US6889904B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image capture system and method using a common imaging array
Assignee: Symbol Technologies LLC
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Filing: 2003-03-19
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Granted: 2005-05-10
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Expires: 2023-03-19
Abstract
Abstract An image of a target in a far-field range of working distances relative to an image capture system is focused at a first group of sensors in a common, two-dimensional, array of sensors, and an image of an optical code in a near-field range of working distances relative to the system is focused at a second group of sensors in the array. The same array is shared in a portable apparatus capable of capturing target images and optical code images without moving any optical components.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas D. Bianculli
- 👤 Mehul M. Patel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/1092; G06K7/10712; G06K7/10722; G06K7/10792; G06K7/10801; G06K7/10811; G06K7/10851
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
An image capture system, comprising: a) a common imaging array of sensors spaced apart at respective locations in the common array for detecting light incident on the sensors; and b) an image capture assembly for focusing an image of a non-coded target in a far-field range of working distances for capture only at a first group of the sensors in the common array, and for focusing an image of an optical code in a near-field range of working distances for capture only at a second group of the sensors in the common array.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image capture system, comprising: a) a common imaging array of sensors spaced apart at respective locations in the common array for detecting light incident on the sensors; and b) an image capture assembly for focusing an image of a non-coded target in a far-field range of working distances for capture only at a first group of the sensors in the common array, and for focusing an image of an optical code in a near-field range of working distances for capture only at a second group of the sensors in the common array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 1 , and a support having an interior for receiving the common array, and wherein the image capture assembly includes a target lens supported by the support for focusing the image of the target, and a code lens supported by the support and spaced from the target lens for focusing the image of the optical code.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 2 , and a baffle in the interior of the support for blocking light captured from the image of the target from reaching the second group of the sensors, and for blocking light captured from the image of the optical code from reaching the first group of the sensors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensors are arranged in mutually orthogonal rows and columns, and wherein the first group is a major proportion of the rows, and wherein the second group is a minor proportion of the rows.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the near-field range measures from about 0.5″ to about 12″, and wherein the far-field range measures from about 12″ to infinity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the optical code is a one-dimensional barcode symbol, and wherein the non-coded target is not a barcode symbol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein each sensor includes three photosensors operative for measuring each of three primary colors of the incident light at the same location as the respective sensor to obtain measured red, blue and green signals, and for processing the signals from the first group of the sensors to obtain the image of the target in full color, and for processing a plurality of the signals from the second group of the sensors to obtain a composite signal by which the image of the optical code is obtained in monochrome.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
An image capture method, comprising the steps of: a) detecting light incident on a common imaging array of sensors spaced apart at respective locations in the common array; b) focusing an image at a non-coded target in a far-field range of working distances for capture only at a first group of the sensors in the common array; and c) focusing an image of an optical code in a near-field range of working distances for capture only at a second group of the sensors in the common array.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
An image capture method, comprising the steps of: a) detecting light incident on a common imaging array of sensors spaced apart at respective locations in the common array; b) focusing an image at a non-coded target in a far-field range of working distances for capture only at a first group of the sensors in the common array; and c) focusing an image of an optical code in a near-field range of working distances for capture only at a second group of the sensors in the common array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 8 , and the step of mounting the common array in an interior of a support, and the step of mounting a target lens and a code lens at spaced-apart locations on the support.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 9 , and the step of subdividing the interior of a support by a baffle that blocks light captured from the image of the target from reaching the second group of the sensors, and that blocks light captured from the range of the optical code from reaching the first group of the sensors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 8 , and the step of arranging the sensors in mutually orthogonal rows and columns, and the step of assigning a major proportion of the rows to the first group of the sensors, and a minor proportions of the rows to the second group of the sensors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the near-field range measures from about 0.5″ to about 12″, and wherein the far-field range measures from about 12″ to infinity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the optical code is a one-dimensional barcode symbol, and wherein the non-coded target is not a barcode symbol.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein each sensor includes three photosensors operative for measuring each of three primary colors of the incident light at the same location as the respective sensor to obtain measured red, blue and green signals, and the step of processing the signals from the first group of the sensors to obtain the image of the target in full color, and the step of processing a plurality of the signals from the second group of the sensors to obtain a composite signal by which the image of the optical code is obtained in monochrome.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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