Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reading an optical code. The apparatus comprises a casing with a reading window; the casing comprises an illumination means acting through the reading window on an optical code to be read, a detection means responsive to light scattered from the illuminated optical code into the casing through the reading window, and an objective lens interposed between the reading window and the detection means, in a position to pick up the light scattered from the illuminated optical code and project this light onto the detection means. The detection means comprises a plurality of light-sensitive elements effective to convert the light to electric signals representing the light image. The apparatus is characterized in that the illumination means comprises a first array of light sources active in a first illumination configuration, and at least a second array of light sources active in at least a second illumination configuration different from the first one.

Abstract: The device for the acquisition and automatic processing of data obtained from optical codes comprises a CMOS optical sensor; an analog processing unit connected to the optical sensor; an analog/digital conversion unit connected to the analog processing unity; a logic control unit connected to the CMOS optical sensor, the analog processing unit and the analog/digital conversion unit; and a data-processing unit connected to the logic control unit and the analog/digital conversion unit. The CMOS optical sensor and at least one of the analog processing, analog/digital conversion, logic control and data processing units are integrated in a single chip. The data processing unit processes the digital signals corresponding to the image acquired by the CMOS sensor and extracts the optically coded data.

Abstract: There are described a method and a device for focusing an analogue electrical signal representative of an optical code, which selectively emphasize the highest frequencies of the electrical signal. The emphasis is performed with linear phase, so that the relative positions of the peaks and valleys of the focused analogue electrical signal substantially remain unchanged. The focusing can comprise low-pass, high-pass and band-pass filtering. The focusing can be variable, and in particular, automatically variable.

Abstract: There are described a method and a device for focusing an analogue electrical signal representative of an optical code, which selectively emphasize the highest frequencies of the electrical signal. The emphasis is performed with linear phase, so that the relative positions of the peaks and valleys of the focused analogue electrical signal substantially remain unchanged. The focusing can comprise low-pass, high-pass and band-pass filtering. The focusing can be variable, and in particular, automatically variable.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reading an optical code. The apparatus comprises a casing with a reading window; the casing comprises an illumination means acting through the reading window on an optical code to be read, a detection means responsive to light scattered from the illuminated optical code into the casing through the reading window, and an objective lens interposed between the reading window and the detection means, in a position to pick up the light scattered from the illuminated optical code and project this light onto the detection means. The detection means comprises a plurality of light-sensitive elements effective to convert the light to electric signals representing the light image. The apparatus is characterized in that the illumination means comprises a first array of light sources active in a first illumination configuration, and at least a second array of light sources active in at least a second illumination configuration different from the first one.

Abstract: The method for compensating undesired variations in an electrical signal generated by a sensor of an optical code reader comprises the steps of generating an envelope signal starting from the electrical signal generated by the sensor and normalizing the electrical signal with respect to the envelope signal. Preferably, the envelope signal is filtered with a low-pass filter before being normalized so as to eliminate steps and edges which may cause distortions during normalization, and the normalized signal is amplified in a controlled way so as to supply an output signal ranging between two values having preset amplitudes. Normalization is carried out by dividing, point by point, the electrical signal by the envelope signal, in the case of continuous analog processing; alternatively, in presence of discrete-time signals, normalization is carried out by subtracting the envelope signal from the electrical signal.