Patent · US Active

Optical code reading device having more than one imaging engine

US7357322B2 · kind B2 · utility

12Cited by
31References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 10, 2007
Grant dateApr 15, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 10, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N2201/0081
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A mobile computing device is provided having more than one imaging engine, and preferably, two imagining engines. Switching circuitry is provided for switching between the two imaging engines. Each imaging engine is optimized for use in specific applications and includes different specifications from the other imaging engine. Preferably, one imaging engine is optimized to provide higher resolution images than the other imaging engine, and one imaging engine is optimized to focus an object located 7.50 to 12.50 cm from the mobile computing device (near-to-mid range imaging), while the other imaging engine is optimized to focus an object located from 12.50 cm to infinity from the mobile computing device (mid-to-far range imaging). One imaging engine preferably includes a color image sensor, while the other imaging engine includes a black and white image sensor. The imaging engines are preferably supported by a housing of an optical code reading device configured for imaging and decoding optical codes and performing other functions, such as video teleconferencing, capturing and storing digital images, creating and transmitting video e-mail, and performing video surveillance.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.