United Parcel Service of America, Inc.

Other

John W Sussmeier

Alexander Brandorff

Joe Zheng

Steven L Smith

Ross N Kruse

Stephen Anthony Roth

Lance Gordon Garland

Paul P Ju

Luis Figarella

A hand held label reader is capable of illuminating a label, capturing a digital image of two-dimensional information indicia on the label, and decoding the digital image to provide decoded output data to a terminal. The target label is illuminated by a low variation illuminator that includes a circular LED array mounted behind a plano-concave dispersing lens. The automatic electronic camera, which includes a CCD camera and control circuitry, uses three images to adjust the intensity of the digital image and store a properly exposed image of the label in video RAM. The intensity of the digital image is adjusted by controlling the video system gain via adjusting the CCD array's integration time, the gain of a video amplifier, and the gain provided by an analog-to-digital converter. The gain provided by the analog-digital-converter is adjusted to compensate for the attenuation of light through the camera's lens assembly. For the first image, the digital image is obtained using a default setting for the gain. The image intensity is analyzed using a histogram process and new gain setting are determined. The second image is obtained using the gain settings derived from the first image. The second image intensity is analyzed and the gain settings are adjusted. These settings are used for the third video image. The digital image from the third image is stored in video RAM, where it is available to be decoded by a microprocessor.

Electronic camera having an illuminator with dispersing ring lens

A portable non-contact label imager captures an image of two-dimensional information indicia on a label. The captured image data is decoded by a decoder. The label imager forms a part of a data terminal, which includes a keypad, display and signature capture pad. Upon receipt of a start signal from the data terminal's circuitry, the label imager automatically carries out the steps required to capture the label information indicia. The label imager provides aiming indicia to allow the user to properly aim the camera. A position sensing device determines when the target label is within the camera's depth of field. At that time, the label imager determines the shutter speed required for a correct exposure by measuring the light reflected from the label. The label imager then captures the label image, which is decoded by the decoder. Corresponding output data is then provided to the data terminal.

Method and apparatus for a portable non-contact label imager

Automatic electronic camera for label image capture

A system and method allows a user to evaluate the critical optical parameters associated with an imaging device including a CCD array. The system includes a series of optical test targets. Digital images of the optical test targets are captured by the imaging device under test. The stored digital image data is automatically analyzed by a computer program which evaluates the dynamic range, contrast resolution and distortion of the imaging device. The results are compared to predetermined criteria and printed for evaluation by a user. The system provides a means for comparing and qualifying various camera systems to be used for package tracking.

Method and apparatus for evaluating an imaging device

An apparatus for illumination and imaging of a surface includes an apparatus for illuminating the surface, an apparatus for obtaining an image of the illuminated surface and providing an output signal representative of the obtained image, and an apparatus for limiting the exposure time of the image-obtaining apparatus to a selected fast exposure time less than the video frame rate of the image-obtaining apparatus. The image-obtaining apparatus may be a CCD-based camera. The CCD-based camera and the illumination apparatus may be mounted in a shroud having an opaque side wall. A first polarizing film may be provided intermediate the illumination apparatus and the surface, and a second polarizing film, having a polarization orientation orthogonal to that of the first polarizing film, may be provided intermediate the surface and the image-obtaining apparatus. Tip switches may be provided to prevent activation of the illumination apparatus and the image obtaining apparatus except when a lower edge of the shroud side wall is in contact with the surface.

Method and apparatus for illumination and imaging of a surface using

A portable symbology reader utilizing an anamorphic lens system. The anamorphic lens system allows a low cost, high volume CCD sensor to be used in a hand-held, point and shoot, portable imaging system. The anamorphic lens system provides vertical sensor resolution equal to the horizontal while providing a maximum field of view.

Anamorphic lens system for a hand-held symbology reader

An apparatus for illuminating and imaging a surface includes a two-dimensional array of LEDs for providing uniform illumination to the surface, the LEDs being mounted on a planar surface with a centrally defined aperture, and a CCD-based camera with appropriate lensing for obtaining an image of the illuminated surface and providing a signal representative of that obtained image to a processing unit, the CCD-based camera lensing being disposed through the centrally defined aperture in the planar surface of the LED array, and the LED array and CCD-camera lensing being disposed inside an opaque shroud.

Method and apparatus for illumination and imaging of a surface using 2-D

A method and apparatus for weighing an object in which the object is moved to, and tipped over, a tip point. A signal representative of the weight of the object is generated as the object is tipped over the tip point. The apparatus may include a conveyor for moving the object toward the tip point, which may be supported by a load sensor that generates the signals representative of the object weight.

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Wappingers Falls, NY, United States of America

John W Sussmeier