Abstract: A scan engine for capturing at least one image of an object appearing in an imaging field of view (FOV) is provided that includes an imaging system, illumination system, aiming system, and a first and second chassis. The imaging system includes a lens holder and at least one lens disposed within the lens holder and both a far imaging system and a near imaging system for capturing images across multiple fields of view at different distances. The illumination system and aiming system are physically positioned to provide illumination of a target in the near and/or far fields of view, and provide an aiming pattern to the near and/or far fields of view.

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: An optical assembly for an autofocus lens system for imaging an object appearing in an imaging field of view (FOV) is provided. The optical assembly includes a compensator lens assembly disposed along an optical axis, with the compensator lens assembly configured to receive light along the optical axis and to provide tuning of a flange focal length of the optical assembly. A variable focus assembly, including a variable focus optical element, is disposed along the optical axis to receive light from the compensator lens assembly. The variable focus optical element has a tunable focal plane. A fixed focus optical group is disposed along the optical axis to receive light from the variable focus assembly, the fixed focus optical group is configured to focus the light at the flange focal length of the optical assembly.

Abstract: A system and methods for providing aiming guidance for an imaging system. The system includes an illumination field source configured to provide illumination along a illumination optical axis to (i) illuminate a target and (ii) indicate a near field of view of the imaging system and a far field aiming source configured to provide a radiation pattern along an aiming optical axis to indicate a far field of view of the imaging system. Near field optics are configured to receive the first illumination from the near field illumination source and to form the first illumination to provide illumination to, and indicate to a user or machine vision system, the near field of view of the imaging system, and far field optics are configured to receive radiation from the aiming source and provide the radiation pattern to the far field to indicate the far field of view of the imaging system.

Abstract: Method and systems for driving an aiming assembly of a barcode imager are provided. An example method includes obtaining an operating mode of the barcode imager having an aiming assembly and, in response, determining a duty cycle of an aiming pulse of the aiming assembly. That duty cycle is determined as a percentage of a frame duration of an imager sensor and, further, such that simultaneous constraints are satisfied by the aiming pulse. The constraints include a simultaneous frame duration-independent, peak pulse optical power constraint and a frame duration-dependent heat dissipation constraint.

Abstract: An optical assembly for an autofocus imaging system for capturing at least one image of an object appearing in an imaging field of view (FOV) is provided. The optical assembly includes a front aperture along an optical axis and a front lens group along the optical axis that receives light from the object of interest. The position of the front lens group is adjustable to change a focal distance of the optical assembly. The optical assembly further includes an actuator physically coupled to the front lens group that adjusts the position of the front lens. A rear lens group is disposed along the optical axis to receive the light from the front lens group, and an imaging sensor is disposed at a back focal distance of the rear lens group, to detect the light.

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 apparatus for configuring reduced decode ranges for barcode scanners are disclosed. An example method includes determining a closest focus distance of a plurality of focus distances at which a barcode placed at a furthest limit of a reduced decode range can be successfully decoded; determining a furthest focus distance of the plurality of focus distances at which the barcode placed at a closest limit of the reduced decode range can be successfully decoded; determining a subset of the plurality of focus distances that consists of the closest focus distance, the furthest focus distance, and focus distances between the closest focus distance and the farthest focus distance; and configuring the barcode scanner to only use the subset of focus distances during subsequent attempts to decode barcodes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for locating small indicia in large images are disclosed herein. An example method includes: identifying an aiming pattern zone that includes a detected or presumed location of an aiming light pattern, wherein an offset between the location and a center of image data varies due to a parallax; determining one or more coordinates of the aiming pattern zone; capturing image data representing an image of an environment appearing within a field of view (FOV) of a scanner including the indicia; encoding the one or more coordinates into a tagline of the image; and providing the image with the tagline to an indicia decoder such that the indicia decoder attempts to decode the indicia from the image data starting in a region of the image data selected based upon the one or more coordinates.

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 scan engine for capturing at least one image of an object appearing in an imaging field of view (FOV) is provided that includes an imaging system, illumination system, aiming system, and a first and second chassis. The imaging system includes a lens holder and at least one lens disposed within the lens holder and both a far imaging system and a near imaging system for capturing images across multiple fields of view at different distances. The illumination system and aiming system are physically positioned to provide illumination of a target in the near and/or far fields of view, and provide an aiming pattern to the near and/or far fields of view.

Abstract: An optical assembly for illuminating at least one object appearing in a field of view (FOV). The optical assembly includes first and second illumination sources configured to provide first and second illumination to illuminate a target of the object. An aperture configured to collimate the first and second illumination and to provide the illumination to a dual collimator. The dual collimator is disposed to collimate the first and second illumination and to provide the first and second illumination to a dual microlens lens array (MLA). The dual MLA has microlens arrays configured to receive the collimated first and second radiation, to provide two illumination output fields, each output field having a different output illumination field angle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for locating small indicia in large images are disclosed herein. An example method includes: identifying an aiming pattern zone that includes a detected or presumed location of an aiming light pattern, wherein an offset between the location and a center of image data varies due to a parallax; determining one or more coordinates of the aiming pattern zone; capturing image data representing an image of an environment appearing within a field of view (FOV) of a handheld scanner including the indicia; encoding the one or more coordinates into a tagline of the image; and providing the image with the tagline to an indicia decoder such that the indicia decoder attempts to decode the indicia from the image data starting in a region of the image data selected based upon the one or more coordinates.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for locating small indicia in large images are disclosed herein. An example method includes: identifying an aiming pattern zone that includes a detected or presumed location of an aiming light pattern, wherein an offset between the location and a center of image data varies due to a parallax; determining one or more coordinates of the aiming pattern zone; capturing image data representing an image of an environment appearing within a field of view (FOV) of a handheld scanner including the indicia; encoding the one or more coordinates into a tagline of the image; and providing the image with the tagline to an indicia decoder such that the indicia decoder attempts to decode the indicia from the image data starting in a region of the image data selected based upon the one or more coordinates.

Abstract: Multiple focus ball bearing actuator calibration is disclosed herein. An example method includes focusing, using a ball bearing actuator, a lens to a first focus position to image a first target; recording, in a lookup table, a first distance and a first actuator code corresponding with the first focus position; focusing the lens to a second focus position to image a second target; recording, in the lookup table, a second distance and a second actuator code corresponding with the second focus position; calculating a plurality of focus positions for a plurality of distances over a total working range of the barcode reader using the first focus position and the second focus position, wherein the calculating is performed without a temperature correction factor; and recording, in the lookup table, the plurality of distances and a plurality of actuator codes corresponding to the plurality of focus positions.

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 system and methods for providing aiming guidance for an imaging system. The system includes an illumination field source configured to provide illumination along a illumination optical axis to (i) illuminate a target and (ii) indicate a near field of view of the imaging system and a far field aiming source configured to provide a radiation pattern along an aiming optical axis to indicate a far field of view of the imaging system. Near field optics are configured to receive the first illumination from the near field illumination source and to form the first illumination to provide illumination to, and indicate to a user or machine vision system, the near field of view of the imaging system, and far field optics are configured to receive radiation from the aiming source and provide the radiation pattern to the far field to indicate the far field of view of the imaging system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for scanning swiped barcodes are disclosed. An example method includes in response to detecting an object, capturing first images while focused at a swipe focus distance representing a pre-determined expected swipe distance range within which a scan target is expected to be swiped across a FOV. In response to a barcode decoded based upon the first images, exiting the swipe decode phase. In response to no barcode decoded during a time period representing an expected amount of time during which a scan target is expected to be swiped across the FOV, exiting the swipe decode phase and initiating a re-presentation decode phase including sequentially focusing the imaging scanner at a plurality of pre-determined, re-presentation focus distances, capturing one or more second images at each of the plurality of pre-determined, re-presentation focus distances, and, attempting to decode a barcode in one or more of the second images.

Abstract: Multiple focus ball bearing actuator calibration is disclosed herein. An example method includes focusing, using a ball bearing actuator, a lens to a first focus position to image a first target; recording, in a lookup table, a first distance and a first actuator code corresponding with the first focus position; focusing the lens to a second focus position to image a second target; recording, in the lookup table, a second distance and a second actuator code corresponding with the second focus position; calculating a plurality of focus positions for a plurality of distances over a total working range of the barcode reader using the first focus position and the second focus position, wherein the calculating is performed without a temperature correction factor; and recording, in the lookup table, the plurality of distances and a plurality of actuator codes corresponding to the plurality of focus positions.

Abstract: Method and systems for driving an aiming assembly of a barcode imager are provided. An example method includes obtaining an operating mode of the barcode imager having an aiming assembly and, in response, determining a duty cycle of an aiming pulse of the aiming assembly. That duty cycle is determined as a percentage of a frame duration of an imager sensor and, further, such that simultaneous constraints are satisfied by the aiming pulse. The constraints include a simultaneous frame duration-independent, peak pulse optical power constraint and a frame duration-dependent heat dissipation constraint.