Method and apparatus for performing different decoding algorithms in different locations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9367725-B2
Application number	US-201113288098-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2011
Priority date	Nov 3, 2011
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

A method and apparatus for decoding codes applied to objects for use with an image sensor that includes a two dimensional field of view (FOV), the method comprising the steps of providing a processor programmed to perform the steps of obtaining an image of the FOV and applying different decode algorithms to code candidates in the obtained image to attempt to decode the code candidates wherein the decode algorithm applied to each candidate is a function of the location of the code candidate in the FOV.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for decoding codes applied to objects for use with an image sensor that includes a two dimensional field of view (FOV), the method comprising the steps of:
a) selecting, using a processor, a first decode algorithm for attempting to decode within a first defined region of interest (ROI) in the FOV and a second decode algorithm for attempting to decode within a second defined ROI in the FOV and outside the first defined ROI in the FOV, the first defined ROI having a first ROI boundary and the second defined ROI having a second ROI boundary that is different than the first ROI boundary, the first decode algorithm and second decode algorithm are different;
b) subsequent to step a), obtaining, using the processor, an image of the FOV, the image including a first code candidate located in the first defined ROI or the second defined ROI; and
c) attempting, using the processor, to decode the first code candidate when located in the first defined ROI using the first decode algorithm and attempting, using the processor, to decode the first code candidate when located in the second defined ROI and outside the first defined ROI using the second decode algorithm.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of attempting to decode the at least one code candidate in the image of the FOV includes at least one of identifying the at least one code candidate in the first defined ROI and identifying the at least one code candidate in the second defined ROI.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first decode algorithm is computationally more complex than the second decode algorithm.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first defined ROI includes a central portion of the image of the FOV.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the second defined ROI includes portions of the image of the FOV surrounding the first defined ROI.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first decode algorithm requires a greater amount of time to complete than the second decode algorithm.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first decode algorithm includes the second decode algorithm and an additional decode algorithm.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first defined ROI includes an ROI corresponding to the location of a successfully decoded code in a prior image.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein step a) further comprises selecting, using the processor, a third decode algorithm for attempting to decode within a third defined ROI in the FOV and outside the first defined ROI and second defined ROI in the FOV, the third defined ROI having a third ROI boundary which is different than the first and second ROI boundaries, the third decode algorithm is different than the first decode algorithm and the second decode algorithm, the method further comprising: e) attempting, using the processor, to decode an additional code candidate when located in the third defined ROI and outside the first ROI and the second ROI using the third decode algorithm.

10. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of receiving an indication from an individual indicating the first defined ROI.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first defined ROI includes a position within the image of the FOV and a distance relative to the position.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the position consists of a location along a single axis within the image of the FOV.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the image sensor forms part of a portable code reading device.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the image sensor forms part of a hand held code reading device.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the image sensor obtains images in a repetitive fashion and wherein a size of the first defined ROI is determined at least in part as a function of the time required to attempt to decode code candidates in the first defined ROI in a prior obtained image.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the image sensor obtains images in a repetitive fashion and wherein the second decode algorithm is selected at least in part as a function of the time required to attempt to decode code candidates in a prior obtained image.

17. A method for decoding codes applied to objects for use with an image sensor that includes a two dimensional field of view (FOV), the method comprising the steps of:
a) selecting, using a processor, at least one of different decode algorithms for attempting to decode within at least one of different defined regions of interest (ROIs) in the FOV;
b) subsequent to step a), obtaining, using the processor, an image of the FOV, the image include a code candidate located in the at least one of different defined ROIs; and
c) applying, using the processor, the at least one of different decode algorithms to the code candidate to attempt to decode the code candidate when located in the at least one of different defined ROIs.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of applying the at least one of different decode algorithms includes identifying the code candidate in the image of the FOV.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein a first decode algorithm is applied to the code candidate when located within a first defined region of interest (ROI) and a second decode algorithm that is different than the first decode algorithm is applied to the code candidate when located within a second defined ROI that is different than the first defined ROI.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first defined ROI includes a central portion of the image of the FOV and the second defined ROI includes portions of the image of the FOV that surround the first defined ROI.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the image sensor forms part of a hand held device.

22. The method of claim 17 , the method further comprising repeating steps a), b), and c), wherein the selecting of step a) changes to optimize the decode process.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the decode algorithms include at least a first relatively complex decode algorithm and a second relative simple decode algorithm, and wherein the selecting of step a) changes to alter the ratio of code candidates to which the first and second decode algorithms are applied.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the ratio is altered as a function of the time required to attempt to decode code candidates in the image of the FOV using the first and second decode algorithms.

25. An apparatus for reading codes applied to objects, the apparatus comprising:
an image sensor that includes a two dimensional field of view (FOV);
a processor linkable to the sensor to obtain image data there from, the processor programmed to perform the steps of:
a) selecting a first decode algorithm to be used for attempting to decode within a first defined region of interest (ROI) in the FOV and a second decode algorithm to be used for attempting to decode within a second defined ROI in the FOV and outside the first defined ROI in the FOV, the first defined ROI having a first ROI boundary and the second defined ROI having a second ROI boundary that is different than the first ROI boundary, the first decode algorithm and second decode algorithm are different;
b) subsequent to step a), obtaining an image of the FOV, the image including a first code candidate located in the first defined ROI or the second defined ROI;
c) attempting to decode the first code candidate when located in the first defined ROI using the first decode algorithm and attempting to decode the first code candidate whe

Assignees

• Negro James
• Ye Xiangyun
• Cognex Corp

Inventors

• Negro James
• Ye Xiangyun

Classifications

• G06K7/1404 Primary

  Methods for optical code recognition · CPC title

• G06K19/06037

  multi-dimensional coding · CPC title

• G06K7/1447 Primary

  extracting optical codes from image or text carrying said optical code · CPC title

• G06K7/1417

  2D bar codes · CPC title

• G06K7/10881 Primary

  constructional details of hand-held scanners · CPC title