METHOD FOR INCREASING BRIGHTNESS IN BARCODE READERS

Abstract

Method for adjusting the illumination intensity of a data acquisition device comprising an illumination assembly (123) and an imaging assembly (106), the method comprising: detecting an illumination level of an environment of the imaging-based data acquisition device; operating the illumination assembly (123) and / or the imaging assembly (106) in a first mode for a first period, a second mode for a second period, and a third mode for a third period; providing first illumination with a first intensity by the illumination assembly (123) operating in the first mode; storing energy in an energy storage element (318) by the illumination assembly (123) operating in the second mode; providing third illumination with a third intensity higher than the first intensity by the illumination assembly (123) operating in the third mode;and controlling the lighting assembly (123) by a controller (316) so that it is configured to be in first mode, second mode or third mode, based on the lighting level.

Description

BACKGROUNDImaging devices, such as bar code readers, include many illumination sources to provide illumination for imaging or for performing decoding of a bar code. Successful and efficient decoding of bar codes requires specific lighting conditions that depend on several factors, including types of bar codes, resolution requirements, environmental conditions, etc. Thus, providing appropriate lighting may be a complex process, and most bar code readers are not robust enough to provide lighting in view of these factors. Typically, bar code readers that include illumination systems provided are limited to providing a single type of illumination, such as a flash, or constant illumination for a field of view. Thus, an object that is farther from the barcode reader or in a dark environment may not be properly illuminated, and the barcode reader may not be able to properly capture images and decode a barcode of an object far away. These illumination systems are often limited in brightness by a number of illumination sources of the system, which cannot be easily increased. In addition, the number of light sources cannot increase brightness further for handheld systems, as power considerations also limit the amount of light that can be provided by a system.Accordingly, there is a need for improvements in systems for dynamically changing illumination provided by an illumination system for capturing images and performing bar code reading and decoding.DESCRIPTIONIn one embodiment, the present invention is a method for adjusting the illumination intensity of a data acquisition device having an illumination assembly and an imaging assembly. The method includes sensing an illumination level of an environment of the imaging-based data acquisition device and the image brightness of a barcode; operating the illumination assembly and / or the imaging assembly in a first mode for a first period of time, a second mode for a second period of time, and a third mode for a third period of time; providing a first illumination having a first intensity by the illumination assembly operated in the first mode; storing energy in an energy storage element with the illumination assembly operated in the second mode; providing a third illumination having a third intensity that is higher than the first intensity by the illumination assembly operated in the third mode; and controlling the illumination assembly by a controller to be configured to be in the first mode, the second mode, or the third mode based on the illumination level.In variations of the present embodiment, the method further comprises capturing images at a first frame rate by the imaging assembly operating in the first mode; and capturing images at a second frame rate by the imaging assembly operating in the second mode, wherein the second frame rate is a reduced frame rate compared to the first frame rate.In further variations, storing energy includes redirecting energy from the imaging assembly and / or the lighting assembly to a capacitor electrically coupled to an illumination source of the lighting assembly. In some variations, the method further comprises providing no illumination from the lighting assembly with the lighting assembly operating in the second mode, and wherein storing energy comprises redirecting energy from the lighting assembly to the energy storage element.In still further variations, the method further comprises providing, via a target assembly, a target pattern for a field of view of the imaging assembly; performing a range detection using the target pattern and determining a range of a target object; and controlling, via the controller, the mode of the lighting assembly and based on the range of the target object.In additional variations, the method further comprises controlling, via the controller, the mode of the imaging assembly and / or the lighting assembly and based on a power level of the energy storage element.In further variations, detecting the illumination level includes detecting the illumination level by a dedicated brightness sensor configured to receive illumination from the environment and provide a signal indicative of the illumination to the controller.In some variations, acquiring the illumination level includes acquiring an image of a field of view of the imaging assembly via the imaging assembly; and determining the illumination level from the acquired image of the field of view.In another embodiment, the present invention is a data acquisition device. The data acquisition device includes an imaging assembly having an imaging sensor configured to acquire images of a field of view of the imaging assembly; an illumination assembly having one or more illumination sources configured to provide illumination for at least a portion of the field of view of the imaging assembly; a controller configured to control modes of operation of the illumination assembly in a first mode, a second mode, or a third mode; and one or more processors and machine readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to: acquire an illumination level of an environment of the device; provide a first illumination having a first intensity by the illumination assembly in the first mode for a first period of time; store energy in an energy storage element with the illumination assembly in the second mode; providing third illumination having a third intensity higher than the first intensity by the illumination assembly in the third mode for a third period of time; and controlling the illumination assembly to be configured to be in the first mode, the second mode, or the third mode based on the illumination level.In a variation of the present embodiment, the machine readable instructions further cause the apparatus to acquire images at a first frame rate by the imaging assembly in a first mode; and acquire images at a second frame rate by the imaging assembly in a second mode, wherein the second frame rate is a reduced frame rate compared to the first frame rate.In further variations, the machine readable instructions to store energy cause the apparatus to redirect energy from the imaging assembly and / or the lighting assembly to a capacitor electrically coupled to the illumination source of the lighting assembly.In additional variations, the machine readable instructions further cause the apparatus to provide no illumination from the lighting assembly in the second mode and store energy by diverting energy from the lighting assembly to the energy storage element.In some variations, the apparatus further comprises a target assembly configured to provide a visual indicator of the field of view of the imaging assembly, and wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the apparatus to: provide the visual indicator of the field of view of the imaging assembly via the target assembly; perform a range detection using the visual indicator and determine a range of a target object; and control the mode of the imaging assembly and / or the illumination assembly via the controller and based on the range of the target object.In still further variations, the machine readable instructions further cause the apparatus to further control the mode of the imaging assembly and / or the lighting assembly based on a power level of the energy storage element.In still further variations, the apparatus further comprises a brightness sensor configured to sense the illumination level of the environment and provide a signal indicative of the illumination level to the controller for controlling the mode of the imaging assembly and / or the illumination assembly.In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause one or more systems to: detect an illumination level of an environment of the device; provide a first illumination having a first intensity by an illumination assembly in a first mode for a first period of time; store energy in an energy storage element with the illumination assembly in a second mode in the second mode; provide a third illumination having a third intensity that is higher than the first intensity by the illumination assembly in a third mode for a third period of time; and control the illumination assembly to be configured to be in the first mode, the second mode, or the third mode based on the illumination level.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the several views, together with the detailed description that follows, are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of these embodiments. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary sensing device according to various embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another example imaging device 200 according to embodiments described herein. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example logic circuit that may implement, for example, the example imaging device of FIG. 1 or the device of FIG. 2, in accordance with embodiments described herein. FIG. 4 illustrates an example power control circuit for adjusting illumination intensity for imaging and barcode reading operations according to embodiments described herein. FIG. 5 illustrates an example method for adjusting the illumination intensity of a lighting assembly based on the detected illumination of an environment or target object, according to various embodiments and examples provided herein.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.The apparatus and method components have been optionally represented by conventional symbols in the drawings, which show only those specific details relevant to understanding the embodiments of the present invention in order not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be apparent to those skilled in the art having benefit of the description herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTIONImaging devices, such as a barcode scanner, can scan and image objects in various environments and under a variety of conditions. Hand-held scanners are often used to scan items that are very close, within a few inches, and may also be used to scan items farther away, either one foot or more. The brightness of an environment or the illumination provided to a target object is integral for performing efficient scanning and imaging. Insufficient light may result in erroneous scanning operations or the inability to completely perform a bar code scan. In addition, hand-held bar code readers and imaging devices have a portable power supply and are therefore limited in the illumination that can be provided via the device itself. As such, handheld devices are often unable to image in a variety of lighting conditions and environments and perform a barcode scan.An example imaging device and method are provided that enable imaging devices to provide variable illumination based on the brightness or illumination of an object or environment. The method includes operating a device in multiple modes to reserve power in an energy storage element to later provide the saved power to illumination sources based on a required amount of illumination to perform imaging. The described methods may be implemented in handheld devices, as well as in point-of-sale systems and other stationary or installed systems and devices.FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary imaging device 100 according to various embodiments of the present invention. The example imaging device 100 includes an example housing 102 that includes a generally elongate handle or lower handle portion 116 and an upper body portion 118 having the front side 112 at which the forward facing opening or window 110 is located. The cross-sectional dimensions and overall size of the handle portion 116 are such that the example imaging device 100 can be conveniently held in the hand of an operator during operation. The forward facing opening or window 110 is configured to generally face away from a user when the user has the example imaging device 100 in a handheld position. The sections 116 and 118 may be constructed of a lightweight, resilient, shock-resistant, self-supporting material, such as a synthetic plastic material. The housing 102 may be injection molded, but may also be vacuum molded or blow molded to form a thin hollow shell that defines an interior space that is sufficient in volume to contain the various components of the handheld scanning device 100. Although the housing 102 is illustrated as a portable, gun-shaped, hand-held transaction point housing, any other configuration, including a hands-free configuration, could be used.The example imaging device 100 also includes an imaging assembly 106 disposed within the example housing 102. The imaging assembly 106 captures image data representing a target in a field of view 108 (FOV) defined at least in part by a forward facing aperture or window 110 (also referred to herein as an "optical window") on a front side 112 of the example imaging device 100. The example imaging device 100 also includes an imaging shutter 122 configured to actuate and expose the imaging assembly 106 to an external environment, a portion of which is included in the FOV 108.In particular, the example imaging device 100 may also include a manually actuatable trigger 120 mounted in a movable relationship to the handle portion 116 in a forward facing region of the handle portion 116 configured to actuate the imaging shutter 122. An operator's finger may be used to actuate (e.g., depress) the trigger 120 once a target falls within the imaging FOV 108, causing the imaging shutter 122 to actuate (e.g., open) the imaging assembly 106 and release it to capture an image of the target. As a result of actuation of the trigger 120, the example imaging device 100 may generate a target pattern 109 that may visually display the FOV 108 of the example imaging device 100 to the operator using the device 100, and more specifically, may display an area within the FOV 108 in which the device 100 may successfully scan and / or otherwise interpret a character within the FOV 108. In certain cases, the imaging assembly 106 may be configured to capture the image during an image capture period during which the imaging shutter 122 actuates the imaging assembly 106 and exposes it to the external environment. The example imaging device 100 also includes a character decoder 114 in communication with the imaging assembly 106 and configured to receive image data comprising the image and decode a character represented in the image data.The example imaging device 100 also includes a lighting assembly 123 configured to emit illumination. Generally, the lighting assembly 123 may be configured to output lighting in response to receiving a forward voltage from a battery (not shown) as a result of the operator's actuation of the trigger 120. The lighting assembly 123 may be or include a light emitting diode (LED) that may be configured to output illumination in a plurality of wavelengths or patterns. For example, the lighting assembly 123 may generate the target pattern 109. Independently, the lighting assembly 123 may be and / or include a single LED, multiple series-configured LEDs, multiple parallel-configured LEDs, multiple series / parallel-configured LEDs, and / or any other suitable number and / or configuration of LEDs or lighting sources, or combinations thereof.FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another example imaging device 200 according to embodiments described herein. The imaging device 200 includes a housing 202, an imaging aperture 204, a user interface label 206, a dome switch / button 208, one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) 210, and mounting point(s) 212. The imaging assembly captures images of a FOV of the imaging device 200 through the imaging aperture 204. The FOV of the imaging device 200 extends along one or more horizontal planes that pass through the imaging aperture 204. Of course, if the imaging assembly is a two-dimensional imaging assembly, the FOV also extends along one or more vertical planes through the imaging aperture 204. For example, the imaging assembly FOV may be designed to fill the imaging aperture 204.The imaging device 200 may receive job files from a user computing device that the imaging device 200 subsequently interprets and executes. The instructions included in the job file may include device configuration settings (also referred to herein as "imaging settings") operable to adjust the configuration of the imaging device 200 prior to acquiring images of a target object.For example, the device configuration settings may include instructions to set one or more settings related to the imaging aperture 204. As an example, assume that at least a portion of the intended analysis corresponding to a machine vision task requires the imaging device 200 to maximize the brightness of any captured image. To accommodate this requirement, the job file may include device configuration settings for performing operations described herein to provide additional illumination to an object to capture images across the imaging aperture 204. The imaging device 104 may interpret these instructions and accordingly control one or more modes of operation of various components of illumination assemblies and imaging assemblies described herein (e.g., brightness of illumination sources, output illumination intensity, duration of illumination time, exposure time of the imaging sensor, frame rate of the imaging assembly, etc.). Thus, the imaging device 200 may be configured to automatically adjust its own configuration to optimally correspond to a particular machine vision or barcode scan job. Additionally, the imaging device 200 may include or otherwise be adjustable to include one or more bandpass filters, one or more polarizers, one or more DPM diffusers, one or more C-mount lenses, and / or one or more C-mount liquid lenses above or otherwise affecting the received illumination through the imaging aperture 204.The user interface tag 206 may include the dome switch / button 208 and one or more LEDs 210, and may thereby enable a variety of interactive and / or display features. In general, the user interface tag 206 may allow a user to trigger and / or tune to the imaging device 104 (e.g., via the dome switch / button 208) and to detect when one or more functions, errors, and / or other actions have been performed or occurred with respect to the imaging device 104 (e.g., via the one or more LEDs 210). For example, the trigger function of a dome switch / button (e.g., dome / button 208) may allow a user to capture an image using the imaging device 104 and / or display a trigger configuration screen of a user application. The trigger configuration screen may allow the user to configure one or more triggers for the imaging device 104 that may be stored in memory for use in later-developed image processing jobs.As another example, the tuning function of a dome switch / button (e.g., dome / button 208) may allow a user to automatically and / or manually adjust the configuration of the imaging device 200 according to a preferred / predetermined configuration and / or display an imaging configuration screen of a user application. The imaging configuration screen may allow the user to configure one or more configurations of the imaging device 104 (e.g., aperture size, exposure length, etc.) that may be stored in memory for use in later-developed image processing jobs. In addition, the imaging configuration screen may allow a user to control an operation mode of the imaging device 200 for adjusting the illumination provided to perform imaging in various environments and settings having different ambient light levels and for scanning objects at different distances.The mounting point(s) 212 may / may allow a user to connect and / or removably attach the imaging device 200 to a mounting device (e.g., imaging stand, camera mount, etc.), a structural surface (e.g., a storage wall, a storage ceiling, a structural support, etc.), other accessory items, and / or any other suitable connection devices, structures, or surfaces. For example, the imaging device 104 may be optimally placed on a mounting device in a distribution center, manufacturing facility, warehouse, and / or other facility to image and thereby monitor the quality / consistency of products, packages, and / or other items as they pass through the FOV of the imaging device 104. Moreover, the mounting point(s) 212 may allow a user to connect the imaging device 200 to a variety of accessory items including, but not limited to, one or more external lighting devices, one or more mounting devices / mounts, and the like.Additionally, the imaging device 200 may include multiple hardware components contained within the housing 202 that enable connection to a computer network. For example, the imaging device 200 may include a network interface that allows the imaging device 200 to connect to a network, such as a gigabit Ethernet connection and / or a dual gigabit Ethernet connection. Further, the imaging device 200 may include transceivers and / or other communication components as part of the network interface to communicate with other devices via, for example, Ethernet / IP, PROFINET, Modbus TCP, CC-link, USB 3.0, RS-232, and / or any other suitable communication protocol, or combinations thereof.FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example logic circuit that may implement, for example, the example imaging device 100 of FIG. 1 or the device 200 of FIG. 2. The example logic circuit of FIG. 3 is a processing platform 300 that can execute instructions to implement, for example, operations of the example methods described herein, as can be represented by the flowcharts of the drawings attached to this description. Other example logic circuits that may implement operations of the example methods described herein, for example, include field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The processing platform 300 may be included in the devices 100 and 200 of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, or in another bill for performing the methods described herein.The example processing platform 300 of FIG. 3 includes a processor 302, such as one or more microprocessors, controllers, and / or any suitable type of processor. The example processing platform 300 of FIG. 3 includes memory (e.g., volatile memory, non-volatile memory) 304 accessible by the processor 302 (e.g., via a memory controller). The example processor 302 interacts with the memory 304, for example, to obtain machine readable instructions stored in the memory 304, for example, corresponding to the operations represented by the flowchart(s) of this disclosure. Additionally or alternatively, machine readable instructions corresponding to the example operations described herein may be stored on one or more removable media (e.g., a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a removable flash memory, etc.) that may be coupled to the processing platform 300 to provide access to the machine readable instructions stored thereon. Processor 302 and memory 304 are disposed within housing 301, which may be housing 102 or 202 of FIG. 1 or 2.The example processing platform 300 of FIG. 3 includes one or more communication interfaces, such as one or more network interfaces 306 and / or one or more input / output (I / O) interfaces 308, disposed within the housing 301. The communication interface(s) may enable the processing platform 300 of FIG. 3 to communicate with, for example, another device, system, host system (e.g., inventory management system, POS station, etc.), data storage, database, and / or any other machine.The example processing platform 300 of FIG. 3 may include the network interface(s) 306 to enable communication with other machines (e.g., inventory management system, POS station, etc.), for example, via one or more networks. The example network interface(s) 306 include any suitable type of communication interface(s) (e.g., wired and / or wireless interfaces) configured to operate according to any suitable communication protocol(s). Example network interfaces 306 include a TCP / IP interface, a Wi-Fi™ transceiver (e.g., according to IEEE 802.11x family of standards), an Ethernet transceiver, a cellular network radio, a satellite network radio, or any other suitable interface based on any other suitable communication protocols or standards.The example processing platform 300 of FIG. 3 may include the input / output (I / O) interface(s) 308 (e.g., a Bluetooth ®- interface, a near field communication (NFC) interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a serial interface, an infrared interface, etc.) to (1) enable receipt of user input (e.g., from the trigger 120 of FIG. 1, a touch screen, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpad, a joystick, a trackball, a microphone, a button, etc.), (2) output data (e.g., mode change acknowledgments, visual indicators, instructions, data, To communicate images, etc.) to the user (e.g., via an output device 210, a speaker, a printer, a haptic device, etc.) and / or (3) to interact with other components of the handheld scanning device 100 or device 200 of FIGS. 1 and 2 (e.g., the imaging assembly 106, the output device 210, the character decoder 114, the lighting assembly 123, the lighting control unit 124, etc.). Example output devices 310 may include a sound generation device, a haptic device, or the like.To capture images of objects and / or bar codes on objects, the example processing platform 300 includes the imaging assembly 106 disposed within the housing. The imaging assembly 106 includes an image sensor 312B that is controlled, for example, by the processor 302 to acquire image frames representing the portion of an environment in which the example imaging device 100 operates that falls within the imaging FOV 108 of the imaging assembly 106. The image sensor 312B includes a plurality of light-sensitive elements forming a substantially flat surface. The processor 302 may be communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly 106 via the input / output (I / O) interface(s) 308.The imaging assembly 106 includes an optical assembly 314 to form images of objects in the FOV 108 on the surface of the image sensor 312B. The optical assembly 314 may include any number and / or type(s) of optical elements and / or components 314A, including, for example, one or more lenses, filters, focus motors, apertures, lens holders, liquid lenses, or any other components and / or optical elements. Moreover, to focus the imaging assembly 106 onto an object, the imaging assembly 106 may include a focus controller 312A and the optical assembly 314 may include any number and / or type(s) of focus components 314B (e.g., motors, liquid lenses, etc.). In some examples, focus controller 312A is implemented by processor 302. In some examples, the imaging assembly 106 is a fixed focus scanner.The example processing platform 300 also includes any number and / or type(s) of character decoders 114 (e.g., the character decoder 114 of FIG. 1 ) to detect and / or decode characters to determine the payload of the characters. In some examples, the character decoder 114 is implemented by the processor 302. For example, the character decoder 114 communicates the payload of decoded characters to a host system via a communication interface, such as the network interface(s) 306 and / or the I / O interface(s) 308. Further, the example processing platform 300 may also include the illumination assembly 123 to illuminate a target to be imaged. The illumination assembly 123 may emit illumination in the field of view 108, for example, to facilitate autofocusing and / or improve the quality of image frames captured by an image sensor of the imaging assembly 106.The example processing platform 300 may also include the illumination control unit 124 having components configured to control operating modes of the imaging assembly 106 and the illumination assembly 123, to control energy flow to various components, and to control mode operation of the components of the platform 300 as described herein. For example, the lighting control unit 124 may include an energy storage element 318 for storing energy to provide energy to the lighting assembly and a mode controller 316 for controlling various modes of operation of components of the processing platform 300 (e.g., the energy storage element 318, the lighting assembly 123, the imaging assembly 106, etc.). In particular, the lighting control unit 124 may include or be in electrical communication with an energy storage element 318 to provide energy to the energy storage element 318 via electrical current. In further examples, the lighting control unit 124 may be in communication with one or more other components that may provide energy to the energy storage element 218, and the lighting control unit may control the various elements to provide energy to the energy storage element 318. For example, the lighting control unit 124 may not be in direct electrical communication with the energy storage element 318, but the lighting control unit 124 may be in communication with one or more electrical switches (e.g., transistors, MOSFETs, circuits, regulators, etc.) and may control the switches to provide energy to the energy storage element 318 to store energy in the energy storage element 318. In examples, the energy storage element may include one or more batteries, capacitors, or other electrical element capable of storing energy. Additionally, power may be diverted from other resources, such as processors, network interfaces, imaging sensors, etc., to provide the power.The mode controller 316 may control various modes of operation of components of the platform. For example, the mode controller may control the imaging assembly 106 and the lighting assembly to operate in different modes, each mode having varied parameters. For example, the controller may control the lighting assembly 123 to operate in a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode. In the first mode, the controller 316 may control the illumination assembly 123 to cause the illumination assembly to provide illumination at a first illumination intensity and for a first period of time to illuminate an object and capture images of the object by the imaging assembly 106. The first time period may depend on the frame rate of image acquisition of the imaging assembly 106 and / or the type of image acquisition (e.g., roll shutter, global shutter, etc.). The mode controller 316 may determine that more illumination is required based on an ambient light level, illumination of an environment, or illumination or the determined brightness of a target object or image. For example, the lighting control unit 124 may be in communication with an ambient light sensor that provides a measurement of ambient light to the lighting control unit. In implementations, an imaging sensor of the imaging assembly may be used as a light detector to determine the brightness or darkness of an image. When the image is dark, it is determined that more light is required and more energy is required for illumination. In some implementations, a proximity sensor is used as an infrared wake-up system, which infrared sensor may include an integrated environment sensor that could be used to determine the brightness or darkness of an image or environment for performing the described methods. The illumination control unit 124 may then determine that more illumination is required to perform imaging and / or barcode reading, and the control unit 124 may control the illumination assembly 123 to operate in a second mode of operation. In the second mode of operation, the lighting assembly 123 may provide illumination at a second illumination intensity that is lower than the first illumination intensity, and in some implementations, the lighting assembly 123 may provide no illumination at all in the second mode. In the second mode, energy is diverted from the lighting assembly 123 to the energy storage element 318 to charge the energy storage element 318 and store energy in the energy storage element 318. Thus, the energy normally provided to the lighting assembly 123 is reduced in the second mode of operation and the output lighting is reduced or stopped completely.In examples, one or more targets or objects that provide their own illumination (e.g., a smartphone, a mobile phone, a display, etc.) may be present in the FOV of the imaging assembly, and the imaging assembly may obtain one or more images of the illuminated screen during the second mode of operation. Thus, the lighting assembly may not provide light and the imaging assembly may capture the image of the screen, which may include images or characters displayed thereon, such as a barcode, and the apparatus may further provide the image or images of the screen to be decoded or for additional image processing operations. In such examples, the imaging sensor may be configured to further acquire images and the apparatus to decode the images while storing energy in the energy storage element to provide further increased illumination during operation in a third mode of operation.In specific examples, the energy storage element 318 may include a capacitor, and diverting the energy to the energy storage element 318 may include diverting electrical current to the capacitor to charge the capacitor. In implementations, the energy storage element may be configured to provide energy to the lighting assembly in one or more modes of operation of the lighting assembly. Thus, the energy storage element of the lighting assembly may provide reduced energy to generate lighting at lower levels or for a shorter period of time, and the energy storage element 318 may provide greater energy to the lighting assembly to generate higher powers or light intensities and / or for longer periods of time. Thus, when providing energy to energy storage element 318, the energy may not need to be diverted to energy storage element 318, as energy may generally be provided to energy storage element 318 in multiple modes of operation, and in the examples, more energy may be directed to the energy storage element to store more energy in energy storage element 318. The capacitor may be further electrically coupled to the lighting assembly to further provide the stored energy to the lighting assembly as required to be controlled by the mode controller 316.The mode controller 316 may control the lighting assembly to operate in the third mode of operation after a certain amount of time or after the energy storage element 318 reaches a certain amount of charge or energy storage. In the third mode of operation, the mode controller 316 may control the lighting assembly 123 to provide illumination at a third illumination intensity. The third illumination intensity may be at a higher intensity than both the first illumination intensity and the second illumination intensity. To provide the third lighting, energy may be provided from an energy source back to the lighting assembly, and the energy stored in the energy storage element 318 may be provided to the lighting assembly simultaneously to enable the lighting assembly to provide the higher third illumination intensity. In specific examples with a capacitor as the energy storage element 318, the lighting control unit may control electrical switches to provide an electrical connection between the energy storage element 318 and the lighting assembly 123, and the capacitor may discharge the stored energy to provide the energy to the lighting assembly 123, which allows the lighting assembly to provide the third lighting with a higher illumination intensity or similar illumination intensity with a same or similar current but over a longer period of time. In any examples, more total energy is provided to the lighting assembly to capture a frame of an image compared to other modes of operation. The greater energy provided to the lighting assembly enables generation of a light pulse with super bright light intensity or a pulse with less intensity over a longer sensor exposure time. Thus, the lighting assembly 123 is capable of providing increased lighting during the third mode of operation due to the additional energy provided by the energy stored in the energy storage element 318.In examples, the lighting control unit may further control the amount of time that the lighting assembly 123 provides lighting in the various modes of operation. For example, the mode controller may control the lighting assembly 123 to provide the first lighting for a first period of time while operating in the first mode of operation. The mode controller 316 may then control the lighting assembly to provide the second lighting for a second period of time in the second mode of operation. The second period of time may be shorter than the first period of time to allow excess energy to be diverted from the lighting assembly 123 to the energy storage element 318. After energy is stored in energy storage element 318, mode controller 316 may further control lighting assembly 123 to provide the third lighting for a third period of time. The third time period may be shorter than the first and / or second time period to provide a short illumination pulse with high intensity. In other examples, the third period of time may be a longer period of time than the first and / or second periods of time to provide sustained illumination for a longer period of time. In any examples, the total optical power output by the lighting assembly 123 is increased in the third mode of operation and / or the lighting is provided in the third mode of operation for a longer period of time compared to the first and second modes of operation.The mode controller 316 may further control the imaging assembly 106 to operate various modes of operation. For example, the mode controller 316 may control the imaging assembly 106 to operate in a first mode, where the imaging assembly 106 is configured to acquire images at a first frame rate, at a first exposure time, etc., with a first set of parameters for performing imaging of the FOV 108. The mode controller 316 may then control the imaging assembly 106 to operate in a second mode of operation with a second set of imaging parameters that includes one or more of a second frame rate, a second exposure time, etc. In examples, the second frame rate may be a reduced frame rate compared to the first frame rate, causing the imaging assembly 106 to capture images at a slower rate than in the first mode of operation. Thus, energy normally provided to the imaging assembly 106 to support the higher frame of image acquisition frequency may be diverted from the imaging assembly 106 to the energy storage element 318 to store energy in the energy storage element 318. In specific examples, the second frame frequency is half the frame frequency of the first frame frequency. Additionally, the mode controller 316 may cause the imaging assembly 106 to capture no images during operation in the second mode, and the additional energy may be diverted to the energy storage element 318 while the imaging assembly or components of the imaging assembly are not active to obtain images. The mode controller 316 may then control the imaging assembly 106 to operate in a third mode of operation with a third set of parameters such as a third frame rate, a third exposure time, etc. The third frame frequency may be a same frequency as the first frame frequency or may be a decreased frame frequency compared to the first frame frequency. In addition, the third exposure time may be a same exposure time as the first exposure time or a longer exposure time for detecting more light for imaging an object or performing a bar code scan.In examples, the lighting assembly 123 may provide a target pattern such as the target pattern 109 of FIG. 1. In some implementations, the device 100 may include an additional dedicated target assembly configured to provide the target pattern 109. In devices that provide a target pattern, the imaging assembly 106 may capture one or more images of the target pattern 109, and the device 100 may perform (e.g., via the processor 302) a range detection of a target object based on the imaged target pattern 109. The mode controller 316 may then determine to operate the lighting assembly 123 and / or the imaging assembly 106 in the first, second, or third operating modes based on the determined distance of the target object. For example, the lighting assembly 123 may provide sufficient illumination for objects that are closer to the device 100, and thus the mode controller 316 may determine that the imaging assembly 106 and the lighting assembly 123 are operating in the first mode of operation to image nearby objects and / or read their bar codes. For target objects that are further away from the device 100, the mode controller 316 may control the illumination assembly 123 and / or the imaging assembly 106 to operate in the second mode to redirect and store energy to the energy storage element 318, and then the mode controller 316 may control the illumination assembly 123 and / or the imaging assembly to operate further in the third mode of operation to additionally illuminate the target object and image the target object.In additional implementations, the lighting control unit 124 may be in electrical communication with the energy storage element 318 and configured to be and read or monitor an energy level or a level of stored energy in the energy storage element 318. Thus, the mode controller 316 may control the operating modes of the lighting assembly 123 and / or the imaging assembly 106 based on the level of energy stored in the energy storage element 318. For example, the mode controller 316 may control the lighting assembly 123 and / or the imaging assembly 106 to operate in the second mode to store energy in the energy storage element 318 until a certain amount of energy, power, or charge is stored in the energy storage element 318. The mode controller 316 may then control the lighting assembly 123 and / or the imaging assembly 106 to operate in the first or third mode to image a target object with additional illumination provided by the lighting assembly 123 and via discharging the energy storage element.In some implementations, the device 100 may include a dedicated brightness sensor configured to receive illumination and light from the environment, or more specifically, light from within the FOV of the imaging assembly (e.g., brightness of one or more objects in an imaging FOV, brightness of a barcode or sign, etc.) of the device, and provide a signal indicative of the detected light to the illumination controller 124. In such examples, the mode controller 316 may determine from the signal indicative of ambient light or illumination of the environment in which operating mode the lighting assembly 123 and / or the imaging assembly 106 is to be controlled. The brightness sensor may include one or more of a photodiode, an avalanche photodiode, a photoresistor, a phototransistor, or may include one or more imaging sensors or cameras of the imaging assembly, or another sensor or device capable of sensing ambient light. In all implementations, the brightness sensor senses the brightness of the field of view of the imaging assembly.In additional examples, the imaging controller 124, or another processor such as the processor 302, may determine the level of illumination via an image captured by the imaging assembly 106. For example, the imaging assembly 106 may capture an image of an object in the FOV 108. The object may be a target object for performing imaging processes or for performing bar code reading, or the object may be an illumination adjusting target or object for performing environment detection. The illumination control unit 124 or the processor 302 may perform image processing and determine the illumination level from one or more objects in the captured image. For example, the illumination control unit 124 may determine the illumination level based on a brightness of the captured image. The mode controller 316 may then control the operating modes of the illumination assembly 123 and / or the imaging assembly 106 based on the determined illumination level via the brightness of the image. For example, it may be determined that the brightness of the captured image is below a threshold and that more illumination is required to capture an appropriate image for performing additional image processing and / or barcode reading of an object. Therefore, the mode controller 316 may then control the modes of the lighting assembly 123 and / or the imaging assembly 106 to store energy in the energy storage element 318 and further provide a higher illumination intensity to the FOV 108 for imaging the target object and / or performing a barcode reading.FIG. 4 illustrates an example power control circuit 400 for adjusting brightness intensity for imaging and barcode reading operations in accordance with the systems and methods of this disclosure. The circuit 400 includes a power source 405 electrically coupled to the imaging assembly 106, the lighting assembly 123, and the energy storage element 318, and configured to provide power to the imaging assembly 106, the lighting assembly 123, and the energy storage element 318. The power source 405 may be electrically coupled to additional elements (e.g., the processor 302, the lighting controller 124, etc.) to provide power to various elements of the device 100. FIG. 4 is illustrated with the energy source 405 coupled to the imaging assembly 106, the illumination assembly 123, and the energy storage element 318 for simplicity and clarity in the example described.Arrows along the electrical lines illustrate the flow of power from the energy source 405 to the imaging assembly 106, the lighting assembly 123, and the energy storage element 318. In the example of FIG. 4, voltage controlled switches 408 are electrically coupled to the electrical lines that provide power to the imaging assembly 106, the lighting assembly 123, and the energy storage element 318, respectively. Additionally, a voltage controlled switch 408 controls the flow of electricity and power from the energy storage element 318 to the lighting assembly 123 to provide additional power from discharging the energy storage element 318 to the lighting assembly 123, and described herein. The mode controller 316 may be in electrical communication with each of the voltage controlled switches at a control terminal "c" of each of the voltage controlled switches 408 to control the flow of power from the power source 405 to the imaging assembly 106, the lighting assembly 123, and the energy storage element 318. Thus, the mode controller 316 controls the flow of power to the various elements illustrated in FIG. 4 and is further configured to redirect power and energy from the imaging assembly 106 and the lighting assembly 123 to the energy storage element 318 to store energy in the energy storage element. The mode controller 316 independently controls each of the voltage controlled switches 408 to control the flow of energy in the circuit 400 and control operations of the imaging assembly 106, the lighting assembly 123, and the energy storage element 318. In addition to controlling the flow of power, the mode controller 316 may be further in communication with the imaging assembly 106 and the lighting assembly 123 to control various parameters of the imaging assembly 106 (e.g., frame acquisition rate, exposure time, etc.) and the lighting assembly 123 (e.g., illumination intensity output, illumination duration, etc.) to perform the methods described herein.It should be appreciated that the circuit 400 of FIG. 4 is an example of a power control circuit for performing the methods described herein and is provided for clarity. It should be appreciated that the example circuit 400 may include other electronic component(s) electrically coupled to the example circuit 400. For example, circuit 400 may include additional voltage or power sources, additional current paths, additional regulators or switches, a wireless energy transfer transmitter, and / or any other suitable electronic components, or combinations thereof. Additionally, the example circuit 400 may also be electrically coupled to a ground (not shown) such that the example circuit 400 receives an input drive voltage from the power source 405 that may discharge to ground regardless of whether the current is flowing to each component of the example circuit 400.FIG. 5 illustrates an example method 500 for adjusting the illumination intensity of a lighting assembly based on the detected illumination or light of an environment, according to various embodiments and examples provided herein. It should be appreciated that in certain embodiments, any of the blocks of the method 500 may be performed by any of the example imaging devices 100 or 200, or elements of the devices, such as the processor(s) 302, the illumination controller 124, the imaging assembly 106, the illumination assembly 123, etc., and / or any other suitable device or combinations thereof. For clarity and simplicity, the method 500 of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to elements of FIGS. 1 and 3.The method 500 includes detecting an illumination level or brightness of an environment or a detected image of a target object at block 502. The apparatus 100 may detect the illumination level via a dedicated brightness detector, by image processing an image captured by the image assembly 106, via one or more cameras or sensors of the imaging assembly 106, or by other means. At block 504, a controller, such as the mode controller 316, controls the lighting assembly to operate in a first mode. In the first mode, the illumination assembly 123 provides illumination at a first intensity to the FOV 108 of the imaging assembly 106. The lighting assembly provides the lighting for a first period of time while operating in the first mode. The controller may further control the imaging assembly 106 to operate in a first mode, wherein the imaging assembly 106 captures images at a first frame rate or for a first exposure time.The mode controller 316 may then control the lighting assembly 123 and / or the imaging assembly 106 to operate in a second mode of operation to store energy in the energy storage element 318, at block 504. The controller 316 may determine that the illumination intensity is too low via an ambient light sensor, a dedicated brightness sensor, or performing an image process of an image captured by the imaging assembly, and the controller 316 may control operations and parameters of the lighting assembly 123 and / or the imaging assembly 106 to redirect energy from the lighting assembly 123 and / or the imaging assembly 106 to the energy storage element 318.The mode controller 316 may then control the lighting assembly 123 and / or the imaging assembly 106 to operate in a third mode of operation to provide the energy from the energy storage element 318 to the lighting assembly 123 to increase the illumination intensity and / or the time period of illumination provided by the lighting assembly 123. The illumination assembly 123 provides illumination at the more intense third illumination intensity at block 508, and the imaging assembly 106 captures an image of a target object in the imaging assembly FOV 108.The mode controller 316 may control the modes and, accordingly, various operating parameters and energy flow to the lighting assembly 123, the imaging assembly 106, and the energy storage element 318 based on a sensed level of ambient light, a particular illumination level of a target object, a brightness level of an image, an energy or energy level of the energy storage element 318, a duration of time, a particular distance of a target object, etc. Thus, the described example systems and methods provide the ability for a system to adjust the illumination output of an illumination assembly to provide appropriate illumination for performing imaging and barcode reading operations. The described systems and methods may be implemented in systems and devices with limited power or power capabilities (e.g., handheld devices, wearable devices, devices with limited power supplies or currents, USB powered devices, etc.) to enable imaging and barcode reading in broader application areas and environments.The above description may refer to a block diagram of the accompanying drawings. Alternative implementations of the example represented by the block diagram include one or more additional or alternative elements, processes, and / or devices. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the example blocks of the diagram may be combined, divided, rearranged, or omitted. Components represented by the blocks of the diagram are implemented by hardware, software, firmware, and / or any combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware. In some examples, at least one of the components represented by the blocks is implemented by a logic circuit. As used herein, the term "logic circuit" is expressly defined as a physical device that includes at least one hardware component configured (e.g., via operation according to a predetermined configuration and / or via execution of stored machine readable instructions) to control one or more machines and / or perform operations of one or more machines. Examples of logic circuitry include one or more processors, one or more coprocessors, one or more microprocessors, one or more controllers, one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), one or more microcontroller units (MCUs), one or more hardware accelerators, one or more special purpose computer chips, and one or more system on a chip (SoC) devices. Some example logic circuits, such as ASICs or FPGAs, are specially configured hardware for performing operations (e.g., one or more of the operations described herein and represented by the flowcharts of this disclosure, if any). Some example logic circuits are hardware that executes machine readable instructions to perform operations (e.g., one or more of the operations described herein and represented by the flowcharts of this disclosure, if any). Some example logic circuits include a combination of specially configured hardware and hardware executing machine readable instructions.As used herein, each of the terms "physical machine-readable medium", "non-transitory machine-readable medium", "computer-readable media", "computer-readable storage medium", and "machine-readable storage device" is expressly defined as a storage medium (e.g., a disk of a hard disk drive, a digital versatile disk, a compact disk, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a random access memory, etc.) on which machine-readable instructions (e.g., program code in the form of, for example, software and / or firmware) execute for any suitable period of time (e.g., permanently, for a longer period of time (e.g., while a program associated with the machine readable instructions is executing) and / or a short period of time (e.g., while the machine readable instructions are being cached and / or during a buffering process)). Further, as used herein, each of the terms "physical machine-readable medium", "non-transitory machine-readable medium", and "machine-readable storage device" is expressly defined to exclude propagating signals. That is, as used in any claim of this patent, none of the terms "physical machine readable medium", "non-transitory machine readable medium", and "machine readable storage device" can be read to be implemented by a propagating signal.Specific embodiments have been described in the above specification. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present teachings. In addition, the described embodiments / examples / implementations should not be interpreted as mutually exclusive and should instead be understood as potentially mutually combining if such combinations are permissive in some way. In other words, any feature disclosed in any of the above embodiments / examples / implementations may be included in any of the other above embodiments / examples / implementations.The benefits, advantages, solutions to issues, and (any) element(s) that may / may result in a benefit, advantage, or solution occurring or becoming more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any claim or any claims. The claimed invention is defined solely by the appended claims, including all changes made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of these claims as published.Moreover, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used exclusively to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying an actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "has," "having," "including," "including," "containing," "containing," or any other variation thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion such that a process, method, article, or device having / including a list of elements includes, contains, contains, not only includes those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or device. An element preceded by "comprises... a", "has... a", "includes... a" does not include, without further limitations, the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus comprising the element. The terms "a" and "an" are defined as one or more unless expressly stated otherwise herein. The terms "substantially," "generally," "about," "about," or any other version thereof are defined to be within the skill of the art as it is understood, and in one non-limiting embodiment, the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1%, and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term "coupled" as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is "configured" in a particular manner is configured in at least this manner, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to enable the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing detailed description, it can be seen that various features are summarized in various embodiments for the purpose of simplifying the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may reside in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

Claims

A method for adjusting an illumination intensity of a data acquisition device having an illumination assembly and an imaging assembly, the method comprising: acquiring an illumination level of an environment of the imaging-based data acquisition device; operating the illumination assembly and / or the imaging assembly in a first mode for a first period of time, a second mode for a second period of time, and a third mode for a third period of time; providing first illumination having a first intensity by the illumination assembly operated in the first mode; storing energy in an energy storage element by the illumination assembly operated in the second mode; providing third illumination having a third intensity, which is higher than the first intensity, by the illumination assembly operated in the third mode; and controlling, by a controller, the lighting assembly to be configured to be in one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode based on the lighting level.The method of claim 1, further comprising: acquiring images at a first frame rate by the imaging assembly operating in the first mode; and acquiring images at a second frame rate by the imaging assembly operating in the second mode, wherein the second frame rate is a reduced frame rate compared to the first frame rate.The method of claim 2, wherein the second frame frequency has a value that is half as high as that of the first frame frequency.The method of claim 1, wherein storing energy comprises redirecting energy from the imaging assembly and / or the lighting assembly to a capacitor electrically coupled to an illumination source of the lighting assembly.The method of claim 4, wherein providing the third illumination comprises discharging the capacitor to provide the stored energy of the illumination source to the lighting assembly in the third mode of the lighting assembly.The method of claim 1, wherein the third time period is a longer time period than the first time period.The method of claim 1, further comprising providing no illumination from the lighting assembly with the lighting assembly operating in the second mode, and wherein storing energy comprises redirecting energy from the lighting assembly to the energy storage element.The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a target pattern for a field of view of the imaging assembly via a target assembly; performing a range detection using the target pattern and determining a range of a target object; and controlling the mode of the illumination assembly via the controller and based on the range of the target object.The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling, via the controller, the mode of the imaging assembly and / or the lighting assembly and based on a power level of the energy storage element.The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the illumination level comprises detecting the illumination level by a dedicated brightness sensor configured to receive illumination from a field of view of the imaging assembly and provide a signal indicative of the illumination to the controller.The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the illumination level comprises: acquiring an image of a field of view of the imaging assembly via the imaging assembly; and determining the illumination level from the acquired image of the field of view.A data acquisition device comprising: an imaging assembly having an imaging sensor configured to acquire images of a field of view of the imaging assembly; an illumination assembly having one or more illumination sources configured to provide illumination for at least a portion of the field of view of the imaging assembly; and a controller configured to control modes of operation of the illumination assembly in a first mode, a second mode, or a third mode; and one or more processors and machine readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to: acquire an illumination level of an environment of the device; provide first illumination at a first intensity for a first period of time by the illumination assembly in the first mode; store energy in an energy storage element with the illumination assembly in the second mode; providing third illumination having a third intensity higher than the first intensity by the illumination assembly in the third mode for a third period of time; and controlling the illumination assembly to be configured to be in the first mode, the second mode, or the third mode based on the illumination level.The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the apparatus to: acquire images at a first frame rate by the imaging assembly in a first mode; and acquire images at a second frame rate by the imaging assembly in a second mode, wherein the second frame rate is a reduced frame rate compared to the first frame rate.The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the machine readable instructions for storing energy cause the apparatus to redirect energy from the imaging assembly and / or the lighting assembly to a capacitor electrically coupled to the illumination source of the lighting assembly.The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the third time period is a longer time period than the first time period.The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the apparatus to, in the second mode, provide no illumination from the lighting assembly and store energy by diverting energy from the lighting assembly to the energy storage element.The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a target assembly configured to provide a visual indicator of the field of view of the imaging assembly, and wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the apparatus to: provide the visual indicator of the field of view of the imaging assembly via the target assembly; perform a range detection using the visual indicator and determine a range of a target object; and control the mode of the imaging assembly and / or the lighting assembly via the controller and based on the range of the target object.The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the apparatus to control the mode of the imaging assembly and / or the lighting assembly based on a power level of the energy storage element.The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a brightness sensor configured to sense the illumination level of the environment and provide a signal indicative of the illumination level to the controller for controlling the mode of the imaging assembly and / or the illumination assembly.One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause one or more systems to: detect a lighting level of an environment of the device; provide, by a lighting assembly, a first lighting having a first intensity over a first period of time in a first mode; store, by the lighting assembly in the second mode, energy in an energy storage element in a second mode; provide, by the lighting assembly in a third mode, a third lighting having a third intensity that is higher than the first intensity; and control, by a controller, the lighting assembly to be configured to be in the first mode, the second mode, or the third mode based on the lighting level.

Images