Abstract: A modular sensor system for use with a faceplate mountable to a housing can include first and second optical modules. Each of the optical modules can be configured to be removably receivable within either of a first mounting aperture or a second mounting aperture of the faceplate, in either of a first orientation or a second orientation.

Abstract: A modular sensor system for use with a faceplate mountable to a housing can include first and second optical modules. Each of the optical modules can be configured to be removably receivable within either of a first mounting aperture or a second mounting aperture of the faceplate, in either of a first orientation or a second orientation.

Abstract: This invention provides a field of view expander (FOVE) removably attached to a vision system camera having an image sensor defining an image plane. In an embodiment the FOVE includes first and second mirrors that transmit light from a scene in respective first and second partial fields of view along first and second optical axes. Third and fourth mirrors respectively receive reflected light from the first and second mirrors. The third and fourth mirrors reflect the received light onto the image plane in a first strip and a second strip adjacent to the first strip. The first and second optical axes are approximately parallel and a first focused optical path length between the scene and the image plane and a second focused optical path between the image plane and the scene are approximately equal in length. The optical path can be rotated at a right angle in embodiments.

Abstract: This invention provides a field of view expander (FOVE) removably attached to a vision system camera having an image sensor defining an image plane. In an embodiment the FOVE includes first and second mirrors that transmit light from a scene in respective first and second partial fields of view along first and second optical axes. Third and fourth mirrors respectively receive reflected light from the first and second mirrors. The third and fourth mirrors reflect the received light onto the image plane in a first strip and a second strip adjacent to the first strip. The first and second optical axes are approximately parallel and a first focused optical path length between the scene and the image plane and a second focused optical path between the image plane and the scene are approximately equal in length. The optical path can be rotated at a right angle in embodiments.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for expanding the field of view of a vision system camera assembly such that the field of view is generally free of loss of normal resolution across the entire expanded field. A field of view expander includes outer mirrors that receive light from different portions of a scene. The outer mirrors direct light to tilted inner mirrors of a beam splitter that directs the light aligned with a camera axis to avoid image distortion. The inner mirrors each direct the light from each outer mirror into a strip on the sensor, and the system searches features. The adjacent fields of view include overlap regions sized and arranged to ensure a centralized feature appears fully in at least one strip. Alternatively, a moving mirror changes position between acquired image frames so that a full width of the scene is imaged in successive frames.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for expanding the field of view of a vision system camera assembly such that the field of view is generally free of loss of normal resolution across the entire expanded field. A field of view expander includes outer mirrors that receive light from different portions of a scene. The outer mirrors direct light to tilted inner mirrors of a beam splitter that directs the light aligned with a camera axis to avoid image distortion. The inner mirrors each direct the light from each outer mirror into a strip on the sensor, and the system searches features. The adjacent fields of view include overlap regions sized and arranged to ensure a centralized feature appears fully in at least one strip. Alternatively, a moving mirror changes position between acquired image frames so that a full width of the scene is imaged in successive frames.

Abstract: A Guanella type balun with a conductive enclosure (for example, a re-entrant box) between its coupled lines and the magnetic material enclosing its coupled lines. Some embodiments use coupled strip lines. Some embodiments have dielectric material, such as printed circuit board material inside the re-entrant box along with the coupled strip lines. Preferably, the magnetic material is ferrimagnetic. Some preferred magnetic materials are non-conductive.

Abstract: This invention provides a field of view expander (FOVE) removably attached to a vision system camera having an image sensor defining an image plane. In an embodiment the FOVE includes first and second mirrors that transmit light from a scene in respective first and second partial fields of view along first and second optical axes. Third and fourth mirrors respectively receive reflected light from the first and second mirrors. The third and fourth mirrors reflect the received light onto the image plane in a first strip and a second strip adjacent to the first strip. The first and second optical axes are approximately parallel and a first focused optical path length between the scene and the image plane and a second focused optical path between the image plane and the scene are approximately equal in length. The optical path can be rotated at a right angle in embodiments.

Abstract: A Guanella type balun with a conductive enclosure (for example, a re-entrant box) between its coupled lines and the magnetic material enclosing its coupled lines. Some embodiments use coupled strip lines. Some embodiments have dielectric material, such as printed circuit board material inside the re-entrant box along with the coupled strip lines. Preferably, the magnetic material is ferrimagnetic. Some preferred magnetic materials are non-conductive.

Abstract: A method for decoding a decodable symbol using an optical reader having a 2D image sensor that is configured to operate in a partial frame capture operating mode. In a partial frame operating mode, the reader clocks out and captures at least one partial frame of image data having image data corresponding to less than all of the pixels of an image sensor pixel array. In one embodiment, the reader operating in a partial frame operating mode captures image data corresponding to a linear pattern of pixels of the image sensor, reads the image data, and attempts to decode for a decodable bar code symbol which may be represented in the image data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus packaging components of an optical reading device which may include illumination optical elements, receive optical elements, and signal processing elements. In one embodiment a single circuit board can carry multiple elements such as an image sensor together with illumination elements. In one embodiment, a control circuit can be provided that is coupled to a light source and an image sensor.

Abstract: A scanning device includes a light ring that is constructed of light emitting diodes that are directed toward the center of the ring and emit diffuse light over a radiation spectrum having an angle of greater than ninety degrees. The light ring provides both low angle and high angle light, and therefore dark and bright field illumination.

Abstract: A bar code reading device having an image sensor including a plurality of pixels can be operated to capture a parameter determination frame of image data, wherein the parameter determination frame of image data includes image data corresponding to light incident at less than all of the pixels of the image sensor. A bar code reading device can also be operated in an image capture operating mode in which a partial frame of image data is captured, wherein the partial frame of image data includes image data corresponding to light incident at less all of the pixels of the image sensor, and wherein image data of the partial frame can be processed in order to attempt to decode a bar code symbol.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for selectively controlling the illumination, and particularly dark field illumination, applied to a symbol to be decoded, and for determining a suitable or optimized level of lighting for decoding the symbol. A ring-shaped illuminator is provided, and is segmented into a plurality of individually-controllable lighting portions which can be, for example, quadrants. Initially, illumination is provided to the symbol through an initial set of lighting conditions. Feedback from acquired image data is then used to determine whether the lighting is suitable for decoding the symbol and, if not, a controller varies the lighting applied to the symbol, and additional image data is acquired. This process is continued until suitable conditions are met. Alternatively, activation and deactivation of the lighting segments can be manually selected by an operator to provide suitable conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for processing image data corresponding a scene comprising an imaging device and an image reading instruction indicia. In accordance with the invention, image data corresponding to a scene comprising an image reading instruction indicia is processed in a manner that depends on features of the image reading instruction indicia. If the image reading instruction indicia is of a type whose size, scaling, orientation, and distortion can be determined, scaling, orientation, and distortion characteristics determined from the image reading instruction indicia can be used to improve the image reading process.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for illuminating a subject using a light pipe that transmits light from a source, such as an LED ring illuminator to an outlet that directs the light appropriately as either bright field illumination, dark field illumination or both. The light pipe can include concentric cylinders, typically with a bright field illuminator nested within a dark field illuminator. The tip of the dark field illuminator may be angled so as to internally reflect light inwardly toward the central optical axis of a camera at a low angle. The tip can be located near the focal plane of the camera for the desired field of view. The field of view of the camera sensor can be modified to reject data outside of a illumination field of a particular shape. This illumination field can be created by shaping the light pipe in a predetermined form that projects the modified illumination field.

Abstract: In a system for locating the position of a transmitter, a platform containing an antenna is moved through a measurement path. The frequency received by the antenna is measured at measurement points distributed along a measurement path. The frequency is measured by cross correlating coherent pulses of the received frequency signal. An inertial navigation system on the platform indicates the position of the measurement path. A computer determines estimated locations by non-linear least squares convergence starting from trial locations. The non-linear least squares convergence is based on the frequency equation for the received frequency ##EQU1## in which f.sub.0, is the transmitter frequency, V is the antenna velocity and r is the range of the transmitter. The computer evaluates a cost function derived from the frequency equation, for each location estimated by the non-linear least squares convergence and selects the estimated location with the lowest cost function as the best solution.

Abstract: In a system for locating the position of a transmitter, a platform containing an antenna is moved through a measurement path. The frequency received by the antenna is measured at measurement points distributed along a measurement path. The frequency is measured by cross correlating coherent pulses of the received frequency signal. An inertial navigation system on the platform indicates the position of the measurement path. A computer determines estimated locations by non-linear least squares convergence starting from trial locations. The non-linear least squares convergence is based on the frequency equation for the received frequency ##EQU1## in which f.sub.0 is the transmitter frequency, V is the antenna velocity and r is the range of the transmitter. The computer evaluates a cost function derived from the frequency equation, for each location estimated by the non-linear least squares convergence and selects the estimated location with the lowest cost function as the best solution.

Abstract: In a long base line interferometer system for determining the position of a transmitter, the phase differences between the signal received by the antennas at each end of the base line are monitored as the interferometer moves through a measurement path to obtain phase difference measurements distributed along the measurement path. A cost function involving measuring the sum of the squares of the differences between measured values and predicted values is determined for each of a set of trial location grid points and the grid point with the lowest cost function is selected as a starting point for determining the transmitter location by least squares convergence. In evaluating the cost function, the predicted values are obtained from the equation: ##EQU1## in which .o slashed..sub.0 is unknown phase offset and the X and Y coordinates of the transmitter are unknown. The least squares convergence is carried out by iteratively adding corrections to predicted values for the unknowns until convergence occurs.