an illumination source; and
the controller is configured to adjust a color of illumination emitted by the illumination source based on the characteristic of the barcode.

14. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein:
the barcode-reading system further comprises a plurality of indicator lights and a lookup table that comprises different brightness settings for different indicator lights; and
the controller is configured to access the lookup table to determine how to adjust brightness of the plurality of indicator lights.

15. A barcode-reading system, comprising:
a charging cradle comprising an indicator light; and
a barcode reader configured for placement inside the charging cradle, the barcode reader comprising:
a light detector that is configured to detect ambient illumination; and
a controller that is configured to adjust a feature of the indicator light based on the ambient illumination.

16. The barcode-reading system of claim 15 , wherein:
the light detector comprises an image sensor; and
the barcode reader further comprises processing circuitry that is configured to analyze image data from the image sensor in order to detect the ambient illumination.

17. The barcode-reading system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of brightness of the indicator light or a color of illumination displayed by the indicator light based on the ambient illumination.

18. A barcode-reading system, comprising:
a barcode reader; and
a charging cradle configured to receive the barcode reader, the charging cradle comprising:
an indicator light;
a light detector that is configured to detect ambient illumination; and
a controller that is configured to adjust a feature of the indicator light based on the ambient illumination.

19. The barcode-reading system of claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of brightness of the indicator light or a color of illumination displayed by the indicator light based on the ambient illumination.

20. The barcode-reading system of claim 18 , wherein:
the charging cradle further comprises a speaker and a sound detector that is configured to detect ambient noise; and
the controller is additionally configured to adjust a volume of sound output by the speaker based on the ambient noise.

Assignees

• Code Corp

Inventors

• Ji Hong
• Deal John

Classifications

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06K7/1413

  1D bar codes · CPC title

• G06K7/10851

  Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device (basic electronic circuitry H03) · CPC title

• G06K7/10722 Primary

  Photodetector array or CCD scanning · CPC title

• G08B7/06

  using electric transmission {, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources} · CPC title