Scanner Illumination Timing for Red Reading and White Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional barcode readers using red light face issues such as eye strain and reduced performance with color sensors, while switching to white light increases processing time and resource requirements, and monochrome sensors struggle with color differentiation.
Innovation Solution
A system with multiple light sources emitting different wavelengths, controlled by a microprocessor to stagger illumination durations, allowing a monochrome sensor to efficiently capture red light while appearing white to humans, and optionally using shutter circuitry to optimize light emission for specific tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If red light is used for barcode reading, then reading system performance is improved, but it causes eye strain and illness
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by alternating between red light emission (for barcode reading during exposure duration) and white light emission (for human viewing during non-exposure duration). This temporal separation allows the system to maintain high reading performance with red light while minimizing harmful effects by limiting red light exposure to brief intervals synchronized with the sensor's exposure window.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by directing red light specifically to the barcode region during exposure duration, while emitting white light during non-exposure duration for general viewing. This spatial and temporal localization ensures that red light is used only where and when needed for decoding, reducing overall exposure to harmful red light while maintaining reading effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If white light is used instead of red light, then human comfort is improved, but reading system performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action by cycling between red light and white light emission based on the sensor's exposure timing. During exposure duration, red light is emitted for optimal barcode reading performance. During non-exposure duration, white light is emitted to provide comfortable viewing conditions. This periodic switching ensures both performance and comfort requirements are met at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuity of useful action by ensuring that light emission continues throughout the entire frame duration, just switching between red and white light based on timing. This continuous illumination ensures that the barcode remains visible and readable while also providing comfortable viewing conditions during non-exposure periods, eliminating the need to choose between performance and comfort.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light sources are used, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple light sources (red LED and white LED) into a single illumination assembly that is controlled by a unified timing mechanism synchronized with the sensor's exposure duration. This integration allows the system to provide both red and white light functionality while managing complexity through coordinated control rather than independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination system achieves universality by using a single multi-functional light assembly that can emit both red light (for barcode reading) and white light (for human viewing and color imaging). This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate illumination systems for different purposes, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining versatility.
4Reliability
If red light is used with color sensors, then reading performance is improved, but color differentiation capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by emitting red light during exposure duration for optimal barcode reading performance with the monochrome sensor, and emitting white light during non-exposure duration when the sensor is not capturing images. This temporal separation allows the sensor to operate in its optimal mode for barcode reading while still enabling color imaging capabilities when needed, as the white light provides full spectral information during its emission period.
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
Enhances reader performance and efficiency by reducing bulk, power consumption, and avoiding color flicker, while maintaining effective barcode decoding and machine vision capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging assembly having an imaging sensor operable to receive light from a field of view (FOV), the imaging sensor configured to capture image data during a frame having an exposure duration
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of light sources, each light source of the plurality of light sources configured to emit light in a different wavelength range
Data Source
AI summary
Imaging devices, systems, and methods for imaging or scanning objects using composite color light are described herein. An example device includes: a plurality of light sources, each configured to emit light in a different wavelength range; an imaging assembly having an imaging sensor operable to receive light from a field of view (FOV), the imaging sensor configured to capture image data during a frame having an exposure duration and a non-exposure duration; and a microprocessor and computer-readable media storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause: a first subset of the plurality of light sources to emit a first light during a first illumination duration that at least partially overlaps with the exposure duration of the frame; and a second subset of the plurality of light sources to emit a second light during a second illumination duration that at least partially overlaps with the non-exposure duration of the frame.