Imaging Reader Virtual Scan Line Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Imaging readers face challenges in efficiently processing pixel data over a two-dimensional field of view, leading to high computational burdens and reduced productivity, especially when reading symbols of high density or located far from the reader.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that maps and decodes pixel data along virtual scan lines, reducing the computational load on the controller by only processing data on specific virtual scan lines rather than the entire field of view, and utilizing a solid-state imager with a rolling or global shutter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the controller processes all pixel data over the entire two-dimensional field of view, then complete symbol detection is achieved, but the computational burden increases to about 300 million instructions per second
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the two-dimensional field of view into multiple virtual scan lines, processing pixel data line-by-line rather than as a complete image. This segmentation allows the system to detect symbols along specific scan paths while ignoring other areas, reducing the computational burden from processing all 640x480 pixels to only relevant portions along virtual scan lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary pixel data along virtual scan lines from the complete two-dimensional field of view. By using an ASIC to identify and extract pixel data along specific scan lines, the system processes only the minimal required data for symbol detection, eliminating the need to process the entire image dataset.
2Speed
If the imaging reader processes all pixel data in real-time, then responsive transaction processing is achieved, but productivity decreases due to repeated positioning attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing by pre-defining virtual scan lines and pre-identifying which pixel data falls along these lines using an ASIC. This preliminary action prepares the data in advance, allowing the controller to quickly decode symbols without performing extensive processing during the actual reading operation, thus maintaining responsiveness while improving productivity.
3Measurement precision
If the controller decodes all captured pixel data, then accurate symbol recognition is achieved, but the processing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing qualities to different regions of the field of view by focusing computational resources only on pixel data along virtual scan lines. Rather than uniformly processing all pixels with the same level of detail, the system concentrates processing power on relevant scan line data, achieving accurate symbol recognition where needed while minimizing unnecessary processing elsewhere.
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 approach reduces the computational burden to about 20-30 Mips, similar to moving laser beam readers, enhancing responsiveness and reading performance, especially for high-density symbols at varying distances.
Implementation Method 1
a solid-state imager with a sensor array of cells or photosensors, which correspond to image elements or pixels in a two-dimensional field of view of the imager
Data Source
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AI summary
An arrangement for, and a method of, enhancing performance of an imaging reader for imaging symbols to be read, includes a solid-state imager supported by the reader and having an array of image sensors for capturing return light from a symbol as pixel data over a two-dimensional field of view, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) operatively connected to the imager for receiving the pixel data, and a controller operatively connected to the ASIC for mapping the ASIC with at least one virtual scan line, and preferably a plurality of virtual scan lines, each extending over the field of view in an omnidirectional scan pattern. The ASIC is operative for storing the pixel data received by the ASIC that lies on each virtual scan line as stored pixel data. The controller is operative for decoding the stored pixel data on each virtual scan line.