Optical Pattern Decoding Latency Reduction via Camera Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices struggle to efficiently decode optical patterns in real scenes due to issues like out-of-focus, underexposed, or small patterns, which are exacerbated by standard features like auto-focus and auto-exposure, leading to latency and reduced performance in scanning processes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing techniques on mobile devices to disable automatic focus and exposure systems, allowing manual or automatic control of camera settings, such as focus cycles and exposure adjustments, along with multi-threading strategies to improve decoding performance by ensuring patterns are in focus and adequately exposed before decoding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If automatic focus system is enabled, then the camera can adapt to different distances automatically, but it introduces latency and reduces scanning performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the automatic focus system from the scanning application. By disabling the auto-focus feature and using a fixed focal length lens, the system eliminates the latency introduced by automatic focus adjustments while maintaining the ability to scan patterns at various distances through other means (such as pattern detection and image processing)
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static fixed-focus approach into a dynamic system by using image processing algorithms that can detect and decode patterns regardless of their focus quality. The system dynamically adjusts its processing strategy based on the detected pattern characteristics rather than relying on dynamic focus adjustment
2Adaptability or versatility
If automatic exposure system is enabled, then the camera can adjust to different lighting conditions, but it increases processing time and reduces decoding accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the automatic exposure system from the scanning process. By using manual exposure settings or fixed exposure parameters, the system eliminates the time-consuming automatic exposure adjustments while maintaining the ability to handle various lighting conditions through image processing and pattern recognition algorithms
3Measurement precision
If standard camera features are used, then the device can capture high-quality images, but it reduces the performance of optical pattern decoding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and disables standard camera features like auto-focus and auto-exposure that interfere with rapid pattern decoding. The system uses a simplified camera configuration with fixed parameters optimized for capturing optical patterns, sacrificing some general image quality capabilities for significantly improved decoding speed and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality optimization by tuning the camera parameters specifically for optical pattern capture rather than general photography. The fixed focal length and manual exposure settings are optimized for the specific task of capturing barcodes and similar patterns, providing sufficient image quality for decoding while maximizing processing speed
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device may include a display, a camera, one or more processors, and one or more memory devices storing instructions. The instructions may cause the mobile device to detect an optical pattern in a scene using the camera, to receive a user action, and to execute a focus cycle of the camera after receiving the user action. The focus cycle may change the focal position of the camera from a first focal position to a second focal position. The instructions may also cause the mobile device to acquire an image of the scene using the camera at the second focal position to decode the optical pattern, generating an object identifier.