Image analysis – Image sensing – Hand-held
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-22
2001-09-18
Grant, Jerome (Department: 2624)
Image analysis
Image sensing
Hand-held
C358S473000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292595
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to image recording devices and, more specifically, to a portable hand-held device for recording and storing information representative of a two dimensional image. The device includes the capability to communicate with a base station for transmitting information, such as data, and receiving information, such as software control algorithms.
BACKGROUND
Automated recording of information from distributed locations and transmittal of the recorded information to a central repository is becoming increasingly important in tracking delivery of goods and services, as well as location of inventory in retail, warehouse, and other distributed storage locations. The capability to locate specific items of inventory or verify delivery of specific items to a specific location in near real time can provide significant competitive advantage to a service enterprise. Progress has been made in recent years to achieve these goals.
For example, commercial parcel delivery services originally employed handwritten methods for recording receipt of a parcel from a customer, delivery of the parcel through a number of intermediate handlers at various geographic locations, and ultimately acceptance of the parcel by the addressee. Tracking of the parcel to locate a misdelivered or undelivered parcel was costly, time consuming, and error prone, requiring manual review of handwritten, often illegible records of each intermediate handler. The advent of coding each parcel with an individualized bar code or other indicia, scanning the bar code at each intermediate handler with a light pen, and uploading the bar code information to a networked computer system reduced the cost, time, and errors associated with parcel tracking. Machine readable indicia such as bar codes affixed to the parcels on adhesive labels are subject to soiling and handling damage, however, which can prevent accurate scanning of the bar code by the light pen and result in read errors which reduce efficiency of the system.
Other improvements such as electronic pads have been introduced to verify acceptance of the parcel by the addressee. With these devices, when the addressee signs for the parcel, a plot of their signature is generated due to the impression made by the addressee on the electronic pad. The signature, in electronic format, can be uploaded to the networked computer system to provide additional information for verification purposes. Such pads, however, are prone to damage, being subjected to repetitive, irregular contact forces. Additionally, parcel delivery persons are required to employ both light pens and electronic pads to support the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, an image scanning apparatus is useful in a wide variety of applications including, but not limited to, an image recording device used in combination with a computer system for providing tracking information for goods and services. The image scanning apparatus can be used to scan all manner of two dimensional images including, for example, alphanumeric characters, symbols, bar codes, handwritten signatures, and other indicia capable of being represented in two dimensional format.
The image scanning apparatus includes an image sensor such as a photodiode array or charge coupled device (“CCD”) array. A lens array is disposed between the image sensor and the image to be scanned to provide high resolution transmission of the image to the image sensor in a more compact arrangement than typically possible with conventional lens optical systems. A light source, such as a light emitting diode (“LED”) array, is also provided for illuminating the image. In an exemplary embodiment, the image scanning apparatus also includes a tracking element such as a ball, roller, or wheel configured for rolling contact on the image for indicating movement of the apparatus relative to the image. A switching feature coupled to the tracking element flashes the light source in accordance with relative movement of the image so that a series of discrete, sequential portions of the image are transmitted to the image sensor. Accordingly, as the image scanning apparatus is passed over an image, the visual indicia of the image is sequentially transformed into electronic information.
In one embodiment, the image scanning apparatus is disposed in a small, lightweight, portable hand-held device for recording an image and storing the recorded image as electronic information. The recording device may include a microprocessor for receiving output of the image scanning apparatus representative of the image, memory for storing information for subsequent retrieval, and software for controlling operation of the recording device. A programmable device such as a field programmable gate array (“FPGA”) may also be included in the recording device between the image scanning apparatus and the microprocessor to facilitate reconfiguration of the recording device to perform a different task. The memory may be flash memory, such as a removable Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (“PCMCIA”) card, a Compact Flash card, or a Miniature Card to facilitate replacement thereof or uploading of stored information. The recording device may also have a variety of data input devices in addition to the image scanning apparatus, as well as a variety of data output devices. For example, the recording device may include an alphanumeric keyboard for manual data input, a microphone for oral data input, and a contact or non-contact communications port for receiving data from a base station or host computer. Data output devices may include a display or a printer for respectively displaying or printing symbols, graphics, or man readable code, a speaker for aural output, and a contact or non-contact communications port for transmitting data to a base station or host computer. To facilitate portability, the recording device may further include a source of power such as a rechargeable battery.
The recording device may be used in a stand alone mode for recording, storing, and displaying an image, or may be used in an image recording system. The system may include a base station which communicates with the recording device via the communication port. Information stored in the recording device representative of one or more scanned images may be uploaded to the base station and information such as control algorithms and other software for programming the FPGA and controlling operation of the recording device may be downloaded to the recording device. In one embodiment the base station may also include a power supply configured to recharge the battery of the recording device. The image recording system may also include a host computer for communicating with one or more recording devices directly, or indirectly through one or more base stations.
According to a method of the invention for recording an image, at least a portion of the image is illuminated. Information representative of the illuminated portion is generated and stored. A next portion of the image is then illuminated and representative information generated and stored. The steps are repeated until information representative of the entire image has been generated and stored. Uploading of information representative of an image to the base station and/or the host computer may occur at any time after at least some information has been generated.
Other associated data such as time of day, geographic location, spoken words, and the like may be input and stored with the image information at the time the information is generated, for example. This associated data may be retained in the recording device or uploaded to the base station and/or host computer, as desired.
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p
Lyman Roy P.
Perry Richard A.
Petteruti Steven F.
Grant Jerome
Testa Hurwitz & Thibeault LLP
ZIH Corporation
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