Barcode with built-in chemical indicators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12400093-B2
Application number	US-202218078627-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2022
Priority date	Dec 9, 2022
Publication date	Aug 26, 2025
Grant date	Aug 26, 2025

Abstract

Imaging devices, systems, and methods for determining parameters of an object based on chemical indicators detected during a decode event are described herein. An example device includes: a housing; one or more processors; an imaging assembly at least partially disposed within the housing, the imaging assembly including: an imaging sensor operable to capture an image of an object in a FOV; and a computer-readable media storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to: after capturing the image of the object in the FOV, determine whether a decode indicia is present in the image of the object; initiate a decode event for the decode indicia present in the image of the object; detect a chemical indicator in proximity to the decode indicia in the image of the object; and determine, based on the chemical indicator, one or more parameters associated with the object.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An imaging device for determining parameters of an object based on chemical indicators detected during a decode event, the imaging device comprising:
a housing;
one or more processors;
an imaging assembly at least partially disposed within the housing, the imaging assembly including:
an imaging sensor operable to capture an image of an object in a field of view (FOV); and

a computer-readable media storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:
after capturing the image of the object in the FOV, determine whether a decode indicia is present in the image of the object;
initiate a decode event for the decode indicia present in the image of the object;
detect a marker captured in the image of the object;
determine, based on the marker, a location at which a chemical indicator is expected in the image of the object;
search the location in the image of the object determined based on the marker to determine whether the chemical indicator is present;
detect the chemical indicator, which is reactive to an environmental stimulus, at the location in the image of the object determined based on the marker; and
determine, based on a reactive state of the chemical indicator, one or more parameters associated with the object.

2. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the marker is an arrow pointing to the position of the chemical indicator, and searching the position includes:
determining a path to the chemical indicator based on the arrow; and
searching along the path until the chemical indicator is detected or an end of the path is detected.

3. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the marker is one of a plurality of shapes, wherein each of the plurality of shapes is indicative of a different position for the chemical indicator.

4. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the marker is at least one digit in a UPC code associated with the decode indicia.

5. An imaging device for determining parameters of an object based on chemical indicators detected during a decode event, the imaging device comprising:
a housing;
one or more processors;
an imaging assembly at least partially disposed within the housing, the imaging assembly including:
an imaging sensor operable to capture an image of an object in a field of view (FOV); and

a computer-readable media storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:
after capturing the image of the object in the FOV, determine whether a decode indicia is present in the image of the object;
initiate a decode event for the decode indicia present in the image of the object;
detect a chemical indicator in proximity to the decode indicia in the image of the object; and
determine, based on the chemical indicator, one or more parameters associated with the object

wherein detecting the chemical indicator includes:
detecting a marker indicative of a position of the chemical indicator; and
searching the position indicated by the marker to determine whether the chemical indicator is present,

wherein the marker is at least one digit in a UPC code associated with the decode indicia,
wherein the at least one digit is representative of a point of origin that uses chemical indicators, and
wherein detecting the chemical indicator includes:
determining, based on the at least one digit, that a chemical indicator may be present; and
searching for the chemical indicator responsive to determining that the chemical indicator may be present.

6. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more parameters associated with the object includes at least one of: (i) a temperature of the object, (ii) a humidity of the object, (iii) a sunlight exposure of the object, (iv) a chemical exposure of the object, (v) a lifetime of the object, or (vi) an expiration status of the object.

7. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more parameters includes:
determining that at least one of a coloring or a shading of the chemical indicator has changed from a default state; and
based on the determining that the at least one of the coloring or the shading of the chemical indicator has changed, determining that a parameter of the one or more parameters associated with the chemical indicator has passed a predetermined threshold.

8. The imaging device of claim 7 , wherein determining that the at least one of the coloring or the shading of the chemical indicator has changed from the default state includes:
comparing the at least one of the coloring or the shading of the chemical indicator to a coloring or a shading of the decode indicia to generate a color comparison; and
determining, based on the color comparison, that the at least one of the coloring or the shading of the chemical indicator has changed from the default state.

9. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more parameters includes:
determining that at least one of a coloring or a shading of the chemical indicator has changed from a default state; and
based on the at least one of the coloring or the shading of the chemical indicator, determining a current state of a parameter of the one or more parameters associated with the chemical indicator.

10. The imaging device of claim 9 , wherein determining that the at least one of the coloring or the shading of the chemical indicator has changed from the default state includes:
comparing the at least one of the coloring or the shading of the chemical indicator to a coloring or a shading of the decode indicia to generate a color comparison; and
determining, based on the color comparison, that the at least one of the coloring or the shading of the chemical indicator has changed from the default state.

11. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the machine readable instructions include instructions that, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:
provide an indication of a status of the one or more parameters to a user.

12. The imaging device of claim 11 , wherein providing the indication of the status includes:
detecting, based on the one or more parameters, a flaw with the object; and
alerting at least one of the user or a host associated with the imaging device that the object is flawed.

13. An imaging device for determining parameters of an object based on a chemical indicator detected during a decode event, the imaging device comprising:
a housing;
one or more processors;
an imaging assembly at least partially disposed within the housing, the imaging assembly including:
an imaging sensor operable to capture an image of an object in a field of view (FOV); and

a computer-readable media storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:
after capturing the image of the object in the FOV, determine whether a decode indicia is present in the image of the object;
initiate a decode event for the decode indicia present in the image of the object;
detect a chemical indicator in proximity to the decode indicia in the image of the object; and

determine, based on the chemical indicator, one or more parameters associated with the object,
wherein the machine readable instructions include instructions that, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:
provide an indication of a status of the one or more parameters to a user,

wherein providing the indication of the status includes:
detecting, based on the one or more parameters, a potential flaw with the object; and
offering a discount to the user based on the potential flaw.

Assignees

• Zebra Tech Corp

Inventors

• Barkan Edward
• Abdo Mohannad
• Drzymala Mark
• Handshaw Darran Michael

Classifications

• G06K7/10722 Primary

  Photodetector array or CCD scanning · CPC title

• G06K7/10881

  constructional details of hand-held scanners · CPC title

• G06K2007/10524

  Hand-held scanners · CPC title

• G06K7/1413 Primary

  1D bar codes · CPC title