Hybrid Monochrome Color Image Sensor Pixel Array for Barcode Decoding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image sensor based terminals, particularly those with hybrid monochrome and color pixel arrays, face challenges in efficiently processing and storing image data, especially in decoding bar codes and other indicia, due to limitations in handling color pixel positions without color filter elements.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a hybrid monochrome and color image sensor pixel array with a subset of monochrome pixels without color filter elements and a subset of color pixels with color filter elements, allowing for the determination of missing monochrome pixel values at color pixel positions, enabling efficient image data processing and storage in a CPU addressable image frame memory.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a color image sensor pixel array is used, then color image data can be captured, but the decoding speed and efficiency for bar codes and indicia is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor image data capture capabilityVSAvoiddecoding speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The image sensor pixel array is segmented into two distinct subsets: monochrome pixels without color filter elements and color pixels with color filter elements. This segmentation allows the system to capture both color information and high-contrast monochrome data simultaneously, enabling efficient bar code decoding while maintaining color image capture capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the pixel array have different functional qualities - monochrome pixels provide high sensitivity and contrast for decoding applications, while color pixels provide color information for imaging applications. This local quality differentiation allows the sensor to optimize performance for different tasks within the same array

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If monochrome pixels without color filter elements are included in the pixel array, then decoding efficiency is improved, but the completeness of color image data is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecoding efficiencyVSAvoidcolor image data completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of separate monochrome and color sensors into a single hybrid pixel array. By combining monochrome pixels and color pixels in one array, the system achieves both decoding efficiency and color image completeness without requiring multiple sensors or sequential capture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hybrid pixel array serves multiple functions simultaneously - it can capture color images for general imaging applications and capture high-contrast monochrome patterns for bar code decoding, making the sensor universal for both imaging and indicia reading tasks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If a hybrid monochrome and color pixel array is used, then both color image capture and bar code decoding are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindicia reading efficiencyVSAvoidsensor structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines monochrome and color pixel functionalities into a single integrated sensor array, eliminating the need for separate sensors, multiple lenses, or complex mechanical switching mechanisms. This merging reduces overall device complexity while maintaining dual functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 decoding speed and efficiency of image sensor based terminals by allowing for the interpolation of monochrome pixel values at color pixel positions, improving the processing and storage of image data, thereby facilitating better indicia reading and image capture capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

reading out image signals from a contiguous grouping of pixels of said image sensor array, the image signals comprising an analog intensity value for each pixel of the grouping, the analog intensity value for each pixel indicating light incident on the pixel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS8345117B2Terminal outputting monochrome image data and color image data

Publication Date: 2013.01.01 HAND HELD PRODS INC

AI summary

There is provided an imaging terminal comprising an image sensing and processing circuit that includes a hybrid monochrome and color image sensor pixel array having a first subset of pixels provided by monochrome pixels without color filter elements and a second subset of pixels provided by color pixels having color filter elements. The terminal can be operative so that the image sensing and processing circuit can output a frame of image data for storing in a CPU addressable image frame memory. The image sensing and processing circuit can be operative so that a frame of image data output by the image sensing and processing circuit for storing in a CPU addressable image frame memory can include monochrome pixel values that correspond to color pixel positions of the image sensor pixel array.