Augmented Aimer Rendering for Bright-Environment Symbology Reading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aiming a reader to capture machine-readable symbologies is challenging, especially at a distance or in bright environments, as physical aimers may be difficult to see or overwhelmed by external light, leading to misalignment and unsuccessful image capture.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an augmented aimer, a virtual interface element superimposed on captured images, providing a central point or axis of the field of view, which can be rendered regardless of distance or environmental conditions, allowing accurate alignment and positioning of the reader.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a physical aimer is used to indicate the field of view center, then the reader can be aligned with the target, but the physical aimer becomes difficult to see or is overwhelmed by external light in bright environments or at long distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical aimer by generating an augmented aimer indicator that is superimposed on the captured image. This virtual indicator replicates the aiming function without relying on physical light emission, thereby solving the visibility problem in bright environments while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the aimer from a physical light-based indicator in three-dimensional space to a two-dimensional virtual indicator displayed on the image sensor output. This dimensional transformation allows the aimer to be visible regardless of environmental lighting conditions, as it is now presented as digital information rather than physical light.
2Illumination intensity
If a physical aimer illumination is used to ensure visibility, then the aimer can be seen, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical system of physical aimer illumination with an electronic/digital system that generates virtual indicators through image processing. This substitution eliminates the need for additional power-consuming light-emitting components while maintaining or improving aimer visibility through software-based rendering.
Solution Approach 2:
By creating a virtual copy of the aimer function through software rendering, the system eliminates the need for physical illumination components that consume power. The virtual aimer is generated from the existing captured image data, requiring no additional energy input beyond the image capture process itself.
3Area of stationary object
If the reader is positioned at a long distance from the target, then the field of view covers the target, but the physical aimer becomes difficult or impossible to see
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the aimer from a physical light source that diminishes with distance to a virtual indicator presented on the image display. This allows the aimer to remain clearly visible regardless of the distance between the reader and target, as the virtual indicator is rendered at full brightness on the display device rather than being subject to inverse-square law attenuation.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide apparatuses, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products for generating an augmented aimer and using the augmented aimer to generate an augmented image. The augmented image is usable to aim a device, such as a reader, that captures image(s) for processing to detect and/or decode machine-readable symbologies therein. Some example embodiments include improved reader(s) configured to generate and/or utilize the augmented aimer. Some embodiments include receiving a first image captured by a first imager of at least one imager. Some embodiments further include generating, utilizing the first image, an augmented image comprising an augmented aimer corresponding to an optical center point associated with the first imager. Some embodiments further include causing rendering of the augmented image to at least one user interface. Some embodiments further include processing the first image to attempt reading of at least one machine-readable symbology in the first image.