Scan Crutch Protrusion for Barcode Positioning Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic ticket scanners often experience delays in scanning tickets, especially in low-light environments or when ticket displays have low contrast, leading to slowdowns at venue entrances and inaccurate tracking.
Innovation Solution
A scan crutch with a base and protrusions is designed to ensure proper spacing and positioning of the scanner relative to the target object, allowing for quick and accurate scanning by attaching to the scanner and extending a protrusion to contact the target, ensuring consistent and efficient scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the scanner is positioned closer to the barcode to improve scanning speed, then scanning speed improves, but scanning accuracy deteriorates due to improper spacing
Solution Approach 1:
The scan crutch acts as an intermediary component between the scanner and the barcode. It includes a base that attaches to the scanner and a protrusion that extends toward the barcode, maintaining an optimal spacing distance. This mediator structure ensures the scanner remains at the correct distance from the barcode for accurate scanning while enabling rapid scanning operations.
2Measurement precision
If the scanner is positioned farther from the barcode to maintain proper spacing, then scanning accuracy improves, but scanning speed deteriorates due to delays in recognizing the barcode
Solution Approach 1:
The scan crutch is pre-configured with a protrusion of specific length that establishes the optimal scanning distance before the scanning operation begins. The base attaches to the scanner and the protrusion extends the precise distance needed, so that when scanning commences, the scanner is already positioned at the correct spacing from the barcode, eliminating delays associated with adjusting distance during scanning.
3Measurement precision
If the scanner housing is made larger to accommodate additional positioning features, then positioning accuracy improves, but device portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning function is segmented from the main scanner housing and implemented as a separate scan crutch assembly. The crutch includes a base that attaches to the scanner and a protrusion that provides the positioning feature. This segmentation allows the scanner housing to remain compact and portable while the external crutch provides the necessary positioning accuracy through its geometric structure.
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
The scan crutch facilitates rapid and reliable ticket scanning by maintaining optimal positioning between the scanner and the barcode, reducing delays and improving accuracy, even in challenging lighting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
electronic scanners configured to scan barcodes include a light emission source, such as a light emitting diode (LED), that emits light
Implementation Method 2
the light reflected from the barcode and surrounding area is received by the sensor
Implementation Method 3
a sensor, such as an optical sensor (e.g., a camera), such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) sensor, configured to detect the light reflected from the barcode
Data Source
AI summary
A scanning system is providing including a scanner and a scan crutch. The scanner includes a housing, a window in an upper end of the housing, and a light emitter/receiver in the housing under the window. The scan crutch is attached to the scanner and includes a base and a protrusion extending from the base in a direction away from the scanner. The protrusion of the scan crutch ensures accurate and repeatable scanning of target objects by allowing a user to quickly position the scanner at an optimum distance from a target object by contacting the target object with the protrusion of the scan crutch.