Barcode Scanner Spectral Analysis for Screen Surface Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing barcode scanners struggle to distinguish between barcodes displayed on mobile device screens and those printed on surfaces, as they cannot differentiate between the illumination sources used by LED-based screens and other light sources, leading to inefficient decoding and potential misidentification.
Innovation Solution
A system that acquires a spectral wavelength signature of the surface and compares it to RGB triple-peak emission spectra to determine if it is a mobile device screen or a printed surface, adjusting the scanner's illumination mode accordingly to optimize barcode scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If imaging-based scanners use standard illumination modes for scanning, then they can scan printed barcodes, but they cannot accurately distinguish between printed surfaces and mobile device screens
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs spectral analysis before barcode decoding to identify whether the surface is a mobile device screen or printed material. By determining the surface type in advance, the scanner can then select the appropriate illumination mode, preventing unnecessary scanning attempts and improving overall accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spectral wavelength signature analysis as an intermediary step between the scanner and the barcode decoding process. This intermediary mechanism captures the optical properties of the surface and uses them to inform the subsequent scanning operation, enabling accurate differentiation between screens and printed surfaces.
2Productivity
If the scanner operates in illumination mode for printed surfaces, then it can decode printed barcodes, but it cannot effectively scan barcodes on mobile device screens
Solution Approach 1:
The scanner dynamically adjusts its illumination mode based on the detected surface type. When a mobile device screen is detected, the system switches to non-illumination mode with extended exposure duration. When printed surfaces are detected, it uses illumination mode. This dynamic adaptation ensures high productivity and reliability across different surface types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the illumination parameter (on/off state and exposure duration) based on the spectral characteristics of the detected surface. For screens, it uses non-illumination mode with longer exposure; for printed surfaces, it uses illumination mode with standard exposure, optimizing decoding efficiency for each case.
3Reliability
If the scanner operates in non-illumination mode for mobile device screens, then it can scan screen barcodes, but it cannot scan printed barcodes effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs spectral analysis before barcode decoding to identify whether the surface is a mobile device screen or printed material. By determining the surface type in advance, the scanner can then select the appropriate illumination mode, preventing unnecessary scanning attempts and improving overall accuracy.
4Measurement precision
If the scanner uses extended exposure duration for screen barcodes, then it can decode screen barcodes, but it increases scanning time for all surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The scanner dynamically adjusts its illumination mode based on the detected surface type. When a mobile device screen is detected, the system switches to non-illumination mode with extended exposure duration. When printed surfaces are detected, it uses illumination mode with standard exposure, optimizing decoding efficiency for each case.
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
Enables accurate identification of whether a surface is a mobile device screen or a printed surface, allowing the scanner to operate in the appropriate mode for efficient barcode decoding, improving scanning accuracy and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
means to acquire a spectral wavelength signature of the surface; means to compare the spectral wavelength signature of the surface to RGB triple-peak emission spectra
Implementation Method 2
the display screens on many cell phones and mobile devices are LED-based which make use of RGB (red/green/blue) emitters. Each emitter has a peak wavelength as well as a spectral width associated with it. When all three emitters are viewed against the visible spectrum, a triple peak emission curve is present
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of determining if a surface contains print or is a screen of a device is provided. The method is comprised of the steps of: acquiring a spectral wavelength signature of the surface; comparing the spectral wavelength signature of the surface to RGB triple-peak emission spectra; scanning the surface with an image-based scanner in non-illumination mode based upon the spectral wavelength signature of the surface corresponding to the RGB triple-peak emission spectra, and scanning the surface with an image-based scanner in illumination mode based upon the spectral wavelength signature of the surface not corresponding to the RGB triple-peak emission spectra.