IP Library Granted Patent US 10,970,507
Granted Patent B1
US 10,970,507 · App. 16/706,392 · Granted Apr 6, 2021

Disable scanner illumination and aimer based on pre-defined scanner position

Inventors: Andrew Cornell (East Northport, NY); Andrew M. Doorty (Northport, NY)
Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
G06K7/1443G06K7/1456
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,970,507
App. No.
16/706,392
Granted
Apr 6, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

Methods and systems for disabling barcode reader illumination and aiming operation based on barcode reader position are disclosed herein. An example method includes a barcode reader determining its angular position, for example, from an accelerometer mounted in the barcode reader. That angular position is compared against a reference angular position and a determination is made whether barcode reader is in a disable angular region. When in the disable angular region, the barcode reader automatically disables illumination and/or aiming operation until the angular position enters an enable angular region. That enable angular region may be different than the disable angular region, and both may be adjustable.

Claims (43)

1. A method for controlling illumination of barcode reader, the method comprising:

receiving, at the barcode reader, an angular position of the barcode reader, wherein the angular position is relative to a reference angular position of the barcode reader;

determining when the angular position of the barcode reader is in a disable angular region; and

in response to the angular position of the barcode reading being in the disable angular region, disabling at least one of an illumination system in the barcode reader to prevent the barcode reader from illuminating a field of view or an aiming system in the barcode reader to disable the barcode reader from transmitting an aiming visual indicator.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining when the angular position of the barcode reader is in an enable angular region; and

in response to the angular position of the barcode reading being in the enable angular region, enabling at least one of the illumination system in the barcode reader to illuminate a field of view or the aiming system in the barcode reader to transmit the aiming visual indicator.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining when the angular position of the barcode reader is in the disable angular region comprises determining when the angular position of the barcode reader is greater than a disable angle; and wherein determining when the angular position of the barcode reader is in the enable angular region comprises determining when the angular position of the barcode reader is less than an enable angle.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the disable angle and the enable angle are the same.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the disable angle and the enable angle are different angles.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein in response to the angular position of the barcode reading being in the disable angular region, disabling both illumination system in the barcode reader to prevent the barcode reader from illuminating a field of view and the aiming system in the barcode reader to disable the barcode reader from transmitting an aiming visual indicator; and

wherein in response to the angular position of the barcode reading being in the enable angular region, enabling both the illumination system in the barcode reader to illuminate a field of view and the aiming system in the barcode reader to transmit the aiming visual indicator.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining when the angular position of the barcode reader is in the disable angular region or in the enable angular region comprises: determining, from an accelerator in the barcode reader, the angular position of the barcode reader.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining when the angular position of the barcode reader is in the disable angular region or in the enable angular region comprises: determining, from an accelerator in a base onto which the barcode reader is a mounted, the angular position of the barcode reader.

9. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

adjusting the disable angular region and/or the enable angular region; and

storing an adjusted disable angular region and/or an adjusted enable angular region in a memory of the barcode reader.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

adjusting the disable angular region and/or the enable angular region, in response to the barcode reader switching between a presentation mode and handheld mode.

11. A barcode reader comprising:

an accelerometer configured to determine an angular position of the barcode reader relative to a reference position of the barcode reader;

a processor configured to:

receive the angular position of the barcode reader;

determine when the angular position of the barcode reader is in a disable angular region; and

in response to the angular position of the barcode reading being in the disable angular region, disable at least one of an illumination system in the barcode reader to prevent the barcode reader from illuminating a field of view or an aiming system in the barcode reader to disable the barcode reader from transmitting an aiming visual indicator.

12. The barcode reader of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to:

determine when the angular position of the barcode reader is in an enable angular region; and

in response to the angular position of the barcode reading being in the enable angular region, enable at least one of the illumination system in the barcode reader to illuminate a field of view or the aiming system in the barcode reader to transmit the aiming visual indicator.

13. The barcode reader of claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to:

determine when the angular position of the barcode reader is in the disable angular region by determining when the angular position of the barcode reader is greater than a disable angle; and

wherein the processor is configured to determine when the angular position of the barcode reader is in the enable angular region by determining when the angular position of the barcode reader is less than an enable angle.

14. The barcode reader of claim 13 , wherein the disable angle and the enable angle are the same.

15. The barcode reader of claim 13 , wherein the disable angle and the enable angle are different angles.

16. The barcode reader of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to, in response to the angular position of the barcode reading being in the disable angular region, disable both illumination system in the barcode reader to prevent the barcode reader from illuminating a field of view and the aiming system in the barcode reader to disable the barcode reader from transmitting an aiming visual indicator; and

wherein the processor is configured to, in response to the angular position of the barcode reading being in the enable angular region, enable both the illumination system in the barcode reader to illuminate a field of view and the aiming system in the barcode reader to transmit the aiming visual indicator.

17. The barcode reader of claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to:

adjust the disable angular region and/or the enable angular region; and

store an adjusted disable angular region and/or an adjusted enable angular region in a memory of the barcode reader.

18. The barcode reader of claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to:

adjust the disable angular region and/or the enable angular region, in response to the barcode reader switching between a presentation mode and a handheld mode.

19. The barcode reader of claim 11 , wherein the barcode reader is a wearable barcode reader.

20. The barcode reader of claim 11 , wherein the barcode reader is a handheld barcode reader.

21. The barcode reader of claim 11 , wherein the barcode reader is a base-mounted barcode reader.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST - 364 - DAY Recorded Mar 5, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; LASER BAND, LLC; TEMPTIME CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056036/0590 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2020
From: CORNELL, ANDREW; DOORTY, ANDREW M.
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 053660/0792 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2020
From: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; LASER BAND, LLC; TEMPTIME CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053841/0212 →