Mark Reader Trigger-to-Decode Response Time Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mark readers experience significant delays between triggering the decoding process and obtaining a successful decode response due to time-consuming sensor parameter adjustments and image processing, which exceeds the desired 200 milliseconds response time.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a pre-trigger image acquisition and processing phase before the user activates the trigger, where pre-trigger image parameters are calculated and used to control post-trigger image acquisition and decoding, reducing the need for repeated adjustments and delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If sensor parameter adjustments and image processing are performed after trigger activation, then the reader can adapt to varying imaging conditions, but the trigger-to-decode response time exceeds 200 milliseconds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptation to imaging conditionsVSAvoidtrigger-to-decode response time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs image acquisition and parameter calculations before the trigger event. Specifically, the reader continuously acquires images and calculates exposure, gain, and other imaging parameters in advance, so that when the trigger is activated, the decoding process can immediately use pre-computed parameters without waiting for post-trigger adjustments, thereby reducing response time while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The imaging and processing workflow is divided into distinct phases: a pre-trigger phase where images are acquired and parameters are calculated, and a post-trigger phase where decoding occurs using pre-computed parameters. This segmentation allows the time-consuming parameter adjustment and image processing to occur separately from the critical trigger-to-decode interval, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and response time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If the reader steps through various image capture parameters and cycling illuminators, then image quality can be optimized, but the processing time increases beyond acceptable limits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprocessing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs parameter optimization and image quality adjustments before the trigger event. Exposure, gain, and illuminator settings are calculated and adjusted in advance based on pre-trigger image analysis, allowing the actual decoding process to proceed quickly without repeated parameter cycling, thus maintaining image quality while improving processing speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By pre-computing optimal imaging parameters before the trigger, the system skips the time-consuming iterative parameter adjustment process during the critical trigger-to-decode interval. The reader rushes through the decoding phase using pre-optimized parameters, thereby maintaining image quality standards while significantly reducing processing time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentUS10210369B2Mark reader with reduced trigger-to-decode response time

Publication Date: 2019.02.19 COGNEX CORP

AI summary

Systems and methods for use with a handheld mark reader that reduce the time between activation of the reader's trigger and the reader returning a successful decode response. At least one pre-trigger image can be acquired and at least one pre-trigger image parameter determined. Post-trigger image acquisition or analysis of post-trigger images can be implemented based upon the at least one pre-trigger image parameter.