Abstract:
An improvement is made to a scanning device to increase item throughput at the point of sale (POS). The scanning device implements a mirror that allows a cashier to see hidden or obscured optical codes or bar codes on items. The mirror can reflect an aiming beam from a camera, which also allows the cashier to correctly scan the optical codes or bar codes. The mirror and camera can incorporate different properties to enable both the cashier and a customer to stand on opposite sides of the scanning device and scan items.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It has been observed through time that one of the persistent factors which reduce point of sale (POS) item scanning throughput is the operator&#39;s inability to easily locate the optical code on a package when it is not immediately visible. In such cases, the operator may fumble for several seconds while turning the package through different rotations in an attempt to see the label so that it may then be oriented towards the scanning device. Scanners have been devised to minimize the need for package orientation, but have never completely eliminated the need for operators to view the labels as they attempt to scan the data. In most cases, the operator cannot see that their hand is partly covering the data, that the package may be folded or wrinkled in a way that obscures some of the data, or that the data is not being presented to the active scanning zone due to mis-location. All of these cases are reduced or eliminated if the operator receives additional visual feedback about the data location in addition to usual direct view information that the operator receives. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the invention are defined by the claims below, not this summary. A high-level overview of various aspects of embodiments of the invention is provided here for that reason, to provide an overview of the disclosure and to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description section. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide additional views of items at a scanning device by placing a reflective surface, such as a mirror, in the vicinity of the target scan zone. As the operator moves the item towards the scan zone and the mirror, the normally invisible reverse side of the item may be viewed through the mirror, giving the operator much more information about where the data may be located. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide an aiming beam that allows an operator to accurately align an item in the scan zone of a scanning device. The aiming beam originates from a camera and allows the operator to visually align the aiming beam to the optical code or bar code on the item. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide the capability of allowing customers to scan identification (ID) cards, cell phone displays, coupons, or other items from the side of the scanning device opposite the cashier. The cashier or operator may continue to scan items from their side of the scanning device. This two-direction scanning is accomplished by using a partially reflective coating on the mirror&#39;s surface, which allows a single camera to view both cashier-scanned and customer-scanned items. The camera sees the customer-scanned item through the mirror. In an alternative, the two-direction scanning is accomplished by splitting the scanning camera&#39;s field of view (FOV) into two parts by allowing the camera to partially “look over” the mirror. The camera can view both cashier-scanned and customer-scanned items without the use of the partially reflective coating on the mirror&#39;s surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the included drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exemplary view of a scanner with a camera and mirror for use by an operator, implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary view of a scanner with a camera, mirror, and aiming beam for use by an operator, implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary view of a scanner with a camera and reflective and transmitting mirror for use by an operator and another person, implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary visual representation of simultaneously scanned items when used by an operator and another person, in an implementation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an exemplary view of a scanner with a camera with a dual field of view for use by an operator and another person, implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a process for using a scanner with enhanced usability and aiming in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is another process for using a scanner with enhanced usability and aiming in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is yet another process for using a scanner with enhanced usability and aiming in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to an imaging scanner that has enhanced usability and aiming to aid an operator and another person, such as a cashier and customer. Accordingly, the present invention implements a mirror to aid the operator in seeing hidden optical codes or bar codes during scanning. The mirror can incorporate see-through capability or split visual field of view capability to allow a person standing on the other side of the imaging scanner to also scan items. Further, the present invention implements a aiming beam to allow the operator to scan the optical codes or bar codes correctly. 
     In a first aspect, an imaging scanner with enhanced usability and aiming is provided that includes a scanning camera positioned to receive an image of an item reflected from a mirror. The scanning camera partially shares a field of view with an operator&#39;s visual field of the mirror. The mirror is located so that the operator can locate and aim an item&#39;s data at the scanning camera. The operator has a first line of sight to the item&#39;s data reflected in the mirror and the scanning camera has a second line of sight to the items&#39; data. 
     In another aspect, an imaging scanner with enhanced usability and aiming is provided that includes a scanning camera positioned to receive an image of a first item reflected from a mirror and an image of a second item transmitted through the mirror. The mirror has a partially reflecting and partially transmitting coating. The scanning camera partially shares a field of view with an operator&#39;s visual field of the mirror. The scanning camera sees a reflection in the mirror of the image of the first item positioned by the operator on a first side of the mirror. The scanning camera also sees the image of the second item through the mirror where the second item is positioned by a person on a second side of the mirror. The mirror is located so that the operator can locate the first item&#39;s data and can aim the first item&#39;s data at the scanning camera. The operator has a first line of sight to the first item&#39;s data through the reflection in the mirror and the scanning camera has a second line of sight to the first items&#39; data. The mirror is also located so that the person can position the second item&#39;s data such that the scanning camera sees the second item&#39;s data through the mirror. 
     In yet another aspect, an imaging scanner with enhanced usability and aiming is provided that includes a scanning camera positioned to receive an image of a first item reflected from a mirror and to receive an image of a second item seen directly over the mirror. The scanning camera partially shares a field of view with an operator&#39;s visual field of the mirror. The scanning camera sees a reflection in the mirror of the image of the first item positioned by the operator on a first side of the mirror. The scanning camera also sees the image of a second item over the mirror where the second item is positioned by a person on a second side of the mirror. The mirror is located so that the operator can locate the first item&#39;s data and can aim the first item&#39;s data at the scanning camera. The operator has a first line of sight to the first item&#39;s data through the reflection in the mirror. The scanning camera has a second line of sight to the first item&#39;s data. The scanning camera has a third line of sight to the second item&#39;s data. 
     Implementations of an embodiment of the present invention in  FIG. 1  include an imaging scanner  105  in a scanning environment  100 . Imaging scanner  105  includes a camera  110 , which partially shares a field of view  170  of a mirror  130  with an operator  150 &#39;s visual field of view of mirror  130 . Mirror  130  and camera  110  are arranged such that as an item  120  to be scanned is brought within an active scan zone, the back of item  120 , normally not visible to operator  150 , is seen through mirror  130 . The angle of mirror  130  is adjustable by operator  150  to allow for different preferences and different physical statures. Operator  150 &#39;s line of sight  140  and the scanning camera  110 &#39;s line of sight  160  do not need to coincide or be coaxial. The image of item  120  reflected in mirror  130  is still useful in helping operator  150  locate an item  120 &#39;s data at imaging scanner  105 . 
     As discussed above, camera  110  can be a solid state camera or another type of camera that can capture images. More particularly, camera  110  is also referred to as a scanning camera. Camera  110  can scan or read optical codes, bar codes, or other data that are located on items or packages placed within the scan zone at imaging scanner  105 . 
     In one embodiment, the location and angle of scanning camera  110  are fixed relative to mirror  130 . This means that as mirror  130  is moved or adjusted, camera  110  maintains the same position to mirror  130 . Mirror  130  can be connected to a hinged base  180 , which allows the entire camera/mirror assembly to be adjusted to operator  150 &#39;s preference. Mirror  130  may have optical power to enhance operator  150 &#39;s view. Mirror  130  may also have several subsections at varying angles to enhance operator  150 &#39;s view. 
     In another embodiment, the surfaces surrounding the window or windows of imaging scanner  105  may include materials that create a mirrored surface, allowing the back of item  120  to be seen therewith. In yet another embodiment, a reflective device may be affixed to the main housing of imaging scanner  105  to allow the back of item  120  to be seen. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , imaging scanner  205 , in scanning environment  200 , uses a partially transmitting mirror  230  and sequenced lighting  270  to allow scanning camera  210  to view item  120  being presented by operator  150  to the front of the scanner or imaging scanner  205 . Imaging scanner  205  includes an aiming beam  260  that originates from an aiming device  250  located on camera  210 . Aiming beam  260  is visible to operator  150  and can be reflected in mirror  230 . Aiming beam  260  eliminates the inherent aiming error caused by the fact that operator  150 &#39;s line of sight  140  as reflected in mirror  230  is not coaxial with scanning camera  210 &#39;s optical axis. Aiming beam  260  lets operator  150  align optical code  125  within the scan zone. 
     In continuing,  FIG. 2  illustrates the features of  FIG. 1  with the addition of aiming beam  260 . Operator  150  attempts to scan item  120  with an optical code  125 . Optical code  125  can also be a bar code or other data that can be read or scanned. Optical code  125  is located in such a way to be hidden, obscured, or facing away from operator  150 . Operator  150  can see optical code  125  in mirror  230  by line of sight  140 . Line of sight  140  allows operator  150  to correctly align optical code  125  within camera  210 &#39;s field of view  170 . Mirror  230  is attached to camera  210 , although that connection is not shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , camera  210  views the scan volume by reflection in mirror  230 . 
     Camera  210 &#39;s field of view  170  can be seen and identifies the boundaries of what the camera can see even with the reflection. Camera  210 &#39;s optical axis or line of sight  160  is between the boundaries. Because it is difficult to have operator  150 &#39;s and camera  210 &#39;s lines of sight coincident or coaxial, aiming device  250  generates aiming beam  260 . Aiming beam  260  is aligned to be closely coincident or substantially coaxial with camera  210 &#39;s optical axis or line of sight  160 . In this arrangement, if aiming beam  260  is centered on optical code  125 , then camera  210 &#39;s view will also be centered on optical code  125 . Thus, operator  150 , looking through the reflection in mirror  230 , can see aiming beam  260  on item  120  with optical code  125 . Operator  150  can easily center optical code  125  for reading. To improve image contrast and effectively stop the motion of item  120  with respect to camera  210 &#39;s exposure, lighting or strobe illuminators  270  can provide intense, brief pulses of light, which flood the surface of item  120  being scanned. 
     In  FIG. 3 , scanning environment  300  provides an alternative embodiment to the aforementioned scanners. Many of the features shown to the side of operator  150  are the same or similar to the features described in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Operator  150  may be a cashier at a store. Operator  150  scans item  120  by looking at optical code  125 &#39;s reflection in mirror  330 . Operator  150  is assisted by aiming beam  260 . Aiming beam  260  is typically a beam of light originating from aiming device  250 . The beam of light may be generated by a laser, a light-emitting diode (LED), a lamp, or other source of illumination. Camera  210  views optical code  125 &#39;s reflection by observing the reflection in mirror  330 . 
     In implementations of embodiments of the present invention, mirror  330  has a partially reflecting and partially transmitting coating, which allows items on both sides of mirror  330  to be seen by camera  210 . While operator  150  can scan item  120 , customer  340  can present an optical code to the scanner by placing an item  350  with the optical code, such as a driver&#39;s license, coupon, cell phone display, etc., on a delineated area  370  of the imaging scanner  305 . Area  370  may be marked by a sign, plaque, or other passive indicating means, or it may be marked by illuminated patterns or other active means. The delineating means would preferably be attached to imaging scanner  305  and may be part of the stand or base. 
     As stated before, mirror  330  is partially transmitting. This allows camera  210  to view area  370  through mirror  330 , as shown by camera  210 &#39;s second field of view  360 . Additional illumination (or illuminators  380 ) allow camera  210  to view the transmitted image with high contrast. During operation, illuminators  270  and illuminators  380  can be alternately pulsed so that the images of item  120  (reflected) and item  350  (transmitted) do not interfere with each other when captured by camera  210 . Because the normal cashier-side (operator  150 ) scanning occurs much more frequently than the customer-side (customer  340 ) scanning, illuminators  270  may be pulsed several times more for each pulse of illuminators  380 . Whatever the embodiment that is implemented, the frame capturing in camera  210  may be synchronized with each illumination pulse. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , scanned items  400  illustrate the output of the scanning activities of a cashier  150  and customer  340 . On the cashier&#39;s side, an item  410  may be scanned and seen by camera  210 . On the customer&#39;s side, an item  420  may be scanned and also seen by camera  210 . It is noted that camera  210  may see both items simultaneously. However, illuminators  270  and  380  may restrict the lighting so that only one item is recorded in each camera frame. Note: Item  410  is similar to item  120  and item  420  is similar to item  350 . One of ordinary skill in the art knows that strobe lighting can be used to alternate which item gets lighting and accordingly gets captured in camera  210 &#39;s frame. 
     In some cases, a cell phone display must be scanned using the built-in backlight of the display. The sequenced lighting from illuminators  380  may not be effective in allowing the display to be read. Also, the loss of light traversing a beam splitting mirror  330  of approximately 50% transmissivity would further reduce the ability of the display to be seen by camera  210 . Note: Transmissivity is a measure of the ability of a material or medium to transmit electromagnetic energy as light. Therefore,  FIG. 5  discloses a scanning environment  500  that overcomes the problems of lighting. 
     In  FIG. 5 , operator  150  attempts to scan optical code  125  on item  120 . Operator  150  can see optical code  125  through mirror  530  by line of sight  140 . Attached to mirror  530  by member  515  is scanning camera  210 . A part of camera  210 &#39;s field of view, delineated by partial field of view boundaries  170 , views the scan volume by reflection in mirror  530 . Mirror  530  is supported by a stand member  545 , which is in turn attached to a base member  540 . Alternatively, if mirror  530  incorporates a frame or housing around its perimeter, the frame may be directly attached to base member  540  without intervening stand member  545 . 
     The portion of camera  210 &#39;s field, which is not intercepted by mirror  530 , passes over mirror  530  as shown by partial FOV boundary lines  360 . Camera  210  may be oriented such that its FOV&#39;s longer dimension is substantially vertical. A sign or other indicia  570  (such as area  370 ) may be affixed to base member  540  to indicate where customer  340  is to place their item  350 . Illuminators  270  and  380  may be sequenced on and off at the same times as discussed in  FIG. 3 . In addition to aiming beam  260  from aiming device  250  for use by cashier  150 , customer-side illuminator  380  may include an aiming beam  560 , which provides a visibly delineated area in which customer  340  can place their item  350 . By having customer-side aiming beam  560 , the need for a sign, plaque, or other indicia at area  370  or indicia  570  (indicating where to place the item to be scanned) is eliminated. Similar to  FIG. 4 , but not shown here, camera  210  can have a split field of view with the customer-side field of item  350  being captured in a frame and the cashier-side field of item  120  being captured in another frame. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , a process for using a scanner with enhanced usability and aiming is provided in a method  600 . In a step  610 , an imaging scanner  105  is used by an operator  150 . A scanning camera  110  is positioned to receive an image of an item  120  reflected from a mirror  130 , in a step  620 . Scanning camera  110 &#39;s field of view  170  and operator  150 &#39;s visual field of mirror  130  are partially shared, in a step  630 . In a step  640 , mirror  130  is located so that operator  150  can locate and aim item  120 &#39;s data at scanning camera  110 . In a step  650 , operator  150  has a first line of sight  140  to item  120 &#39;s data reflected in mirror  130  and scanning camera  110  has a second line of sight  160  to item  120 &#39;s data. 
     In  FIG. 7 , another process for using a scanner with enhanced usability and aiming is provided in a method  700 . In a step  710 , an imaging scanner  305  is used by operator  150 . Scanning camera  210  is positioned to receive an image of a first item  120  reflected from a mirror  330 , in a step  720 . Scanning camera  210  is positioned to also receive an image of a second item  350  transmitted through mirror  330 . Mirror  330  has a partially reflecting and partially transmitting coating, in a step  730 . In a step  740 , scanning camera  210 &#39;s field of view  170  and operator  150 &#39;s visual field of mirror  330  are partially shared. In a step  750 , scanning camera  210  sees a reflection in mirror  330  of the image of the first item  120  positioned by operator  150  on a first side of mirror  330 . Scanning camera  210  sees the image of the second item  350  through mirror  330  where the second item  350  is positioned by a person  340  on a second side of mirror  330 , in a step  760 . Mirror  330  is located so that operator  150  can locate the first item  120 &#39;s data and can aim the first item  120 &#39;s data at scanning camera  210 , in a step  770 . In a step  780 , operator  150  has a first line of sight  140  to the first item  120 &#39;s data through the reflection in mirror  330  and scanning camera  210  has a second line of sight  160  to the first item  120 &#39;s data. Mirror  330  is located so that person  340  can position the second item  350 &#39;s data such that scanning camera  210  sees the second item  350 &#39;s data through mirror  330 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 8 , yet another process for using a scanner with enhanced usability and aiming is provided in a method  800 . In a step  810 , an imaging scanner  505  is used by operator  150 . Scanning camera  210  is positioned to receive an image of a first item  120  reflected from a mirror  530 , in a step  820 . Scanning camera  210  is positioned to also receive an image of a second item  350  directly over mirror  530 . In a step  830 , scanning camera  210 &#39;s field of view  170  and operator  150 &#39;s visual field of mirror  530  are partially shared. In a step  840 , scanning camera  210  sees a reflection in mirror  530  of the image of the first item  120  positioned by operator  150  on a first side of mirror  530 . Scanning camera  210  sees the image of the second item  350  over mirror  530  where the second item  350  is positioned by a person  340  on a second side of mirror  530 , in a step  850 . Mirror  530  is located so that operator  150  can locate the first item  120 &#39;s data (optical code  125 ) and can aim optical code  125  at scanning camera  210 , in a step  860 . In a step  870 , operator  150  has a first line of sight  140  to optical code  125  through the reflection in mirror  530  and scanning camera  210  has a second line of sight  160  (also aiming beam  260 ) to optical code  125 . Scanning camera  210  also has a third line of sight to the second item  350 &#39;s data. 
     As discussed above, implementations of embodiments of the present invention enhance the user of fixed-type scanning devices by allowing visual operator feedback in the form of views of normally hidden surfaces of items being scanned. These views may be shown on some form of active display or may be displayed using a projector. The goal is to provide as much ease to the operator to aim optical codes or bar codes at a scanner. For example, a part or all of the scanning camera&#39;s field of view may be shown on a display adjacent or mounted to the scanner. A part or all of the scanning camera&#39;s field of view may be projected as an image on a suitable surface adjacent or upon the item being scanned. A part or all of the scanning camera&#39;s field of view may be projected on any of the surfaces of the work area surrounding the scanner. An additional camera or cameras may be employed to provide input images to any of the aforementioned display types in order to provide the most useful aiming information to the operator. 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated to be within the scope of the claims.