Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20040020990?oq=5%2C912%2C661
Timestamp: 2018-03-21 16:05:48
Document Index: 402906927

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 119', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', '§ 119', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60']

US20040020990A1 - Optical reader having a plurality of imaging modules - Google Patents
Optical reader having a plurality of imaging modules Download PDF
US20040020990A1
US20040020990A1 US10453796 US45379603A US2004020990A1 US 20040020990 A1 US20040020990 A1 US 20040020990A1 US 10453796 US10453796 US 10453796 US 45379603 A US45379603 A US 45379603A US 2004020990 A1 US2004020990 A1 US 2004020990A1
US10453796
US7219843B2 (en )
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/161,950 filed Jun. 4, 2002 entitled “Optical Reader Having a Plurality of Imaging Modules.” This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Atty. Docket No. 283-355.02) filed May 19, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/252,484 filed Sep. 23, 2002, entitled “Long Range Optical Reader,” which claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of provisional Application No. 60/387,842 filed Jun. 11, 2002, entitled “Long Range Optical Reader.” In addition to the claim of priority of Application No. 60/387,842 through the priority claim of application Ser. No. ______ (Atty. Docket No. 283-355.02) and application Ser. No. 10/252,484, this application claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Application No. 60/387,842 independent of the priority claim to Application No. 60/387,842 based on application Ser. No. ______ (Atty. Docket No. 283-355.02) and application Ser. No. 10/252,484. The priorities of all of the above applications are claimed. All of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
[0016]FIGS. 1a-1 n show various physical views of optical readers incorporating a plurality of imaging modules;
[0017]FIGS. 2a and 2 b are electrical block diagrams of electrical circuits which may be utilized with a reader incorporating a single imaging module;
[0018]FIGS. 2c-2 f show block diagrams of various electrical circuits which may be utilized with readers according to the invention incorporating a plurality of imaging modules;
[0019]FIG. 2g is a timing diagram for illustrating control of aiming LEDs;
[0020]FIGS. 2h and 2 i are electrical block diagrams illustrating exemplary embodiments of an FPGA as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2d;
[0021]FIG. 2j is an electrical block diagram illustrating an FPGA as shown in FIG. 2e;
[0022]FIGS. 3a and 3 b show, respectively, front and rear perspective views of a 2D optical reader according to the invention;
[0023]FIG. 3d illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary 2D support assembly for an exemplary 2D imaging module according to the invention;
[0024]FIG. 3e illustrates a perspective view of a 1D imaging module according to the invention;
[0025]FIGS. 4a-4 c are flow diagrams illustrating exemplary control methods which may be incorporated in a multiple imaging assembly reader according to the invention;
[0026]FIGS. 4d-4 e are image frame diagrams illustrating various image combination methods which may be incorporated in a multiple imaging module reader according to the invention;
[0027]FIG. 5a is a physical schematic view of a compact flash card incorporating a 2D imaging module;
[0028]FIG. 5b is an electrical block diagram illustrating a system comprising a device as shown in FIG. 5a in electrical communication with a host processor assembly;
[0029]FIGS. 5c and 5 d are physical views of a the device shown in FIG. 5a as received in a personal data assistant;
[0030]FIG. 5e is a physical view illustrating a device as shown in FIG. 5a in communication with a personal computer and operating in free standing mode of operation.
Embodiments of optical readers having more than one imaging module are shown in FIGS. 1a-1 l. In FIGS. 1a-1 b a gun style optical reader 5-1 is shown including first and second imaging modules 10 a and 10 b incorporated in housing 7. Imaging modules 10 can be of the type shown in FIGS. 3a-3 d. Imaging module 10, 10-1 as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3 c includes a support assembly 80 having a containment section 81 and a retainer section 82, a first circuit board 14 a carrying an image sensor 32, a second circuit board 14 b, illumination LEDs 16 aiming LEDs 18, an optical plate 26 carrying aiming and illumination optics 25, 27, and support posts 84 holding the various components of the module together. Image sensor 32 as shown in FIGS. 1a-1 e includes an area array of photosensitive elements, such as an area (RO) photodiode array. Further details of imaging module 10-1 are described in application Ser. No. 10/092,789, filed Mar. 7, 2002, entitled “Optical Reader Imaging Module,” incorporated herein by reference. As indicated by FIGS. 3a and 3 b imaging modules 10 can be built as a modularly installable self-contained unit. That is, module 10 can be assembled into the packaged form shown in FIGS. 3a and 3 b at an assembly location prior to being installed in a cavity defined by reader housing 7.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 1g and 1 h reader 5-4 comprising gun style housing 7 has installed therein three imaging modules, wherein the imaging axes 11 a, 11 b, and 11 e of the three modules are in diverging relation. Reader 5-3 and reader 5-4 are especially well suited for applications requiring an enlarged field of view. By way of routines which will be described in greater detail herein, frames of image data captured by actuation of three modules can be combined to yield a larger frame of image data comprising an image representation of an enlarged decodable symbol or character or of multiple decodable indicia.
Referring now to FIGS. 1i and 1 j, dumbbell style multiple imaging module optical reader 5-5 is described.
Dumbbell reader 5-5 is a reader including three housing portions 7 and each defining a cavity 6. Reader 5-5 of FIGS. 1i and 1 j includes a central handle 19 which supports a pair of laterally disposed head sections 20. Handle 19 may include a thumb-actuated trigger 13 t. Installed in each head section 20 is an imaging module 10 which may be of the type described in connection with FIGS. 3a-3 d. Imaging module 10 of reader 5-5 as in the case of readers 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, and 5-4 may be screw mounted on any rigid member within head sections 20. Head sections 20 of housing 7 are mounted to the major body of housing 7 by ball and socket type connectors 21. Ball and socket connectors 21 may be provided, for example, by a ball and socket connector of a type available from R-A-M Mounting Systems, Inc. of Chandler Ariz. Ball and socket connectors 21 may include mechanical detent mechanisms providing feel feedback as to the position of head section 20 so that a user may click head sections 20 into one or more normally defined positions. Flexible cable 18 as shown in FIGS. 1i and 1 j can be disposed to provide electrical communication between modules 10 and a main circuit board 15 within a cavity defined by a handle portion of housing 7. Main circuit board 15 of reader 5-5 may carry components of a multiple module electrical circuit, e.g. circuit 105 described with reference to FIG. 2f.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1n, handle 19 of dumbbell style reader 5-7 includes a central aperture 19 a which is fittable about post 45. Handle 19 includes knob actuated bolt 46 for securing dumbbell style reader 5-6 against post 45. Post 45 in the embodiment of FIG. 1k is part of a presentation style reader 5-7 which, in addition to including detachable dumbbell style reader 5-6 further includes stand 47 including knob actuated bolt 48 for enabling a vertical position of post 45 to be adjusted, and top head section 20 a disposed at a top of post 45. Head section 20 a may be mounted to post 45 with use of ball and socket connector 21. Dumbbell style optical reader 5-6 may be removed from post 45 so that dumbbell style reader 5-6 can be used in a hand held mode. For realization of a hand held mode, knob actuated bolt 48 is loosened and post 45 is removed from stand 47. Knob actuated bolt 46 is then loosened and dumbbell style reader 5-6 is removed from post 45 to allow hand held use.
The multiple imaging module optical readers as shown in FIGS. 1a-1 j, and 1 m include 2D imaging modules, which may be for example Model IT 4200, Model IT 4250, or Model IT 4000 imaging modules of the type available from HHP, Inc. of Skaneateles Falls, N.Y. It will be understood that a 2D imaging module of any of the readers shown could be replaced by a 1D imaging module having a 1D image sensor. An example of a 1D imaging module which can be incorporated in any one of readers 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, and 5-7 is shown in FIG. 3e. Imaging module 10-2 includes a 1D image sensor 32 including a linear array of photosensitive elements, a support assembly or frame 80, imaging optics 40, illumination light sources 18, and illumination optics including lens 25 carried by plate 26 and aiming apertures 43. Further details of an exemplary 1D imaging module are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,939, entitled “Optical Assembly For Bar Code Scanner” incorporated herein by reference. In an image sensor array based 1D imaging module e.g. module 10-2 illumination and aiming light sources are normally provided by the same light sources which project a single illumination pattern which also serves as an aiming pattern. However, a 1D imaging module can also include light sources which project different illumination and aiming patterns. An imaging module of the invention can also comprise a laser diode based 1D imaging engine including a single photodetector, a laser diode and means for sweeping the laser beam projected by the laser diode across a target area.
Referring to FIGS. 1K-1L a hand held “gun style” reader having a plurality of imaging modules with imaging axes 11 a and 11 b aligned in the vertical plane is described. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1K-1L, reader 5, 5-10 includes a one dimensional imaging module 10, 10 a, 10-2 as shown in and described in connection with FIG. 3e and a two dimensional imaging module 10, 10 b, and 10-1 as shown in FIG. 3e. As best seen from the side view FIG. 1L two dimensional imaging module 10 a is mounted on a bottom surface of printed circuit board 15 and one dimensional imaging module 10 a is mounted on a top surface of printed circuit board 15. Printed circuit board 15 carries both of imaging module 10 a and imaging module 10 b. Printed circuit board 15 further carries circuitry 1040 for operating both of imaging module 10 a and imaging module 10 b. Printed circuit board 15 may carry for example, components of circuit 104 to be described in connection with FIG. 2e. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1K-1L imaging modules 10 a, 10 b are configured so that imaging axes 11 a, 11 b are in converging relation in the manner described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1b.
In one variation of the embodiment of FIGS. 1K-1L, imaging modules 10 a, 10 b are disposed in reader housing 7 so that imaging axes 11 a, 11 b are in parallel relation in the manner of the embodiment of FIG. 1f.
In another variation of the embodiment of FIGS. 1K-11L, imaging modules 10 a, 10 b are disposed so that imaging axes 11 a, 11 b are in diverging relation in the manner of the embodiment of FIG. 1h.
Various electrical circuits 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105 which can be utilized to control optical readers are shown and described with reference to FIGS. 2a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, 2 e, and 2 f. While the present invention relates in a major aspect to optical readers having more than one imaging module, FIGS. 2a and 2 b show electrical circuits for operating optical readers having a single imaging module. Numerous principles of circuit operation discussed in relation to circuits 100, 101 are incorporated into multiple imaging module electrical circuits 102, 103, 104, 105 discussed in relation to FIGS. 2c-2 f.
In FIG. 2a a block diagram of an optical reader electrical circuit is shown having a multi-functional processor IC chip 180 including an integrated frame grabber block 148. Electrical circuit 100 shown in FIG. 2a can be utilized for control of a single 2D imaging module optical reader as is shown for example in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/954,081 filed Sep. 17, 2001, entitled “Optical Reader Having Image Parsing Mode,” incorporated herein by reference.
Various embodiments of FPGA 162 are described with reference to FIGS. 2h and 2 i. In the embodiment of FIG. 2h, FPGA 162 c is programmed to include multiplexer block 162 m, control register 162 c, and a solitary frame grabber block 162 f. Image capture enable signals for actuating image capture via one of modules e.g. 10 a are received at control register 162 in response to an actuation of trigger 13 t. Control register 162 c on receipt of an image capture enable signal sends the image capture enable signal to the selected one module 10 and utilizes the signal to associate frame grabber block 162 f to the selected module e.g. 10 a. It will be understood that control register 162 c can be adapted to send during one type of frame capture method, e.g. illumination actuation signals to a second imaging module, 10 c while actuating an image sensor 32 of a first module, e.g. 10 a without sending illumination actuation signals to first module 10 a.
Another electrical circuit for controlling a plurality of imaging modules is described with reference to FIG. 2f. Electrical circuit 105 includes a pair of frame grabbing FPGAs 165, 166. First FPGA 165 is dedicated for frame capture of image data generated by first imaging module 10 a while second frame grabbing FPGA 166 is dedicated for capture of image data generated by second imaging module 10 b. The architecture of FIG. 2f is especially well suited for contemporaneous capture of multiple frames of image data via contemporaneous actuation of image sensors of two separate imaging modules 10 a and 10 b.
A free-standing mode of operation is illustrated with reference to FIG. 5e. In a free-standing mode of operation, compact flash card 510 including module 10 is positioned in a position spaced apart from a host device e.g. device 550. Compact flash card 510 may rest on a table top or else may be mounted to a fixed member spaced apart from the host device e.g. PC 550. In a free-standing mode, card 510 may be connected to a host device via a flexible cable connector 560. When card 510 is connected to a host assembly via a flexible connector, card 510 may be considered to be operating in a “tethered” mode. Card 510 may also be wirelessly connected to a host via e.g. a RF link. In the embodiment of FIG. 5e cable connector 560 is interfaced to host device 550 on one end and to compact flash card 510 on another end. Cable connector 560 includes male compact flash connector 531 for facilitating communication between connector 560 and card 510. Card 510 can further include feet 565 of height substantially the same as connector 531 disposed on an under surface thereof so that card 510 can rest substantially horizontally on a table surface when operating in a freestanding mode. Host device 550 in the free-standing mode diagram illustrated by FIG. 5e is shown as a PC. It will be understood that a host device in a free-standing mode could also be provided by PDA 540 or another mobile or non-mobile computer device.
Additional aspects of electrical circuits which may be used with the invention are describe in Atty. Docket No. 283-319, filed May 12, 2003, incorporated by reference and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/339,439, filed Jan. 9, 2003 is also incorporated by reference.
Referring to the reader operating method of FIG. 4a, at block 404 after a trigger 13 t is pulled (block 402) control circuit 140 actuates image sensor 32 of first imaging module 10 a and illumination light sources 16 of first imaging module 10 a during a frame capture period in which a first frame of image data is captured. At block 406 control circuit 406 subjects the first captured frame of image data to a decode attempt. If the decode attempt is not successful (block 408), control circuit 140 executes block 410 to capture a second frame of image data. Control circuit 140 actuates image sensor 32 and illumination light sources 16 of second imaging module 10 b when capturing a second frame of image data. Instead of capturing a second frame of image subsequent to subjecting a first frame to a decode attempt (406) control circuit 140 can capture a second frame as described in connection with block 410 prior to the decode attempt of block 406. Control circuit 140 can capture a first frame as described in connection with block 404 and a second frame as described in connection with block 410 in any order and can capture the frames contemporaneously. At block 412 control circuit 140 subjects the indicia representation of the second frame to a decode attempt, and at block 410 outputs a decoded out data message if decoding is successful (block 414). The attempt to decode a decodable indicia may be in accordance with a method for decoding decodable indicia such as are described in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/904,697, filed Jul. 13, 2001, entitled “Applying a Color Imager To A Hand Held Reader For Indicia Reading Image Capture,” incorporated by reference. The reader control method described with reference to the flow diagram of FIG. 4a is highly useful wherein specular reflection decode failures can be expected. Referring to the example of two module reader 5-1 shown in FIGS. 1a and 1 b note that if there may be a specular reflection decode failure when a first frame corresponding to a mirrored planar surface is captured via actuation of first module 10 a then there likely will not be a specular reflection decode failure when a second frame captured via actuation of second module 10 b is subjected to decoding.
A “wait for trigger pull” control loop, as described in connection with block 402, FIG. 4a, block 420, FIG. 4b, block 444, FIG. 4c will now be described in greater detail. When a trigger 13 t of reader 5 is actuated, control circuit 140 generates a trigger signal to cause branching of program control as described in FIGS. 4a, 4 b, and 4 c. According to the invention, a trigger signal can also be generated automatically in response to a decodable indicia being presented in a field of view of a module of reader 5. A method of automatically generating what can be considered a trigger signal based on detected edge transitions without a physical trigger pull is described in co-pending application Ser. No. 09/432,282, filed Nov. 2, 1999, entitled “Indicia Sensor System for Optical Reader,” incorporated by reference. It will be understood that any of the control loops indicated by blocks 402, 420, and 440 can be substituted for by a control loop wherein control circuit 140 waits for trigger signal automatically generated when a decodable indicia 15 moved into a filed of view of a module of reader 5.
In one possible variation of the invention, first and second imaging modules 10 a, 10 b, and possibly all N modules of an N imaging module optical reader are configured so that each module has a different best focus distance. For example, module 10 c of reader 52 can be configured to a best focus distance of about 3 inches, module 10 a can be configured to have a best focus distance of about 6 inches, while module 10 b can be configured to have a best focus distance of about 9 inches. In another example, one dimensional imaging module 10 a of reader 5-10 (FIG. 1k) can have a best focus distance at least one inch longer or shorter than a best focus distance of two dimensional imaging module 10 b of reader 5-10. It will be seen that configuring a reader of the invention so that each of the modules has a different best focus distance increases the overall depth of field of the reader.
While block 404 of the flow diagram of FIG. 4a and other operating blocks herein refers to capturing a “first” frame of image data, it will be understood that a “first” captured frame as referred to herein is not necessarily the initial frame captured by a reader subsequent to actuation of trigger 13 t. For example, as explained in application Ser. No. 09/766,922, filed Jan. 22, 2001, entitled “Optical Reader Having Reduced Parameter Determination Delay,” and incorporated herein by reference, optical readers commonly process one or more “test” frames of image data to establish exposure levels and other operating parameters. “Frame” herein refers either to a two dimensional frame of image data or a one dimensional “slice” frame of image data.
Another method for operating a multiple imaging module optical reader is described with reference to the flow diagram of FIG. 4b. After trigger 13 t is pulled at block 420 control circuit 140 captures a first frame of image data at block 422. Control circuit 140 captures a first frame image data via actuation of an image sensor 32 of first module 10 a and illumination light source 16 of first imaging module 10 a. That is, image sensor 32 of first module 10 a is actuated to generate image signals while a target is illuminated by illumination light sources 16 of first imaging module 10 a. At block 424 control circuit 140 subjects the first frame of capture image data to a decoding attempt. If decoding is not successful (block 426), then control circuit 140 automatically proceeds to block 428 to capture a second frame of image data. Control circuit 140 can also capture a second frame of image data as described in connection with block 428 prior to subjecting a first frame of image data to a decode attempt (block 424). Control circuit 140 can capture a first frame as described in connection with block 422, a second frame as described in block 428, and a third frame (block 434) in any order. Control circuit 140 can capture first, second, and third frames of image data (blocks 422, 428 and 434) contemporaneously. When control circuit 140 captures a second frame of image data at block 428 control circuit 140 once again actuates image sensor 32 of first imaging module 10 a as in the step of block 422. However, when capturing a second frame of image data via actuation of first image sensor, control circuit 140 actuates illumination light sources 16 of second imaging module 10 b without actuating illumination sources 16 of first imaging module 10 a. Because image sensor 32 of first module 10 a and illumination sources 16 of second module 10 b are substantially spaced apart, the frame of image data captured at block 428 is substantially impervious to specular reflection read failures. The operating method described with reference to FIG. 4b can be utilized with any use of readers 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 5-7, 5-8, and 5-9. As indicated by block 434 a reader having three imaging modules 10 a, 10 b, and 10 c e.g. of reader 5-2 can be further configured so that the control circuit 140 captures a third frame of image by actuation of image sensor 32 of first module e.g., 10 a together with actuation of illumination light sources of third module 10 c.
A still further method for operating an optical reader having a plurality of imaging modules is described with reference to the flow diagram of FIG. 4c. Referring to the flow diagram of FIG. 4c control circuit 140 at block 446 captures first and second frames of image data. The first frame of image data captured at block 446 may be captured via actuation of image sensor and illumination light sources of first imaging module e.g., module 10 a of reader 503, FIG. 1e. The second frame of image data captured at block 446 may be captured via actuation of image sensor 32 and illumination light sources 16 of second imaging module 10 c. Referring to further aspects of image capture block 446, control circuit 140 may capture first and second frames at block 446 sequentially (the first frame is captured in its entirety and then the second frame is captured) or contemporaneously (the capture of the second frame begins before capture of the first frame is complete). At block 448 control circuit 140 subjects the first captured frame to a decode attempt. If decoding fails, control circuit 140 proceeds to block 456 to combine the first captured frame captured by actuation of an image sensor of a first module 10 a with a second captured frame of image data captured via actuation of a second imaging module 10 c to generate a third image representation. At block 458 control circuit 140 subjects the third image representation derived from the first and second frames to a decoding attempt. If decoding is successful, control circuit 140 outputs the decoded out message at block 462.
Referring to the frame diagram of FIG. 4e in further detail, overlapping regions 659 and 661 are defined between first frame 652 and third frame 656 and between third frame 656 and second frame 654. When combining two frames of image data in the example of FIG. 4e, it is particularly important to correct for skew errors (sometimes referred to as distortion errors) when combining frames of image data and when calculating regions of overlap between two frames of image data. In the example of FIG. 4e, skew errors can readily be corrected for by, in part, utilizing a skew correction factor determined from the known relative angles between two imaging axes of a multiple module reader such axes 11 a and 11 c of reader 5-4, and the spacing between modules of a multiple module reader such as reader 54. Further skew correction of a frame of image data can be carried out in a manner described in copending application Ser. No. 09/954,081, filed Sep. 17, 2001, entitled “Imaging Device Having Indicia-Controlled Image Parsing Mode,” incorporated herein by reference. In that application, a method is described wherein graphical analysis and interpolation processing are employed to determine a distortion factor affecting a frame of image data, and further wherein the determined distortion factor is utilized to back out distortion from an image.
3. The reader of claim 1, wherein said first and second imaging modules are disposed in vertical relation to one another.
4. The reader of claim 1, wherein said first and second imaging modules are disposed in horizontal relation to one another.
5. The reader of claim 1, wherein said imaging modules are disposed so that said first and second imaging axes converge toward one another forward of said reader.
6. The reader of claim 1, wherein said imaging modules are disposed so that said first and second imaging axes diverge apart from one another forward of said reader.
7. The reader of claim 1, wherein said control circuit captures said second frame of image data contemporaneously while capturing said first frame of image data.
8. The reader of claim 1, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data preliminarily evaluates image data of said first frame without attempting to decode decodable indicia represented therein.
9. The reader of claim 8, wherein said control circuit in preliminarily evaluating said image data evaluates said image data to determine whether a saturation condition is present.
10. The reader of claim 1, wherein said trigger signal is an automatically generated trigger signal generated by decodable indicia being moved in a field of view of said reader.
11. The reader of claim 1, further comprising a trigger, wherein said trigger signal is generated when said trigger is pulled.
12. The reader of claim 1, wherein said housing is a gun-style housing.
14. The reader of claim 13, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data attempts to decode decodable indicia represented in said first frame of image data.
15. The reader of claim 13, wherein said first and second imaging modules are disposed in vertical relation to one another.
16. The reader of claim 13, wherein said first and second imaging modules are disposed in horizontal relation to one another.
17. The reader of claim 13, wherein said imaging modules are disposed so that said first and second imaging axes converge toward one another forward of said reader.
18. The reader of claim 13, wherein said imaging modules are disposed so that said first and second imaging axes diverge apart from one another forward of said reader.
19. The reader of claim 13, wherein said control circuit captures said second frame of image data contemporaneously while capturing said first frame of image data.
20. The reader of claim 13, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data preliminarily evaluates image data of said first frame without attempting to decode decodable indicia represented therein.
21. The reader of claim 19, wherein said control circuit in preliminarily evaluating said image data evaluates said image data to determine whether a saturation condition is present.
22. The reader of claim 13, wherein said first imaging module is a 1D imaging module and wherein said second imaging module is a 2D imaging module.
23. The reader of claim 13, wherein said first and second imaging modules are configured to have first and second best focus distances, wherein said first best focus distance is at least 1 inch apart from said second best focus distance.
24. The reader of claim 13, wherein said trigger signal is an automatically generated trigger signal generated by decodable indicia being moved in a field of view of said reader.
25. The reader of claim 12, wherein said housing is a gun-style housing.
26. The reader of claim 13, further comprising a trigger, wherein said trigger signal is generated when said trigger is pulled.
28. The reader of claim 27, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data attempts to decode decodable indicia represented in said first frame of image data.
29. The reader of claim 27, wherein said control circuit captures said second frame of image data contemporaneously while capturing said first frame of image data.
30. The reader of claim 27, wherein said control circuit in determining whether decodable indicia is represented in said first frame of image data preliminarily evaluates image data of said first frame without attempting to decode decodable indicia represented therein.
31. The reader of claim 27, wherein said control circuit in preliminarily evaluating said image data evaluates said image data to determine whether a saturation condition is present.
32. The reader of claim 27, wherein said first imaging module is a 1D imaging module and wherein said second imaging module is a 2D imaging module.
33. The reader of claim 27, wherein said first and second imaging modules are configured to have first and second best focus distances, wherein, said first best focus distance is at least 1 inch apart from said second best focus distance.
34. The reader of claim 27, wherein said trigger signal is an automatically generated trigger signal generated by decodable indicia being moved in a field of view of said reader.
35. The reader of claim 27, further comprising a trigger, wherein said trigger signal is generated when said trigger is pulled.
36. The reader of claim 27, wherein said first portable housing is a gun-style housing.
US10453796 2002-06-04 2003-06-03 Optical reader having a plurality of imaging modules Active 2022-08-06 US7219843B2 (en)
US11187608 US8074887B2 (en) 2002-06-04 2005-07-22 Optical reader having a plurality of imaging modules
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US14093624 US9224023B2 (en) 2002-06-04 2013-12-02 Apparatus operative for capture of image data
US14979765 US20160110577A1 (en) 2002-06-04 2015-12-28 Apparatus operative for capture of image data
US11187608 Continuation-In-Part US8074887B2 (en) 2002-06-04 2005-07-22 Optical reader having a plurality of imaging modules
US11187608 Continuation US8074887B2 (en) 2002-06-04 2005-07-22 Optical reader having a plurality of imaging modules
US20040020990A1 true true US20040020990A1 (en) 2004-02-05
US7219843B2 US7219843B2 (en) 2007-05-22
ID=29716265
US10453796 Active 2022-08-06 US7219843B2 (en) 2002-06-04 2003-06-03 Optical reader having a plurality of imaging modules
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WO (1) WO2003102859A1 (en)
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US7219843B2 (en) 2007-05-22 grant
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