Patent US6435412B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6435412B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-channel signal processing in an optical reader
Assignee: Symbol Technologies LLC
•
Filing: 2001-01-12
•
Granted: 2002-08-20
•
Expires: 2021-01-12
Abstract
Abstract An optical reader, for example a field of view reader or a flying spot scanner for reading a printed indicia such as a bar code symbol includes a light source and a light detector, and at least two channels associated with the detector for carrying signals corresponding to light detected by the detector at different resolution levels, thus simplifying the decoupling of signals allowing a single reader to be used regardless of the resolution level of the indicia to be read. In order to arrive at an improved signal to noise ratio of a bar code symbol being read, a processor produces two signals at respective first and second channels, the signal in the second channel being buffered and merged with a later signal in the first channel allowing time averaging out of the noise portion of the signal and enhancement of the information portion of the signal. An improved system for detecting defects in a printed bar code symbol includes processing means for comparing the width of a detected space with the width of neighboring spaces and identifying the space as a defect if its width is less than a predetermined proportion of the width of neighboring spaces.
Inventors
- 👤 David Tsi
- 👤 Mark Krichever
- 👤 Edward Barkan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10881; G06K7/10554; G06K7/10594; G06K7/10603; G06K7/10613; G06K7/10623; G06K7/10633; G06K7/10792; G06K7/10801; G06K7/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An optical reader for generating an outgoing light beam to illuminate an information symbol comprising regions of different light reflectivity, and for collecting an incoming light beam reflected from the symbol, the reader comprising: a source of the outgoing light beam; light collection optics for collecting the incoming light beam and for directing the incoming light beam to a multi-channel photodetector; the multi-channel photodetector comprising an array of more than one individual active optical sensing element, each said element having an output capable of providing an output signal representative of light impinging thereon; the output of each detection element being coupled to a respective channel for processing the output signal of a respective detection element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An optical reader for generating an outgoing light beam to illuminate an information symbol comprising regions of different light reflectivity, and for collecting an incoming light beam reflected from the symbol, the reader comprising: a source of the outgoing light beam; light collection optics for collecting the incoming light beam and for directing the incoming light beam to a multi-channel photodetector; the multi-channel photodetector comprising an array of more than one individual active optical sensing element, each said element having an output capable of providing an output signal representative of light impinging thereon; the output of each detection element being coupled to a respective channel for processing the output signal of a respective detection element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical reader according to claim 1 , wherein one of the active optical sensing elements is positioned around another of the active optical sensing elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
An optical reader according to claim 2 , wherein the outgoing light beam, light collection optics, and array of sensing elements are configured so that the output of a first group of the sensing elements corresponds to a spot of a first size passing across the information symbol, and so that the output of a second group of the sensing elements corresponds to a spot of second size, larger than said first size, passing across the information symbol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
An optical reader according to claim 3 , wherein the array of sensing elements comprises a first and a second sensing element, and wherein the first sensing element is contained within the first group and the first and the second elements are contained within the second group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical reader according to claim 4 , wherein the first group contains only the first sensing element, and the second group contains only the first and second sensing elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
A reader for reading printed indicia comprising a light source for illuminating an indicia and a light detector for detecting light reflected from the indicia wherein the detector comprises a first region and a second region for detecting reflected light at a first resolution level and a second resolution level respectively, a first channel being associated with the first region and a second channel being associated with the second region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
A reader for reading printed indicia comprising a light source for illuminating an indicia and a light detector for detecting light reflected from the indicia wherein the detector comprises a first region and a second region for detecting reflected light at a first resolution level and a second resolution level respectively, a first channel being associated with the first region and a second channel being associated with the second region.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3381133A
Cited
US3684868A
Cited
US3809893A
Cited
US3716699A
Cited
US3727030A
Cited
US3789361A
Cited
US3818444A
Cited
US3758782A
Cited
US3784794A
Cited
US3985999A
Cited
US3916184A
Cited
US4013367A
Cited
US4013893A
Cited
US4127932A
Cited
US4115703A
Cited
US4367009A
Cited
US4312114A
Cited
US4143809A
Cited
US4473746A
Cited
JPS61220482A
Cited
US4675531A
Cited
US4798943A
Cited
US4831275A
Cited
US4908813A
Cited
JPS63182874A
Cited
US4882478A
Cited
JPS63224268A
Cited
US5045677A
Cited
US5122644A
Cited
US4973829A
Cited
US5140142A
Cited
US4983817A
Cited
US5051567A
Cited
US5164581A
Cited
US4963756A
Cited
US5136147A
Cited
US5278397A
Cited
US5352922A
Cited
US5506392A
Cited
US6213399B1
Cited
US5635700A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-19 | 2006-02-18 | 2006-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-19 | 2010-02-18 | 2010-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-19 | 2014-02-18 | 2014-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |