Patent Application: US-201514674329-A

Abstract:
when imaging with a smartphone , a user typically uses the smartphone &# 39 ; s display as a viewfinder . the user aligns the smartphone &# 39 ; s camera with a target by focusing on the display rather than the target . traditionally , barcode scanners have used aimers rather than viewfinders for this alignment . an aimer projects a visible pattern onto a target . to scan a barcode , a user aligns and positions this visible pattern with the barcode . this approach to barcode targeting is highly desirable for regular barcode scanning . the present invention embraces an aimer for a smartphone that allows a user to target a barcode with a projected pattern , while using the smartphone &# 39 ; s imaging - system and processing to scan the barcode . in some embodiments , the aimer is incorporated in a case for the smartphone .

Description:
the present invention embraces an aimer that helps a user to position and scan ( i . e ., read , decode , etc .) a barcode ( e . g ., linear barcode , matrix code , etc .) using a mobile computing device ( e . g ., smartphone , tablet , etc .) with an integrated imaging system ( i . e ., camera , illumination , processing , and software ). users who scan barcodes regularly ( e . g ., as part of their daily work ) need barcode scanners that respond quickly . often these users work in environments ( e . g ., warehouses , delivery trucks , etc .) that make conventional imaging difficult . for example , these environments may be dark , and they may make holding a camera steady difficult . what is more , the barcodes for scanning may not always be accessible . for example , a user may have to reach around something to scan a barcode . in these cases , using the mobile computing device &# 39 ; s imaging system for barcode scanning may be difficult . mobile computing devices typically have an imaging system designed for an average consumer . as a result , certain design compromises have been made . for example , the imaging subsystem ( i . e ., imager ) must often share processing resources with other subsystems and software . as a result , imaging with a mobile computing device , while fine for the average consumer , has often been too slow and of too poor a quality to be used for serious photography and / or for the special purposes ( e . g ., barcode scanning ). as a result , special purposed equipment ( e . g ., barcode scanning sleds ) with specialized imaging systems have been used to enable mobile computing devices to scan barcodes . in recent years , due in part to the economies of scale and active development , the imaging systems in mobile computing devices have improved and may now be used for barcode scanning . the problem now facing mobile computing devices used as barcode scanners concerns their ease of use . capturing an image of a barcode with a mobile computing device requires a user to align the barcode within a designated region on the mobile computing device &# 39 ; s screen . using the screen as viewfinder is often an awkward process ( e . g ., in low light , unfocused images , etc .). as a result , capturing a barcode image suitable for decoding often requires more than one attempt . in addition , the need for the user to focus on the screen makes barcode scanning difficult if the screen must be turned away from the user . enterprise - grade barcode scanners rarely use a viewfinder to align a barcode . instead , they use an aimer , which projects a visible light pattern onto the barcode . the projected pattern corresponds to the field of view of the camera so that when the projected pattern is aligned with a barcode , an image that is suitable for barcode scanning may be captured . a user can easily point the projected pattern at a barcode , while maintaining focus on the barcode . there is a current , yet unmet need for a mobile computing device accessory ( i . e ., add - on ) or subsystem to facilitate the same barcode - targeting scheme typically found only in enterprise - grade barcode scanners . an exemplary embodiment of a barcode scanning system using an aimer is shown in fig1 . the system includes a smartphone 1 . the smartphone 1 is installed into a case that has an integrated aimer to help target a barcode for scanning . the smartphone 1 has an integrated camera for capturing images of a field of view . the integrated camera may use a lens or lens group to form a real image on a sensor . the camera &# 39 ; s sensor may be a charge - coupled device ( ccd ) comprising an array of light sensitive capacitors that gather a charge resulting from incident photons . the sensor may also use an active pixel sensor array constructed using complementary metal oxide semiconductor ( cmos ) technology . the sensor may capture black and white ( b / w ) images or may capture color images by using color filters ( e . g ., bayer filter ) arranged over the pixel array . the camera may use various types of electronic shutters ( e . g ., frame transfer , rolling shutters , etc .) to expose the sensor &# 39 ; s pixels to light . the smartphone 1 may utilize a synchronized light source ( e . g ., flash ) for illuminating the camera &# 39 ; s field of view . this flash may be integrated with the smartphone or electronically attached to the smartphone as an accessory . the smartphone includes a processor to enable the functions of the smartphone ( e . g ., operating system functions , input / output functions , and functions enabled by software applications ). the smartphone &# 39 ; s processor may be embodied as a system on a chip ( soc ) comprising a central processing core ( or cores ), a graphics processor , an audio processor , and / or a video processor . the processor is configured by software applications stored in a memory ( e . g ., internal or external to the smartphone ) to perform a variety of functions . the processor may be configured by an application for barcode scanning . this barcode scanning application may control aspects related to targeting a barcode , imaging a barcode , processing an image , recognizing a barcode within an image , and / or decoding a barcode . the barcode scanning application may be configured to read various types of barcodes ( e . g ., linear barcodes , two - dimensional barcodes , color barcodes , etc .). the barcode scanning application may provide a graphical user interface ( gui ) to allow a user to interact with the program ( e . g ., trigger a scan , read results , etc .). the barcode scanning program may store the barcode results in the smartphone &# 39 ; s memory or may transmit the results to a host device . as a result , the barcode scanning application may also interface with other computer systems that are communicatively coupled to the smartphone ( e . g ., wireless computer network , cellular network , etc .). it should be noted that while the case 5 shown in fig1 may include the subsystems , modules , and / or components necessary for aiming ( i . e ., an aimer ), the aimer might also be integrated within the smartphone &# 39 ; s body . the aimer includes a light source module for creating a light beam when activated ( e . g ., electrically powered ). in some possible embodiments , the light source module may include a light emitting diode ( led ) or an array of leds . the array of leds may be an array of the same led or an array of different leds configured to generate different wavelengths of light . in other possible embodiments , the light source module may include a laser ( e . g ., laser diode ). in any case , the light created by the light source module is a wavelength , or band of wavelengths , within the visible spectrum . in some embodiments , the light source module also includes a lens ( or lenses ) to collimate ( or otherwise condense ) the light radiated from the light source . the aimer includes a projection module for forming the light beam from the light source module into an aiming pattern ( i . e ., pattern ) and for projecting the pattern onto a target ( e . g ., barcode ). the projection module may include a lens ( or lenses ), an aperture , and / or a diffractive optical element ( doe ) to help form the pattern . in some embodiments , the projection module may include a mirror ( or mirrors ) to redirect and / or shape the light beam / pattern . the pattern created by the aimer &# 39 ; s projection module provides feedback regarding the camera &# 39 ; s field of view so that when the pattern 2 is projected onto a target ( e . g ., a barcode 3 ), a user may understand what is being imaged and how that image will be aligned . to this end , the pattern may indicate the center of the camera &# 39 ; s field of view , the edges of the camera &# 39 ; s field of view , and / or the corners of the camera &# 39 ; s field of view . thus , patterns may include one or more of the following elements : a cross , a box , a line , or a corner . in a possible embodiment , the pattern may help a user to adjust the distance between the smartphone 1 and the barcoded object 4 . for example , the focus of a pattern may provide information regarding the camera &# 39 ; s ability to focus the barcode . the aimer also includes an electronic module . the electronic module controls the power and operation of the aimer . the electronic module may include circuitry or components ( e . g ., microcontroller ) that are communicatively coupled to the smartphone &# 39 ; s processor and the light source module . the electronic module may also include a user input apparatus ( e . g ., button ) to allow a user to initiate aiming and / or scanning . the electronic module may sense or otherwise receive an indication that a user has pressed the aiming button . pressing the button may activate the light source module and may trigger a response from the mobile computing device ( e . g ., smartphone ). for example , pressing the button may cause a smartphone to activate a barcode scanning application . as mention previously , the aimer may be incorporated within a case for a smartphone 1 . fig2 graphically depicts an exploded view of an exemplary smartphone 1 and an exemplary case 5 , 6 . here the case 5 , 6 has a two - part shell . a front shell 5 and a back shell 6 ( referred to collectively as the shell or housing ) may be connected together ( e . g ., snap - fit ) to contiguously surround ( i . e ., form fit ) the smartphone 1 . the case 5 , 6 typically supports and positions the modules for the aimer . fig3 graphically depicts the outer surface of the back shell 6 . an aperture 8 in the back shell 6 allows the smartphone &# 39 ; s integrated camera to have visual access to a field of view . the aimer &# 39 ; s light source module is supported and positioned by the back shell 6 between the shell &# 39 ; s outer surface and the smartphone body ( i . e ., inside the shell ). the light source module is shown as an inset to fig3 . the exemplary light source module 9 shown includes a laser diode and a collimating lens to form a light beam . also shown in the inset is a diffractive optical element 10 ( doe ). the doe 10 shown is used to form and project the pattern along an optical path . the optical path is redirected towards the barcode by a mirror 11 . the exemplary shell 6 ( i . e ., housing ) also includes a switch 12 that may be pressed to initiate the aiming and / or scanning . when pressed , the switch 12 activates the aimer and may trigger the smartphone to respond . in one embodiment , the switch is connected between the light source 9 and a power source ( e . g ., battery ). when the switch is pressed , the light source is activated by connecting the light source to the power source . a power source is used to energize and enable the aimer . the power source may be the smartphone &# 39 ; s battery or may be a separate battery integrated with the case ( e . g ., inside the case ). fig4 graphically depicts a case shell 6 with a battery 13 for powering the aimer according to an embodiment of the present invention . the aimer may include an electronic module to ( i ) control the light source module ( e . g ., by connecting , conditioning , and / or distributing power from a power source ) and ( ii ) communicate with the smartphone . for example , the electronic module may monitor the status of the switch 12 . when the switch is pressed , the electronic module may activate ( e . g ., via switching ) the light source module and may send a signal ( e . g ., digital signal ) to the smartphone . the signal sent to the smartphone may indicate the switch has been pressed , implying that a barcode is being targeted . this signal may be used by the smartphone to initiate a barcode scan . for example , the smartphone may launch a barcode scanning program . in another possible embodiment , the electronic module may receive signals from the smartphone 1 . for example , the smartphone may transmit a signal to indicate that a barcode has been successfully scanned . this signal may cause the electronic module to deactivate , or otherwise adjust , the light source . for example , the light source may be changed ( e . g ., intensity / color adjusted ) to provide feedback that the barcode has been scanned . to supplement the present disclosure , this application incorporates entirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents , patent application publications , and patent applications : u . s . pat . no . 6 , 832 , 725 ; 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