Bi-Optic Reader Platter With Optical Redirection for Expanded FOV Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional barcode reading systems fail to address issues of objects moving outside the standard field of view (FOV), leading to potential accidents or malicious actions, and existing solutions to enhance detection increase system complexity, power usage, and resource costs.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system with a redirection element that redirects a portion of the FOV through a platter, allowing separate pipelines for different vision operations, including a first pipeline for the main FOV and a second pipeline for the redirected FOV, which can perform operations like scan avoidance and object detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the field of view is expanded to cover more area, then detection capability is improved, but system complexity and power usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the field of view by capturing images at multiple time points. The first image captures the initial FOV, while the second image captures an expanded FOV that includes areas beyond the original boundaries. This temporal expansion allows the system to detect objects that move outside the standard FOV without requiring additional physical sensors or complex optical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs a preliminary capture of the first image within the standard FOV before expanding to capture the second image in the expanded FOV. This preliminary action establishes a baseline that can be compared with subsequent images to detect objects that have moved outside the original field of view, enabling detection without continuously maintaining an expanded FOV.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the field of view is expanded to cover more area, then detection capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously maintaining an expanded field of view, the system periodically captures images at different FOV extents. The imaging assembly alternates between capturing images in the standard FOV and the expanded FOV, which reduces the average power consumption compared to continuously operating at maximum FOV coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system captures a preliminary image in the standard FOV first, then only expands to the larger FOV when needed for comparison and detection. This approach avoids continuously consuming the higher power required for expanded FOV operation, instead using expanded FOV only when object detection beyond the standard boundaries is required.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If additional sensors are added to expand FOV coverage, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic field of view where the imaging assembly can adjust its FOV extent based on operational requirements. By dynamically changing the FOV between standard and expanded modes using the same imaging sensor, the system avoids the need for multiple fixed sensors, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single imaging assembly serves multiple functions by operating in different FOV modes. It can capture images in the standard FOV for normal operation and switch to expanded FOV for enhanced detection, making one component perform the work that would traditionally require multiple specialized sensors.
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
The solution enables efficient detection of objects outside the standard FOV without increasing system complexity or power consumption, allowing for smaller, cheaper, and less energy-intensive barcode readers.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging assembly configured to capture image data of an environment appearing in a field of view (FOV)
Implementation Method 2
a platter including a redirection element disposed with a path of a portion of the FOV such that the redirection element redirects the portion of the FOV to pass through the platter
Data Source
AI summary
Imaging systems for imaging or scanning objects by redirecting portions of a field of view (FOV) are described herein. An example imaging system includes: an imaging assembly; a platter including a redirection element; and a computer-readable media storing machine readable instructions that cause the imaging system to: capture the image data in the FOV, wherein a first subset of pixels captures a first subset of the image data associated with a first portion of the FOV not redirected by the redirection element, and a second subset of pixels captures a second subset of the image data associated with a redirected portion of the FOV redirected by the redirection element; process the first subset of image data via a first module to perform a first vision operation; and process the second subset of image data via a second module to perform a second vision operation.