POS Scanner Optical Code Positioning Guidance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Operators at point of sale terminals face difficulties in determining the optimal scanning position for optical codes, leading to reduced first scan performance and increased scanning time, affecting customer experience and employee efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A point of sale terminal system that provides real-time video images with superimposed indicia to guide operators in positioning optical codes correctly for imaging scanners, enhancing the visibility of the optimal scanning position and improving scanning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If operators manually position optical codes without guidance, then the scanning system maintains simple operation, but scanning time increases and first scan performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A video display device acts as an intermediary between the imaging scanner and the operator, showing real-time video images with superimposed indicia that indicate the optimal scanning position. This mediator guides the operator to position the optical code correctly without increasing the complexity of the scanning system itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical trial-and-error positioning method with an optical guidance system. Instead of operators physically moving the code through trial and error, real-time video images with visual indicators guide the positioning, substituting mechanical adjustment with optical information.
2Measurement precision
If operators are provided with real-time video images and positioning indicia, then positioning accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The video display device merges multiple functions into one: it displays real-time video from the imaging scanner, superimposes positioning indicia on the video images, and provides guidance to the operator. This consolidation achieves high positioning accuracy while minimizing the increase in system complexity by using an integrated approach rather than separate components.
3Loss of time
If the optimal scanning position is made visible through video images, then scanning time is reduced, but the system requires additional processing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and displaying the optimal scanning position before the actual scanning occurs. The video images with superimposed indicia show where the optical code should be positioned in advance, allowing operators to prepare the correct positioning before the scanning moment, thus reducing scanning time without requiring complex real-time processing during the scan itself.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and methods are presented for improving image scanning. A point of sale terminal apparatus, including an imaging scanner, provides information to an operator indicating the optimal scanning position for an optical code for efficient first pass scanning by the imaging scanner. The information includes real-time video from an image capture device of the imaging scanner displayed on an operator's display device.