Virtual Scan Line Processing for Barcode Edge Transition Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing barcode scanning systems using imaging based scanners face limitations in accurately identifying edge transitions, leading to missed or erroneous edge detection, which may require rescanning and reduce the first pass read rate and sweep performance.
Innovation Solution
The method involves varying edge detection parameters, such as modulation percentage and window threshold, to identify and correct missed or erroneous edge transitions, allowing for enhanced virtual scan line processing and decoding without the need for rescanning by transferring promising data to a new memory location for further processing with different edge detection parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fixed edge detection parameters are used in virtual scan line processing, then the processing speed is maintained, but edge transitions may be missed or erroneously identified reducing decoding accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the edge detection parameters variable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts edge detection parameters based on the specific characteristics of each virtual scan line being processed, allowing the parameters to adapt to different barcode patterns and lighting conditions, thereby improving edge transition identification accuracy without requiring manual reconfiguration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent directly implements parameter changes by varying edge detection parameters such as modulation percentage and window threshold across different virtual scan lines. This allows the system to optimize detection sensitivity for each specific scan line context, resolving the contradiction between maintaining fixed parameters for simplicity and varying parameters for accuracy
2Measurement precision
If multiple rescans are performed to correct missed edge transitions, then decoding accuracy improves, but the first pass read rate and sweep performance decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively varying edge detection parameters across multiple virtual scan lines before decoding attempts are made. This preliminary parameter variation ensures that edge transitions are correctly identified in the first pass, eliminating the need for rescans and thereby maintaining high first pass read rates while achieving accurate decoding
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by processing multiple virtual scan lines with varied parameters in a continuous manner during the first pass. This continuous processing with adaptive parameters ensures that decoding accuracy is achieved without interruption for rescans, maintaining both high productivity and measurement precision
3Measurement precision
If edge detection parameters are varied for each virtual scan line, then edge transition accuracy improves, but the processing complexity and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the barcode processing into multiple virtual scan lines, each processed with potentially different edge detection parameters. This segmentation allows the system to focus computational resources on detecting edge transitions in manageable segments rather than processing the entire barcode at once with uniform parameters, reducing overall computational load while maintaining high detection accuracy
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for decoding a barcode or other optical code include identifying one or more sub-regions of image data that contain promising data based on a first set of edge detection parameters, transferring the promising data from a first memory location to a new memory location for further processing, and decoding the promising data based on a different set of edge detection parameters.