Augmented Aimer Overlay for Barcode Reader Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aiming of readers for 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, making it hard to align the reader for effective image capture and decoding.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an augmented aimer, a virtual interface element superimposed on captured images, which indicates the central point of the field of view, allowing accurate alignment and positioning of the reader regardless of distance or environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a physical aimer is used to guide reader alignment, then the reader can be positioned to capture images of machine-readable symbologies, but the physical aimer becomes difficult to see or is overwhelmed by external light in bright environments or at a distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the physical aimer with a virtual aimer that is a digital copy or representation of the actual field of view. The virtual aimer is generated by processing the captured image to create a simplified, high-contrast representation that clearly indicates the optical center and field boundaries without being subject to physical light limitations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/optical physical aimer system with a computational image processing system. Instead of relying on physical light projection that can be overwhelmed by external light, the system uses digital image processing to generate alignment guidance from the captured image data itself
2Area of stationary object
If the reader is positioned at a greater distance from the machine-readable symbology to expand coverage area, then more targets can be captured in the field of view, but the aiming difficulty increases and image quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the 2D captured image by generating a virtual aimer that adds dimensional context through overlay elements. The virtual representation provides depth cues and spatial relationships that help users understand the 3D positioning and orientation, making distance and alignment judgment more accurate even when captured from greater distances
3Measurement precision
If continuous image capture and processing is performed to maintain accurate alignment guidance, then the virtual aimer remains updated and accurate, but power consumption and computational resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or event-triggered image capture and processing rather than continuous operation. The system can capture images at intervals or trigger processing based on specific conditions such as detected motion, changes in scene content, or when alignment accuracy thresholds are approached, reducing overall computational load while maintaining sufficient guidance accuracy
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.