The Code Corporation

Garrett Russell

Ryan Wayne Hoobler

George A Powell

Ming Lei

Mark Ashby

John Deal

Steve Pierce

Philip Utykanski

Frank M Clegg

Disclosed herein is an attachment for a smartphone. The smartphone may include i) a camera with an image sensor and a focusing lens located on a back side of the smartphone for capturing an image of a target area; and ii) a white light source on the back side of the smartphone. The attachment may include a targeting optic system. When the attachment is secured to the back side of the smartphone, the targeting optic system may receive illumination emitted by the white light source and direct the illumination towards the target area from a location that is not directly in front of the camera's image sensor. The location may be farther from the focusing lens than the white light source when measured parallel to the back side of the smartphone. The attachment may also direct the illumination into the target area via the targeting optic system.

Attachment including a targeting optic system that directs illumination from a white light source towards a target area

An accessory for a mobile device may include a target generating structure. The target generating structure may emit a targeting pattern of illumination into a field of view of a camera of the mobile device. The targeting pattern may facilitate proper positioning of the mobile device for capturing an image of a barcode. The accessory may secure to a corner of the mobile device. The accessory may send a request to the mobile device to establish a focus setting of the camera. The target generating structure may emit the targeting pattern after the accessory sends the request.

Accessory having a target generating structure for a mobile device

An attachment for a mobile device includes an attachment feature securable to the mobile device. The attachment also includes a first set of imaging optics that receives, from within a first field of view, first light defining a first portion of image data captured by an image sensing system of the mobile device. The first portion of the image data includes a barcode image. The first field of view is centered on a first optical pathway. The attachment also includes a second set of imaging optics that receives, from within a second field of view, second light defining a second portion of the image data. The second portion of the image data includes a non-barcode image. The second field of view is centered on a second optical pathway nonparallel to the first optical pathway.

Attachment for a mobile device for reading barcodes and capturing non-barcode images

This patent specification describes operations of a mobile device with barcode-reading capabilities and an application and license server. A mobile device may include a barcode-reading application downloaded from an application server. The barcode-reading application may operate in a base mode or an enhanced mode. In the base mode, the barcode-reading application may establish a network connection to a licensing server to obtain a license code, and determine at least one operating permission authorized by the license code. In the enhanced mode, the barcode-reading application may implement at least one enhanced barcode-reading function which corresponds to the at least one operating permission authorized by the license code. For example, the enhanced barcode-reading function may be a function of decoding a barcode symbology that the decoder is restricted from decoding in the base mode of operation.

Barcode-reading system

An apparatus may be capable of scanning barcodes and capturing non-barcode images. The apparatus may comprise a first set of imaging optics that receives, from within a first field of view, first light defining a first portion of image data captured by an image sensing system. The apparatus may also comprise a second set of imaging optics that receives, from within a second field of view, second light defining a second portion of the image data. The first field of view may be centered on a first optical pathway, and the second field of view may be centered on a second optical pathway that is nonparallel to the first optical pathway. The first set of imaging optics may be positioned to direct the first light to the image sensing system, and the second set of imaging optics may be positioned to direct the second light to the image sensing system.

Apparatus comprising multiple sets of optics to facilitate capturing barcode and non-barcode images

A barcode reader and an accessory are disclosed. The accessory may include an interface system and a wireless and/or wired interface for communication with a host computer such that the barcode reader may communicate with the host computer via the accessory. The interface system includes an authentication coprocessor such that the barcode reader may establish mutual authentication with the host computer using the authentication coprocessor of the interface system. The barcode reader may send a request for an accessory identifier, and the accessory may then query the authentication coprocessor for the accessory identifier and provide the accessory identifier to the barcode reader. The barcode reader may send an authentication challenge to the accessory, and the accessory may then present the authentication challenge to the authentication coprocessor to obtain an authentication response, and provide the authentication response to the barcode reader.

Barcode reader and accessory for the barcode reader

This patent specification describes an attachment for a mobile device. The attachment may have an attachment feature designed to be attached to a mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet, or smartphone/tablet with a camera. The attachment may also include an optics system and/or an illumination system that cooperates with the camera to facilitate the capture of decodable barcodes. The illumination system may include a targeting illumination system that facilitates proper positioning of the article and/or an exposure illumination system that helps illuminate the article during capture. The optics system may include a lens that modifies the depth of field and/or the size of the field of view of the camera, an aperture that helps define the field of view, a filter that prevents light of undesired wavelengths from reaching the camera, and/or a mirror that redirects the camera's optical pathway.

Target generating structure for an accessory for a mobile device

Attachment for a smart phone including a targeting optic system that directs illumination from a white light source towards a target area

A barcode reading enhancement system for a mobile device may include an optic system aligning with a camera lens of the mobile device to define a barcode reading lens system. The barcode reading lens system may be defined by a combination of the camera lens and the optic system. The barcode reading lens system may provide a system field of view that is different from a camera field of view of the camera lens. The barcode reading enhancement system may also include an illumination optic system aligning with an illumination torch of the mobile device to define an exposure illumination system. The exposure illumination system may emit a system illumination field with a system angular size that is different from a torch angular size of a torch illumination field emitted by the illumination torch. The system field of view and the system illumination field may substantially overlap.

Barcode-reading enhancement system for a computing device that comprises a camera and an illumination system

A barcode reader and an accessory are disclosed. A barcode reader may include an interface for communication with a host computer via a wireless or wired link and an authentication system to establish mutual authentication with the host computer. The barcode reader may include a connector for connecting the barcode reader to the external power source or the host computer. The connector may be a combined power and data connector. An accessory may provide operating power to a barcode reader and provide decoded data of an image of a barcode received from the barcode reader to a host computer. The accessory may include connectors and an interface system. The interface system may include a processor configured to send the decoded data to the host computer, an authentication system, and a power interface. The accessory may include RF circuits for communicating with the host computer via a wireless link.

A barcode reading enhancement system includes an attachment for a mobile device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or a hybrid combination thereof, with a camera. The attachment may include an optics system that cooperates with the mobile device camera to facilitate the capture of decodable barcodes. The optics system may increase the camera's depth of field, increase ratio of focal length to entrance pupil diameter, and/or decrease the angular size of the field of view of the camera. The system includes a mobile barcode reading application for setting a camera lens of the camera to one of a plurality of predetermined focus positions or enabling autofocus of the camera within a limited range of focus positions less than a full range of focus positions of the camera. The application may cause the camera to capture an image of a barcode and decode the image of the barcode.

Growing community of inventors

Phoenixville, PA, United States of America

Garrett Russell