Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for providing a focus indication for optical imaging of visual codes

US8181878B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
109References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 25, 2006
Grant dateMay 22, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 3, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06K2207/1011
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for indicating an in-focus or an out-of-focus condition for an imaging device (1, 2) in an optical reading and decoding apparatus (20) for receiving a coded image from a target area (29) on an article or package. In the method of the invention, two beams of light (27, 28) are generated to provide two illuminated aiming marks (32, 33) on the target. An in-focus condition is indicated when the two aiming marks are in a pre-defined spatial relationship relative to each other on the target. The in-focus condition or an out-of-focus condition can be signaled by controlling attributes of aiming marks (32, 33) or by controlling attributes of status indicator LEDs (12) on the apparatus (20) or by controlling an audible sound.

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