Abstract:
A digital image capturing and processing system for illuminating objects using automatic object detection and spectral-mixing illumination technique. The system comprises an area-type illumination and imaging module for projecting a coextensive area-type illumination and imaging field (i.e. zone) into a 3D imaging volume during object illumination and imaging operations. The area-type illumination and imaging module includes a spectral-mixing based illumination subsystem for producing a first field of visible illumination from an array of visible LEDs, and producing a second field of invisible illumination from an array of infrared (IR) LEDs, wherein the first and second fields of illumination spatially overlap and intermix with each other and produce a composite illumination field that is at least substantially coextensive with the FOV of the image sensing array. An automatic object detection subsystem automatically detects an object moving through the 3D imaging volume, while an illumination control subsystem controls the relative power ratio (VIS/IR) of visible illumination and invisible illumination during system operations so as to achieve sufficient image contrast in captured digital images to ensure satisfactory image processing.
Abstract:
Digital image capture and processing systems and methods for generating and projecting coplanar illumination and imaging planes and/or coextensive area-type illumination and imaging zones, through one or more imaging windows, and into a 3D imaging volume in a retail POS environments, while employing automatic object motion and/or velocity detection, real-time image analysis and other techniques to capture and processing high-quality digital images of objects passing through the 3D imaging volume, and intelligently controlling and/or managing the use of visible and invisible forms of illumination, during object illumination and imaging operations, that might otherwise annoy or disturb human operators and/or customers working and/or shopping in such retail environments.
Abstract:
A tunnel-type digital imaging-based self-checkout system capable of generating and projecting coplanar illumination and imaging planes into a 3D imaging volume within a tunnel structure. The tunnel structure is supported above a package conveyor in a retail POS environment, and employs automatic package identification, profiling and tracking techniques during self-checkout operations.
Abstract:
A method of illuminating objects using adaptively controlled mixing of spectral illumination energy to form and detect digital images of objects at POS environments with sufficiently high image contrast and quality. The method comprises providing, at a POS environment, a digital image capture and processing system having a system housing with an imaging window, and a coplanar illumination and imaging station disposed within said system housing, for projecting a coplanar illumination and imaging plane through the imaging window into an imaging volume during object illumination and imaging operations. As the object is moved through the imaging volume, its motion is automatically detected, and signals indicative of said detected object are generated. In response to the generated signals, a first field of visible illumination is produced from an array of visible laser diodes (VLDs), simultaneously with a second field of invisible illumination from a array of infrared (IR) laser diodes (LDs). These first and second fields of illumination spatially overlap and intermix with each other and produce a composite planar illumination beam that is substantially coextensive with the FOV. During object illumination and imaging operations, the relative power ratio (VIS/IR) of these fields of visible illumination and invisible illumination are controlled as one or more linear digital images of the illuminated object are formed and detected, captured and buffered, and ultimately processed so as to read one or more 1D and/or 2D code symbols graphically represented in the digital images. In an illustrative embodiment, during object illumination and imaging operations operation, the relative power ratio (VIS/IR) is adaptively controlled to form and detect digital images of objects at POS environments with sufficiently high image contrast and quality.
Abstract:
A multi-stage laser beam despeckling device including a first laser beam despeckling module for optically multiplexing an input laser beam into a temporal/spatial coherence-reduced output laser beam; and a second laser beam despeckling module, optically coupled to the first laser beam despeckling module, for receiving the temporal/spatial coherence-reduced as an input laser beam to the second despeckling module and producing a further temporal/spatial coherence-reduced output laser beam.
Abstract:
An automatic digital video-imaging based code symbol reading system for use in point of sale (POS) environments, employing automatic object motion detection and illumination control, and digital video-imaging based code symbol reading techniques, which ensures the reliable reading of code symbols graphically represented in digital images, in high-throughput point-of-sale and other environments, while providing the versatility required to accommodate the different ways in which operators present objects for code symbol reading at POS environments.
Abstract:
An automatic automatically-triggered digital video imaging based code symbol reading system for use in point of sale (POS) environments, employing an adaptive control process involving the real-time analysis of the exposure quality of captured frames of digital image data and the real-time reconfiguration of system control parameters (SCPs) based on the results of such exposure quality analysis. By virtue of the present invention, the system enables the reliable reading of code symbols graphically represented in digital images, under demanding point-of-sale lighting conditions and other challenging environments.
Abstract:
An automatic digital video-imaging based code symbol reading system for use in point of sale (POS) environments, employing automatic illumination control, multi-tier modular software architecture and digital video-imaging based code symbol reading techniques, which ensures the reliable reading of code symbols graphically represented in digital images, in high-throughput point-of-sale and other environments, while providing the versatility required to accommodate the different ways in which operators present objects for code symbol reading at POS environments.
Abstract:
An automatic omni-directional bar code symbol reading system for use in a POS environment. The system comprises a system housing having a horizontal housing section with a first light transmission window, and a vertical housing section with a second light transmission window. A plurality of linear-type bar code symbol reading stations are disposed in the horizontal housing section, for generating and projecting a complex of linear illumination planes through the first light transmission window and into a 3D volume definable relative to the system housing. At least one area-type bar code reading station is disposed in the vertical housing section, for generating and projecting an area illumination beam through the imaging window, and into the 3D volume. The complex of linear illumination planes and the area illumination beam enable the omni-directional reading of bar code symbols on an object passing through the 3D volume, and generation of symbol character data representative of the read bar code symbol. An object detection subsystem automatically detects the object passing through the 3D volume, and generates motion data representative of the detected object motion within the 3D volume. A control subsystem controls operations within the linear-type and area-type bar code symbol reading stations using control data derived from the motion data generated by the object motion detection subsystem.
Abstract:
A method of generating a complex laser scanning pattern from a bioptical laser scanning system for providing 360° of omnidirectional bar code symbol scanning coverage at a point of sale station that employs a plurality of laser scanning stations about two independently controlled rotating polygonal mirrors. The system has an ultra-compact construction, ideally suited for space-constrained retail scanning environments, and generates a 3-D omnidirectional laser scanning pattern between the bottom and side-scanning windows during system operation. The laser scanning pattern of the present invention comprises a complex of laser scanning planes, including a plurality of substantially-vertical laser scanning planes for reading bar code symbols having bar code elements (i.e. ladder type bar code symbols) that are oriented substantially horizontal with respect to the bottom-scanning window, and a plurality of substantially-horizontal laser scanning planes for reading bar code symbols having bar code elements (i.e. picket-fence type bar code symbols) that are oriented substantially vertical with respect to the bottom-scanning window.