System and method for barcode scanning with color image sensors

1. A method for providing barcode scanning for a target barcode comprising:

receiving color image values for a captured image of the target barcode from at least one color image sensor;

extracting luminosity values for each pixel of the captured image from the color image values to define greyscale image values corresponding to the color image values; and

providing the luminosity values defining greyscale image values to a greyscale barcode decoder for subsequent processing thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the color image values comprise RGB image values, the method further comprising:

converting RGB image values to YUV values; and

extracting the luminosity values in dependence upon the YUV values.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the color image values are selected from the group consisting of: Bayer format color image values, CMYK format color image values, CMY format color image values and HSC format color image values.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the color image values are converted to RGB image values and subsequently to YUV values for extracting the luminosity values in dependence thereon.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target barcode is a greyscale barcode.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the color image values comprise YUV values.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a set of coefficients for calibrating the captured image in dependence upon predefined sensor sensitivity profiles, the predefined sensor sensitivity profiles for defining spectral sensitivity values for the color image sensor for a range of predetermined wavelengths; and

applying the set of coefficients to obtain calibrated image values such as to provide color balancing of the captured image.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein determining the set of coefficients is independent of images captured via the color image sensor.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining a set of coefficients for calibrating the captured image in dependence upon color characteristics of the captured image for defining calibration of subsequent images.

10. A computing device for providing barcode scanning for a target barcode comprising:

a processor;

at least one color image sensor for providing color image values for a captured image of the target barcode;

a greyscale barcode decoder for decoding greyscale images;

a memory coupled to the processor having instructions stored thereon for execution by the processor, the memory comprising instructions for:

extracting luminosity values for each pixel of the captured image from the color image values to define greyscale image values corresponding to the color image values; and

providing the luminosity values defining greyscale image values to the greyscale barcode decoder for subsequent processing thereof.

11. The computing device of claim 10 wherein the color image values comprise RGB image values, the memory further comprises instructions for:

converting RGB image values to YUV values; and

extracting the luminosity values in dependence upon the YUV values.

12. The computing device of claim 10 wherein the color image values are selected from the group consisting of: Bayer format color image values, CMYK format color image values, CMY format color image values and HSC format color image values.

13. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions for:

converting color image values to RGB image values and subsequently to YUV values for extracting the luminosity values in dependence thereon.

14. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the target barcode is a greyscale barcode.

15. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the color image values comprise YUV values.

16. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions for:

determining a set of coefficients for calibrating the captured image in dependence upon predefined sensor sensitivity profiles, the predefined sensor sensitivity profiles for defining spectral sensitivity values for the color image sensor for a range of predetermined wavelengths; and

applying the set of coefficients to obtain calibrated image values such as to provide color balancing of the captured image.

17. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein determining the set of coefficients is independent of images captured via the color image sensor.

18. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions for:

determining a set of coefficients for calibrating the captured image in dependence upon color characteristics of the captured image for defining calibration of subsequent images.