Augmented Aimer Overlay for Accurate Symbology Reader Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aiming a reader to accurately capture machine-readable symbologies is challenging, especially at a distance, due to difficulties in seeing physical aimers in bright environments or at far distances, leading to misalignment and inability to process the symbologies effectively.
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, allowing accurate alignment and positioning of the reader regardless of distance or environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a physical aimer is used for aiming the reader, then the reader can be aimed to capture machine-readable symbologies, but the physical aimer becomes difficult or impossible to see in bright environments or at far distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the physical aimer with a virtual augmented aimer displayed on a screen. The virtual aimer is generated by capturing an image with an imager and superimposing the augmented aimer on the captured image, creating a visual copy that is always visible regardless of environmental conditions or distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical physical aimer (light emitter) with an electronic/virtual system using an imager and image processing circuitry to display a virtual aimer on a screen, eliminating the mechanical limitations of physical light visibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the distance from the target to be read increases, then the reader can read more distant symbologies, but aiming becomes particularly difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual augmented aimer is displayed on the screen at a position that corresponds to the center of the field of view captured by the imager. This virtual indicator remains consistently visible and stable at any distance, providing the user with a reliable aiming reference whether the target is close or far away.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a 3D physical light indicator to a 2D virtual display on a screen, allowing the aimer to be rendered at any position in the captured image plane regardless of the actual distance to the target, effectively decoupling aiming difficulty from distance.
3Ease of operation
If a physical aimer is used, then the reader can indicate the field of view center, but additional training is required and visibility is not consistent
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual augmented aimer is displayed on the screen using image processing circuitry that captures images with an imager and superimposes the augmented aimer on the captured image. This electronic display provides consistent visibility across different environmental conditions and eliminates the need for user training on physical aimer usage.
Data Source
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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.