Selective Masking of Scan Volume in Data Readers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Data readers inadvertently read and accept optical codes from unintended sources within their scan volume, such as objects on conveyors or shelves, leading to incorrect scanning and potential double scanning issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing exclusion zones within the data reader's scan volume, defined by specific parameters like position, symbology type, and data content, to selectively ignore certain optical codes, allowing only intentionally presented codes to be read and accepted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the data reader reads all decodable optical codes within the scan volume, then the reading coverage is maximized, but unintended codes from wrong sources are also read causing scanning errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating exclusion zones with specific attributes (position, depth, symbology type) that differentiate them from the general scan volume. These zones have specialized properties that allow the system to selectively ignore certain optical codes based on their location and characteristics, while still reading codes in other areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the scan volume into multiple regions: inclusion zones where codes should be read and exclusion zones where codes should be ignored. This segmentation allows the data reader to process different portions of the scan volume differently, improving reliability by preventing misreading of codes from unintended sources.
2Reliability
If exclusion zones are implemented to mask unwanted optical codes, then scanning accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by defining exclusion zones through multiple parameters including position coordinates, depth range, and symbology type. By varying these parameters, the system can precisely control which optical codes are excluded without requiring complex hardware modifications, thus improving scanning accuracy while managing device complexity.
3Productivity
If the data reader accepts all optical codes within scan volume, then the productivity is maximized, but double scanning and incorrect scanning issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the data reader continuously monitors the position and characteristics of detected optical codes, compares them against defined exclusion zone parameters, and adjusts acceptance decisions accordingly. This feedback loop maintains high productivity by quickly rejecting unwanted codes while still processing valid codes efficiently.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for selectively reading and accepting optical codes (320, 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, 410F, 410N, 1210, 1220) within a scan volume (100, 1610, 1612) of the data reader (110, 1100, 1600). A method (500) of processing an optical code within the scan volume comprises acquiring (505), via the data reader, scan data including an image or scan of an optical code located within the scan volume of the data reader, processing (510) the scan data for decodable data corresponding to the optical code, and determining (525) whether to accept or reject the optical code based on a position within the scan volume of the optical code relative to a configurable exclusion zone. The determination (525) of whether to accept or reject the optical code may be based on other conditions of the optical code, such as a position of the optical code within the depth of field of the data reader, a symbology type of the optical code, and data encoded in the optical code.