Abstract: Devices having a long-range imaging engine formed of two cameras having different resolution are disclosed herein. An example imaging engine includes a front-end, with the cameras, terminated in a communication interface for coupling to an external host processor that performs image processor. The front-end has a near field image sensor and a far field image sensor, and a normalization processor to receive the respective image data from the sensors and normalize that image data prior to sending to the host processor. Normalization includes adjusting an image size, aspect ratio, or pixel count complying with data rate constraints imposed by the communication interface or the host processor.

Abstract: Methods and systems to implement a miniature long range imaging engine with auto-focus, auto-zoom, and auto-illumination are disclosed herein. An example method includes detecting, by a microprocessor, a presence of an aim light pattern within the FOV; determining, by the microprocessor and in response to the detecting, a target distance of an object in the FOV based on a position of the aim light pattern in the FOV, the target distance being a distance from the imaging engine to the object; causing, by the microprocessor, a variable focus optical element to focus on the object based on the target distance; and responsive to making a first determination, by the microprocessor, selecting, based on the target distance, one of a plurality of zoom operation modes.

Abstract: Methods and systems to implement a miniature long range imaging engine with auto-focus, auto-zoom, and auto-illumination are disclosed herein. An example method includes detecting, by a microprocessor, a presence of an aim light pattern within the FOV; determining, by the microprocessor and in response to the detecting, a target distance of an object in the FOV based on a position of the aim light pattern in the FOV, the target distance being a distance from the imaging engine to the object; causing, by the microprocessor, a variable focus optical element to focus on the object based on the target distance; responsive to making a first determination, by the microprocessor, selecting, based on the target distance, one of a plurality of zoom operation modes; and responsive to making a second determination, by the microprocessor, selecting, based on the target distance, one of a plurality of illumination modes.

Abstract: Methods and systems to implement a miniature long range imaging engine with auto-focus, auto-zoom, and auto-illumination are disclosed herein. An example method includes detecting, by a microprocessor, a presence of an aim light pattern within the FOV; determining, by the microprocessor and in response to the detecting, a target distance of an object in the FOV based on a position of the aim light pattern in the FOV, the target distance being a distance from the imaging engine to the object; causing, by the microprocessor, a variable focus optical element to focus on the object based on the target distance; responsive to making a first determination, by the microprocessor, selecting, based on the target distance, one of a plurality of zoom operation modes; and responsive to making a second determination, by the microprocessor, selecting, based on the target distance, one of a plurality of illumination modes.

Abstract: A distance to a target to be read by image capture over a range of working distances is determined by directing an aiming light spot along an aiming axis to the target, and by capturing a first image of the target containing the aiming light spot, and by capturing a second image of the target without the aiming light spot. Each image is captured in a frame over a field of view having an imaging axis offset from the aiming axis. An image pre-processor compares first image data from the first image with second image data from the second image over a common fractional region of both frames to obtain a position of the aiming light spot in the first image, and determines the distance to the target based on the position of the aiming light spot in the first image.

Abstract: A color image of a target is captured by a color sensor in an imaging reader. A color image processing pipeline processes the captured color image with a plurality of color image processing components to display the image of a target with high fidelity. One or more of the components are bypassed to decode the image of a symbol target to prevent degradation of reader performance.

Abstract: An imaging reader includes a light source generating an illumination beam over a working distance, and a variable focus imaging assembly with an image sensor, a variable focus optical element, a variable focus imaging controller that controls operation of the variable focus optical element to define a plurality of imaging planes over the working distance. The variable focus imaging controller assesses a variety of scanning parameters and determines the number of imaging planes over the working distance and the distance of each of imaging plane from the image sensor, to allow the imaging reader to capture images of a target object only at each of the imaging planes, thereby avoiding time-consuming autofocusing on the target. The imaging reader captures images in a sequential order greatly reducing image capture and image analysis processing time.

Abstract: An imaging reader includes a light source generating an illumination beam over a working distance, and a variable focus imaging assembly with an image sensor, a variable focus optical element, a variable focus imaging controller that controls operation of the variable focus optical element to define a plurality of imaging planes over the working distance. The variable focus imaging controller assesses a variety of scanning parameters and determines the number of imaging planes over the working distance and the distance of each of imaging plane from the image sensor, to allow the imaging reader to capture images of a target object only at each of the imaging planes, thereby avoiding time-consuming autofocusing on the target. The imaging reader captures images in a sequential order greatly reducing image capture and image analysis processing time.

Abstract: A method of reading a barcode is provided. A target containing a barcode is illuminated in a first illumination pattern by an illumination assembly. While the target is illuminated in the first illumination pattern, a first image of the target is captured and transmitted to a barcode decoder. Based on an indication of an unsuccessful attempt to decode the barcode using the first image of the target, the target is illuminated in a second illumination pattern and a second image of the target is captured, and the target is illuminated in a third illumination pattern and a third image of the target is captured. A fourth image of the target (a composite of the second and third image) is constructed using the second and third image of the target. The fourth image of the target is transmitted to the barcode decoder for decoding.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention is a barcode reader that includes: a first imaging assembly configured to capture a first image; a second imaging assembly positioned relative to the first imaging assembly and configured to capture a second image; and a controller communicatively coupled to the first imaging assembly and the second imaging assembly. The controller is configured to: calculate a first contrast level within a first region within the first image; calculate a second contrast level within a second region within the second image; execute a first barcode-decode operation on the first image when the first contrast level is greater than the second contrast level; and execute the first barcode-decode operation on the second image when the second contrast level is greater than the first contrast level.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention is a barcode reader that includes: a first imaging assembly configured to capture a first image; a second imaging assembly positioned relative to the first imaging assembly and configured to capture a second image; and a controller communicatively coupled to the first imaging assembly and the second imaging assembly. The controller is configured to: calculate a first contrast level within a first region within the first image; calculate a second contrast level within a second region within the second image; execute a first barcode-decode operation on the first image when the first contrast level is greater than the second contrast level; and execute the first barcode-decode operation on the second image when the second contrast level is greater than the first contrast level.

Abstract: An imaging reader has near and far imagers for imaging illuminated targets to be read over a range of working distances. A range finder determines a distance to a target. A default imager captures a minor portion of an image of the target, and rapidly determines its light intensity level. At least one of the imagers is selected based on the determined distance and/or the determined light intensity level. The exposure and/or gain of the selected imager is set to a predetermined value, and an illumination level is determined, also based on the determined light intensity level and/or the determined distance. The selected imager, which has been set with the predetermined value, captures an image of the target, which has been illuminated at the illumination light level.

Abstract: An imaging reader has near and far imagers for imaging illuminated targets to be read over a range of working distances. A range finder determines a distance to a target. A default imager captures a minor portion of an image of the target, and rapidly determines its light intensity level. At least one of the imagers is selected based on the determined distance and/or the determined light intensity level. The exposure and/or gain of the selected imager is set to a predetermined value, and an illumination level is determined, also based on the determined light intensity level and/or the determined distance. The selected imager, which has been set with the predetermined value, captures an image of the target, which has been illuminated at the illumination light level.

Abstract: Objects associated with targets to be read by image capture are detected without any additional hardware in an imaging module. Return light is captured over a field of view of the module. Images are processed, during an object detection mode, to determine their image brightness from the captured return light. Illumination is emitted from an illumination light assembly at a first power level to determine a first image brightness from a first processed image, and at a different, reduced, second power level to determine a second image brightness from a second processed image. An object is determined to be in the field of view when a difference between the first image brightness and the second image brightness equals or exceeds a detection threshold value.

Abstract: A color image of a target is captured by a color sensor in an imaging reader. A color image processing pipeline processes the captured color image with a plurality of color image processing components to display the image of a target with high fidelity. One or more of the components are bypassed to decode the image of a symbol target to prevent degradation of reader performance.

Abstract: A distance to a target to be read by image capture over a range of working distances is determined by directing an aiming light spot along an aiming axis to the target, and by capturing a first image of the target containing the aiming light spot, and by capturing a second image of the target without the aiming light spot. Each image is captured in a frame over a field of view having an imaging axis offset from the aiming axis. An image pre-processor compares first image data from the first image with second image data from the second image over a common fractional region of both frames to obtain a position of the aiming light spot in the first image, and determines the distance to the target based on the position of the aiming light spot in the first image.

Abstract: An imaging reader has near and far imagers for imaging illuminated targets to be read over a range of working distances. A range finder determines a distance to a target. A default imager captures a minor portion of an image of the target, and rapidly determines its light intensity level. At least one of the imagers is selected based on the determined distance and/or the determined light intensity level. The exposure and/or gain of the selected imager is set to a predetermined value, and an illumination level is determined, also based on the determined light intensity level and/or the determined distance. The selected imager, which has been set with the predetermined value, captures an image of the target, which has been illuminated at the illumination light level.

Abstract: An array of pixels of a solid-state imaging sensor having a rolling shutter is sequentially exposed to capture images from an illuminated target over successive frames for image capture by an imaging reader. The target is illuminated at a peak output power level for a fractional time period of a frame, and is not illuminated for at least a portion of a remaining time period of the frame for increased energy efficiency. Only a sub-array of the pixels is exposed during the fractional time period in which the target is being illuminated at the first output power level.

Abstract: An array of pixels of a solid-state imaging sensor having a rolling shutter is sequentially exposed to capture images from an illuminated target over successive frames for image capture by an imaging reader. The target is illuminated at a peak output power level for a fractional time period of a frame, and is not illuminated for at least a portion of a remaining time period of the frame for increased energy efficiency. Only a sub-array of the pixels is exposed during the fractional time period in which the target is being illuminated at the first output power level.

Abstract: An imaging reader has near and far imagers for imaging targets to be read over a range of working distances. A default imager captures a minor portion of an image of the target, and rapidly determines its light intensity level. The exposure and/or gain values of the default imager are set to predetermined values based on the determined light intensity level. If the target is not decoded by the default imager, then the exposure and/or gain values of another imager are set to predetermined values based on the exposure and/or gain values that were previously set for the default imager.