Modular Imaging Reader With Replaceable Solid-State Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser-based point-of-transaction workstations struggle with reading one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and stacked barcodes due to blind-aiming difficulties and require multiple imagers for comprehensive scanning, leading to increased costs and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
A bi-optical workstation with individually mounted solid-state imaging modules on separate printed circuit boards, each with a CCD array and LED illuminators, allowing for modular installation and removal, and adjustable focusing lenses, enabling efficient scanning across dual windows with varying orientations and resolutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple imagers are used for comprehensive scanning, then scanning coverage is improved, but device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system is divided into multiple independent imager modules, each capable of being individually replaced. This segmentation allows comprehensive scanning coverage through multiple imagers while reducing maintenance complexity by isolating each imager as a separate replaceable unit rather than requiring replacement of the entire imaging assembly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple imagers are used for comprehensive scanning, then scanning coverage is improved, but maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each imager is segmented into an independent replaceable module with its own housing and mounting mechanism. This allows technicians to quickly remove and replace individual imagers without disassembling the entire imaging system, significantly reducing maintenance time compared to systems where multiple imagers must be accessed through a single assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The imager modules are designed to be extracted as complete functional units from the imaging assembly. Each imager module can be removed and replaced independently, allowing rapid maintenance of individual imagers without affecting the rest of the system, thus minimizing downtime.
3Ease of repair
If imagers are mounted on separate PCBs, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each imager is mounted on its own separate PCB, creating independent electronic modules. This segmentation simplifies repair by isolating electronic components to individual replaceable units, allowing technicians to replace entire imager-PCB assemblies rather than troubleshooting and replacing individual electronic components within a shared board.
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 reduces maintenance costs by allowing individual module replacement, enhances scanning productivity with comprehensive coverage of indicia from any orientation, and supports mixed resolutions for flexible configuration, maintaining performance comparable to laser-based systems.
Implementation Method 1
solid-state imager... for capturing light from the indicia... to produce electrical signals indicative of the indicia being read
Implementation Method 2
Each imager includes or is associated with an illuminator for illuminating the indicia with illumination light from one or more illumination light sources, e.g., light emitting diodes (LEDs)
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of imaging modules, each including a solid-state imager mounted on an individual printed circuit board (PCB), is mounted in a reader, such as a bi-optical, dual window, point-of-transaction workstation, for capturing images along different fields of view of diverse targets useful for customer identification, customer payment validation, operator surveillance, and coded indicia. The imaging modules are individually mounted on a motherboard for individual installation at, and individual removal from, the reader.