Virtual-frame preprocessing for optical scanning

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11675986-B2
Application number	US-202217575065-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2022
Priority date	Feb 18, 2020
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

An optical scanner captures a plurality of images from a plurality of image-capture devices. In response to the activation signal, an evaluation phase is executed, and in response to the evaluation phase, an acquisition phase is executed. In the evaluation phase, a first set of images is captured and processed to produce a virtual frame comprising a plurality of regions, with each region containing a reduced-data image frame that is based on a corresponding one of the plurality of images. Also in the evaluation phase, attributes of each of the plurality regions of the virtual frame are assessed according to first predefined criteria, and operational parameters for the acquisition phase are set based on a result of the assessment. In the acquisition phase, a second set of at least one image is captured via at least one of the plurality of image-capture devices according to the set of operational parameters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A data reader, comprising:
a first imager and a second imager configured to capture images of a scene; and
an image processing system communicatively coupled to each of the first imager and the second imager, to receive image data from each of the first imager and the second imager, wherein the image processing system is configured to:
produce a virtual frame comprising a plurality of regions, each region containing a reduced-data image frame that is based on a corresponding one of the images captured by the first imager or the second imager;
assess attributes of each of the plurality regions of the virtual frame according to first predefined criteria; and
set operational parameters for a subsequent acquisition phase of at least one of the first imager or the second imager based on a result of the assessment,
wherein, at least one of the first imager or the second imager is configured to capture additional images during the subsequent acquisition phase according to the set operational parameters.

2. The data reader of claim 1 , wherein the reduced-data image frames are captured using a selected subset of a corresponding full frame from each of the first imager and the second imager.

3. The data reader of claim 2 , wherein the selected subset includes a specific subset of rows or columns of an image sensor array of the corresponding first imager or the second imager.

4. The data reader of claim 1 , wherein the reduced-data image frames are generated from a size-reduction operation of full frame images captured by each of the first imager and the second imager.

5. The data reader of claim 4 , wherein the size reduction operation is selected from the group consisting of subset selection, subsampling, and binning operations.

6. The data reader of claim 4 , wherein the size reduction operation is performed by at least one of the first imager, the second imager, or the image processing system.

7. The data reader of claim 4 , wherein the image processing system includes:
a mixer configured to merge the reduced-data frames to produce the virtual frame; and
a feature analyzer configured to assess the attributes of each of the plurality regions of the virtual frame according to first predefined criteria.

8. The data reader of claim 7 , wherein the reduce-data image frames are fed to the mixer substantially simultaneously.

9. The data reader of claim 7 , wherein the mixer merges intervening lines from the reduce-data image frames when producing the virtual frame.

10. The data reader of claim 1 , wherein the virtual frame has fewer pixels than a single full frame image available from either the first imager or the second imager.

11. The data reader of claim 1 , wherein operational parameters include one or more of selection of image sensor for subsequent information processing, focus settings, illumination power, sensor gain, exposure control, frame rate, or any combination thereof.

12. The data reader of claim 1 , wherein the image processing system is configured to:
assess attributes of each of the plurality regions of the virtual frame according to second predefined criteria;
set operational parameters for a subsequent acquisition phase of at least one of the first imager or the second imager based on a result of the assessment.

13. The data reader of claim 2 , further comprising one or more additional imagers, wherein the virtual frame comprises additional regions of reduce-data image frames based on images captured by the one or more additional imagers.

14. The data reader of claim 1 , wherein the data reader is a handheld reader, wherein the first imager and the second imager are forward facing cameras having at least partially overlapping fields of view.

15. The data reader of claim 1 , wherein each of the first imager and the second imager is selected from the group consisting of a CMOS-based sensor, CCD-based sensor, visible spectrum sensor, IR sensor, near-IR sensor, high-dynamic-range (HDR) sensor, monochrome sensor, and color sensor.

16. The data reader of claim 1 , wherein the first imager and the second imager are housed in a single enclosure.

17. The data reader of claim 1 , wherein the first imager and the second imager are house in separate enclosures.

18. A method of operating a data reader having at least a first imager and a second imager operatively coupled to an image processing system, the method comprising:
capturing images of a scene with a first imager and a second imager; and
producing a virtual frame comprising a plurality of regions, each region containing a reduced-data image frame that is based on a corresponding one of the images captured by the first imager or the second imager;
assessing attributes of each of the plurality regions of the virtual frame according to first predefined criteria; and
setting operational parameters for a subsequent acquisition phase of at least one of the first imager and the second imager based on a result of the assessment; and
capturing additional images during the subsequent acquisition phase with at least one of the first imager or the second imager configured to according to the set operational parameters.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the steps of capturing images, producing the virtual frame, assessing attributes, and setting operational parameters are repeated according to a set time interval.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the steps of capturing images, producing the virtual frame, assessing attributes, and setting operational parameters are repeated based on feedback received from an acquisition phase.

Assignees

• Datalogic IP Tech Srl

Inventors

• Canini Federico
• Bruni Davide
• Perugini Luca

Classifications

• G06K7/10386

  the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader · CPC title

• H04N1/00251 Primary

  with an apparatus for taking photographic images, e.g. a camera · CPC title

• G06K7/10752 Primary

  Exposure time control · CPC title

• G06V2201/07

  Target detection · CPC title

• H04N1/04

  Scanning arrangements {, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa}(H04N1/387 takes precedence) · CPC title