Method of blocking a portion of illumination rays generated by a countertop-supported digital imaging system, and preventing illumination rays from striking the eyes of the system operator or nearby consumers during operation of said countertop-supported digital image capture and processing system installed at a retail point of sale (POS) station
US7967209B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 31, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jun 28, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 9, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06K7/109
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of illuminating objects on a countertop surface using an automatically-triggered digital image capture and processing system installed thereupon, and having a single array of LEDs disposed behind the upper edge portion of its imaging window, above which a light ray blocking shroud portion is provided. During object detection, illumination and imaging operations above the countertop surface, typically at a retail point of sale (POS) station, visible illumination rays are generated by the LEDs and projected substantially within the field of view (FOV) of the system, while the light ray blocking shroud blocks a portion of illumination rays generated from the single array of LEDs and projected above and beyond the FOV of the system, and thus prevents such blocked illumination rays from striking the eyes of the system operator or nearby consumers during system operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.