Cell Phone Barcode Scanning with Aiming Light Pattern
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular camera phones lack the capability to efficiently and reliably capture and decode bar codes due to inadequate alignment and illumination, leading to high failure rates and power consumption issues when attempting to read bar codes.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an aiming light pattern and a dedicated illumination source, such as LEDs or laser diodes, into the cell phone, along with power management and decoding algorithms optimized for bar code scanning, allows for improved alignment and reduced power consumption, enabling efficient bar code capture and decoding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cell phone uses the camera flash or ambient light for bar code illumination, then the device can capture bar codes, but the alignment is inadequate and power consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by projecting an aiming light pattern onto the bar code before capturing the image. This aiming pattern pre-aligns the bar code with the camera lens, ensuring proper positioning before the actual capture occurs. The system projects the aiming pattern, detects its position, calculates transformation parameters, and then captures the bar code image with correct alignment, thereby improving reliability while using energy-efficient LED illumination instead of the camera flash.
2Illumination intensity
If the cell phone uses the camera flash for illumination, then bar codes can be captured, but the alignment remains inadequate leading to decoding failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary aiming light pattern that serves as a mediator between the illumination source and the bar code capture process. This aiming pattern is projected onto the bar code, detected by the camera, and used to calculate transformation parameters that align the bar code with the decoding grid. The intermediary aiming pattern enables precise alignment by providing reference points for geometric transformation, thereby improving measurement precision without relying on camera flash illumination.
3Device complexity
If the cell phone attempts to decode bar codes without proper alignment mechanisms, then the device structure remains simple, but the decoding failure rate is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by detecting the position of the aiming light pattern, calculating transformation parameters based on this detection, and using these parameters to align the bar code image for decoding. The system continuously monitors the aiming pattern position, computes the necessary geometric transformations, and adjusts the decoding grid alignment accordingly. This feedback loop ensures high decoding success rates while maintaining relatively simple device structure by utilizing software-based alignment rather than complex hardware mechanisms.
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
This solution enhances the cell phone's ability to accurately capture and decode bar codes with reduced power consumption, enabling quick and reliable transactions and data extraction, while optimizing battery life and processing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a dedicated illumination source, such as LEDs or laser diodes
Implementation Method 2
a dedicated illumination source, such as LEDs or laser diodes
Implementation Method 3
receive light reflected off of the symbol
Data Source
AI summary
A cell phone includes: a device for wireless communication; an imager sensor for capturing an image of an object; a lens system for projecting an image of the object onto the imager; a battery for powering the cell phone; a lens system for focusing images of the object onto the imager comprising: a focus element; at least two electrodes associated with the focus element; a control system to adjust the state of focus of the focus element by controlling the at least two electrodes.