Abstract: Methods and apparatus to locate and decode an arranged plurality of barcodes in an image are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining image data representing an image of an environment appearing within a FOV of an imaging device that includes the image sensor, wherein an arranged plurality of barcodes appear in the image. A first subset of the plurality of barcodes is decoded from the image data. One or more parameters representing a predicted arrangement of the plurality of barcodes in the image is determined based upon location information associated with each of the decoded first subset of the plurality of barcodes. Possible locations for respective ones of a second subset of the plurality of barcodes are determined based upon the one or more parameters, and the second subset of the plurality of barcodes are attempted to be decoded from the image data in vicinities of the respective possible locations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to locate barcodes in color images are disclosed. An example method includes: obtaining a color digital image using an image sensor, the image including a plurality of pixels represented by respective ones of a plurality of luminance components and respective ones of a plurality of color components; determining, based on the luminance components, a plurality of barcode indicative characteristics for respective ones of a plurality of regions of the image; determining, based on the plurality of color components, a plurality of color content amounts for respective ones of the plurality of regions; identifying one or more regions of the plurality of regions that have their respective color content amount satisfy a first criteria, and their respective barcode indicative characteristic satisfy a second criteria; and processing image data corresponding to each of the one or more regions to attempt to identify one or more barcodes in the image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine barcode decoding parameters for a plurality of barcodes in an image are disclosed. An example method includes: obtaining image data representing an image including a plurality of barcodes; decoding a first barcode of the plurality of barcodes from the image data; determining a set of barcode decoding parameters used to successfully decode the first barcode; determining whether the plurality of barcodes encoded using at least one of a same barcode size, a same module size, or a same barcode format; and when the plurality of barcodes are encoded using at least one of the same barcode size, the same module size, or the same barcode format, attempting to decode all remaining barcodes of the plurality of barcodes from the image data using first the set of barcode decoding parameters.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine barcode decoding parameters for a plurality of barcodes in an image are disclosed. An example method includes: obtaining image data representing an image including a plurality of barcodes; decoding a first barcode of the plurality of barcodes from the image data; determining a set of barcode decoding parameters used to successfully decode the first barcode; determining whether the plurality of barcodes encoded using at least one of a same barcode size, a same module size, or a same barcode format; and when the plurality of barcodes are encoded using at least one of the same barcode size, the same module size, or the same barcode format, attempting to decode all remaining barcodes of the plurality of barcodes from the image data using first the set of barcode decoding parameters.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to locate and decode an arranged plurality of barcodes in an image are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining image data representing an image of an environment appearing within a FOV of an imaging device that includes the image sensor, wherein an arranged plurality of barcodes appear in the image. A first subset of the plurality of barcodes is decoded from the image data. One or more parameters representing a predicted arrangement of the plurality of barcodes in the image is determined based upon location information associated with each of the decoded first subset of the plurality of barcodes. Possible locations for respective ones of a second subset of the plurality of barcodes are determined based upon the one or more parameters, and the second subset of the plurality of barcodes are attempted to be decoded from the image data in vicinities of the respective possible locations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to locate barcodes in color images are disclosed. An example method includes: obtaining a color digital image using an image sensor, the image including a plurality of pixels represented by respective ones of a plurality of luminance components and respective ones of a plurality of color components; determining, based on the luminance components, a plurality of barcode indicative characteristics for respective ones of a plurality of regions of the image; determining, based on the plurality of color components, a plurality of color content amounts for respective ones of the plurality of regions; identifying one or more regions of the plurality of regions that have their respective color content amount satisfy a first criteria, and their respective barcode indicative characteristic satisfy a second criteria; and processing image data corresponding to each of the one or more regions to attempt to identify one or more barcodes in the image.

Abstract: A method of activating an illumination assembly within a symbology reader is provided, the illumination assembly having a first illumination source and a second illumination source, the symbology reader having an imaging sensor configured to operate at a predetermined framerate where each frame includes an exposure period over which the imaging sensor is active to capture image data and a non-exposure period over which the imaging sensor is not active to capture image data, the method comprising: during a first frame, activating the first illumination source during at least a portion of the respective exposure period and activating the second illumination source over at least a portion of the respective non-exposure period; and during a second frame, activating the second illumination source during at least a portion of the respective exposure period and activating the first illumination source over at least a portion of the respective non-exposure period.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to read barcodes on reflective surfaces are disclosed herein. An example method for handling a reflective surface in an imaging reader includes capturing one or more images of a surface of an item; detecting whether a specular reflection is present in the one or more images; when a specular reflection is detected, processing one or more additional images of the surface using a predetermined pattern of first processing suitable to identify a barcode on a reflective surface and second processing suitable to identify a barcode on a non-reflective surface; and when a specular reflection is not detected, processing one or more additional images of the surface using the second processing suitable to identify a barcode on a non-reflective surface.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to read barcodes on reflective surfaces are disclosed herein. An example method for handling a reflective surface in an imaging reader includes capturing one or more images of a surface of an item; detecting whether a specular reflection is present in the one or more images; when a specular reflection is detected, processing one or more additional images of the surface using a predetermined pattern of first processing suitable to identify a barcode on a reflective surface and second processing suitable to identify a barcode on a non-reflective surface; and when a specular reflection is not detected, processing one or more additional images of the surface using the second processing suitable to identify a barcode on a non-reflective surface.

Abstract: A method of activating an illumination assembly within a symbology reader is provided, the illumination assembly having a first illumination source and a second illumination source, the symbology reader having an imaging sensor configured to operate at a predetermined framerate where each frame includes an exposure period over which the imaging sensor is active to capture image data and a non-exposure period over which the imaging sensor is not active to capture image data, the method comprising: during a first frame, activating the first illumination source during at least a portion of the respective exposure period and activating the second illumination source over at least a portion of the respective non-exposure period; and during a second frame, activating the second illumination source during at least a portion of the respective exposure period and activating the first illumination source over at least a portion of the respective non-exposure period.

Abstract: An array of pixels of a solid-state imaging sensor having a rolling shutter is sequentially exposed to capture images from an illuminated DPM target over successive frames for image capture by an imaging reader. The DPM target is illuminated at an elevated 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 DPM target is being illuminated at the elevated output power level.

Abstract: A method of operating a workstation includes capturing multiple monitoring images each being captured with the imaging sensor while the illumination light source is energized during one of multiple short exposure-time-periods, and detecting a checkup-condition that includes analyzing the multiple monitoring images to determine the presence of any adverse feature on workstation's window. Each of the multiple short exposure-time-periods is shorter than four times of a threshold exposure-time-period but no shorter than 25% of the threshold exposure-time-period. The threshold exposure-time-period is a minimal exposure-time-period needed for the imaging sensor to capture recognizable patterns of a barcode that is in directing contacting with the window while the illumination light source is energized.

Abstract: A method of operating a workstation includes capturing multiple monitoring images each being captured with the imaging sensor while the illumination light source is energized during one of multiple short exposure-time-periods, and detecting a checkup-condition that includes analyzing the multiple monitoring images to determine the presence of any adverse feature on workstation's window. Each of the multiple short exposure-time-periods is shorter than four times of a threshold exposure-time-period but no shorter than 25% of the threshold exposure-time-period. The threshold exposure-time-period is a minimal exposure-time-period needed for the imaging sensor to capture recognizable patterns of a barcode that is in directing contacting with the window while the illumination light source is energized.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting from at least one of the imaging sensors to a controller a short frame data that is collected by the at least one of the imaging sensors when the illumination source is activated to provide the illumination light toward the target object with a first illumination level. The method further includes transmitting subsequently from the at least one of the imaging sensors to the controller a regular frame data that is collected by the at least one of the imaging sensors when the illumination source is activated to provide the illumination light toward the target object with a second illumination level that is determined based upon the short frame data. The size of the regular frame data being at least 50 times larger than the size of the short frame data.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a diffusive plate that is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of an imaging lens arrangement and covers a side face of a solid rectangular defining a volume space within which parts of a scan engine are deposited. The parts of the scan engine including at least the illumination light source, the imaging lens arrangement, an imaging sensor, and a controller for controlling both the illumination light source and the imaging sensor. The diffusive plate includes a first opening to allow light enter the imaging lens arrangement through the first opening. The area enclosed by the boundary of the diffusive plate substantially equal to the area of the side face of the solid rectangular.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting from at least one of the imaging sensors to a controller a short frame data that is collected by the at least one of the imaging sensors when the illumination source is activated to provide the illumination light toward the target object with a first illumination level. The method further includes transmitting subsequently from the at least one of the imaging sensors to the controller a regular frame data that is collected by the at least one of the imaging sensors when the illumination source is activated to provide the illumination light toward the target object with a second illumination level that is determined based upon the short frame data. The size of the regular frame data being at least 50 times larger than the size of the short frame data.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a diffusive plate that is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of an imaging lens arrangement and covers a side face of a solid rectangular defining a volume space within which parts of a scan engine are deposited. The parts of the scan engine including at least the illumination light source, the imaging lens arrangement, an imaging sensor, and a controller for controlling both the illumination light source and the imaging sensor. The diffusive plate includes a first opening to allow light enter the imaging lens arrangement through the first opening. The area enclosed by the boundary of the diffusive plate substantially equal to the area of the side face of the solid rectangular.

Abstract: An optical code reading system and method are provided for reading optical codes imprinted or displayed on, or behind, reflective surfaces. The system includes an extended light source, including one of a backlight assembly and a frontlight assembly, emitting an extended-beam light for directly illuminating an optical code, at least one image sensor for sensing light reflected by the optical code and generating signals related to at least one image of the optical code, and at least one processor for processing at least a portion of the signals, generating a decodable image corresponding to the signals, and decoding at least a portion of the decodable image.

Abstract: An optical code reading system and method are provided for reading optical codes imprinted or displayed on, or behind, reflective surfaces. The system includes an extended light source, including one of a backlight assembly and a frontlight assembly, emitting an extended-beam light for directly illuminating an optical code, at least one image sensor for sensing light reflected by the optical code and generating signals related to at least one image of the optical code, and at least one processor for processing at least a portion of the signals, generating a decodable image corresponding to the signals, and decoding at least a portion of the decodable image.

Abstract: An operating system that provides for the capability to accept input from a number of devices, and transfer the data to the appropriate application without using an application to perform routing tasks, thus freeing up more processor time and memory space for the applications. The operating system includes data format translator applications that may be called by the operating system in order to convert the data to the proper format. The decision as to which data format translator application should be called may be made by using information on the input device which the data came from, as well additional information, to determine if a conversion application or other application is required.