Image reader comprising CMOS based image sensor array

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12075176-B2
Application number	US-202217657215-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2022
Priority date	Mar 11, 2005
Publication date	Aug 27, 2024
Grant date	Aug 27, 2024

Abstract

The invention features an image reader and a corresponding method for capturing a sharp distortion free image of a target, such as a one or two-dimensional bar code. In one embodiment, the image reader comprises a two-dimensional CMOS based image sensor array, a timing module, an illumination module, and a control module. The time during which the target is illuminated is referred to as the illumination period. The capture of the image by the image sensor array is driven by the timing module that, in one embodiment, is able to simultaneously expose substantially all of the pixels in the array. The time during which the pixels are collectively activated to photo-convert incident light into charge defines the exposure period for the sensor array. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the exposure period occurs during the illumination period.

First claim

We claim:

1. A computer comprising:
a global shutter CMOS image sensor operable to collect two-dimensional image data;
a processor;
a non-transitory memory including computer program instructions, the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to at least:
read shipping information associated with a package from the image data; and
cause the computer to combine the image data with other data associated with the package to generate a record associated with the package.

2. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to read the shipping information by decoding a two-dimensional bar code encoded with the shipping information.

3. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the shipping information comprises an instruction to capture a signature, and
wherein the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to trigger capture of the signature in response to the instruction.

4. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to read the shipping information by performing graphical analysis on the image data.

5. The computer of claim 4 , wherein the graphical analysis comprises programmatically reading a shipping label captured in the image data.

6. The computer of claim 4 , wherein the graphical analysis comprises programmatically locating and decoding typed or handwritten text in the image data.

7. The computer of claim 4 , wherein the graphical analysis comprises causing the image data to be applied to a trained neural network to read the shipping information.

8. The computer of claim 4 , wherein the graphical analysis comprises applying the image data to a classifier configured to determine if the image data comprises one or more of a signature, a dataform, handwritten text, typed text, machine readable text, OCR data, a graphic, a picture, an image, a form, a bill of lading, or an ID card.

9. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to read the shipping information by performing a histogram analysis on the image data.

10. The computer of claim 9 , wherein performing the histogram analysis comprises:
calculating numerical values for a series of one-dimensional slices along horizontal and vertical directions, and
generating a two-dimensional plot based on the numerical values.

11. The computer of claim 1 , further comprising at least one illumination light source, wherein the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to:
cause the at least one illumination light source to operate during at least a portion of an exposure period associated with the collection of the image data.

12. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the image data is a windowed frame of image data.

13. A computer comprising:
a global shutter CMOS image sensor operable to collect two-dimensional image data;
an IR filter;
a processor;
a non-transitory memory including computer program instructions, the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to at least:
read shipping information associated with a package from the image data; and
cause the computer to combine the image data with other data associated with the package to generate a record associated with the package.

14. The computer of claim 13 , wherein the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to read the shipping information by decoding a two-dimensional bar code encoded with the shipping information.

15. The computer of claim 13 , wherein the shipping information comprises an instruction to capture a signature, and
wherein the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to trigger capture of the signature in response to the instruction.

16. The computer of claim 13 , wherein the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to read the shipping information by performing graphical analysis on the image data.

17. The computer of claim 16 , wherein the graphical analysis comprises programmatically locating and decoding typed or handwritten text in the image data.

18. The computer of claim 16 , wherein the graphical analysis comprises applying the image data to a classifier configured to determine if the image data comprises one or more of a signature, a dataform, handwritten text, typed text, machine readable text, OCR data, a graphic, a picture, an image, a form, a bill of lading, or an ID card.

19. The computer of claim 13 , wherein the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to read the shipping information by performing a histogram analysis on the image data.

20. The computer of claim 13 , further comprising at least one illumination light source, wherein the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to:
cause the at least one illumination light source to operate during at least a portion of an exposure period associated with the collection of the image data.

21. A wireless cellular computer comprising:
a global shutter CMOS image sensor operable to collect two-dimensional image data;
a wireless cellular radio;
a processor;
a non-transitory memory including computer program instructions, the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to at least:
read shipping information associated with a package from the image data; and
cause the computer to combine the image data with other data associated with the package to generate a record associated with the package.

22. The computer of claim 21 , wherein the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to read the shipping information by decoding a two-dimensional bar code encoded with the shipping information.

23. The computer of claim 21 , wherein the shipping information comprises an instruction to capture a signature, and
wherein the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to trigger capture of the signature in response to the instruction.

24. The computer of claim 21 , wherein the non-transitory memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to read the shipping information by performing graphical analysis on the image data.

25. The computer of claim 24 , wherein the graphical analysis comprises programmatically reading a shipping label captured in the image data.

Assignees

• Hand Held Prod Inc

Inventors

• Wang Ynjiun P
• Havens William H

Classifications

• G06K7/10722 Primary

  Photodetector array or CCD scanning · CPC title

• H04N25/7795

  Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals · CPC title

• H04N25/78

  Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters · CPC title

• H04N25/75 Primary

  Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array · CPC title

• G06K7/1439

  including a method step for retrieval of the optical code · CPC title