Patent Publication Number: US-2023153556-A1

Title: System and methods for situational adaptive image capture improvements for barcode reading

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The current application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/600,286, filed on Oct. 11, 2019, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Barcode reading systems have been ubiquitous throughout the retail industry and others for decades to read barcodes featured on products. The imagers included in these systems are conventionally implemented to capture a barcode across the entire width of the barcode reading system platform. Thus, to ensure consistent barcode capture the imager is maintained at a particular depth of focus. 
     Traditional embodiments achieve this depth of focus by decreasing the imager&#39;s aperture. Unfortunately, decreasing the aperture decreases the amount of light the imager receives, which can be problematic for low contrast, difficult-to-read barcodes. Specifically, if the imager receives an insufficient amount of light, the resulting image may be of insufficient fidelity to decode the barcode featured therein. 
     While simply increasing the amount of illumination and/or exposure time may be attractive solutions, they too have drawbacks. For example, increasing the illumination may create a noticeable annoyance to a barcode reading system operator, and increasing the exposure time may not allow for the system to capture minimally blurred images as barcodes are swiped rapidly across the platform. Accordingly, there is a need for solutions that solve issues related to barcode reading systems that cannot adequately capture and/or decode low contrast barcodes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 A  illustrates a perspective view of an example checkout workstation in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG.  1 B  is a block diagram representative of an operational embodiment of an example system, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a profile view of the example system of  FIG.  1 B  capturing images of various identification labels, in accordance with various embodiments disclosed herein. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a method for adjusting imaging parameters of a bioptic barcode reader, in accordance with various embodiments disclosed herein. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates another method for adjusting imaging parameters of a bioptic barcode reader, in accordance with various embodiments disclosed herein. 
     
    
    
     Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. 
     The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a system, and related methods, are described for situational adaptive image capture improvements for barcode reading. The system, and related methods, of the present disclosure provide solutions where, e.g., a barcode reading system is required to capture high fidelity images of barcodes passing quickly across a system platform. 
     Traditional methods for barcode image capture maintain a particular depth of focus and a fixed exposure time in an attempt to capture as many scans as possible. Maintaining a static depth of focus and exposure time typically involves decreasing the system&#39;s aperture size, resulting in a decreased amount of received illumination. Unfortunately, increasing the illumination may cause an annoyance to the operator, and increasing the exposure time may reduce the number of decodable images as items are quickly swiped across the platform, so neither adjustment is traditionally implemented. Thus, for barcodes passed across the platform more quickly than normal, the system may not acquire an image suitable to decode the barcode. 
     To illustrate, store clerks or customers passing items across the system platform will typically swipe items quickly to expedite the check-out procedure. Should a clerk or customer swipe an item too quickly, the system may not capture an image of the item&#39;s barcode, and the item may not appear on the display with its corresponding price. In response, a clerk or customer may hold the item over the scanning platform to ensure the system properly scans the item. In any event, the clerk or customer may at least re-swipe the item at a slower speed than their initial swipe. However, despite the slower or static swipe, the system may remain unable to acquire a high fidelity image of the barcode due to the fixed depth of focus and exposure time. 
     Thus, the system and methods of the present disclosure seek to solve this problem with traditional barcode reading systems by situationally adjusting image parameters to improve barcode reading. Generally, the system and methods described herein perform an image parameter adjustment in response to being unable to decode an indicia of a target object in an initial image. The systems and methods described herein may also capture a subsequent image of the target object, and attempt to decode the indicia based on the adjusted image parameter. 
     In this way, the system and methods of the present disclosure overcome the limitations of traditional methods by adjusting the imaging parameters in response to being unable to decode the indicia. In other words, a fixed depth of focus and exposure time will no longer render the barcode reading system unable to capture decodable images of a target object&#39;s barcode because the system will automatically adjust imaging parameters to capture a decodable image for each barcode. 
     Performing an situationally specific image parameter adjustment in accordance with the methods of the present disclosure increases the accuracy of object identification performed by an imaging assembly, which may increase the efficacy of other corresponding functions. For example, an imaging assembly attempting to detect ticket-switching (i.e., replacing the label of a product with a less expensive product&#39;s label in an attempt to purchase the product at the less expensive product&#39;s price) will be increasingly capable of making that determination when the system is able to accurately decode the barcode affixed to the target object. 
       FIG.  1 A  illustrates a perspective view of a point-of-sale (POS) system  100  having a workstation  102  with a counter  104 , a bi-optical (also referred to as “bi-optic”) barcode reader  106  and an additional camera  107  at least partially positioned within the workstation  102 . The camera  107  may be referred to as an imaging assembly and may be implemented as a color camera or a camera that is configured to obtain non-barcode data. The POS system  100  is often managed by a store employee such as a clerk  108 . However, in other cases the POS system  100  may be a part of a so-called self-checkout lane where instead of a clerk, a customer is responsible for checking out his or her own products. 
     The barcode reader  106  includes a lower housing  112  and a raised housing  114 . The lower housing  112  may be referred to as a first housing portion, the raised housing  114  may be referred to as a tower or a second housing portion, and the combination may be referred to as a housing. The lower housing  112  includes a top portion  116  with a first optically transmissive window  118  positioned therein along a generally horizontal plane relative to the overall configuration and placement of the barcode reader  106 . In some embodiments, the top portion  116  may include a removable or a non-removable platter (e.g., a weighing platter). The top portion  116  can also be viewed as being positioned substantially parallel with the counter  104  surface. As set forth herein, the phrase “substantially parallel” means +/−10° of parallel and/or accounts for manufacturing tolerances. It&#39;s worth noting that while, in  FIG.  1 A , the counter  104  and the top portion  116  are illustrated as being about co-planar, that does not have to be the case for the platter and the counter  104  to be considered substantially parallel. In some instances, the counter  104  may be raised or lowered relative to the top surface of the top portion  116 , where the top portion  116  is still viewed as being positioned substantially parallel with the counter  104  surface. The raised housing  114  is configured to extend above the top portion  116  and includes a second optically transmissive window  120  positioned in a generally upright plane relative to the top portion  116  and/or the first optically transmissive window  118 . Note that references to “upright” include, but are not limited to, vertical. Thus, as an example, something that is upright may deviate from a vertical axis/plane by as much as 45 degrees. 
     In practice, a product  122 , such as for example a bottle, is swiped past the barcode reader  106  such that a barcode  124  associated with the product  122  is digitally read through at least one of the first and second optically transmissive windows  118 ,  120 . This is particularly done by positioning the product  122  within the fields of view (FsOV) of the digital imaging sensor(s) housed inside the barcode reader  106 . Additionally, as the product  122  is swiped past the barcode reader  106 , the camera  107  obtains image data of the product  122 . The image data obtained by the camera  107  may have different uses. For example, the image data can be processed to verify that the product  122  scanned matches the barcode  124  and/or image data can be used to populate a database. 
       FIG.  1 B  is a block diagram representative of an operational embodiment  130  of an example system  132 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. The example system  132  includes a housing  138 , an imaging assembly  140 , and a controller  142 . The controller  142  contains a processor  144  and a memory  146  (although referenced herein as a “processor” and a “memory,” it is to be understood that there may be one or more processors and/or one or more memories). 
     The operational embodiment  130  further includes a target object  134  and a user interface  136 . The target object  134  contains an indicia  148 , and in embodiments, the indicia  148  contains a barcode. The user interface  136  is communicatively coupled with the example system  132 . For example, the target object  134  may be an item for purchase in a grocery store, the indicia  148  may be the barcode disposed on the target object  134 , and the user interface  136  may be a display console at a POS station used by a clerk and/or customer to view recently detected items for purchase. 
     The imaging assembly  140  is configured to capture an initial image of the target object  134 . In reference to  FIG.  2   , the target object  134  is within the imaging assembly&#39;s  140  field of view (FOV)  202 , wherein the initial image represents an environment  204  within the FOV  202 . The imaging assembly  140  captures the initial image according to an initial imaging parameter. In embodiments, the initial imaging parameter includes one or more of (i) an imaging assembly gain, (ii) an illumination value, (iii) an exposure period, (iv) a pulse duration, or (v) a pulse overlap. In embodiments, the initial imaging parameter is adjustable via the user interface  136 . 
     The controller  142  is communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly  140 . The controller  142  is configured to transmit an image-capture signal to the imaging assembly  140 . The image-capture signal causes the imaging assembly  140  to capture the initial image of the target object  134 . For example, the example system  132  may detect the presence of a target object (e.g., target object  134 ) through any suitable means, such as a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of a target object inside or within a vicinity of the imaging assembly&#39;s  140  FOV  204 , or an input from the user interface  136 . In embodiments, the controller  142  will receive a signal indicating the system&#39;s  132  detection of the target object  134  to prompt the controller  142  to generate and transmit the image-capture signal to the imaging assembly  140 . 
     The instructions, when executed by the processor  144 , will further cause the controller  142  to attempt to decode the indicia  148  from the initial image. Depending on the type of indicia  148  (e.g., barcode  206 , quick response (QR) code  208 , nutrition label  210 , etc.) the controller  142  may attempt to decode the indicia  148  using one or more of several techniques, such as object recognition (OR), optical character recognition (OCR), and/or any other suitable technique. Moreover, it should be understood that the indicia  148  may be affixed to the target object  134 , or may be associated with the target object  134 . 
     In embodiments, the instructions, when executed by the processor  144 , may further cause the controller  142  to determine an image quality of the initial image when attempting to decode the indicia  148  from the initial image. For example, the image quality may be indicative of one or more of (i) a contrast associated with at least a portion of the initial image or (ii) a brightness associated with at least a portion of the initial image. Thus, the controller  142  may determine a contrast and/or brightness of the initial image to make a determination of image parameters that may need adjustment should the controller  142  be unable to decode the indicia  148  from the initial image. 
     For example, assume the controller  142  transmits the image-capture signal to the imaging assembly  140 , which in response, captures the initial image featuring the target object  134 . The controller  142  then receives the initial image and attempts to decode the indicia  148  by analyzing the initial image to determine an image quality related to the contrast and brightness of the initial image. As a result of the determination, assume the controller  142  determines that the brightness of the indicia  148  in the initial image is very low. Thus, the controller  142  may also determine that, should the controller  142  be unable to decode the indicia  148  in the initial image, a subsequent image may be taken at a longer exposure time than the initial image to increase the brightness of the indicia  148  in the subsequent image and the controller&#39;s  142  ability to decode the indicia  148 . 
     In embodiments, the instructions, when executed by the processor  144 , further cause the controller  142  to generate a successful decode message in response to successfully decoding the indicia  148  from the initial image. For example, if the controller  142  successfully decodes the indicia  148  from the initial image, the controller  142  may generate a message indicating the successful decode for display on the user interface  136 . The message may indicate the successful decode by presenting the user with a statement that the decode was successful, and/or the message may simply indicate the price of the target object  134  associated with the barcode. 
     However, should the controller  142  be unable to decode the indicia, the instructions, when executed by the processor  144 , further cause the controller  142  to detect a substantially static presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202  of the imaging assembly  140 . The substantially static presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202  may represent, for example, a clerk or customer holding the target object  134  in the FOV  202 . To illustrate, the clerk or customer may have passed the target object  134  across the scanning platform (e.g., over the optically transmissive windows  118 ,  120 ), and not received a message or other indication that the system  132  was able to decode the indicia  148 . Thus, the clerk or customer may hold and/or slowly swipe the target object  134  across the scanning platform in an attempt to allow the system  132  a better opportunity to decode the indicia  148 . Hence, the controller  142  may detect clerk or customer holding and/or slowly swiping the target object  134  across the scanning platform, and may interpret these or other actions as a substantially static presence. 
     In embodiments, the instructions, when executed by the processor  144 , further cause the controller  142  to detect the substantially static presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202  of the imaging assembly  140  for greater than a threshold duration. The threshold duration may be any suitable duration, such as 2 seconds, 1 second, 0.5 seconds, etc., and may correspond to the duration a clerk or customer must keep the target object  134  within the FOV  202  before the controller  142  will adjust an imaging parameter and/or transmit a subsequent image-capture signal. 
     For example, after an initial failed attempt to decode the indicia  148  from the initial image, the clerk or customer may swipe the target object  134  across the scanning platform similarly to the initial swipe (e.g., similar swipe speed, angle, etc.). In response, the imaging assembly  140  may simply capture another image of the target object  134  using the initial imaging parameters. However, should the clerk or customer hold the target object  134  in the FOV  202  longer than the threshold duration, the controller  142  may interpret this action as a substantially static presence, and may for example, adjust an imaging parameter. 
     In embodiments, the imaging assembly  140  is further configured to capture a subsequent image of an environment  204  within the FOV  202  according to the initial imaging parameter. Additionally, the instructions, when executed by the processor  144 , may further cause the controller  142  to transmit a subsequent image-capture signal to the imaging assembly  140 . The subsequent image-capture signal may cause the imaging assembly  140  to capture the subsequent image in response to being unable to detect the substantially static presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202 . 
     To illustrate, assume the controller  142  was unable to decode the indicia  148  included in the initial image. In response, the controller  142  may attempt to detect the substantially static presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202 . Should the controller  142  not detect the substantially static presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202 , the system  132  may determine that a different target object may next pass through the FOV  202 . Moreover, the system  132  may always use the initial imaging parameter when capturing initial images of target objects. In that case, the system  132  may further determine that the initial imaging parameter should be used to capture the subsequent image of the different target object. 
     In practice, this illustration may correspond to a clerk or customer who passes a first item (e.g., target object  134 ) across the scanning platform, but fails to acknowledge that the first item was not properly registered by the system  132  (e.g., the indicia  148  was not decoded). The clerk or customer may then attempt to pass a second item across the scanning platform without first successfully scanning the first item. Hence, the system  132  may not detect the substantially static presence of the first item. In response, the controller  142  may transmit the subsequent image-capture signal for the imaging assembly  140  to capture the subsequent image according to the initial imaging parameter. 
     However, should the controller  142  successfully detect the substantially static presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202 , the instructions, when executed by the processor  144 , may cause the controller  142  to adjust the initial imaging parameter to a subsequent imaging parameter. The subsequent imaging parameter may be different than the initial imaging parameter. For example, the initial imaging parameter may correspond to an exposure length of 0.1 seconds. Once the controller  142  detects the substantially static presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202 , the controller  142  may adjust the exposure length from 0.1 seconds to 0.3 seconds. However, it is to be appreciated that the subsequent imaging parameter may be shorter, longer, or include any other relevant difference from the initial imaging parameter. 
     For example, and in embodiments, the instructions, when executed by the processor  144 , further cause the controller  142  to adjust the initial imaging parameter to the subsequent imaging parameter based on the image quality. As discussed herein, the controller  142  may analyze the initial image to determine an image quality, such as contrast, brightness, etc., related to at least a portion of the initial image. Based on the determined image quality, the controller  142  may adjust the initial imaging parameter. 
     As an illustration, assume the controller  142  determines that the brightness of the indicia  148  in the initial image is very low. Assuming also that the controller  142  is unable to decode the indicia  148  in the initial image, the controller  142  may determine that any subsequent image of the target object  134  should be taken at a longer exposure time than the initial image. The longer exposure time should increase the brightness of the indicia  148  in the subsequent image, and consequently, the controller&#39;s  142  ability to decode the indicia  148 . Hence, the controller  142  may adjust the initial imaging parameter to the subsequent imaging parameter (e.g., lengthen the exposure time of the imaging assembly  140 ). 
     In embodiments, the instructions, when executed by the processor  144 , further cause the controller  142  to adjust the initial imaging parameter to the subsequent imaging parameter based on the threshold duration. As discussed herein, the controller  142  may detect the substantially static presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202  for greater than a threshold duration. Thus, depending on the magnitude of the threshold duration, the controller  142  may adjust the initial imaging parameter accordingly. If the threshold duration is large relative to the initial exposure period, then the controller  142  may more drastically adjust the initial imaging parameter than if the threshold duration is approximately the same to the initial exposure period. 
     Practically speaking, the threshold duration may be any suitable duration sufficient to determine a substantially static presence of the target object  134  in the FOV  202 . However, as an example, assume the initial imaging parameter is an initial exposure length for the imaging assembly  140 . Further, assume the initial exposure length for the imaging assembly  140  is 0.1 seconds, and assume the threshold duration is 2 seconds. Should the controller  142  be unable to decode the indicia  148  in the initial image, assume also that the controller  142  detects the substantially static presence of the target object  134  in the FOV  202  because the user (e.g., clerk, customer, etc.) held, slowly waived, or in some other suitable fashion placed the target object  134  in the FOV  202  for greater than the threshold duration. At this point, the controller  142  may determine that because the target object  134  was present in the FOV  202  for a duration significantly longer than the initial exposure period (e.g., the threshold duration of 2 seconds), that a substantial change to the initial exposure period is justified. Correspondingly, the controller  142  may adjust the initial imaging parameter (e.g., initial exposure period) from 0.1 seconds to 0.5 seconds to ensure the imaging assembly  140  has sufficient time to capture a subsequent image from which the controller  142  may successfully decode the indicia  148 . 
     In embodiments, the instructions, when executed by the processor  144 , may further cause the controller  142  to transmit a subsequent image-capture signal to the imaging assembly  140 . The subsequent image-capture signal will cause the imaging assembly  140  to capture the subsequent image. Moreover, the controller  142  will attempt to decode the indicia  148  from the subsequent image. 
     Generally speaking, once the controller  142  adjusts the initial imaging parameter to the subsequent imaging parameter, the imaging assembly  140  will capture a subsequent image of the target object  134  that features different image qualities than the initial image. For example, the controller  142  may have adjusted (e.g., lengthened) the exposure length of the imaging assembly  140  when capturing the subsequent image. In that case, the subsequent image of the target object  134  will likely feature a brighter image with a higher degree of contrast. Thus, the indicia  148  will be more readily identified, and the controller  142  will have a higher likelihood of successfully decoding the indicia  148 . 
     It is to be understood that the initial imaging parameter and the subsequent imaging parameter may be any suitable imaging parameter. For example, and as mentioned herein, the imaging parameters may be an exposure period, an illumination value, a camera aperture size, a white balance compensation, an imaging assembly  140  gain, a pulse duration, a pulse overlap, any other suitable imaging parameter, and any combination thereof. Additionally, it should be understood that while the example system  132  is described and depicted as a bioptic barcode reader, in reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 2   , the systems and methods described herein are applicable to any other barcode readers whether stationary or handheld. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates a method  300  for adjusting imaging parameters of a bioptic barcode reader, in accordance with various embodiments disclosed herein. The method  300  begins at block  302  where, for example, an imaging assembly (e.g., imaging assembly  140 ) captures an initial image of a target object  142  having an indicia  148  thereon. The imaging assembly  140  captures the initial image according to an initial imaging parameter. 
     In embodiments, and as discussed herein, the initial imaging parameter include one or more of (i) an imaging assembly gain, (ii) an illumination value, (iii) an exposure period, (iv) a pulse duration, (v) a pulse overlap, (vi) a camera aperture size, (vii) a white balance compensation, any other suitable imaging parameter, and any combination thereof. Moreover, in embodiments, the indicia  148  in the target object  134  contains a barcode. It should be understood that the indicia  148  may contain any suitable indication, such as a barcode  206 , QR code  208 , nutrition facts label  210 , and/or any other indication or combination thereof. 
     In embodiments, the initial imaging parameter is adjustable via the user interface  136 . For example, a user (e.g., clerk, customer, etc.) of a bioptic barcode reader may wish to adjust the initial imaging parameter to increase their ability to successfully scan items at a POS station. Thus, the user may interact with the user interface  136  to select and adjust the initial imaging parameter. The user may, for example, increase the exposure period of the imaging assembly  140 , increase the illumination provided during the exposure period, or any other suitable adjustment. 
     The method  300  continues at block  304  by attempting to decode the indicia  148  from the initial image. Block  304  may be performed by, for example, the controller  142 . The controller  142  may implement one or more decoding techniques, such as OR, OCR, and/or any other suitable technique or combination thereof. 
     In embodiments, attempting to decode the indicia  148  further includes determining an image quality of the initial image. For example, the image quality may be indicative of one or more of (i) a contrast associated with at least a portion of the initial image or (ii) a brightness associated with at least a portion of the initial image. Thus, the image quality may indicate image parameters needing adjustment (e.g., exposure period, illumination value, etc.) should the controller  142  or other suitable processor be unable to decode the indicia  148  from the initial image. 
     The method  300  continues at optional block  306  by generating a successful decode message in response to successfully decoding the indicia  148  from the initial image. For example, the successful decode message may be displayed on the user interface  136 , and may indicate the successful decode through text, images, graphics, video, audio, and/or any other suitable indication or combination thereof. As a practical example, a successful decode may result in the user interface  136  displaying the price associated with the target object  134 . Optional block  306  may be performed by, for example, the controller  142 . 
     The method  300  continues as block  308  by detecting a substantially static presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202  of the imaging assembly  140  in response to being unable to decode the indicia  148 . As discussed herein, the substantially static presence may represent a user (e.g., clerk, customer, etc.) holding, slowly waiving, or in some other suitable fashion placing the target object  134  in the FOV  202  for a certain duration. The duration defining the substantially static presence may be any suitable duration, and may be pre-programmed into the system  132  memory  146  or defined/adjusted by a user via the user interface  136 . Block  308  may be performed by, for example, the controller  142 . 
     In embodiments, detecting the substantially static presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202  of the imaging assembly  140  further comprises detecting the substantially static presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202  of the imaging assembly  140  for greater than a threshold duration. 
     The method  300  continues at optional block  310  by capturing a subsequent image of an environment  204  within the FOV  202  according to the initial imaging parameter in response to being unable to detect the substantially static presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202 . Optional block  310  may be performed by, for example, the imaging assembly  140 . As discussed herein, capturing the subsequent image of the environment  204  according to the initial imaging parameter may take place in response to the system  132  determining that a different target object will be the next item to pass within the FOV  202  instead of the target object  134  captured in the initial image. However, in embodiments, the system  132  may also make a determination that the initial imaging parameter needs to be changed before any subsequent images are captured (e.g., adjust the initial imaging parameter for all initial images of target objects). In other words, the system  132  may contain a pre-programmed initial image threshold defining the number of initial images the controller  142  may analyze without successfully decoding the indicia  148  after which the system  132  will adjust the initial imaging parameter for all subsequent initial images. 
     For example, assume the system  132  (e.g., the controller  142 ) is unable to decode  5  different indicia included in  5  consecutive initial images of  5  different target objects. In response, the controller  142  may determine that an initial imaging parameter should be changed for all subsequent initial images to increase the overall system  132  performance. Hence, the controller  142  may, for example, increase the exposure period for all subsequent initial images. 
     The method continues at block  312  by adjusting the initial imaging parameter to a subsequent imaging parameter in response to detecting the substantially static presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202 . The subsequent imaging parameter is different than the initial imaging parameter, and as discussed above, may be larger, smaller, or any other suitable difference from the initial imaging parameter. Block  312  may be performed by, for example, the controller  142 . In embodiments, adjusting the initial imaging parameter to a subsequent imaging parameter is based on the threshold duration. 
     In embodiments, the subsequent imaging parameter is determined based on the image quality. As discussed herein, the image quality may represent, for example, the contrast and/or brightness of at least a portion of the initial image. The image quality may also be an overall indication of the quality of the initial image, expressed as a quality score, index, percentage, alphanumeric character, and/or in any other suitable fashion or combination thereof. The controller  142  may transmit the image quality to the user interface  136  for display to inform a user of the initial image quality and whether a subsequent image should be captured. 
     In addition, the controller  142  may transmit recommended actions to the user based on the image quality. For example, if the contrast of the indicia  148  was very low in the initial image, the controller  142  may transmit a recommendation suggesting that the user angle the target object  134  more towards the imaging assembly  140  to increase the contrast produced by the illumination. 
     The method continues at optional block  314  by capturing a subsequent image of the target object  134  according to the subsequent imaging parameter. Optional block  314  may be performed by, for example, the imaging assembly  140 . 
     The method continues as optional block  316  by attempting to decode the indicia from the subsequent image. Block  316  may be performed by, for example, the controller  142 . In embodiments, the controller  142  may determine that a different decoding technique should be attempted when attempting to decode the subsequent image. For example, the controller  142  may attempt to decode the initial image using OR, but the user did not orient the target object  134  adequately for the controller  142  to decode the indicia  148 . Thus, the distorted representation of the indicia  148  in the initial image due to improper orientation may have resulted in the controller  142  applying an inappropriate decoding technique for the indicia  148 . Consequently, the user may re-orient the target object  134  to appropriately face the imaging assembly  140 , the imaging assembly  140  may capture the subsequent image, and the controller  142  may attempt to decode the indicia  148  from the subsequent image. The controller  142  may then determine that the indicia should be decoded using OCR instead of OR, and may thus successfully decode the indicia  148 . 
       FIG.  4    illustrates another method  400  for adjusting imaging parameters of a bioptic barcode reader, in accordance with various embodiments disclosed herein. The method  400  begins at block  402 , where, for example, an imaging assembly (e.g., imaging assembly  140 ) captures an initial image of a target object (e.g., target object  134 ) having an indicia (e.g., indicia  148 ) thereon. The imaging assembly  140  captures the initial image according to an initial imaging parameter. 
     The method  400  continues at block  404  by attempting to decode the indicia  148  from the initial image. Block  404  may be performed by, for example, the controller  142 . 
     The method  400  continues at block  406  by detecting a presence of the target object  134  within a FOV (e.g., FOV  202 ) of the imaging assembly  140  in excess of a minimum duration threshold in response to being unable to decode the indicia  148 . For example, a user may initially hold a target object  134  in the FOV  202  without swiping or moving the target object  134  outside of the FOV  202 . Regardless, the imaging assembly  140  may still capture the initial image according to the initial imaging parameter, wherein the controller  142  may still attempt to decode the indicia  148  from the initial image. However, should the controller  142  be unable to decode the indicia from the initial image and the target object  134  has remained within the FOV  202  beyond the minimum duration threshold, the method  400  may proceed to block  408 . Block  406  may be performed by, for example, the controller  142 . 
     The method  400  continues at block  408  by adjusting the initial imaging parameter to a subsequent imaging parameter in response to detecting the presence of the target object  134  within the FOV  202  in excess of the minimum duration threshold. The minimum duration threshold may be any suitable duration, such as 2 seconds, 1 second, 0.5 seconds, etc., and may correspond to the duration a clerk or customer must keep the target object  134  within the FOV  202  before the controller  142  will adjust the initial imaging parameter and/or transmit a subsequent image-capture signal. Block  408  may be performed by, for example, the controller  142 . 
     For example, after an initial failed attempt to decode the indicia  148  from the initial image, the clerk or customer may swipe the target object  134  across the scanning platform similarly to the initial swipe (e.g., similar swipe speed, angle, etc.). In response, the imaging assembly  140  may simply capture another image of the target object  134  using the initial imaging parameters. However, should the clerk or customer hold the target object  134  in the FOV  202  longer than the minimum duration threshold, the controller  142  may for example, adjust the initial imaging parameter. 
     It should be understood that, for any of the methods disclosed herein, the steps described may be performed in any order, or repeated any number of times to achieve a desired result. Moreover, the steps described for each method may be performed by at least one component of the example system  132 . 
     The data or information captured from imaging assembly  140  may be transmitted to POS stations (including, e.g., user interface  136 ), servers, or other processing devices for a variety of purposes including, e.g., product purchases, data storage, inventory purposes, etc. Example systems  100 ,  132  may include a cabling interface for transmission of such data or information. In various embodiments, example systems  100 ,  132  may support several data transmission interfaces including, for example, USB, Standard RS-232, IBM 468X/469X, Simple Serial Interface (SSI), or other similar data transmission interfaces standards. 
     In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings. Additionally, the described embodiments/examples/implementations should not be interpreted as mutually exclusive, and should instead be understood as potentially combinable if such combinations are permissive in any way. In other words, any feature disclosed in any of the aforementioned embodiments/examples/implementations may be included in any of the other aforementioned embodiments/examples/implementations. 
     The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued. 
     Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”, “having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed. 
     It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one or more generic or specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the method and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used. 
     Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform a method as described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flash memory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.