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US-12626079-B2 - Apparatus having hybrid monochrome and color image sensor array

US12626079B2US 12626079 B2US12626079 B2US 12626079B2US-12626079-B2

Abstract

There is provided in one embodiment an apparatus having an image sensor array. In one embodiment, the image sensor array can include monochrome pixels and color sensitive pixels. The monochrome pixels can be pixels without wavelength selective color filter elements. The color sensitive pixels can include wavelength selective color filter elements.

Inventors

  • Ynjiun P. Wang

Assignees

  • HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20211110

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A bar code reading apparatus, the bar code reading apparatus comprising: a hand held housing: a first image sensor array, supported by the hand held housing, the first image sensor array being a two-dimensional (2D) global shutter CMOS image sensor array comprising a first plurality of pixels, wherein the first plurality of pixels are disposed in a plurality of rows, wherein each pixel of the first plurality of pixels comprises a photodiode and an opaque optical shield, the opaque optical shield defining an opening at the photodiode, wherein the opening is narrower than the photodiode; a first imaging lens associated with the first image sensor array; a first illumination source associated with the first image sensor array; a second image sensor array, supported by the hand held housing, the second image sensor array being a pixel array having a plurality of second pixels; a second imaging lens associated with the second image sensor array; a second illumination source associated with the second image sensor array; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure the bar code reading apparatus to: capture, using the first image sensor array, one or more frames of image data; and decode one or more decodable indicia, in the one or more frames of image data; capture, using the first image sensor array, one or more images of vehicle damage; determine vehicle identifier data associated with the one or more images of vehicle damage; time stamp the one or more frames of image data and the one or more images of vehicle damage; and transmit the time stamped one or more frames of image data and the time stamped one or more images of vehicle damage to one or more remote servers for storage.
  2. 2 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first illumination source illumination intensity is different relative to a second illumination source illumination intensity.
  3. 3 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second image sensor array is configured to capture color images and wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, further comprises instructions that configure the bar code reading apparatus to output the color images to an external device via a communications interface.
  4. 4 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: an aiming illumination light source, wherein the aiming illumination light source is associated with the first image sensor array and is configured to project an aiming pattern, and wherein the first image sensor array is directed in a first direction and the second image sensor array is directed in a second direction, the first direction being different from the second direction.
  5. 5 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: an aiming illumination light source, wherein the aiming illumination light source is associated with the first image sensor array and is configured to project an aiming pattern, and wherein the one or more decodable indicia comprises a two-dimensional (2D) bar code.
  6. 6 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising: an aiming illumination light source, wherein the aiming illumination light source is associated with the first image sensor array and is configured to project an aiming pattern, wherein the one or more decodable indicia comprises a two-dimensional (2D) bar code, wherein the color display further comprises a touch screen and the graphical user interface comprises a virtual keyboard, and wherein the first image sensor array is directed in a first direction and the second image sensor array is directed in a second direction, the first direction being different from the second direction.
  7. 7 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 6 , further comprises instructions that configure the bar code reading apparatus to output the color images to an external device, and wherein the color display is operable to display a decoded message that is decoded from the one or more decodable indicia, wherein the second image sensor array is configured to capture color images.
  8. 8 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: an aiming illumination light source, wherein the aiming illumination light source is associated with the first image sensor array and is configured to project an aiming pattern, wherein the one or more decodable indicia comprises a two-dimensional (2D) bar code, and wherein the first image sensor array is directed in a first direction and the second image sensor array is directed in a second direction, the first direction being different from the second direction.
  9. 9 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each opaque optical shield is configured to shield each component of a respective pixel of the first plurality of pixels of the first image sensor array other than the photodiode.
  10. 10 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, further configure the bar code reading apparatus to automatically transmit the time stamped one or more frames of image data and the time stamped one or more images of vehicle damage to the one or more remote servers in response to a trigger signal.
  11. 11 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first image sensor array is configured to be operated in either of a global electronic shutter operation mode or a rolling shutter operational mode.
  12. 12 . A bar code reading apparatus, the bar code reading apparatus comprising: a hand held housing; a color display; wherein the color display further comprises a graphical user interface with virtual selectable buttons; a radio frequency communication interface, wherein the radio frequency communication interface is operable to communicate via at least one of Bluetooth, 802.11, and GSM/GPRS; a first image sensor array, supported by the hand held housing, the first image sensor array being a two-dimensional (2D) global shutter CMOS image sensor array comprising a first plurality of pixels, wherein the first plurality of pixels are disposed in a plurality of rows, wherein each pixel of the first plurality of pixels comprises a photodiode and an opaque optical shield, the opaque optical shield defining an opening at the photodiode, wherein the opening is narrower than the photodiode; a first imaging lens associated with the first image sensor array; a first illumination source associated with the first image sensor array; a second image sensor array supported by the hand held housing; a second imaging lens associated with the second image sensor array; a second illumination source associated with the second image sensor array; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure the bar code reading apparatus to: capture, using the first image sensor array, one or more frames of image data; and decode one or more decodable indicia, in the one or more frames of image data; capture, using the first image sensor array, one or more images of vehicle damage; determine vehicle identifier data associated with the one or more images of vehicle damage; time stamp the one or more frames of image data and the one or more images of vehicle damage; and transmit the time stamped one or more frames of image data and the time stamped one or more images of vehicle damage to one or more remote servers for storage.
  13. 13 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a first illumination source illumination intensity is different relative to a second illumination source illumination intensity.
  14. 14 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the color display is operable to display a decoded message that is decoded from the one or more decodable indicia.
  15. 15 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising: an aiming illumination light source, wherein the aiming illumination light source is associated with the first image sensor array and is configured to project an aiming pattern, and wherein the one or more decodable indicia comprises a two-dimensional (2D) bar code.
  16. 16 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising: an aiming illumination light source, wherein the aiming illumination light source is associated with the first image sensor array and is configured to project an aiming pattern, wherein the one or more decodable indicia comprises a two-dimensional (2D) bar code, and wherein the color display further comprises a touch screen and the graphical user interface comprises a virtual keyboard.
  17. 17 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising: an aiming illumination light source, wherein the aiming illumination light source is associated with the first image sensor array and is configured to project an aiming pattern, wherein the one or more decodable indicia comprises a two-dimensional (2D) bar code, wherein the color display further comprises a touch screen and the graphical user interface comprises a virtual keyboard, and wherein the first image sensor array is directed in a first direction and the second image sensor array is directed in a second direction, the first direction being different from the second direction.
  18. 18 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 12 , wherein each opaque optical shield is configured to shield each component of a respective pixel of the first plurality of pixels of the first image sensor array other than the photodiode.
  19. 19 . A bar code reading apparatus, the bar code reading apparatus comprising: a hand held housing; a color display, wherein the color display further comprises a graphical user interface with virtual selectable buttons; a radio frequency communication interface, wherein the radio frequency communication interface is operable to communicate via at least one of Bluetooth, 802.11, and GSM/GPRS; a first image sensor array, supported by the hand held housing, the first image sensor array being a two-dimensional (2D) global shutter CMOS image sensor array comprising a first plurality of pixels, wherein the first plurality of pixels are disposed in a plurality of rows, wherein each pixel of the first plurality of pixels comprises a photodiode and an opaque optical shield, the opaque optical shield defining an opening at the photodiode, wherein the opening is narrower than the photodiode; a first imaging lens associated with the first image sensor array; a first illumination source associated with the first image sensor array; a second image sensor array supported by the hand held housing; a second imaging lens associated with the second image sensor array; a second illumination source associated with the second image sensor array; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure the bar code reading apparatus to: capture, using the first image sensor array, one or more frames of image data; and decode one or more decodable indicia, in the one or more frames of image data; capture, using the first image sensor array, one or more images of vehicle damage; determine vehicle identifier data associated with the one or more images of vehicle damage; time stamp the one or more frames of image data and the one or more images of vehicle damage; and transmit the time stamped one or more frames of image data and the time stamped one or more images of vehicle damage to one or more remote servers for storage.
  20. 20 . The bar code reading apparatus of claim 19 , wherein a first illumination source illumination intensity is different relative to a second illumination source illumination intensity.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/302,324, filed Apr. 30, 2021, entitled “Apparatus Having Hybrid Monochrome And Color Image Sensor Array”, which application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/167,464, filed Feb. 4, 2021, entitled “Apparatus Having Hybrid Monochrome and Color Image Sensor Array”, which application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/874,217, filed May 14, 2020, entitled “Apparatus Having Hybrid Monochrome and Color Image Sensor Array” (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,949,634), which application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/980,213, filed May 15, 2018, entitled “Apparatus Having Hybrid Monochrome and Color Image Sensor Array” (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,691,907), which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/244,683, filed Aug. 23, 2016, entitled, “Apparatus Having Hybrid Monochrome and Color Image Sensor Array” (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,002,272), which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/684,609 filed Apr. 13, 2015, entitled, “Apparatus Having Hybrid Monochrome and Color Image Sensor Array” (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,454,686), which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/221,874 filed Mar. 21, 2014 entitled, “Apparatus Having Hybrid Monochrome and Color Image Sensor Array” (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,058,527), which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/493,348 filed Jun. 11, 2012, and entitled “Apparatus Having Hybrid Monochrome and Color Image Sensor Array” (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,720,785), which application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/853,090 filed Aug. 9, 2010 entitled, “Optical Reader Having Reduced Specular Reflection Read Failures” (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,196,839), which application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/445,930 filed Jun. 2, 2006 entitled, “Optical Reader Having Reduced Specular Reflection Read Failures” (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,770,799), which application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/687,606, filed Jun. 3, 2005 and titled “Digital Picture Taking Optical Reader Having Hybrid Monochrome And Color Image Sensor Array,” and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/690,268, filed Jun. 14, 2005 and titled “Digital Picture Taking Optical Reader Having Hybrid Monochrome And Color Image Sensor Array,” and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/692,890 filed Jun. 22, 2005, entitled “Digital Picture Taking Optical Reader Having Hybrid Monochrome And Color Image Sensor Array” and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/694,371 filed Jun. 27, 2005 entitled “Digital Picture Taking Optical Reader Having Hybrid Monochrome And Color Image Sensor Array”, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their respective entireties. All of the aforementioned patent applications (e.g., Provisional Patent Application No. 60/694,371, Provisional Patent Application No. 60/692,890, Provisional Patent Application No. 60/690,268 and Provisional Patent Application No. 60/687,606 and their descendants) and publications thereof are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. The aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/445,930 is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/174,447 filed Jun. 30, 2005 entitled, “Digital Picture Taking Optical Reader Having Hybrid Monochrome And Color Image Sensor” (now U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0274171) which is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to optical readers in general and specifically, to an optical reader having an image sensor array. BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART Designs have been proposed for bar code decoding devices having picture taking functionality. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,176, a picture taking bar code reading device is described that is equipped to output bar code data and associated image data. In one example described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,176, output image data is image data representing a handwritten signature. The image data output by the bar code decoding device may be subject to size correction, image orientation adjustment and image distortion correction image processing for correcting distortion resulting from an image being captured at an angle. In U. S. Publication No. US2002/0171745, a picture taking bar code reading device is described which is in communication with a remote computer. The bar code reading device sends image data and associated bar code data to the remote computer. In one combined bar code/image data transmission scheme described in U. S. Publication No. US2002/0171745, an image data file in .PDF, .TIFF, or .BMP filed format is created at a data collection device which includes an image representation of a decoded bar code message and an image representation of the package including the bar code