Symbol Technologies, LLC

Joseph Cai

Duanfeng He

Dayou Wang

Michelle X Wang

Edward D Barkan

Eugene B Joseph

Daniel R McGlynn

Theodosios Pavlidis

Miroslav Trajkovic

Mehul M Patel

Dariusz J Madej

Robert Sanders

Frederick Schuessler

Glenn S Spitz

Paul R Poloniewicz

Sundeep Kumar

Robert Stein

Xiaomei Wang

Jiali D Chen

An arrangement for, and a method of, minimizing misdecodes of GS1 DataBar Limited (Databar-limited) symbols in a reader for electro-optically reading symbols of different symbologies, such as Universal Product Code (UPC) Version A (UPC-A) symbols, includes a data capture assembly for capturing light from a target symbol, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the captured light; and a controller for processing and decoding the electrical signal, and for determining whether the decoded signal is indicative of a Databar-limited symbol, and for determining whether the decoded signal has characteristics indicative of a different symbology, such as the UPC-A symbol, to indicate whether a misdecode of the Databar-limited symbol has occurred.

Minimizing misdecodes in electro-optical readers

An arrangement for, and a method of, enhancing performance of an imaging reader for imaging symbols to be read, include a solid-state imager supported by the reader and having an array of image sensors for capturing return light from a symbol as pixel data over a field of view, and a controller operatively connected to the imager, for mapping a virtual scan line in the field of view, for determining whether the virtual scan line extends entirely over the symbol, for remapping the virtual scan line as a remapped virtual scan line that extends entirely over the symbol upon determining that the virtual scan line extends partially over the symbol, and for decoding the pixel data that lies on the remapped virtual scan line.

Arrangement for and method of reducing short reads in an imaging reader

A method includes (1) obtaining a captured image of a document physically placed on a background having specifically designed patterns; (2) storing into a memory the captured image that includes an image of the document and an image of the background surrounding the document; and (3) analyzing the captured image to search for a boundary of the document in the captured image, where step of analyzing includes distinguishing the image of the background from the image of the document.

Document capture with imaging-based bar code readers

A method and apparatus for setting the amount of exposure for the photodetector array in a barcode scanner. An image is captured with the photodetector array. The type for each sub-region in the multiple sub-regions in the image captured is determined. Each sub-region in the multiple sub-regions is assigned a weight based on the type of the sub-region. The amount of exposure for the photodetector array in the barcode scanner is set automatically based on the weight for each sub-region in the multiple sub-regions. In some embodiments, the predetermined image area are repartitioned into new multiple sub-regions based on the image captured, and the amount of exposure for the photodetector array in the barcode scanner is set automatically based on the weight for each sub-region in the new multiple sub-regions.

Method of setting amount of exposure for photodetector array in barcode scanner

An imaging and decoding system for an imaging-based bar code reader. The imaging and decoding system includes an imaging system and a decoding system. The imaging system includes an imaging pixel array and a memory which function to: image the target bar code by scanning the target bar code at an acute angle with respect to a vertical axis of the target bar code to generate a tilted imaged bar code stored in memory, the tilted imaged bar code comprising an array of gray scale values stored in the memory; generate a virtual scan line traversing a horizontal width of the tilted imaged bar code; establish a zone about the virtual scan line; and project gray values within the zone onto the virtual scan line thereby generating a sequence of gray scale values associated with the virtual scan line, the sequence of gray scale values representative of a pattern of elements of the target bar code. The decoding system decodes the target bar code utilizing the sequence of values associated with the virtual scan line.

Imaging-based bar code reader with enhanced decoding capability

Partial decode results that successfully decode a subset of bar code symbol components and a quality indicator associated with each component are stored. These partial decode results are combined based on the quality indicator to achieve an improved decode of the symbol.

Decoding with data from multiple scans

A bar code scanning system and method for reading and processing bar code symbology uses a scanning station installed above the check-out stand and a receiving station at some distance away from the scanning station. The scanning station projects light onto a surface of the check-out stand. The projected light can have a well defined border indicating where a user should place items to be scanned. Alternatively, a pattern coincident with the projected light can be projected onto the surface and which includes a target indicating where items should be placed for scanning. Light reflected by items in the target region is processed to decode optical symbology on the item and produce a signal that is representative of said sensed symbology. Information about the scanned item can be processed and displayed by the receiving station for use in, e.g., a point-of-sale transaction. The system can also be configured to capture images of a user's payment card for use in payment processing and to store images of at least selected scanned items for use in subsequent processes.

Zero-footprint camera-based point-of-sale bar code presentation scanning system

Optical image readers have a two-dimensional image sensor and an auto-discrimination function. The auto-discrimination function identifies optical codes by type for pixel clusters and, in some cases, tilt angle and start/stop coordinates. The clustered pixel data is passed to an appropriate decoder identified by the auto-discrimination function based upon a likelihood that the cluster contains an optical code of a particular type. Line drawing technique provide for adequate sampling of the clustered pixel data code based on the tilt angle of the code relative to an image sensor array.

Autodiscrimination and line drawing techniques for code readers

The disclosure relates to optical image readers having a two-dimensional image sensor and an auto-discrimination function. The auto-discrimination function identifies optical codes by type for pixel clusters and, in some cases, tilt angle and start/stop coordinates. The clustered pixel data is passed to an appropriate decoder identified by the auto-discrimination function based upon a likelihood that the cluster contains an optical code of a particular type. Line drawing techniques provide for adequate sampling of the clustered pixel data code based on the tilt angle of the code relative to a image sensor array.

Bar code decoding methods and apparatus are disclosed wherein prototype characters are generated using calculated bar code distortion attributes. The vector distance measurements between the scanned bar code characters and the prototype characters are advantageously utilized to provide advanced and improved decoding.

Method for reading distorted bar codes

A reader generates a scanning beam for reading a bar code symbol on a selected item. The reader includes a motion sensor or software program for discriminating between the selected item and other items also having bar code symbols thereon. The motion sensor or software program for discriminating between the items may discriminate between an item swept past the reader and stationary items, or an item moved into the field of view of the reader, held stationary and moved out of the field of view and stationary or moving items or between an item placed within a predetermined distance range and other items.

Bar code reader with means for discriminating between a moving indicia

A reader generates a scanning beam for reading a bar code symbol on a selected item. The reader includes a database in which codes for all symbols to be read are stored, and frequency of use data indicative of how often each stored code has been read. A processor compares the code of the symbol being scanned with the stored codes. Upon a successful comparison, the code is processed as a valid code. Upon failure to match the code to one of the stored codes, a most likely code is selected as the valid code. The most likely code is based on the frequency of use data.

Arrangement for and method of minimizing reading errors in bar code

An arrangement for decoding a bar code symbol in which the data resulting from scanning a bar code symbol with a bar code scanner is evaluated to determine if the scanned bar code symbol is within the working range of the scanner. The data acquired by the bar code scanner is evaluated to determine if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are too small, less than a threshold value, which indicates that the bar code symbol is too far and outside of the working range of the scanner. Moreover, the working range of the bar code scanner can be selectively changed by changing the threshold value, which can be easily implemented by having the bar code scanner scan a menu bar code which instructs the decoder to change the threshold value to a selected new value which may be pre-established for the particular operation. The arrangement preferably includes software to process the data acquired by the bar code scanner, and if the data indicates that the scanning distance to the bar code is too far, a flag is set in the software which prevents a new decode result from being recorded. However, the intermediate decode result is retained in memory to indicate that the bar code symbol is still in the scanner's field of view. A second evaluation validation to determine if the detected bar code symbol is valid may also be performed.

Bar code decoder with changeable working ranges

A method for decoding bar code symbols in which a bar code reader and associated components scan a bar code symbol, produce a representation of the symbol, and attempt to decode that representation in order to produce a character message. The method consists of the steps of storing a first representation of the bar code symbol corresponding to a first scan path through a first portion of said symbol smaller than the entire symbol, and storing a second representation of the bar code symbol corresponding to a second scan path through the symbol. The method then processes said representations in the event a successful decode has not taken place by utilizing the signal from a first scan with the signal from a subsequent scan to determine the best alignment at which successive scans can be concatenated to form a combined signal. The process is repeated with different subsequent scans until successful decoding of the combined signal.

Decoding bar code symbols by determining the best alignment of partial

A method for decoding bar code symbols in which a bar code reader and associated components scan a bar code symbol produce a representation of the symbol, and attempt to decode that representation in order to produce a character message. The method consists of the steps of storing a first representation of the bar code symbol corresponding to a first scan path through a first portion of said symbol smaller than the entire symbol, and storing a second representation of the bar code symbol corresponding to a second scan path through the symbol. The method then processes these representations in the event a successful decode has not taken place by utilizing the signal from a first scan with the signal from a subsequent scan to determine whether the information from successive scans can be concatenated to form a combined signal. The process is repeated with different subsequent scans until successful decoding of the combined signal. Specifically, timing information associated with the flying beam spot as it scans the bar code symbol in successive scan paths is used to determine where the scans will be stitched together.

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Rocky Point, NY, United States of America

Joseph Cai