Pixel Data Elongation for Angled Barcode Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current image scanners struggle with high passby speeds in retail environments due to difficulties in detecting non-aligned or angled bar codes and low contrast lighting conditions, leading to low success rates in first pass reads.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a shift and add command in the image capture device, which selects and processes multiple rows of pixel data, shifting and adding pixel columns to enhance contrast and facilitate detection of bar codes at various angles, thereby improving read success rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If multiple rows of pixel data are read and analyzed to detect non-aligned bar codes, then the detection capability for angled bar codes is improved, but the processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capability for angled bar codesVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the 2D pixel data from multiple rows into a 1D elongated pixel representation by projecting pixel values along the row direction. This dimensional reduction allows angled bar code information distributed across multiple rows to be consolidated into a single representational unit that can be processed efficiently alongside other pixels, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining detection capability for non-aligned bar codes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If image capture device is used to capture bar code images, then the scanner can read bar codes, but the read success rate at high passby speeds is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassby speedVSAvoidread success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary processing of pixel data by creating elongated pixels that pre-integrate information from multiple rows before the actual bar code detection and decoding process. This preliminary consolidation of information from multiple rows into elongated pixels ensures that even at high passby speeds where exposure time is limited, the essential bar code information is already aggregated and enhanced, thereby maintaining high read success rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If bar code is not aligned with pixel rows, then various angles of bar codes can be scanned, but no single row contains sufficient information for detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning angle rangeVSAvoidinformation density per row

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges pixel information from multiple rows by projecting pixel values along the row direction to create elongated pixels. This merging process consolidates the distributed bar code information from multiple angled rows into a concentrated form within each elongated pixel representation, thereby preserving information density while maintaining the ability to scan bar codes at various angles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8254725B2Apparatus, method and system for elongating pixel data

Publication Date: 2012.08.28 NCR VOYIX CORP

AI summary

A device, methods and system for improving the contrast ratio of an image of an optical code captured by an image capture device. A command implemented by the image capture device of the form “shift and add” causes the image capture device to generate a modified row of pixel data having improved contrast from a plurality of pixel rows in the image capture device.