Abstract: The invention relates to a process for discriminating the color of a surface, comprising the steps of acquiring at least a colored acquisition surface, comparing the color of a detecting surface with said at least one color previously acquired so that said color can be recognized.

Abstract: A scanning reader of an optical code placed on a front wall of an article in movement comprises generators that form at least one first and one second light beam lying on planes inclined by a first and by a second prefixed angle (.alpha., .beta.) with respect to the front wall so as to explore a first and a second area of the front wall by at least one first and one second scanning line and read the optical code within an overall distance range, along the direction of forward movement of the article, greater than the useful range of reading distance that can be reached by one light beam only.

Abstract: The reading method includes the step of successively performing a first and at least a second scan of an optical code along a first and, respectively, second scanning line parallel to each other. More specifically, the first and second scan of the optical code are performed by generating a first and a second laser light ray movable respectively in a first and second scanning plane distinct from and intersecting each other.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an optical apparatus for measuring the distance of an object and characterized in that it comprises a case, a first converging lens housed in the case, a light source housed in the case and acting through the first converging lens to illuminate in a direction of illumination an object, a second converging lens housed in the case in a position such as to collect, in a direction angularly deviated with respect to the illumination direction, a light beam diffused by the illuminated object, detection means housed in the case in a position such as to collect the light beam diffused by the object illuminated and penetrating into the case through the second converging lens, with said light beam being collected on detection means from the second converging lens at a point of incidence having a position varying as a function of the distance of the object, with the detection means being capable of generating two electrical signals of different magnitude depending on the point of incidence

Abstract: A portable code reading device, in particular for reading optical codes, wherein a hand-held casing supports an electronic viewing device for generating signals related to the image of an examined optical code, and an electronic circuit cooperating with the viewing device to generate first digital data representing the examined optical code. The reading device also has a manually operated pointing device for generating second digital data by which to control a pointer of a remote processing device having a graphic interface usable in conjunction with the pointer.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention consists of an ordinary laser scanner (such as for example those used for the reading of optical codes) in which the data obtained from the scanning are processed, for detecting the presence and the position, on a supply plane, of objects having heights even very different among themselves. The detection of the presence of an object, and its position, is carried out taking advantage of the luminous contrast between the surface of the same object and the bearing surface of the supply plane. The detection of the presence and the position of the object can be combined with the reading of an optical code positioned on the object. Furthermore, the use of a modulated light laser scanner, allows the implementation of the above mentioned operations with the measurement of the distance of the object from the same scanner, in this way calculating the overall encumbrance of the same object.

Abstract: A method of compensating the edge positions of a signal generated by scanning elements of a bar code, the method including the steps of lighting the code and determining the light diffused by the code to generate in response a signal having a substantially alternating waveform defined by a sequence of high-amplitude portions separated by and joined to low-amplitude portions by steeply sloping edges of the waveform. A number of local minimum and maximum points of the waveform are determined to determine coordinates defining approximate edge positions. The coordinates are then corrected to generate modified coordinates, each relative to a corrected position of the edge compensating for any shift in the edge induced by blurring of the signal.

Abstract: A method of estimating the mid-points of elements of a bar code, wherein the code is illuminated, and the light diffused by the code is picked up to generate in response a signal having a substantially alternating waveform profile defined by high-amplitude zones alternating with low-amplitude zones; each high-amplitude zone corresponding to a space of the code, and each low-amplitude zone corresponding to a bar of the code. The signal is then quantized to obtain a discretized waveform having a number of local maximum and minimum points, and an observation window of a given width is defined by which to observe the waveform. The observation window is positioned on the maximum and minimum points of the discretized waveform to eliminate redundant maximum and minimum points within the observation window.

Abstract: A focusing device (1) for a light receiving device (3) having at least one lens device (5) and a light sensor (7) exposed to the incident light is proposed, which is distinguished by the fact that the lens device (5) is designed to be stationary and that an actuation device (9), which displaces the light sensor (7) parallel to itself, and a position sensor (27), which detects the current position of the light sensor (7), are provided.

Abstract: For measuring the volume, the process utilizes the same means as are used for reading an optical code, such as a laser scanner or CCD reader. A choice of different measuring procedures are proposed which suit different situations and are all based on scannings and readings performed on the object. Where required, the process can accommodate the inclination angles of the scan planes. The volume measurement is accompanied by the reading of an optical code provided on the object.

Abstract: A method wherein an image of an object bearing an optical code is divided into a number of elementary images for which a brightness gradient vector is calculated. The calculated gradients of a magnitude above a given threshold value (Glim) are transformed to eliminate the information relative to the direction of the vector, while maintaining the information relative to the path of the vector. The transformed and quantized vectors of a subimage including a number of elementary images are added to calculate a total gradient vector, which is compared with reference values to select significant subimages containing a sufficient number of gradient vectors of substantially the same path.

Abstract: A scanner for the acquisition of optical information, in particular bar codes, is proposed, which has a laser device (3), a receiving device (23), which detects laser light (25) reflected from the surface, carrying the optical information, of the object (13), and a measuring device (27), which emits a control signal corresponding to the distance from the object (13). The scanner (1) is distinguished by the fact that the laser device (3) has a single laser light source (37), and that a focusing device (31) is provided which can receive the control signal of the measuring device (27) and enables the scanner (1) to be adapted to the distance from the object (13), on the surface of which the optical information or the bar code (15) is present.

Abstract: The apparatus includes an outer case (11), a reading window (14) open into the case (ii), an illumination device (16-20) housed within the case (11) and arranged to act on the optical code being read through the window (14), and a detection device (24-28) housed within the case (11) and responsive to light scattered back from the illuminated optical code into the case (11) through the window (14). The detection device includes a light-sensitive element (24) capable of converting light to electric signals representing the light image, and an optical detection path (25-26) from the reading window (14) to the light-sensitive elements (24) having a reflective element (27) therein which effectively splits the optical path into two consecutive path sections (25,26) at an angle from each other, wherein the second path section (26) is deflected from the first path section (25).

Abstract: A method whereby the image of a bar code is located in a digitized image of an object traveling along a conveyor belt; the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the code with respect to a reference system of the image is determined, and the code is scanned along lines parallel to the longitudinal axis of the code to generate respective vectors describing the pattern of the code image brightness signal along the respective line; and the vectors are digitized and projected to generate a real-number vector containing the coordinates of the brightness signal transition points indicating the shape and location of the code elements.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the acquisition of information assigned to objects, in particular of a bar code, are proposed and are distinguished by the fact that an optimum compromise between performance and reliability of the read operation is set and is kept constant over time.

Abstract: A method for the evaluation of information stored in bar codes composed of characters is proposed, in which the bar code is exposed to light by means of a light source and the light reflected from the bar code is detected by means of a light receiving device during a relative movement between the bar code and the light receiving device in a scanning operation. The method is distinguished by the fact that the acceleration (a) of the relative movement during the scanning operation is assumed to be constant and can assume different values.

Abstract: A hand-held reader of an optical code comprises a shell containing a mirror capable of deflecting a beam of light diffused by the optical code of a label or of a product. The mirror is mounted elastically in the shell by means of a spring element formed by a central plate capable of supporting the mirror, provided with two protruding fins. Each of the fins comprises a first portion inclined with respect to the central plate and a second portion folded over with respect to the first portion and provided with a slot capable of engaging in a disconnectable manner a projection of a supporting element integral with the shell.

Abstract: The process uses information from the scan sweeps of a laser scanner to obtain a stipulated area which approximates the top surface of the object, by successive samplings while the object is moved relative to the scanner. The volume is then obtained as the volume included between that surface and a bearing surface. The process accommodates the slope angles of the scan plane. The volume measurement may be taken at the same time as an optical code provided on the object is read.

Abstract: The process uses information from the scan sweeps of a laser scanner, and readings with a CCD reader, to obtain a series of stipulated areas corresponding to successive cross-sections of the object as reckoned by moving the object relative to the scanner and the reader. The volume is then obtained by multiplying each of said areas by the feed distance of the object. The possibility is further contemplated of accommodating the slope angles of the scan plane and the read plane, or alternatively neglecting their effects if said angles are sufficiently small. The volume measurement may be accompanied by the reading of an optical code provided on the object.

Abstract: A laser bar code scanner is disclosed using a pulse laser and phase detector for returned light to determine the distance of a bar code. Also, disclosed the use of several lasers having different focal distances with the determined distance being used to select appropriate laser to increase the working distance of the scanner.