Patent ID: 7568625
Filing Date: 2009-08-04
Classification: G06F,G06K

Abstract:
1. A method of reading bar code symbols using a hand-supportable image-processing based bar code symbol reading system having an image sensing array with a field of view (FOV), an LED-based illumination subsystem with an LED illumination array, a wide-area illumination and image capturing mode of operation, and an automatic software-based image cropping algorithm, said method comprising the steps of: (a) projecting an image cropping zone (ICZ) framing pattern within the FOV of said image sensing array during said wide-area illumination and image capturing mode of operation; (b) a user visually aligning an object to be imaged within said ICZ framing pattern; (c) simultaneously projecting an illumination pattern from said LED illumination array onto the object in said FOV while projecting said ICZ framing pattern within said FOV, and forming and detecting a wide-area digital image of the entire FOV of said image sensing array, which spatially encompasses said ICZ framing pattern aligned about at least a portion of the object to be imaged; (d) using said automatic software-based image cropping algorithm to automatically locate said ICZ framing pattern in said wide-area digital image of the entire said FOV, by tracing corner points or border lines that identify boundaries of said ICZ framing pattern, and cropping the image pixels within the spatial boundaries of said ICZ framing pattern, prior to performing decode-processing operations, to provide a cropped digital image; and (e) automatically decode processing the cropped digital image represented by the cropped image pixels in said ICZ framing pattern so as to read a 1 D or 2 D bar code symbol graphically represented in said cropped digital image.