Barcode-Reading System Using Selective Illumination Bands
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices struggle to efficiently read barcodes due to suboptimal camera and illumination systems, which affect decoding speed and accuracy, especially in varying lighting conditions.
Innovation Solution
A barcode reading system for mobile devices that includes a processor, memory, camera with a color image capture system, and a white light source generating multiple bands of illumination, along with an optic system and a barcode reading application that captures and processes images to create a grayscale composite image for improved decoding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a standard camera and illumination system are used in mobile devices, then the device complexity is kept low, but the barcode reading accuracy and decoding speed deteriorate in varying lighting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple independent LED light sources, each emitting a specific band of illumination (e.g., blue, green, red bands). This segmentation allows selective activation of specific illumination bands based on barcode conditions, improving reading accuracy while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the image sensor array are assigned different spectral sensitivities (e.g., first portion sensitive to first band, second portion to second band). This local differentiation of sensor properties enables optimized capture of specific illumination bands, enhancing barcode detection accuracy without requiring a completely new sensor design
2Reliability
If multiple bands of illumination are used to improve barcode reading in varying lighting conditions, then the barcode reading reliability improves, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects and activates only the specific illumination bands needed for the current barcode reading task, rather than continuously operating all illumination sources. The processor controls which LEDs are activated based on real-time requirements, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining reliable barcode reading
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by selectively activating specific illumination bands rather than using all bands simultaneously. This parameter adjustment optimizes the balance between reading reliability and energy consumption by using only the necessary spectral components for each scanning scenario
3Measurement precision
If a color image capture system with multiple sensor portions is used, then the image capture quality improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor array serves multiple functions: it captures color information through different spectral portions, processes barcode patterns, and works with selective illumination bands. This multi-functionality allows a single sensor system to handle various imaging requirements without adding separate specialized sensors, thereby improving image capture quality while limiting complexity increase
4Measurement precision
If advanced image processing functions are implemented, then the decoding accuracy improves, but the processing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary image processing operations such as creating grayscale composite images and applying weights to sub-images before the actual decoding step. This preliminary preparation organizes the data in advance, making the subsequent decoding process more efficient and accurate while managing overall processing time
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances barcode reading capabilities by improving image capture and processing, leading to faster and more accurate decoding of barcodes, even in challenging lighting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The optic system may include an optical filter for passing a fourth band of illumination generated by the white light source
Implementation Method 2
The optic system may also include a collimating optic for narrowing the field of illumination of the white light source to produce a targeting illumination pattern
Implementation Method 3
a color image capture system including an image sensor array for generating a color image of a target area
Data Source
AI summary
This patent specification describes a barcode-reading system for a mobile device. The mobile device include an image sensor array for generating a color image of a target area. The color image includes sub-images each captured with a portion of the image sensor array sensitive to different bands of illumination. The barcode reading system may include an optic system configured to produce a targeting illumination pattern of a particular band of illumination passed by an optical filter within the target area. An image processing function of a barcode-reading application may create a grayscale composite image of a barcode by combining the sub-images. In combining the sub-images, a contribution from a sub-image captured by a portion of the image sensor array most sensitive to the particular band for the targeting illumination may be smaller than a contribution from the other two sub-images captured by other portions of the image sensor array.