Scanner upgrade module for bi-optic

Abstract

At least some embodiments of the present invention are directed to barcode readers having a housing with upper and lower portions, and a weigh platter. Additionally, the barcode readers include a first imaging assembly having a first imaging sensor, the first imaging assembly having a first field of view (FOV) directed through at least one of the substantially horizontal window or the substantially upright window of the housing, and a supplemental module removably coupled with at least one of the lower housing portion or the weigh platter. The supplemental module includes at least one supplemental imaging assembly having a supplemental imaging sensor having a supplemental FOV.

Description

Docket!No.!155468WO01! SCANNER!UPGRADE!MODULE!FOR!BI-OPTIC! BACKGROUND!

[0001] Bi-optic!barcode!readers!are!commonly!used!in!retail!and!grocery!store!venues!to!help!facilitate! various!transaction.!In!particular,!these!bi-optic!barcode!readers!rely!on!image!data!captured!by!one!or! more!image!sensors!to!conduct!image!analysis!and!perform!various!functions!based!on!that!analysis.!In! light!of!this,!there!is!a!continued!need!for!further!development!associated!with!the!ability!to!gather! image-based!data!for!bi-optic!barcode!reader!use.!

[0002] Accordingly,!there!is!a!need!for!improved!accessories!having!improved!functionalities.! SUMMARY!

[0003] Barcode! readers!and!assemblies!are!disclosed!herein! that! include!a!housing!having! lower!and! upper!housing!portions,!a!weigh!platter,!a!first!imaging!assembly,!and!a!supplemental!module.!The!lower! housing! portion! has! an! upper! surface! facing! a! product! scanning! region! and! a! substantially! horizontal! window.!The!upper!housing!portion!extends!above!the!lower!housing!portion!with!a!substantially!upright! window.!The!weigh!platter!supports!an!object!placed!thereon!for!obtaining!a!weight!thereof,!and!includes! a!central!region!extending!in!a!transverse!plane!that!includes!a!platter!window,!a!proximal!edge!adjacent! the! upper! housing! portion,! a! first! lateral! edge! extending! non-parallel! to! the! proximal! edge,! a! second! lateral!edge!opposite!the!first! lateral!edge!that!extends!non-parallel!to!the!proximal!edge,!and!a!distal! edge!opposite!the!proximal!edge!that!extends!non-parallel!to!the!first!and!second!lateral!edges.!The!first! imaging!assembly!has!a!first!imaging!sensor!and!has!a!first!field!of!view!(FOV)!directed!through!at!least! one!of!the!substantially!horizontal!window!or!the!substantially!upright!window.!The!supplemental!module! is!removably!coupled!with!at!least!one!of!the!lower!housing!portion!or!the!weigh!platter!near!the!distal! edge!of!the!weigh!platter!and!includes!at!least!one!supplemental!imaging!assembly!having!a!supplemental! imaging!sensor!having!a!supplemental!FOV.!

[0004] In! some! examples,! the! supplemental! module! includes! a! housing! having! a! coupling! region! to! couple!with!at!least!one!of!the!lower!housing!portion,!the!weigh!platter!portion,!or!a!frame!member.!The! housing! defines! a! cavity! to! retain! the! at! least! one! supplemental! imaging! assembly.! In! some!of! these! examples,!the!supplemental!module!may!include!two!supplemental!imaging!assemblies.!The!housing!of! the! supplemental! module! may! define! first! and! second! cavities! to! receive! each! of! the! supplemental! imaging!assemblies.!Further,!in!such!examples,!the!supplemental!module!may!include!an!arm!member! that!couples!a!portion!of!the!housing!defining!the!first!and!second!cavities.!In!these!and!other!examples,! the!first!and / or!the!second!cavity!may!extend!upwardly!through!at!least!one!opening!formed!by!the!weigh! platter!or!extend!upwardly!above!the!platter!window!while!being!covered!by!a!feature!of!the!platter.!Docket!No.!155468WO01!

[0005] In!some!approaches,!the!supplemental!module!is!at!least!partially!disposed!within!a!portion!of! the! lower! housing! portion! that! extends! above! the!weigh! platter! at! the! distal! edge! thereof.! In! some! examples,! the! supplemental! module! extends! above! the! weigh! platter! to! a! height! of! no! more! than! approximately!1!inch.!

[0006] In!some!approaches,!the!supplemental!FOV!is!directed!at!the!product!scanning!region!towards! the!upper!housing!portion!thereof.!In!some!examples,!the!supplemental!FOV!does!not!pass!through!the! substantially!horizontal!window.!

[0007] In! some! examples,! the! at! least! one! supplemental! imaging! assembly! includes! a! leading! edge! substantially!tilted!in!a!direction!above!the!horizontal!platter.!In!some!of!these!examples,!the!leading!edge! is!tilted!at!an!angle!between!approximately!25°!and!60°!relative!to!a!centerline!of!the!product.!!

[0008] Further! still,! in! some! examples,! the! at! least! one! supplemental! imaging! assembly! includes! an! illumination!system!adapted!to!illuminate!a!portion!of!the!product!scanning!region.!The!barcode!reader! may! further! include! a! visual! indicator! adapted! to! indicate! a! direction! of! the! FOV.! Further,! in! some! examples,!the!visual!indicator!may!include!an!aiming!system.!Further!still,!in!some!examples,!the!visual! indicator!may!be!visible!on!at!least!one!of!the!upper!housing!portion!or!the!weigh!platter.!

[0009] In!these!and!other!approaches,!the!barcode!reader!may!include!a!decoding!indicator!that!conveys! an!indication!of!which!FOV!decoded!the!barcode.!In!some!examples,!the!at!least!one!image!is!processed! within!the!supplemental!module.!

[0010] In!accordance!with!a!second!aspect,!a!barcode!reader!includes!a!housing,!a!weigh!platter,!a!first! imaging!assembly,!a!second!imaging!assembly,!and!a!supplemental!module.!The!housing!includes!a!lower! housing!portion!with!an!upper!surface! facing!a!product!scanning!region!and!a!substantially!horizontal! window!and!an!upper!housing!portion!extending!above!the! lower!housing!portion!with!a!substantially! upright!window.!The!weigh!platter!is!adapted!to!support!an!object!placed!thereon!for!obtaining!a!weight! of!the!object!and!includes!a!central!region!extending!in!a!transverse!plane,!the!central!region!including!a! platter!window! configured! to! permit! light! to! pass! therethrough,! a! proximal! edge! adjacent! the! upper! housing!portion,!a!first!lateral!edge!extending!non-parallel!to!the!proximal!edge,!a!second!lateral!edge,! opposite!the!first!lateral!edge,!extending!non-parallel!to!the!proximal!edge,!and!a!distal!edge,!opposite! the!proximal!edge,!extending!non-parallel!to!the!first!and!second!lateral!edges.!The!first!imaging!assembly! includes! a! first! imaging! sensor! and! has! a! first! field! of! view! (FOV)! directed! through! the! substantially! horizontal!window.!The!second!imaging!assembly!includes!a!second!imaging!sensor!and!has!a!second!field! of!view!(FOV)!directed!through!the!substantially!upright!window.!The!supplemental!module!is!adapted!to! couple!with!at!least!one!of!the!lower!housing!portion,!the!weigh!platter!near!the!distal!edge!of!the!weigh!Docket!No.!155468WO01! platter,! or! a! frame! member.! The! supplemental! module! includes! at! least! one! supplemental! imaging! assembly!having!a!supplemental!imaging!sensor!having!a!supplemental!FOV.!

[0011] In!accordance!with!a!third!aspect,!a!barcode!reader!is!provided!that!includes!a!housing,!a!weigh! platter! configured! to! support!an!object!placed! thereon! for!obtaining!a!weight!thereof,! a! first! imaging! assembly,!a!second!imaging!assembly,!and!a!supplemental!module.!The!housing!includes!a!lower!housing! portion!with!an!upper!surface!facing!a!product!scanning!region!and!a!substantially!horizontal!window!and! an!upper!housing!portion!extending!above!the!lower!housing!portion!with!a!substantially!upright!window.! The! weigh! platter! includes! a! central! region! extending! in! a! transverse! plane! and! a! platter! window! configured!to!permit!light!to!pass!therethrough,!a!proximal!edge!adjacent!the!upper!housing!portion,!a! first! lateral!edge!extending!non-parallel!to!the!proximal!edge,!a!second! lateral!edge,!opposite!the!first! lateral!edge,!extending!non-parallel!to!the!proximal!edge,!and!a!distal!edge,!opposite!the!proximal!edge,! extending!non-parallel!to!the!first!and!second!lateral!edges.!The!first!imaging!assembly!has!a!first!imaging! sensor!and!a!first!field!of!view!(FOV)!directed!through!the!substantially!horizontal!window.!The!second! imaging!assembly!has!a!second! imaging!sensor!and!a!second! field!of!view!(FOV)!directed!through!the! substantially!upright!window.!The!supplemental!module! is!removably!coupled!with!at! least!one!of!the! lower!housing!portion,!the!weigh!platter!near!the!distal!edge!thereof,!or!a!frame!member!and!includes!a! housing!having!a!first!body!region!defining!a!first!cavity,!a!second!body!region!defining!a!second!cavity,! and!a!coupling!region!adapted!to!couple!with!at!least!one!of!the!lower!housing!portion!or!the!weigh!platter! portion,!a!first!supplemental!imaging!assembly!at!least!partially!disposed!within!the!first!cavity,!the!first! supplemental!imaging!assembly!having!a!first!supplemental!imaging!sensor!having!a!first!supplemental! FOV,!a!second!supplemental!imaging!assembly!at! least!partially!disposed!within!the!second!cavity,!the! second!supplemental!imaging!assembly!having!a!second!supplemental! imaging!sensor!having!a!second! supplemental!FOV.!The!first!supplemental!FOV!and!the!second!supplemental!FOV!are!directed!such!that! they!define!a!supplemental!overlap!region!positioned!within!approximately!1^!forward!of!the!distal!edge! of!the!weigh!platter.!!

[0012] In!accordance!with!a!fourth!aspect,!a!supplemental!imaging!module!is!provided!that!includes!a! housing,! a! first! supplemental! imaging! assembly,! and! a! second! supplemental! imaging! assembly.! The! housing!has!a!first!body!region!defining!a!first!cavity,!a!second!body!region!defining!a!second!cavity,!and! a!coupling!region!adapted!to!couple!with!a!portion!of!a!barcode!reader.!The!first!supplemental!imaging! assembly!is!at!least!partially!disposed!within!the!first!cavity!and!has!a!first!supplemental!imaging!sensor! having!a!first!supplemental!FOV.!The!second!supplemental!imaging!assembly!is!at!least!partially!disposed!Docket!No.!155468WO01! within!the!second!cavity!and!has!a!second!supplemental!imaging!sensor!having!a!second!supplemental! FOV.! BRIEF!DESCRIPTION!OF!THE!DRAWINGS!

[0013] The!accompanying!figures,!where!like!reference!numerals!refer!to!identical!or!functionally!similar! elements!throughout!the!separate!views,!together!with!the!detailed!description!below,!are!incorporated! in!and!form!part!of!the!specification,!and!serve!to!further!illustrate!embodiments!of!concepts!that!include! the!claimed!invention,!and!explain!various!principles!and!advantages!of!those!embodiments.!

[0014] FIG.!1!is!a!perspective!view!of!an!example!imaging!system,!implemented!in!an!example!point-of- sale!(POS)!system,!having!a!bi-optical!(also!referred!to!as!"bi-optic")!barcode!reader!having!a!weigh!platter.!

[0015] FIG.! 2! is! a! schematic! block! diagram! of! an! example! barcode! reader! in! accordance! with! an! embodiment!of!the!present!invention.!!

[0016] FIG.!3! is!a!perspective!view!of!a!distal!portion!of!an!exemplary!weigh!platter! for!use!with! the! barcode!reader!of!FIG.!1!together!with!an!imaging!assembly!positioned!near!thereto.!

[0017] FIG.!4! is! a! top! view!of! an!example!barcode! reader! in! accordance!with! an!embodiment!of! the! present!invention.!

[0018] FIG.!5!is!a!top!view!of!an!alternative!example!barcode!reader!in!accordance!with!an!embodiment! of!the!present!invention.!

[0019] FIG.!6!is!a!top!view!of!an!alternative!example!barcode!reader!in!accordance!with!an!embodiment! of!the!present!invention.!

[0020] FIG.!7!is!a!perspective!view!of!an!example!supplemental!module!for!use!with!the!barcode!reader! of!FIG.!1!together!with!an!imaging!assembly!positioned!near!thereto.!

[0021] FIG.!8! is! a!perspective!view!of!a!distal!portion!of!an!example!weigh!platter!and! supplemental! module! for!use!with! the!barcode!reader!of!FIG.!1! together!with!an! imaging!assembly!positioned!near! thereto.!

[0022] FIG.! 9! is! a! perspective! view! of! a! distal! portion! of! an! alternative! example! weigh! platter! and! supplemental! module! for! use! with! the! barcode! reader! of! FIG.! 1! together!with! an! imaging! assembly! positioned!near!thereto.!

[0023] FIG.!10!is!a!perspective!view!of!an!example!weigh!platter!for!use!with!the!barcode!reader!of!FIG! 1.!

[0024] Skilled!artisans!will!appreciate!that!elements!in!the!figures!are!illustrated!for!simplicity!and!clarity! and!have!not!necessarily!been!drawn!to!scale.!For!example,!the!dimensions!of!some!of!the!elements!in!Docket!No.!155468WO01! the! figures! may! be! exaggerated! relative! to! other! elements! to! help! to! improve! understanding! of! embodiments!of!the!present!invention.!

[0025] The! apparatus! and! method! components! have! been! represented! where! appropriate! by! conventional! symbols! in! the! drawings,! showing! only! those! specific! details! that! are! pertinent! to! understanding!the!embodiments!of!the!present!invention!so!as!not!to!obscure!the!disclosure!with!details! that!will!be! readily!apparent! to!those!of!ordinary!skill! in! the!art!having! the!benefit!of! the!description! herein.! DETAILED!DESCRIPTION!

[0026] Generally! speaking,! pursuant! to! these! various! embodiments,! an! example! imaging! system! is! provided!that!includes!a!supplemental!module!that!effectively!increases!an!overall!field!of!view!(FOV)!of! the! imaging! system.!More! specifically,! in! some!arrangements,! the! supplemental!module!may!provide! improved!scanning!performance!of!objects!positioned!near!or!otherwise!adjacent!to!the!imaging!system.!!

[0027] FIG.! 1! illustrates! a! perspective! view! of! an! example! imaging! system! capable! of! implementing! operations!of!the!example!devices.!In!the!illustrated!example,!an!imaging!system!100!is!in!the!form!of!a! point-of-sale!(POS)!system,!having!a!workstation!102!with!a!workstation!surface!(e.g.,!a!counter)!104!and! a!bi-optical!(also!referred!to!as!"bi-optic")!barcode!reader!106.!!

[0028] In!the!illustrated!example,!the!barcode!reader!106!includes!an!upper!housing!114!(also!referred! to!as!an!upper!portion,!tower!portion,!or!upper!housing!portion)!and!a!lower!housing!112!(also!referred! to!as!a!lower!portion,!platter!portion,!or!lower!housing!portion).!The!upper!housing!114!is!characterized! by! an! optically! transmissive! window! 120! positioned! there! along! a! generally! vertical! plane! and! a! horizontally!extending!field!of!view(s)!which!passes!through!the!window!120.!The!lower!housing!112!is! characterized!by!a!weigh!platter!111!that!includes!an!optically!transmissive!window!118!positioned!there! along!a!generally!horizontal!plane!and!a!vertically!extending!field!of!view(s)!which!passes!through!the! window!118.!The!weigh!platter!111!is!a!part!of!a!weigh!platter!assembly!that!will!generally!include!the! weigh!platter!111!and!a!scale!configured!to!measure!the!weight!of!an!object!placed!on!an!example!surface! of!a!top!portion!116,!or!some!portion!thereof.!While!in!some!instances!the!weigh!platter!111!is!fixedly! secured! to! the! lower! housing! 112,! in! other! implementations! it! is! removable! by! the! barcode! reader! operator.!This!can!be!done!to,!for!example,!clean!under!the!platter!or!to!replace!the!platter!after!wear! and!tear.!As!used!herein,!the!term!near!should!at!least!be!interpreted!as!being!within!two!inches!from!a! given!feature.!In!other!implementations,!the!term!near!should!at!least!be!interpreted!as!being!within!one! inch,!half!inch,!or!quarter!inch!from!a!given!feature.!Docket!No.!155468WO01!

[0029] In!operation,!a!user!108!generally!passes!an! item!122!across!a!product!scanning!region!of!the! barcode!reader!106!in!a!swiping!motion!in!the!general!direction!107,!which!in!the!illustrated!example!is! right-to-left.! It! should!be!appreciated! that!while! items!may!be!swiped!past! the!barcode!reader!106! in! either! direction,! items!may! also! be! presented! into! the! product! scanning! region! by!means! other! than! swiping!past!the!window(s).!When!the!item!122!comes!into!the!any!of!the!fields!of!view!of!the!reader,!the! barcode!124!on!the!item!122!is!read!and!decoded!by!the!barcode!reader!106!and!corresponding!data!is! transmitted!to!a!communicatively!coupled!host!101.!In!other!instances,!items!may!need!to!be!weighed!in! order!to!be!added!to!the!ledger!of!the!transaction.!In!this!case,!an!item!is!placed!on!the!top!surface!116! of!the!platter!111!for!the!barcode!reader!106!to!sense!the!weight!of!said!item!and!transmit!information! associated!with!this!weight!to!the!host!101.!Additionally,!image!data!may!be!processed!for!other!purposes,! such!as,!for!example,!potential!ticket!switching,!sweethearting,!or!other!types!of!shrink-related!events.! Further!to!that,!image!data!captured!by!various!imaging!assemblies!may!be!used!for!other!purposes!like,! transitioning!from!a!stand-by!mode!to!a!reading!mode!(i.e.,!waking!up!a!scanner).!

[0030] In!a!preferred!embodiment!the!weigh!platter!111!of!the!barcode!reader!106!has!various!features.! Specifically,! it! includes!a!central! region!126!extending! in!a! transverse!plane.! In!most!cases!the!central! region!126!includes!a!platter!window!118!configured!to!permit!light!to!pass!therethrough.!This!light!may! both,!be!emitted!from!within!the!lower!housing!112!and!travel!into!the!interior!of!the!lower!housing!112! for! capture!by!various! imaging!components.!The!weigh!platter! 111! further! includes! a! series!of!edges! which,!in!the!illustrated!example,!include!a!proximal!edge!128!adjacent!the!upper!housing!portion!114,!a! first!lateral!edge!130!extending!non-parallel!to!the!proximal!edge!128,!a!second!lateral!edge!132!opposite! the! first! lateral!edge!130!and!extending!non-parallel! to! the!proximal!edge!128,!and!a!distal!edge!134! opposite!the!proximal!edge!128!and!extending!non-parallel!to!the!first!and!second!lateral!edges!130,!132.! In!the!illustrated!embodiment,!the!proximal,!lateral,!and!distal!edges!form!a!substantially!square!shape.! However,!other!shapes!are!within!the!scope!of!this!disclosure!and!the!edge!arrangement!can,!for!example,! result!in!the!weight!platter!111!having!a!substantially!rectangular!shape!whereby!lateral!edges!130!and! 132!are!longer!than!the!perpendicularly!positioned!proximal!and!distal!edges!128!and!134.!Similarly,!the! edge!positioning!can!result!in!the!weigh!platter!having!other!regular!or!irregular!shapes.!

[0031] As!can!be!seen! in!the!block!diagram!of!FIG.!2,! the!barcode!reader!106! includes!a! first! imaging! assembly!136!that!includes!a!first!imaging!sensor!138!with!a!respective!imaging!lens!or!lens!group.!Imaging! sensor!138!is!a!solid-state!device,!for!example,!a!CCD!or!a!CMOS!imager,!having!a!one-dimensional!array! of!addressable!image!sensors!or!pixels!arranged!in!a!single!row,!or!a!two-dimensional!array!of!addressable! image!sensors!or!pixels!arranged!in!mutually!orthogonal!rows!and!columns,!and!operative!for!detecting!Docket!No.!155468WO01! return!light!captured!by!the!respective!lens!group!over!an!imaging!field!of!view!(FOV)!140!along!an!imaging! axis!142!that!is!normal!to!the!substantially!flat!image!sensor!138!through!the!substantially!upright!window! 120.!The!return!light!is!scattered!and / or!reflected!from!an!item!over!the!FOV.!In!some!embodiments,!the! imaging!axis!142!is!coaxial!with!a!central!axis!of!the!lens!group.!The!lens!group!is!operative!for!focusing! the!return!light!onto!the!array!of!pixels!to!enable!the!characteristics!(e.g.,!barcode(s))!associated!with!the! item!to!be!read.!In!particular,!the!light!that!impinges!on!the!pixels!is!sensed!and!the!output!of!those!pixels! produce! image!data! that! is! associated!with! the!environment! that! appears!within! the! FOV! (which! can! include!the!target).!This!image!data!may!be!processed!by!a!controller!144!(e.g.,!by!being!sent!to!a!decoder)! which!identifies!and!decodes!decodable!indicia!captured!in!the!image!data.!Once!the!decode!is!performed! successfully,!the!reader!can!signal!a!successful!^read^!of!the!target!(e.g.,!a!barcode).!!

[0032] In! addition! to! the! imaging! sensor! 138,! the! imaging! assembly! 136! can! include! one! or! more! illumination! sources! 146! operable! to! provide! light! that! is! directed! into! the! product! scanning! region! through!the!substantially!upright!window!120.!Under!typical!conditions,!when!the!imaging!sensor!138!is! operating!to!capture!light!from!the!product!scanning!region!to!produce!image!data,!illumination!sources! 146!are!activated!to!provide!illumination!of!the!target!and!hence!enhance!visibility!of!the!target!as!^seen^! by! the! imaging! sensor! 138.! In! a! preferred! embodiment,! the! one! or! more! illumination! sources! 146! comprise!a! light!emitting!diode! (LED)! that! is! synchronized,!at! least!partially,!with! the!exposure!of! the! imaging!sensor!138.!

[0033] It!should!be!appreciated!that!the!barcode!reader!106!can!be!configured!with!one!or!more!primary! imaging!assemblies!that!direct!various!FOVs!through!the!combination!of! the!substantially!vertical!and! substantially!horizontal!windows!120,!118.!To!that!end,!if!a!single!imaging!assembly!is!used,!various!mirror! arrangements!can!be!employed!to!split!the!assembly^s!FOV!and!direct!one!portion!of!that!FOV!through! window!120!and!direct!another!portion!of!that!FOV!through!windows!118.!This!can!include!one!or!more! splitter!mirrors! and / or! one! or!more! folding!mirrors!whereby! the! various! portions! of! the! FOV! can! be! directed!in!a!desired!manner.!!

[0034] Alternatively,! and! as! illustrated,! multiple! imaging! assemblies! can! be! used.! For! example,! the! barcode!reader!106!can!employ!a!second!imaging!assembly!148!that! is!similar!in!operation!to! imaging! assembly!136.!That!is,!the!imaging!assembly!148!can!include!a!second!imaging!sensor!150!along!with!a! respective!lens!or!lens!group!and!one!or!more!illumination!sources!152!operable!to!provide!light!that!is! directed!into!the!product!scanning!region!through!the!substantially!horizontal!window!118.!Under!typical! conditions,!when!the!second!imaging!sensor!150!is!operating!to!capture!light!from!the!product!scanning! region!over!FOV!151!to!produce!image!data,!illumination!sources!152!are!activated!to!provide!illumination!Docket!No.!155468WO01! of!the!target!and!hence!enhance!visibility!of!the!target!as!^seen^!by!the!imaging!sensor!150.!In!a!preferred! embodiment,! the!one! or!more! illumination! sources! 152! comprise! a! light! emitting! diode! (LED)! that! is! synchronized,!at!least!partially,!with!the!exposure!of!the!imaging!sensor!150.!

[0035] It!is!to!be!appreciated!that!any!of!the!imaging!assemblies!136,!148!may!be!in!the!form!of!bioptic! scanner.!!

[0036] While!not!expressly!illustrated,!it!should!be!appreciated!that!the!position!and!orientation!of!the! imaging!assemblies!disclosed!herein!are!merely!provided!as!examples,!and!unless!otherwise!indicated,! these!assemblies!can!be!positioned!anywhere!within!the!upper!and!lower!housing!along!with!any!mirrors! which!allow!for!any!of!the!one!or!more!FOVs!to!be!redirected!in!a!desired!manner.!!

[0037] The!bi-optic!barcode!reader!106!further!includes!a!supplemental!module!160!that!includes!any! number!of!supplemental!imaging!assemblies!162.!In!the!illustrated!example,!the!supplemental!module! 160!is!positioned!near!the!distal!edge!134!of!the!weigh!platter!111.!While!the!illustrated!examples!depict! a! supplemental! module! 160! that! includes! two! supplemental! imaging! assemblies! 162,! it! is! to! be! appreciated!that!other! implementations!may!include!fewer!or!more! imaging!assemblies!as!desired.!As! with! the! first! and! second! imaging! assemblies! 136,! 148,! a! first! supplemental! imaging! assembly! 162a! includes!an! imaging! sensor!164a!with!a! respective! imaging! lens!or! lens!group,!and! similarly,!a! second! supplemental!imaging!assembly!162b!includes!an!imaging!sensor!164b!with!a!respective!imaging!lens!or! lens!group.!In!some!examples,!the!imaging!sensors!164a,!164b!are!solid-state!devices,!for!example,!CCD! or!a!CMOS!imagers,!having!a!one-dimensional!array!of!addressable!image!sensors!or!pixels!arranged!in!a! single! row,! or! a! two-dimensional! array! of! addressable! image! sensors! or! pixels! arranged! in!mutually! orthogonal!rows!and!columns,!and!operative!for!detecting!return!light!captured!by!the!respective!lens! group!over!an!imaging!fields!of!view!(FOV)!165a,!165b!along!imaging!axes!165a,!165b!that!are!each!normal! to!the!substantially! flat! image! sensors!164a,!164b.!The! return! light! is! scattered!and / or! reflected! from! objects!over!the!FOV.!In!some!embodiments,!the!imaging!axes!are!each!coaxial!with!a!central!axis!of!the! respective!lens!group,!each!of!which!is!operative!for!focusing!the!return!light!onto!the!array!of!pixels!to! enable! focused!capture!of! image!data!of!an!environment!appearing!within! the! respective!FOVs!165a,! 165b.!In!particular,!the!light!that!impinges!on!the!pixels!is!sensed!and!the!output!of!those!pixels!produce! image!data!that!is!associated!with!the!environment!that!appears!within!the!FOV!(which!can!include!the! target).!This!image!data!may!be!processed!by!the!controller!144.!Additionally,!or!alternatively,!it!may!be! processed!by!a!separate!supplemental!controller!168!which!may!be!disposed!within!or!otherwise!coupled! with! the! supplemental! module! 160.! Furthermore,! controllers! 144! and! 168! may! be! communicatively! coupled!with!each!other!to!enable!desired!functionality.!Docket!No.!155468WO01!

[0038] With!particular!reference!to!FIG.!7,!the!supplemental!module!160!includes!a!housing!161!having! an!arm!170!operably!connecting!respective!first!and!second!supplemental!imaging!housings!172a,!172b.! In!some!implementations,!the!arm!170!may!include!an!interior!cavity!that!houses!electronics,!data!and / or! power!communication!cables,!and / or! interconnects.!Each!of!the!supplemental! imaging!housings!172a,! 172b! include! an! interior! cavity! 173a,! 173b! that! accommodate! at! least! a! portion! of! the! supplemental! imaging!assemblies!162a,!162b.!Further,!the!supplemental!module!160!includes!any!number!of!coupling! regions!167!to!allow!the!supplemental!module!160!to!be!operably!coupled!with!the!imaging!system!100.! More!specifically,!in!some!examples,!the!supplemental!module!160!may!couple!(e.g.,!removably!couple)! with!a!portion!of!the!lower!housing!112,!the!weigh!platter!111,!and / or!a!frame!member!102a!(see!FIG.!3)! of!the!workstation!102.!Such!removable!couplings!may!be!provided!in!any!suitable!manner!such!as,!for! example,! a! friction-fit! coupling,! a! notch-and-protrusion! coupling,! and / or! by! using! fasteners! or! other! securing!mechanisms.!Other!examples!are!possible.!In!some!examples,!and!as!illustrated!in!FIGS.!8,!10,!&! 11,!the!intersections!of!the!first!and!second!lateral!edges!130,!132!with!the!distal!edge!134!of!the!weigh! platter!111!may!include!cutout!regions!129!that!accommodate!respective!portions!of!the!supplemental! imaging!housings!172a,!172b.!It!is!to!be!appreciated!that!any!number!of!desired!alignment!features!such! as,!for!example,!grooves,!notches,!ribs,!and!the!like,!may!be!provided!on!the!supplemental!module!160! and / or!portions!of!the!frame!member!102a,!the!lower!housing!112,!and / or!the!weigh!platter!111.!Other! arrangements!are!possible.!!

[0039] In!some!implementations,!it!may!be!advantageous!to!couple!the!supplemental!module!160!with! a!portion!of!the!lower!housing!112!or!the!frame!member!102a!as!opposed!to!coupling!with!the!weigh! platter! 111! to! avoid! impeding! movement! of! the! weigh! platter! 111.! More! specifically,! in! some! environments,! the! weigh! platter! 111! undergoes! a! certification! to! ensure! it! is! providing! accurate! measurements.!In!the!event!that!the!supplemental!module!160!includes!wires!and / or!other!components! that!could!interfere!with!the!free-loading!nature!of!the!weigh!platter!111,!mounting!the!supplemental! module! 160! to! a! different! component!may! reduce! and / or! eliminate! such! potential! interference!with! weighing!accuracy.!

[0040] In! some! embodiments,! the! weigh! platter! 111! may! include! a! transparent! cover! to! shield! the! supplemental! imaging!assemblies!162a,!162b!from!debris!or!items!being!dragged!across!the!platter.!In! this! implementation,! the! imaging! assemblies! 162a,! 162b! along!with! the! supporting! circuit! board! are! supported! by! the! lower! housing! portion! 112.! To! enable! the! imaging! assemblies! 162a,! 162b! to! have! appropriately!directed!FOVs,! it!may!be!preferable!to!position!at! least!a!portion!thereof!above!the!top! surface!of!the!platter!111.!As!such,!the!weigh!platter!111!can!include!appropriately!formed!cutouts!129!Docket!No.!155468WO01! configured! to! accommodate! the! appropriate! portions! of! the! imaging! assemblies! 162a,! 162b.! Put! differently,!in!some!examples,!portions!of!the!supplemental!imaging!housings!172a,!172b!and!thus!the! cavities!173a,!173b!formed!thereby!may!extend!upwardly!through!at! least!one!opening!or!cutout!129! formed!by!the!weigh!platter!111!or!may!generally!extend!upwardly!above!the!weigh!platter!111!while! being!covered!by!a!feature!thereof!(not!illustrated).!More!specifically,!in!some!examples,!the!platter!may! be!designed!to!accommodate!the!supplemental!imaging!assemblies!such!that!the!top!portion!of!the!distal! end!of!the!platter!extends!above!the!main!portion!(e.g.,!where!the!platter!window!is!disposed)!of!the! platter.!In!examples!where!the!supplemental!module!160!is!disposed!within!a!portion!of!the!lower!housing! portion! 112,! such! a! portion! itself! may! extend! above! the! weigh! platter! 111.! In! some! examples,! the! supplemental! module! 160! may! extend! above! the! weigh! platter! 111! to! a! height! no! more! than! approximately!1^!so!as! to!reduce!potential! interference!when!a!user!moves!an! item!across!the!weigh! platter!111.!!

[0041] Additionally,! the! supplemental! imaging! housings! 172a,! 172b! can! form! a! cover! or! a! suitable! vertically!extending!protrusion! configured! to!protect! the! imaging!assemblies!162a,! 162b! from! foreign! items!that!may!come!in!contact!therewith.!

[0042] Referring! now! to! FIGS.! 2-6,! the! various! fields! of! view! of! the! imaging! assemblies!will! now! be! described.!More!specifically,!the!FOVs!165a,!165b!of!the!supplemental! imaging!assemblies!162a,!162b! may! be! oriented! in! the! direction! of! the! product! scanning! region! in! any! desirable! manner.! In! some! implementations!the!FOVs!165a,!165b!of!the!supplemental!imaging!assemblies!162a,!162b!are!oriented! with!respect!to!the!FOV!140!of!the!first!imaging!assembly!136!such!that!the!angle!#!between!the!optical! axis!142!and!respective!imaging!axes!166a,!166b!exceeds!90!degrees.!In!a!preferred!embodiment,!this! angle!#!is!between!110!degrees!and!180!degrees.!Other!examples!are!possible.!!

[0043] Notably,!the!FOVs!165a,!165b!of!the!supplemental!imaging!assemblies!162a,!162b!may!be!angled! or!otherwise!tilted!with!respect!to!the!horizontal!plane!and / or!the!weigh!platter!111.!As!will!be!discussed,! such!an!arrangement!advantageously!complements!the!positioning!of!the!first!imaging!assembly!136!to! provide!an! improved!scannable!region!above!the!weigh!platter!111!and!to!combine!for!360°!coverage! around!a!vertical!and!a!horizontal!axis!in!the!product!scanning!region.!

[0044] While!the!FOVs!165a,!165b!can!have!any!desired!cross-section,!in!a!preferred!embodiment,!they! each! are! in! the! form! of! a! rectangular! cross-section.!With! particular! reference! to! FIG.! 4,! the! second! supplemental!imaging!sensor!164b!has!a!FOV!165b!having!a!first!lateral!boundary!176a!extending!above! the!first!lateral!edge!130!of!the!weigh!platter!111!and!a!second!lateral!boundary!178a!extending!above! the!weigh!platter!111!such!that!the!FOV!165b!encompasses!all!or!substantially!all!of! the!window!118.!Docket!No.!155468WO01! Further,!the!first!supplemental!imaging!sensor!164a!has!a!FOV!165a!having!a!first!lateral!boundary!176b! that!extends!above!the!weigh!platter!111!and!a!second! lateral!boundary!178b!that!extends!above!the! second!lateral!edge!132!such!that!the!FOV!165a!encompasses!all!or!substantially!all!of!the!window!118.! As!shown!in!FIG.!4,!these!supplemental!imaging!assemblies!162a,!162b!encapsulate!greater!than!50%!of! a! region! above! the! weigh! platter! 111! and! interest! at! a! point! before! the! window! 118.! When! the! supplemental! module! 160! is! used! in! conjunction! with! the! first! imaging! assembly! 136,! the! FOV! 140! provides!additional!coverage!in!the!region!above!the!weigh!platter!111,!while!the!FOV!151!of!the!second! imaging!sensor!150!provides!for!a!generally!vertical!coverage!area!that!encapsulates!the!volume!above! the!window!118.!!

[0045] Generally!speaking,!the!FOVS!140,!151,!165a,!165b!cooperate!to!cover!the!space!above!the!weigh! platter!111.!Specific!intersection!angles!may!be!determined!by!a!standard!with!of!the!scanner!and / or!a! standard!length!of!the!platter!when!accounting!for!a!pixel!resolution!of!each!imaging!sensor!138,!150,! 164a,!164b.!!

[0046] It! should!be!appreciated!what!any!of!the! image!sensors!noted! in! this!disclosure!can!be!either! monochrome!or! polychrome! (i.e.,! colored).! In! implementations!where! polychrome! image! sensors! are! implemented,!object!recognition!capabilities!may!be!realized!to!assist!with!desired!retail!considerations.!!

[0047] While! each! of! the! imaging! assemblies! disclosed! herein! may! include! similar! or! identical! components,!data!received!from!each!of!the!assemblies!may!be!processed!in!accordance!with!respectively! predefined!criteria.!For!example,!image!data!received!from!imaging!assemblies!136,!148,!162a,!162b!may! be!processed!primarily!for!the!detection!and!decoding!of!barcodes!that!may!appear!within!the!respective! FOVs.!While!this!may!be!an!objective!of!image!analysis!coming!from!these!assemblies,!this!should!not!be! interpreted!as!limiting!and!image!data!from!these!assemblies!can!further!be!used!for!object!and / or!object! characteristic!detection.!Additionally,!image!data!received!from!any!of!the!image!assemblies!can!be!in!a! form!of!singular!images,!image!sets,!or!video!streams!comprising!a!plurality!of!images.!It!should!also!be! appreciated!that!the!processing!of!the!data!from!these!assemblies!can!occur!via!different!physical!and / or! logical! pipelines.! For! example,! processing! of! image! data! obtained! from! the! first! or! second! imaging! assemblies!136,!148!may!be!processed!through!a!first!processing!pipeline,!and!the!processing!of!image! data! obtained! from! the! supplemental! imaging! assemblies! 162a,! 162b! may! be! processed! through! a! separate!processing!pipeline.!In!such!examples,!the!second!processing!pipeline!may!be!at!least!partially! implemented!within!the!supplemental!module!160!itself!and!may!include!non-barcode!decoding!vision! operations!(e.g.,!the!processing!of!image!data!for!the!detection!of!an!item).!These!modules!can!be!logically! different!or!they!may!be!implemented!on!separate!hardware!components.!Docket!No.!155468WO01!

[0048] So!arranged,!the!multi-directional!orientation!of!the!various!FOVs!of!a!barcode!reader!described! herein!can!also!be!advantageously!used!to!render!an!at-least!partial!three-dimensional!representation!of! an! item! presented! in! the! product! scanning! region! of! the! barcode! reader! 106! and / or! determine! a! dimension!associated!with!the!item!presented!in!the!product!scanning!region!of!the!barcode!reader!106.! This!can!be!done!in!accordance!with!the!processing!criteria!described!above.!The!optical!arrangements! described!here!provide!for!a!robust!system!to!read!codes!facing!in!every!direction!depending!on!how!the! field!of! use! is!oriented.!The! supplemental!module!160!provides! a! field-upgradeable!module! that!may! increase!the!overall!FOV!in!a!retrofit!manner.!In!some!arrangements,!the!supplemental!module!160!may! include! components! to! provide! for! a! ^plug-and-play^! arrangement! whereby! power! and / or! data! transmission! may! be! quickly! initiated! via! the! use! of! electronic! couplings! and / or! connectors.! The! supplemental!module!160!may!include!instructions!for!synchronizing!with!the!first!and!the!second!imaging! assemblies!136,!148.!!

[0049] It!is!to!be!appreciated!that!in!some!examples,!the!imaging!system!100!may!include!any!number! of!additional!features!to!assist!with!usability.!For!example,!in!some!embodiments,!the!barcode!reader!106! can!be!connected!to!or!include!a!point-of-sale!user!interface!(POSUI).!The!POSUI!can!be!communicatively! coupled!to!the!barcode!reader!106!and!can!be!generally!positioned!at!or!near!the!upper!housing!portion! 114.! The! POSUI! can! include! devices! like! a! display! (touchscreen! or! passive),! keyboard,! credit-card! processing! device,! and! the! like.! In! some! embodiments,! the! supplemental!module! 160,!which!may! be! generally!oriented!towards!the!POSUI,!is!configured!such!that!its!FOVS!165a,!165b,!or!at!least!a!portion! thereof,!are!directed!in!a!generally!upward!direction!(such!as!what!is!shown!in!FIG.!2)!such!that!the!at! least! the! portion! of! these! FOVs! capture! at! least! some! portion! of! the!POSUI.!Having! image! data! that! includes!the!POSUI!can!help!identify!instances!of!shrink!events.!For!example,!when!an!item!is!scanned!and! entered!into!the!transaction!log,!a!user!may!subsequently!interact!with!the!POSUI!to!remove!that!item! from!the!transaction!or!otherwise!alter!its!price.!Having!image!data!(in!the!form!of!photographs!or!video)! can! help! identify! instances! of! such! behavior! and! trigger! appropriate!mitigating! response(s).! in! other! examples,!the!POSUI!may!provide!a!video!feed!of!any!number!of!the!provided!FOVs!to!assist!with!usability! of!the!workstation!102.!!

[0050] In!some!examples,!the!system!100!may!include!any!number!of!indicators!to!improve!usability.!For! example,!a!visual!indicator!may!be!provided!that!directs!a!user!towards!the!product!scanning!region.!In! some!examples,!such!a!visual!indicator!may!be!in!the!form!of!a!marking!(e.g.,!an!etching,!a!label,!and!the! like)! disposed!on!or!near! the!weigh!platter!111.! In!other!examples,! any!number!of! the! supplemental!Docket!No.!155468WO01! imaging!housings!172a,!172b!may!include!an!indicator!such!as!an!arrow!on!an!upper!surface!thereof!that! is!directed!in!the!direction!of!the!FOV!165a,!165b.!Other!examples!are!possible.!!

[0051] In!some!examples,!an!aiming!assembly!(not!illustrated)!may!also!be!provided.!Such!an!assembly! may!provide!a!visual!indicator!for!the!location!of!the!imaging!axes!166a,!166b,!and!may!be!visible!on!the! product!during!scanning.!!

[0052] The!system!100!may!include!any!number!of!additional!indicators!such!as,!for!example,!a!decoding! indicator!that!provides!an!indication!of!which!imaging!assembly!136,!148,!162a,!162b!captured!an!image! of!the!item!122.!For!example,!a!light!pattern!or!an!audible!indicator!may!be!provided!having!unique!visual! and / or! audible! indicators! associated!with! each! imaging! assembly! to! convey! information! about!which! imaging!assembly!decoded!the!barcode!and / or!otherwise!captured!an! image.! In!other!examples,!each! imaging!assembly!may!have!a!light!positioned!in!close!proximity!thereto!that!may!illuminate!when!the! specific!imaging!assembly!captures!an!image.!The!system!100!may!additionally!track!such!image!capture! events!to!assist!with!determining!how!users!engage!the!workstation!102!to!scan!products.!!

[0053] In! some! examples,! the! supplemental!module! 160!may! include! an! illumination! assembly! (not! illustrated).! In! some! examples,! different! illumination! assemblies! may! be! provided! for! each! of! the! supplemental!imaging!assemblies!162a,!162b.!In!any!of!these!arrangements,!the!illumination!assembly!or! assemblies!may!be!configured! such! that! they!generate!a! light!pattern! that! terminates!at!a!point! that! matches!an!upper!edge!of!the!upper!housing!114!to!prevent!light!from!shining!in!a!user^s!eyes.!

[0054] The! supplemental! module! 160! described! herein! may! be! used! with! differently-dimensioned! workstations!102.!For!example,!with!reference!to!FIGS.!8!and!9,!which!illustrate!alternative!lower!housings! 112^,!112^^!and!frame!members!102a^,!102a^,!the!respective!weigh!platters!may!be!dimensioned!such!that! the! supplemental! module! is! positioned! at! different! lengths! from! the! window.! In! any! of! these! implementations,! the! resulting! FOVs! of! the! supplemental! module! may! be! arranged! such! that! they! intersect!within!approximately!2.5^!from!the!distal!edge!of!the!respective!weigh!platter.!!

[0055] Further,!in!some!examples!and!as!illustrated!in!FIGS.!5!and!6,!the!first!imaging!assembly!136!may! be!in!the!form!of!a!bioptic!reader!that!has!a!number!of!FOVs.!In!these!examples,!the!imaging!assembly! includes!two!(FIG.!5)!or!three!(FIG.!6)!FOVs.!It!is!to!be!appreciated!that!other!arrangements!are!possible.!!

[0056] In!yet!other!examples! (not! illustrated)!the!supplemental!module!may!not! include!an!arm,!and! instead!may!be!provided!as!two!(or!more)!discrete!supplemental!imaging!housing!or!modules.!!

[0057] Having!image!data!from!the!various!orientations!disclosed!herein!can!be!advantageously!used!to! detect!shrink!events.!For!example,!a!shrink!event!can!be!identified!by!(i)!processing!image!data!from!the! image!assemblies!136,!148!to!identify!an!item!identifier!based!on!an!indicia!(like!a!barcode)!present!in!the!Docket!No.!155468WO01! first!image!data,!(ii)!processing!the!image!data!from!the!supplemental!imaging!assemblies!162a,!162b!to! identify!an!item!characteristic!based!on!a!physical!appearance!of!the!item!present!in!that!data,!and!(iii)! detecting!a!mismatch!between!the!item!identifier!and!the!item!characteristic.!For!instance,!image!data! from!the!image!assemblies!136,!148!can!include!a!barcode!that!is!associated!with!first!item.!On!the!other! hand,!image!data!from!the!imaging!assemblies!162a,!162b!can!be!analyzed!to!determine!that!the!item! appearing!with!said!image!data!does!not!display!physical!characteristics!(shape,!color,!texture,!etc.)!that! should!be!associated!with!the!first!item!or!includes!physical!characteristics!not!associated!with!the!first! item.!Such!a!mismatch!can!be!the!basis!for!a!potential!shrink!event!and!can!be!used!to!generate!either!an! alert!local!to!the!barcode!reader!106!and / or!the!POSUI,!be!transmitted!to!appropriate!personnel,!cause!a! transaction!receipt!to!include!an!appropriate!marking,!and!so!on.!

[0058] Similarly,! image! data! from! the! imaging! assemblies! 136,! 148,!162a,! 162b! can! be! processed! to! detect!movement!within!the!product!scanning!region!during!a!timeframe,!identify!a!lack!of!a!decodable! indicia!being!present!in!the!image!data!during!the!timeframe,!and!identify!an!item!being!present!in!the! scanning!region!during!the!timeframe.!Such!event!can!again!signal!a!potential!shrink!event!as!an!item!has! been!passing!through!a!product!scanning!region!without!being!added!to!a!transaction!log.!

[0059] The!embodiments!described!herein!may!be!particularly!useful! for! instances!where! liquids! find! their!way!onto!the!platter!of!barcode!readers.!It!has!been!recognized!that!liquids,!when!spilled!on!existing! platters!have!a!tendency!to!transition!to!regions!below!the!platter,!causing!structural!and!electrical!issues! with! barcode! readers! like! those! described! herein.! Similarly,!matter!which!may! come!off! produce! can! similarly!pose!issues!when!it!finds!its!way!below!the!platter.!Providing!the!configurations!disclosed!herein! may!reduce!those!instances!as!these!configurations!may!help!retain!foreign!matter!on!a!top!surface!of! the!platter,!allowing!a!user!to!remove!said!matter!without!causing!harm!to!the!reader.!

[0060] Additionally,!such!an!arrangement!described!herein!allows!the!central!axis!of!the!platter!FOV!to! be!vertical!or!essentially!vertical,!which!may!allow!the!platter!FOV!to!be!used!more!versatilely!(e.g.,!for! video-based!operations).! Because! the! supplemental! imaging!module! includes! imaging! systems! having! FOVs! that! are! facing! the! upper! housing! portion,! an! operator!may! advantageously! capture! images! of! barcodes!which!may!be!tilted!towards!the!operator.!By!this!virtue,!the!system!is!no!longer!as!dependent! on!the!imaging!system!disposed!within!the!platter!to!capture!images!of!such!tilted!barcodes.!As!such,!the! optics! associated! with! the! platter! or! generally! horizontal! FOV! can! be! oriented! perpendicular! or! substantially!perpendicular!(e.g.,!with!approximately!5°)!to!the!plane!defined!by!the!platter.!

[0061] The!above!description!may!refer!to!a!block!diagram!of!the!accompanying!drawings.!Alternative! implementations!of!the!example!represented!by!the!block!diagram!includes!one!or!more!additional!or!Docket!No.!155468WO01! alternative!elements,!processes!and / or!devices.!Additionally!or!alternatively,!one!or!more!of!the!example! blocks!of!the!diagram!may!be!combined,!divided,!re-arranged!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!including!at!least!one!hardware!component!configured!(e.g.,!via!operation!in!accordance! with! 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!a!logic! circuit!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!specifically! configured!hardware!for!performing!operations!(e.g.,!one!or!more!of!the!operations!described!herein!and! represented!by!the! flowcharts!of! this!disclosure,! if! such!are!present).!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!such!are!present).! Some!example!logic!circuits!include!a!combination!of!specifically!configured!hardware!and!hardware!that! executes!machine-readable!instructions.!!

[0062] As! used! herein,! each! of! the! terms! ^tangible! machine-readable! medium,^! ^non-transitory! machine-readable!medium^! and! ^machine-readable! storage! device^! is! expressly! defined! as! a! storage! medium!(e.g.,!a!platter!of!a!hard!disk!drive,!a!digital!versatile!disc,!a!compact!disc,!flash!memory,!read- only!memory,!random-access!memory,!etc.)!on!which!machine-readable!instructions!(e.g.,!program!code! in!the!form!of,!for!example,!software!and / or!firmware)!are!stored!for!any!suitable!duration!of!time!(e.g.,! permanently,!for!an!extended!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! cached!and / or!during!a!buffering!process)).!Further,!as!used!herein,!each!of!the!terms!^tangible!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!^tangible!machine-readable!medium,^!^non-transitory!machine-readable!medium,^!and!^machine- readable!storage!device^!can!be!read!to!be!implemented!by!a!propagating!signal.!Docket!No.!155468WO01!

[0063] In! the! foregoing! specification,! specific! embodiments! have! been! described.! However,! one! of! ordinary!skill!in!the!art!appreciates!that!various!modifications!and!changes!can!be!made!without!departing! from!the!scope!of!the!invention!as!set!forth!in!the!claims!below.!Accordingly,!the!specification!and!figures! are!to!be!regarded!in!an!illustrative!rather!than!a!restrictive!sense,!and!all!such!modifications!are!intended! to! be! included! within! the! scope! of! present! teachings.! Additionally,! the! described! embodiments / examples / implementations!should!not!be! interpreted!as!mutually!exclusive,!and!should! instead!be!understood!as!potentially!combinable!if!such!combinations!are!permissive!in!any!way.!In!other! words,! any! feature! disclosed! in! any! of! the! aforementioned! embodiments / examples / implementations! may!be!included!in!any!of!the!other!aforementioned!embodiments / examples / implementations.!

[0064] The!benefits,!advantages,!solutions!to!problems,!and!any!element(s)!that!may!cause!any!benefit,! advantage,! or! solution! to! occur! or! become!more! pronounced! are! not! to! be! construed! as! a! critical,! required,!or!essential!features!or!elements!of!any!or!all!the!claims.!The!claimed!invention!is!defined!solely! by!the!appended!claims!including!any!amendments!made!during!the!pendency!of!this!application!and!all! equivalents!of!those!claims!as!issued.!

[0065] Moreover!in!this!document,!relational!terms!such!as!first!and!second,!top!and!bottom,!and!the! like!may!be!used!solely!to!distinguish!one!entity!or!action!from!another!entity!or!action!without!necessarily! requiring!or!implying!any!actual!such!relationship!or!order!between!such!entities!or!actions.!The!terms! "comprises,"!"comprising,"!^has^,!^having,^!^includes^,!^including,^!^contains^,!^containing^!or!any!other! variation!thereof,!are!intended!to!cover!a!non-exclusive!inclusion,!such!that!a!process,!method,!article,!or! apparatus!that!comprises,!has,!includes,!contains!a!list!of!elements!does!not!include!only!those!elements! but!may! include! other! elements! not! expressly! listed! or! inherent! to! such! process,!method,! article,! or! apparatus.!An!element!proceeded!by!^comprises!^a^,!^has!^a^,!^includes!^a^,!^contains!^a^!does!not,! without!more!constraints,!preclude!the!existence!of!additional!identical!elements!in!the!process,!method,! article,!or! apparatus! that! comprises,! has,! includes,! contains! the!element.!The! terms!^a^! and!^an^! are! defined!as!one!or!more!unless!explicitly!stated!otherwise!herein.!The!terms!^substantially^,!^essentially^,! ^approximately^,!^about^!or!any!other!version!thereof,!are!defined!as!being!close!to!as!understood!by! one!of!ordinary!skill!in!the!art,!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!certain!way!is!configured!in!at! least!that!way,!but!may!also!be!configured!in!ways!that!are!not!listed.!Docket!No.!155468WO01!

[0066] The!Abstract!of!the!Disclosure!is!provided!to!allow!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! grouped! together! in! various! embodiments! for! the! purpose! of! streamlining! 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!lie!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

Docket!No.!155468WO01! The!claims!are:!! 1. A!barcode!reader!comprising:! a!housing!having! (i)! a! lower!housing!portion!with! an!upper! surface! facing! a!product! scanning! region!and!a!substantially!horizontal!window!and!(ii)!an!upper!housing!portion!extending!above!the!lower! housing!portion!with!a!substantially!upright!window;!! a!weigh!platter!configured!to!support!an!object!placed!on!the!weigh!platter!for!obtaining!a!weight! of!the!object,!the!weigh!platter!having:! a!central! region!extending!in!a!transverse!plane,!the!central! region! including!a! platter!window!configured!to!permit!light!to!pass!therethrough;! a!proximal!edge!adjacent!the!upper!housing!portion;! a!first!lateral!edge!extending!non-parallel!to!the!proximal!edge;! a!second!lateral!edge,!opposite!the!first! lateral!edge,!extending!non-parallel!to! the!proximal!edge;!and! a!distal!edge,!opposite!the!proximal!edge,!extending!non-parallel!to!the!first!and! second!lateral!edges;!! ! a!first! imaging!assembly!having!a!first! imaging!sensor,!the!first!imaging!assembly!having!a!first! field!of!view!(FOV)!directed!through!at!least!one!of!the!substantially!horizontal!window!or!the!substantially! upright!window;!! ! a!supplemental!module!removably!coupled!with!at!least!one!of!the!lower!housing!portion,!the! weigh!platter!near!the!distal!edge!thereof,!or!a!frame!member,! the!supplemental!module! including!at! least!one!supplemental!imaging!assembly!having!a!supplemental!imaging!sensor!having!a!supplemental! FOV.! 2. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!1,!wherein!the!supplemental!module!comprises!a!housing!having!a! coupling! region! adapted! to! couple!with! at! least! one! of! the! lower! housing! portion,! the!weigh! platter! portion,!or!a!frame!member,!the!housing!defining!a!cavity!to!retain!the!at!least!one!supplemental!imaging! assembly.! 3. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!2,!wherein!the!supplemental!module!comprises!two!supplemental! imaging!assemblies,!the!housing!of!the!supplemental!module!defining!a!first!cavity!and!a!second!cavity!to! receive!each!of!the!supplemental!imaging!assemblies.! 4. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!3,!further!comprising!an!arm!member!adapted!to!couple!a!portion!of! the!housing!defining!the!first!cavity!and!a!portion!of!the!housing!defining!the!second!cavity.!Docket!No.!155468WO01! 5. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!3,!wherein!the!first!cavity!and / or!the!second!cavity!are!adapted!to:! 1)!extend!upwardly!through!at! least!one!opening!formed!by!the!weigh!platter;!or!2)!extend!upwardly! above!the!platter!window!while!being!covered!by!a!feature!of!the!platter.! 6. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!1,!wherein!the!supplemental!module! is!at! least!partially!disposed! within!a!portion!of! the! lower!housing!portion! that!extends!above!the!weigh!platter!at! the!distal!edge! thereof.! 7. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!1,!wherein!the!supplemental!module!extends!above!the!weigh!platter! to!a!height!of!no!more!than!approximately!1!inch.! 8. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!1,!wherein!the!supplemental!FOV!is!directed!at!the!product!scanning! region!towards!the!upper!housing!portion.! 9. The! barcode! reader! of! claim! 1,! wherein! the! supplemental! FOV! does! not! pass! through! the! substantially!horizontal!window.! 10. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!1,!wherein!the!at!least!one!supplemental!imaging!assembly!includes! a!leading!edge!substantially!tilted!in!a!direction!above!the!horizontal!platter.! 11. The! barcode! reader! of! claim! 10,! wherein! the! leading! edge! is! tilted! at! an! angle! between! approximately!25°!and!60°!relative!to!a!centerline!of!the!product.! 12. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!1,!wherein!the!at!least!one!supplemental!imaging!assembly!includes! an!illumination!system!adapted!to!illuminate!a!portion!of!the!product!scanning!region.! 13. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!1,!further!comprising!a!visual!indicator!adapted!to!indicate!a!direction! of!the!FOV.!! 14. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!13,!wherein!the!visual!indicator!comprises!an!aiming!system.!! 15. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!13,!wherein!the!aiming!system!is!visible!on!at!least!one!of!the!upper! housing!portion!or!the!weigh!platter.! 16. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!1,!further!comprising!a!decoding!indicator,!the!decoding!indicator! adapted!to!convey!an!indication!of!which!FOV!decoded!the!barcode.! 17. The! barcode! reader! of! claim! 1,! wherein! the! at! least! one! image! is! processed! within! the! supplemental!module.!! 18. A!barcode!reader!comprising:! a!housing!having! (i)! a! lower!housing!portion!with! an!upper! surface! facing! a!product! scanning! region!and!a!substantially!horizontal!window!and!(ii)!an!upper!housing!portion!extending!above!the!lower! housing!portion!with!a!substantially!upright!window;!!Docket!No.!155468WO01! a!weigh!platter!configured!to!support!an!object!placed!on!the!weigh!platter!for!obtaining!a!weight! of!the!object,!the!weigh!platter!having:! a!central! region!extending!in!a!transverse!plane,!the!central! region! including!a! platter!window!configured!to!permit!light!to!pass!therethrough;! a!proximal!edge!adjacent!the!upper!housing!portion;! a!first!lateral!edge!extending!non-parallel!to!the!proximal!edge;! a!second!lateral!edge,!opposite!the!first! lateral!edge,!extending!non-parallel!to! the!proximal!edge;!and! a!distal!edge,!opposite!the!proximal!edge,!extending!non-parallel!to!the!first!and! second!lateral!edges;!! ! a!first! imaging!assembly!having!a!first! imaging!sensor,!the!first!imaging!assembly!having!a!first! field!of!view!(FOV)!directed!through!the!substantially!horizontal!window;!! ! a!second!imaging!assembly!having!a!second!imaging!sensor,!the!second!imaging!assembly!having! a!second!field!of!view!(FOV)!directed!through!the!substantially!upright!window;!! a!supplemental!module!removably!coupled!with!at!least!one!of!the!lower!housing!portion,!the! weigh!platter!near!the!distal!edge!of!the!weigh!platter,!or!a!frame!member,!the!supplemental!module! including!at! least!one!supplemental! imaging!assembly!having!a!supplemental! imaging!sensor!having!a! supplemental!FOV.! 19. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!18,!wherein!the!first!FOV,!the!second!FOV,!and!the!supplemental! FOV!cooperate!to!optically!allow!an!image!of!a!specific!size!to!be!projected!onto!the!sensor.! 20. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!18,!wherein!the!first!FOV,!the!second!FOV,!and!the!supplemental! FOV! cooperate! to! combine! for! 360°! coverage! around! a! vertical! and! a! horizontal! axis! in! the! product! scanning!region.!! 21. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!18,!wherein!the!supplemental!module!comprises:! !a!housing!having!a!first!body!region!defining!a!first!cavity,!a!second!body!region!defining!a!second! cavity,!and!a!coupling!region!adapted!to!couple!with!at!least!one!of!the!lower!housing!portion!or!the!weigh! platter!portion,!! a!first!supplemental!imaging!assembly!at!least!partially!disposed!within!the!first!cavity,!the!first! supplemental!imaging!assembly!having!a!first!supplemental!imaging!sensor!having!a!first!supplemental! FOV;!Docket!No.!155468WO01! a!second!supplemental!imaging!assembly!at!least!partially!disposed!within!the!second!cavity,!the! second!supplemental!imaging!assembly!having!a!second!supplemental! imaging!sensor!having!a!second! supplemental!FOV;! wherein!the!first!supplemental!FOV!and!the!second!supplemental!FOV!are!directed!such!that!they! define!a!supplemental!overlap!region!at!a!location!above!the!weigh!platter.! 22. The!barcode! reader!of! claim!21,!wherein! the! supplemental!module! further! comprises! an! arm! member!extending!between!and!coupling!the!first!body!region!with!the!second!body!region.! 23. The!barcode! reader!of! claim!21,!wherein! each! of! the! first! supplemental! FOV!and! the! second! supplemental!FOV!are!directed!at!the!product!scanning!region!towards!the!upper!housing!portion.! 24. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!18,!wherein!the!first!FOV!axis!passes!through!the!weigh!platter!at!an! angle!no!greater!than!5°!off!perpendicular!relative!to!a!plane!defined!by!the!weigh!platter.! 25. A!barcode!reader!comprising:! a!housing!having! (i)! a! lower!housing!portion!with! an!upper! surface! facing! a!product! scanning! region!and!a!substantially!horizontal!window!and!(ii)!an!upper!housing!portion!extending!above!the!lower! housing!portion!with!a!substantially!upright!window;!! a!weigh!platter!configured!to!support!an!object!placed!on!the!weigh!platter!for!obtaining!a!weight! of!the!object,!the!weigh!platter!having:! a!central! region!extending!in!a!transverse!plane,!the!central! region! including!a! platter!window!configured!to!permit!light!to!pass!therethrough;! a!proximal!edge!adjacent!the!upper!housing!portion;! a!first!lateral!edge!extending!non-parallel!to!the!proximal!edge;! a!second!lateral!edge,!opposite!the!first! lateral!edge,!extending!non-parallel!to! the!proximal!edge;!and! a!distal!edge,!opposite!the!proximal!edge,!extending!non-parallel!to!the!first!and! second!lateral!edges;!! ! a!first! imaging!assembly!having!a!first! imaging!sensor,!the!first!imaging!assembly!having!a!first! field!of!view!(FOV)!directed!through!the!substantially!horizontal!window;!! ! a!second!imaging!assembly!having!a!second!imaging!sensor,!the!second!imaging!assembly!having! a!second!field!of!view!(FOV)!directed!through!the!substantially!upright!window;!! a!supplemental!module!removably!coupled!with!at!least!one!of!the!lower!housing!portion!or!the! weigh!platter!near!the!distal!edge!of!the!weigh!platter,!the!supplemental!module!including:!Docket!No.!155468WO01! a!housing!having!a!first!body!region!defining!a!first!cavity,!a!second!body!region!defining! a!second!cavity,!and!a!coupling!region!adapted!to!couple!with!at!least!one!of!the!lower!housing! portion!or!the!weigh!platter!portion,!! a!first!supplemental! imaging!assembly!at! least!partially!disposed!within!the!first!cavity,! the!first!supplemental!imaging!assembly!having!a!first!supplemental!imaging!sensor!having!a!first! supplemental!FOV;! a! second!supplemental! imaging!assembly!at! least!partially!disposed!within! the!second! cavity,!the!second!supplemental!imaging!assembly!having!a!second!supplemental!imaging!sensor! having!a!second!supplemental!FOV;! wherein!the!first!supplemental!FOV!and!the!second!supplemental!FOV!are!directed!such! that!they!define!a!supplemental!overlap!region!positioned!within!approximately!1^!forward!of!the! distal!edge!of!the!weigh!platter.! 26. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!24,!wherein!the!first!FOV,!the!second!FOV,!the!first!supplemental! FOV,!and! the! second!supplemental! FOV!cooperate! to!optically!allow!an! image!of!a! specific! size! to!be! projected!onto!the!sensor.! 27. The!barcode!reader!of!claim!24,!wherein!the!first!FOV,!the!second!FOV,!the!first!supplemental! FOV,!and!the!second!supplemental!FOV!cooperate!to!combine!for!360°!coverage!around!a!vertical!and!a! horizontal!axis!in!the!product!scanning!region.!! 28. The!barcode! reader!of! claim!24,!wherein! the! supplemental!module! further! comprises! an! arm! member!extending!between!and!coupling!the!first!body!region!with!the!second!body!region.! 29. The!barcode! reader!of! claim!24,!wherein! each! of! the! first! supplemental! FOV!and! the! second! supplemental!FOV!are!directed!at!the!product!scanning!region!towards!the!upper!housing!portion.! 30. A!supplemental!imaging!module!comprising:! a!housing!having!a!first!body!region!defining!a!first!cavity,!a!second!body!region!defining!a!second! cavity,!and!a!coupling!region!adapted!to!couple!with!a!portion!of!a!barcode!reader;! a!first!supplemental!imaging!assembly!at!least!partially!disposed!within!the!first!cavity,!the!first! supplemental!imaging!assembly!having!a!first!supplemental!imaging!sensor!having!a!first!supplemental! FOV;!and! a!second!supplemental!imaging!assembly!at!least!partially!disposed!within!the!second!cavity,!the! second!supplemental!imaging!assembly!having!a!second!supplemental! imaging!sensor!having!a!second! supplemental!FOV.! !

Images