Structured-Light Indicia Reader for Scan Region Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Indicia readers inadvertently read objects outside the designated product-scanning region, leading to issues like double scanning and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
An indicia reader system that uses structured light to determine the distance and position of objects within its field of view, selectively operating based on whether the object is within the product-scanning region, and adjusting parameters accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the field of view is enlarged to improve scanning coverage, then the reading capability is improved, but objects outside the designated region are inadvertently read causing double scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The field of view is segmented into a product-scanning region and an external region using structured light projection. The structured light defines a specific volumetric space where only objects within this segmented region will be illuminated and detected, effectively dividing the FOV into functional zones. This allows the reader to maintain a large overall FOV while selectively processing only the segmented scanning region, preventing inadvertent reading of objects outside the designated area.
2Measurement precision
If the imaging fidelity is increased to improve decode performance, then the reading accuracy is improved, but the likelihood of reading objects outside the scanning region increases
Solution Approach 1:
Structured light acts as an intermediary between the imaging assembly and objects in the scanning region. The structured light pattern serves as a mediator that selectively illuminates only objects within the designated product-scanning region. The imaging assembly captures images of objects illuminated by this intermediary structured light, ensuring that high-fidelity imaging is applied only to objects within the correct spatial boundaries, thus preventing unintended reading of external objects.
3Productivity
If the reader operates continuously to improve productivity, then the scanning speed is improved, but double scanning occurs increasing operational inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary spatial verification using structured light before executing the full reading operation. The structured light projection and detection of its reflection off objects serve as a preliminary action that verifies whether an object is within the product-scanning region. Only after this preliminary spatial confirmation does the system proceed with full imaging and decoding. This preliminary action prevents subsequent double scanning operations, as objects outside the scanning region are identified and excluded before the main reading process begins, thereby maintaining productivity while eliminating time loss from duplicate scans.
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
Prevents unintended reading of objects outside the scanning region, reducing double scanning and improving operational efficiency by selectively controlling reader operations.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination assembly configured to emit a structured light into the product-scanning region such that at least a portion of the structured light overlaps with at least a portion of the at least one FOV in the product-scanning region
Implementation Method 2
an imaging assembly positioned at least partially within the housing and having at least one field of view (FOV) extending into the product-scanning region, the imaging assembly configured to capture image data depicting an environment appearing within the at least one FOV
Data Source
AI summary
Various vision devices are disclosed herein. An example vision device is an indicia reader that includes a housing, an imaging assembly having a field of view (FOV) extending into a product-scanning region and configured to capture image data depicting an environment appearing within the FOV, and an illumination assembly configured to emit a structured light into the product-scanning region such that at least a portion of the structured light overlaps with at least a portion of the FOV in the product-scanning region. The indicia reader is selectively operable pursuant to one of a first or a second set of operating parameters based on a distance value, where that value is determined by analyzing, in the image data, an appearance of the structured light on some portion of an object appearing within the FOV.