Patent ID: 7611062
Filing Date: 2009-11-03
Classification: G06K,G06Q

Abstract:
1. An omni-directional image capturing and processing system for use in a POS environment, comprising: a system housing having horizontal and vertical housing sections; wherein said horizontal housing section has a horizontal imaging window, and contains (i) a first plurality of coplanar illumination and imaging stations, for generating and projecting a first group of coplanar illumination and imaging planes through said horizontal imaging window, and (ii) at least one area-type illumination and imaging station disposed in said horizontal housing section for generating and projecting an area-type illumination and imaging zone through said horizontal imaging window; and wherein said vertical housing section has a vertical imaging window, and contains a second plurality of coplanar illumination and imaging stations for generating and projecting said second group of coplanar illumination and imaging planes through said vertical imaging window, which intersect with said first group of coplanar illumination and imaging planes and said area-type illumination and imaging zone, within a 3D imaging volume definable relative to said horizontal and vertical imaging windows, to produce a complex of coplanar illumination and imaging planes and said at least one area-type illumination and imaging zone, for omni-directional digital imaging of objects passing through said 3D imaging volume, and generating digital linear images of said object as said object intersects said coplanar illumination and imaging planes within said 3D imaging volume during system operation; and an object motion detection subsystem for automatically detecting the motion of said object passing through said 3D imaging volume, and generating motion data representative of said detected object motion within said 3D imaging volume.