Amplitude Control (e.g., Automatic Gain Control) Patents (Class 235/462.26)
  • Patent number: 10592715
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for decoding symbology that contains a respective data set using multiple image frames of the symbol, wherein at least some of those frames can have differing image parameters (for example orientation, lens zoom, aperture, etc.) so that combining the frames with an illustrative multiple image application allows the most-readable portions of each frame to be stitched together. And unlike prior systems which may select one “best” image, the illustrative system method allows this stitched image to form a complete, readable image of the underlying symbol. In an illustrative embodiment the system and method includes an imaging assembly that acquires multiple image frames of the symbol in which some of those image frames have discrete, differing image parameters from others of the frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sateesha Nadabar
  • Patent number: 10068153
    Abstract: A handheld scanner incorporates vision software to allow the handheld scanner to be trained for OCR. The handheld scanner can include a user interface to allow a user to associate an image of a mark with electronic data for the mark. The user interface, along with a range finder, can also be used to influence variables that affect the quality of an image scan, thereby improving the quality of results for the image scan and/or decode process. The handheld scanner can also use a font description file during the decode process. The font description file can be generated using a synthetic image file of a character. The synthetic image file can be created by interpreting a marker font file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: James A Negro, Carl W Gerst
  • Patent number: 9773139
    Abstract: There is set forth herein an indicia reading apparatus comprising two or more light sensing assemblies. In one embodiment, the indicia reading apparatus can comprise a linear light sensing assembly and an area light sensing assembly, and can be operative to determine the range between the apparatus and the indicia. In one embodiment, the indicia reading apparatus can be operative to apply a range-assisted gain to the data output by one or more of the linear light sensing assembly and the area light sensing assembly to increase the likelihood of indicia reading and improve expected indicia read time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Xian, Timothy Good, Ynjiun Wang
  • Patent number: 9659200
    Abstract: A scanning code symbol reading system includes an analog scan data signal processor for producing digitized data signals, wherein during each laser beam scanning cycle, a light collection and photo-detection module generates an analog scan data signal corresponding to a laser scanned code symbol, an analog scan data signal processor/digitizer processes the analog scan data signal to generate digital data signals corresponding thereto, and a synchronized digital gain control module automatically processes the digitized data signals in response to start of scan (SOS) signals generated by a SOS detector. The synchronized digital gain control module generates digital control data which is transmitted to the analog scan data signal processor for use in controlling the gain of a signal processing stage in the light collection and photo-detection module and/or analog scan data signal processor, during the corresponding laser beam scanning cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Xian, Gennady Germaine, Xiaoxun Zhu, Ynjiun Paul Wang
  • Patent number: 9465967
    Abstract: There is set forth herein an indicia reading apparatus comprising two or more light sensing assemblies. In one embodiment, the indicia reading apparatus can comprise a linear light sensing assembly and an area light sensing assembly, and can be operative to determine the range between the apparatus and the indicia. In one embodiment, the indicia reading apparatus can be operative to apply a range-assisted gain to the data output by one or more of the linear light sensing assembly and the area light sensing assembly to increase the likelihood of indicia reading and improve expected indicia read time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Xian, Timothy Good, Ynjiun Paul Wang
  • Patent number: 9367722
    Abstract: A scanning code symbol reading system includes an analog scan data signal processor for producing digitized data signals, wherein during each laser beam scanning cycle, a light collection and photo-detection module generates an analog scan data signal corresponding to a laser scanned code symbol, an analog scan data signal processor/digitizer processes the analog scan data signal to generate digital data signals corresponding thereto, and a synchronized digital gain control module automatically processes the digitized data signals in response to start of scan (SOS) signals generated by a SOS detector. The synchronized digital gain control module generates digital control data which is transmitted to the analog scan data signal processor for use in controlling the gain of a signal processing stage in the light collection and photo-detection module and/or analog scan data signal processor, during the corresponding laser beam scanning cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Xian, Gennady Germaine, Xiaoxun Zhu, Ynjiun Paul Wang
  • Patent number: 9064167
    Abstract: A scanning code symbol reading system includes an analog scan data signal processor for producing digitized data signals, wherein during each laser beam scanning cycle, a light collection and photo-detection module generates an analog scan data signal corresponding to a laser scanned code symbol, an analog scan data signal processor/digitizer processes the analog scan data signal to generate digital data signals corresponding thereto, and a synchronized digital gain control module automatically processes the digitized data signals in response to start of scan (SOS) signals generated by a SOS detector. The synchronized digital gain control module generates digital control data which is transmitted to the analog scan data signal processor for use in controlling the gain of a signal processing stage in the light collection and photo-detection module and/or analog scan data signal processor, during the corresponding laser beam scanning cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Xian, Gennady Germaine, Xiaoxun Zhu, Ynjiun Paul Wang
  • Publication number: 20150060549
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an amplifier in a bar code reader are disclosed, wherein the method may include receiving light at a photodiode within the bar code reader from a bar code being scanned by a scan mirror powered by a scan motor; converting the received light into an initial electrical signal; determining whether the scan motor is undergoing a change in direction; establishing a gain value for the amplifier based on an outcome of the determining step; and amplifying the initial electrical signal into an amplified signal using the established gain value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicants: OPTICON, INC., OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Hirono, Naoya Niizeki, Depei Ji
  • Patent number: 8967478
    Abstract: A reader for electro-optically reading a target in the presence of ambient light to be rejected, includes a laser for emitting a laser beam, a scan component for scanning the laser beam over a scan angle across the target, a photodetector for generating an output signal by detecting return laser light from the target to generate an information signal bearing information related to the target, and by concomitantly detecting the ambient light to generate an ambient light signal, and signal processing circuitry for measuring the ambient light signal to determine a threshold, for processing the output signal by passing the output signal through a filter having a bandwidth, and for rejecting the ambient light signal from the output signal by adjusting the scan angle and/or the bandwidth when the ambient light signal exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Giebel, Peter Fazekas, David P. Goren
  • Patent number: 8925814
    Abstract: A target is read in the presence of interference light. A photodetector generates an output signal composed of an information signal and an interference light signal. A rangefinder determines the distance of the target in a range of working distances. A controller adjusts a scan angle of a scan drive to a narrow value and adjusts an output power of a laser diode to a low power level when the target is determined to be far out in the range. The controller adjusts the scan angle to a wide value and adjusts the output power to a high power level when the target is determined to be close in the range. Signal processing circuitry processes the output signal with the information signal having a greater magnitude than that of the interference signal due to the high power level to mitigate the presence of the interference light. A power safety arrangement including dual power monitors checks the output power of the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary G Schneider, Peter Fazekas, James R Giebel, Mark A Weitzner
  • Publication number: 20140346233
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in decoding a bar code symbol may include an image sensor integrated circuit having a plurality of pixels, timing and control circuitry for controlling an image sensor, gain circuitry for controlling gain, and analog to digital conversion circuitry for conversion of an analog signal to a digital signal. The apparatus may also include a printed circuit board for receiving the image sensor integrated circuit. The connection between the image sensor integrated circuit and the printed circuit board characterized by a plurality of conductive adhesive connectors disposed between a plurality of electrode pads and a plurality of contact pads, where the conductive adhesive connectors provide electrical input/output and mechanical connections between the image sensor integrated circuit and the printed circuit board. The apparatus may be operative for processing image signals generated by the image sensor integrated circuit for attempting to decode the bar code symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: METROLOGIC INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Yong Liu, Xi Tao, Ynjiun Paul Wang
  • Publication number: 20140291403
    Abstract: A scanning code symbol reading system includes an analog scan data signal processor for producing digitized data signals, wherein during each laser beam scanning cycle, a light collection and photo-detection module generates an analog scan data signal corresponding to a laser scanned code symbol, an analog scan data signal processor/digitizer processes the analog scan data signal to generate digital data signals corresponding thereto, and a synchronized digital gain control module automatically processes the digitized data signals in response to start of scan (SOS) signals generated by a SOS detector. The synchronized digital gain control module generates digital control data which is transmitted to the analog scan data signal processor for use in controlling the gain of a signal processing stage in the light collection and photo-detection module and/or analog scan data signal processor, during the corresponding laser beam scanning cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Tao Xian, Gennady Germaine, Xiaoxun Zhu, Ynjiun Paul Wang
  • Patent number: 8752766
    Abstract: A laser scanning code symbol reading system includes an analog scan data signal processor for producing digitized data signals, wherein during each laser beam scanning cycle, a light collection and photo-detection module generates an analog scan data signal corresponding to a laser scanned code symbol, an analog scan data signal processor/digitizer processes the analog scan data signal to generate digital data signals corresponding thereto, and a synchronized digital gain control module automatically processes the digitized data signals in response to start of scan (SOS) signals generated by a SOS detector. The synchronized digital gain control module generates digital control data which is transmitted to the analog scan data signal processor for use in controlling the gain of at least one signal processing stage in the light collection and photo-detection module and/or analog scan data signal processor, during the corresponding laser beam scanning cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Xian, Gennady Germaine, Xiaoxun Zhu, Ynjiun Paul Wang
  • Patent number: 8740079
    Abstract: An optical code reader includes a manually operated focusing distance adjustment mechanism, which includes an electronic memory of a configuration parameter representing the desired focusing distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Datalogic Automation Srl
    Inventors: Luca Gentilini, Stefano Ciabattoni, Gabriele Corrain
  • Publication number: 20140110485
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in decoding a bar code symbol may include an image sensor integrated circuit having a plurality of pixels, timing and control circuitry for controlling an image sensor, gain circuitry for controlling gain, and analog to digital conversion circuitry for conversion of an analog signal to a digital signal. The apparatus may also include a PCB for mounting the image sensor integrated circuit and light source bank. The connection between the image sensor integrated circuit and/or light source bank and the PCB characterized by a plurality of wires connecting a plurality of bond pads and a plurality of contact pads, where the wires, bond pads, and contact pads provide electrical input/output and mechanical connections between the image sensor integrated circuit and the PCB. The apparatus may be operative for processing image signals generated by the image sensor integrated circuit for attempting to decode the bar code symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Xi Toa, Yong Liu, Taylor Smith, Ynjiun Paul Wang
  • Publication number: 20130292474
    Abstract: A laser scanning code symbol reading system includes an analog scan data signal processor for producing digitized data signals, wherein during each laser beam scanning cycle, a light collection and photo-detection module generates an analog scan data signal corresponding to a laser scanned code symbol, an analog scan data signal processor/digitizer processes the analog scan data signal to generate digital data signals corresponding thereto, and a synchronized digital gain control module automatically processes the digitized data signals in response to start of scan (SOS) signals generated by a SOS detector. The synchronized digital gain control module generates digital control data which is transmitted to the analog scan data signal processor for use in controlling the gain of at least one signal processing stage in the light collection and photo-detection module and/or analog scan data signal processor, during the corresponding laser beam scanning cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Xian, Gennady Germaine, Xiaoxun Zhu, Ynjiun Paul Wang
  • Publication number: 20130193213
    Abstract: A system and method for reading a bar code are disclosed which may include transmitting light pulsed at a selected frequency to illuminate the bar code; converting light received at the bar code reader from the bar code into an electrical signal; transmitting the electrical signal through a signal conditioning circuit to filter and amplify the electrical signal, to thereby provide a conditioned electrical signal; sampling the conditioned electrical signal at the selected frequency; removing energy due to light scattering within a housing of the bar code reader from the sampled, conditioned electrical signal; generating one of a logical “1” and a logical “0” output based on a value of the signal generated by the step of removing; and resolving output from the step of generating into data indicative of information on the bar code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicants: Opticon, Inc., Optoelectronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Hirono, Naoya Niizeki, Depei Ji
  • Patent number: 8397993
    Abstract: A printing control method for line light source detection, for controlling at least one printing parameter of a printing apparatus. The printing control method includes: utilizing a line light source to scan a barcode to derive a barcode profile corresponding to the barcode; deriving a grading information corresponding to the barcode according to the barcode profile and a threshold, and deriving a modified barcode profile according to the grading information and the barcode profile; and adjusting the at least one printing parameter of the printing apparatus according to the modified barcode profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Ting-Yuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 8087589
    Abstract: A system and method of scanning machine-readable symbols with a signal source modulated by a local oscillator to create by heterodyne mixing upconverted signals at the sum and difference frequencies of the local oscillator frequency and the frequency of the time-varying reflectance off the scanned symbols is disclosed. The reflected heterodyned signal is detected by a receiver. Ambient noise is filtered out from the reflected signal, and the received signal at the sum and difference frequencies is processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Intermec IP Corp.
    Inventors: Harley Heinrich, Jean-Louis Massieu
  • Patent number: 8028917
    Abstract: An imaging reader includes an illuminating light assembly, an illuminating control operative to control either the intensity or the duration of the illumination light projected by the illuminating light assembly, and a solid-state imager. The solid-state imager includes a matrix of optical-sensors and a signal processing circuit coupled to the matrix of optical-sensors. The controller is operative to determine the optimized exposure level of the illuminating control and the optimized gain of the signal processing circuit based on a measured voltage of a voltage power source for the solid-state imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James Giebel
  • Patent number: 7971790
    Abstract: A laser pointer includes a human-machine interface disposed above the housing for users to control components inside the housing to decide patterns and size of the projecting image. The components consist of a frequency/phase control module, a driving energy control module, a laser beam generating module and a light scanning device. The frequency/phase control module controls the driving energy control module while the driving energy control module controls driving energy of the light scanning device. The size of the image is controlled by change of the amplitude of the light scanning device while the amplitude is changed along with the driving energy. The amplitude may also change along with the driving frequency. When the driving energy is fixed and the driving frequency is close to the resonant frequency, the amplitude increases. On the contrary, the amplitude decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Opus Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Chang-Li Hung, Feng-Chun Yeh, Tsun-Hsiang Cheng
  • Patent number: 7832644
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a barcode scanner platform is provided in which the gain of an analog signal representative of a barcode is controlled using a control loop. In embodiments, an MTF detector generates a value (e.g., DC) representative of a low frequency portion (wide or out of optical focus elements) of the analog signal and a second value (e.g., DC) representative of a high frequency portion (narrow elements or in optical focus elements) of the analog signal. The processor uses the first and the second values and a reference amplitude to determine a gain signal. The processor provides the gain signal to an AGC circuit that provides a linear response to the gain signal using matched JFETs. A noise filter can be enabled or disabled based on the first value, the second value, and/or the barcode scanner platform read rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse J. Kolstad, Bryan L. Davis
  • Patent number: 7775434
    Abstract: A bar-code reading apparatus includes a differential processor which generates a differential signal from an electric signal corresponding to an intensity of light reflected from a bar code, an extreme value detector which detects each extreme value of the differential signal and generates extreme value information including at least an electric signal value of the detected extreme value, a voltage difference calculator which calculates a voltage difference in electric signal between a target extreme value and at least one of extreme values adjacent thereto for each extreme value in the extreme value information, and an extreme value verifying unit which compares the voltage difference with a predetermined threshold value and determines the validity of the extreme value corresponding to the voltage difference for each voltage difference. Information encoded as the bar code is decoded by using extreme value information of the valid extreme value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Mashiko
  • Patent number: 7743993
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a barcode scanner platform is provided in which the gain of an analog signal representative of a barcode is controlled using a control loop. In embodiments, an MTF detector generates a value (e.g., DC) representative of a low frequency portion (wide or out of optical focus elements) of the analog signal and a second value (e.g., DC) representative of a high frequency portion (narrow elements or in optical focus elements) of the analog signal. The processor uses the first and the second values and a reference amplitude to determine a gain signal. The processor provides the gain signal to an AGC circuit that provides a linear response to the gain signal using matched JFETs. A noise filter can be enabled or disabled based on the first value, the second value, and/or the barcode scanner platform read rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Microscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse J. Kolstad, Bryan L. Davis
  • Patent number: 7690575
    Abstract: Infrared light having a wavelength in a range from about 700 nm to about 760 nm, which is non-readily visible, illuminates indicia to be electro-optically read by default. Blue visible light having a wavelength in a range from about 430 nm to about 505 nm illuminates the indicia when high-density and/or low-contrast indicia are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Igor Vinogradov
  • Publication number: 20090140047
    Abstract: Laser power monitoring arrangements interrupt power to a laser used in electro-optical readers upon detection of operating conditions not conforming to preestablished standards. An auxiliary light detector independently monitors the output power of a laser beam, and directly receives a portion of the laser beam reflected from a diffractive optical lens surface of an optical assembly for optically modifying the laser beam, or from a coated or uncoated inclined surface of a split collimating lens of the optical assembly. The split collimating lens may have its lens portions in mutual contact or separated by an air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Ming Yu, Rong Liu
  • Publication number: 20090084853
    Abstract: A scanning device includes a laser source emitting a laser scanning beam, a movable scanning mirror reflecting the laser scanning beam towards an on object to be scanned, a mirror moving element moving the movable scanning mirror and a controller receiving an input corresponding to a range estimate from the scanning device to the object and adjusting a setting of the scanning device based on the range estimate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: James Giebel, Vladimir Gurevich, Peter Fazekas, Dariusz Madej
  • Patent number: 7475822
    Abstract: An optical data code reader includes an illuminator device for illuminating an optical data code to be read out, an image-taking device for taking an image of this optical data code, a readout device for decoding the optical data code by processing image data generated by the image-taking device and an adjustment device for carrying out an adjustment process. The adjustment device adjusts an illumination condition of the illuminator device and/or an image-taking condition for the image-taking device such that the image data become suitable for being read out. The adjustment device serves to set areas on image data outputted by the image-taking device, to extract a variation amplitude of brightness in each of the areas and to carry out the adjustment process by using the image data of at least one of the areas in which the extracted variation amplitude is greater than a specified threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Gaku Shiramizu, Takuya Murata, Katsuki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7380721
    Abstract: A barcode sensor package has an optical emitter circuit and an optical detector circuit which are formed as one or more integrated optical circuits disposed in a housing which has a reading surface and one or more apertures located between the optical emitter and detector circuits. The optical emitter circuit has an emitter die, such as a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), for emitting a light beam and a diffraction optical element disposed on the emitter die for focusing the light beam to a bar code. The optical detector circuit has a photodetector die, such as a phototransistor, for detecting reflective light and another diffraction optical element disposed on the photodetector die for guiding light reflected from the bar code to the detector. The diffraction optical elements are fabricated by patterning optical layers, deposited on respective emitter and detector dies, using photolithograph or a direct write process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Wenwei Zhang
  • Patent number: 7331523
    Abstract: There is described in one embodiment a method for use by an apparatus that can acquire an image. According to a described method, parameters for utilization by the apparatus are provided. According to a described method, a method can include acquiring an image and can further include evaluating an image. In another embodiment, there is described an apparatus comprising a plurality of digitizers. In one example of an embodiment of an apparatus including a plurality of digitizers, the digitizers can be configured to run in parallel. In another example of an embodiment of an apparatus including a plurality of digitizers, the digitizers can be configured to run in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Meier, Andrew Longacre, Jr., Thomas Hawley, John Pettinelli, Robert M. Hussey
  • Patent number: 7306154
    Abstract: A barcode scanning system is provided, which comprises an amplitude compensation circuit to change the amplitude of signals corresponding to each location on the barcode such that all the signals have the same amplitude. The changing of the amplitude may be determined according to an angular position or an oscillating velocity of an mirror. Preferably, the cutoff frequency of a low pass circuit in the barcode scanning system is variable according to the oscillating velocity or the angular position of the mirror too.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Optoelectronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentaro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7278577
    Abstract: An image input system includes a solid state image pickup device and a preprocessor for performing correlated double sampling amplification on an output of the image pickup device and outputting a video signal. The preprocessor has a correlated double sampling amplifier for outputting signal information corresponding to a difference voltage between the black level in a feedthrough period of the image pickup device and a signal level in a charge signal output period; and an offset cancelling circuit for cancelling an offset voltage corresponding to the difference voltage in a state where the image pickup device is optically interrupted to the input terminal of the correlated double sampling amplifier. The correlated double sampling amplifier cancels out the offset voltage and the offset cancelling voltage as signal components of polarities opposite to each other, so that circuits following the correlated double sampling amplifier are not influenced by the offset voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignees: Renesas Technology Corp., Hitachi Tohbu Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Yahagi, Masumi Kasahara, Hiroki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7227117
    Abstract: An imager with a two dimensional array of sensors processes illumination data from a subset of the sensors located within a selected region of the image to determine imager settings prior to acting upon a full frame of data. In this manner imager settings can be quickly determined by transferring and examining only the segment of the sensor array data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Lackemann, Brad Carlson, Robert Pang
  • Patent number: 7216811
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a barcode scanner platform is provided in which the gain of an analog signal representative of a barcode is controlled using a control loop. In embodiments, an MTF detector generates a value (e.g., DC) representative of a low frequency portion (wide or out of optical focus elements) of the analog signal and a second value (e.g., DC) representative of a high frequency portion (narrow elements or in optical focus elements) of the analog signal. The processor uses the first and the second values and a reference amplitude to determine a gain signal. The processor provides the gain signal to an AGC circuit that provides a linear response to the gain signal using matched JFETs. A noise filter can be enabled or disabled based on the first value, the second value, and/or the barcode scanner platform read rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Microscan Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Jesse J. Kolstad, Bryan L. Davis
  • Patent number: 7215239
    Abstract: In a non-contacting smart card interrogator (1) a first end (A) of an eighth-wave transmission line (13) is connected to a terminal connecting a first receiver (16) to a transmission line (14), and to a second end (B) of the transmission line (14) the carrier wave generator (11) is connected. To the first end (A) of the eighth-wave transmission line (13) the first amplitude demodulation receiver (16) and to the second end (B) thereof a second amplitude demodulation receiver (16?) are connected. In the non-contacting smart card interrogator of the invention an effective use of amplitude demodulation is made possible by changing the phase modulation into an amplitude one by means of a passive element, whereby, however, no noise source has been introduced into the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Inventors: Vinko Kunc, Anton {hacek over (S)}tern
  • Patent number: 7172125
    Abstract: An intelligent gain selection circuit replaces the gain set by an automatic gain control circuit in an electro-optical reader for reading indicia, such as bar code symbols, with a larger gain where specular reflections, high contrast edges, or other noise operative to produce dominant high voltage peaks in an analog signal generated by a sensor in the reader, are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dayou Wang, Matthew D. Blasczak, Edward Barkan, Vladimir Gurevich, Pierre Craen
  • Patent number: 7143948
    Abstract: A two-dimensional bar code printed on a piece of paper is photographed by the area sensor. A reading method of this bar code includes a process for correcting the distortion of the image of the two-dimensional bar code obtained from the area sensor by the projection transform, a process for correcting bright spots appearing in the image, and a process for decoding the two-dimensional bar code based on the image data of the two-dimensional bar code corrected by the two processes. This invention enables size-reduction of the reading device of the two-dimensional bar code and also achieves a higher reading speed of the reading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Nakazawa, Kouichi Hamakawa, Youji Takei, Masanobu Kiyama
  • Patent number: 6969003
    Abstract: Briefly stated, the operating depth of field for a bar code scanner, preferably a laser scanner, is increased by placing a cubic phase mask (CPM) in the scanning beam. The masked beam is then scanned and reflected off a bar code and received by a photodetector. The received signal is then processed to recover the original unperturbed representation of the bar code pattern. The processed signal has an increased depth of field over an unmasked scanner signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Welch Allyn Data Collection, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Havens, Charles M. Hammond
  • Patent number: 6871785
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Datalogic S.p.A
    Inventors: Marco Piva, Maurizio Bianchi
  • Patent number: 6866198
    Abstract: The operating environment of a moving laser beam in a flying spot, electro-optical reader is simulated in a solid-state, sensor-based imaging reader by turning a visible line produced by a light emitting diode on and off prior to capturing a two-dimensional image of a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehul Patel, Walter Preuss, Paul Dvorkis
  • Patent number: 6811087
    Abstract: A barcode scanner comprising a laser driving circuit to drive a laser by a pulse signal generated by an oscillator, a preamplifier to amplify a voltage of a barcode signal from a photodetector corresponding to a reflected light from a barcode scanned by a light output of the laser driven by the pulse signal, a high-pass filter to remove a direct current component contained in an output signal of the preamplifier, a variable gain amplifier which controls an amplification gain of an output signal of the high-pass filter and performs automatic gain control to set an output level almost constant, a synchronous detector to detect a pulse signal contained in an output signal of the variable gain amplifier in synchronization with the output pulse of the oscillator, and a binarization circuit to binarize an output signal of the synchronous detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Norio Nakamura, Nobuyasu Goto, Takaaki Shimizu, Yutaka Ichinohe
  • Publication number: 20040201453
    Abstract: In a non-contacting smart card interrogator (1) a first end (A) of an eighth-wave transmission line (13) is connected to a terminal connecting a first receiver (16) to a transmission line (14), and to a second end (B) of the transmission line (14) the carrier wave generator (11) is connected. To the first end (A) of the eighth-wave transmission line (13) the first amplitude demodulation receiver (16) and to the second end (B) thereof a second amplitude demodulation receiver (16′) are connected. In the non-contacting smart card interrogator of the invention an effective use of amplitude demodulation is made possible by changing the phase modulation into an amplitude one by means of a passive element, whereby, however, no noise source has been introduced into the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Vinko Kunc, Anton Stern
  • Publication number: 20040169083
    Abstract: The disclosure describes an apparatus and method for automatic gain control during scanning. The apparatus comprises an optical detector to receive an optical signal reflected from a symbol positioned within a scan window by an optical beam scanned from a leading edge of the scan window to a trailing edge of the scan window; and a processor coupled to the optical detector to adjust the gain of the optical detector during the beam scan. The process comprises receiving an optical signal using an optical detector, wherein the optical signal comprises optical energy reflected from a symbol positioned in a scan window as an optical beam scans from a leading edge of the scan window to a trailing edge of the scan window, and adjusting the gain of the optical detector during receipt of the optical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Jesse J. Kolstad
  • Publication number: 20040004127
    Abstract: Disclosed is a barcode scanner comprising a laser driving circuit to drive a laser by a pulse signal generated by an oscillator, a preamplifier to amplify a voltage of a barcode signal from a photodetector corresponding to a reflected light from a barcode scanned by a light output of the laser driven by the pulse signal, a high-pass filter to remove a direct current component contained in an output signal of the preamplifier, a variable gain amplifier which controls an amplification gain of an output signal of the high-pass filter and performs automatic gain control to set an output level almost constant, a synchronous detector to detect a pulse signal contained in an output signal of the variable gain amplifier in synchronization with the output pulse of the oscillator, and a binarization circuit to binarize an output signal of the synchronous detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventors: Norio Nakamura, Nobuyasu Goto, Takaaki Shimizu, Yutaka Ichinohe
  • Patent number: 6607131
    Abstract: Reading method for an optical code using a reader which comprises photoemitters, photoreceivers and a processor circuit, in which the following steps are carried out: emitting radiation toward the exterior of the reader; detecting the presence of at least one operating condition of the reader; activating a first operating mode in the absence of the operating condition of the reader; and activating a second operating mode on detection of the operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Datalogic S.p.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Maurizzi, Maurizio De Girolami
  • Patent number: 6607129
    Abstract: An optical scanner to be used for an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine includes a light source, such as a semiconductor laser, for emitting a light beam; a deflection element, such as a rotary polygon mirror, for deflecting the emitted light beam; and a scanning optical system for focusing the deflected light beam on a surface to be scanned, typically a photosensitive drum surface. The scanning optical system includes at least first and second optical elements as well as a reflector mirror arranged on the optical path between the first optical element and the second optical element for reflecting the light beam coming from the former and leading the light beam to the latter so that any displacement of the scanning spot in the sub-scanning direction may effectively be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Manabu Kato
  • Patent number: 6601767
    Abstract: An ambient light sensing apparatus and method for a produce data collector which minimize false triggering of produce data collection. The apparatus includes an image capture device which has a first receiving angle for incident light through an aperture in the produce data collector which is larger than a second receiving angle of a collector within the produce data collector which collects produce data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Yeming Gu, Daniel B. Seevers
  • Patent number: 6547139
    Abstract: The operating depth of field for a bar code scanner, preferably a laser scanner, is increased by placing a cubic phase mask (CPM) in the scanning beam. The masked beam is then scanned and reflected off a bar code and received by a photodetector. The received signal is then processed to recover the original unperturbed representation of the bar code pattern. The processed signal has an increased depth of field over an unmasked scanner signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Welch Allyn Data Collection, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Havens, Charles M. Hammond
  • Patent number: 6505778
    Abstract: A multi-function optical reader comprises an photosensor, such as a charge-device (CCD), and signal conditioning and processing circuitry including separate channels for handling data in different formats. A bar code processing channel digitizes the scan signal according to light and dark features using a first-derivative technique, and an OMR processing channel uses an adaptive threshold to adapt to different light conditions and provide a boundary line for digitizing light and dark features of the target scan line. A feature measurement circuit measures the widths of the light and dark regions as derived by the separate processing channels, and provides the feature measurements to a decoding system or host terminal processor. The scan rate of the optical reader can be adjusted according to the data format to be read or the level of ambient light, to avoid saturation. The optical reader can provide multiple depth-of-field zones, both internal and external to an optical reader housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: PSC Scanning, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad R. Reddersen, Edward C. Bremer, Chay K. La, Stephen P. Deloge, Raymond J. Boyd, Shane P. Cooper, Ilya Zaverukha
  • Patent number: 6502751
    Abstract: A system for dual thresholding digital barcode processing. A light reflected from a barcode is captured by a photodetector to produce a photocurrent. The photocurrent is converted to a voltage, amplified and filtered to produce a photovoltage. The photovoltage is differentiated to form a first derivative signal and the first derivative signal is converted to a digital first derivative signal and processed to identify logic transitions represented by the barcode. The processing system subjects the photosignal to Gaussian filtering and differentiates the digital first derivative signal to form a second derivative signal. The digital first derivative signal is compared against a positive and a negative threshold and the second derivative signal is examined to detect zero crossings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Hong Tang