Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HANDS-FREE DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data and image acquisition systems and more
specifically to a portable system which is adapted to be worn by a human
operator.
Background of the Invention
Portable image readers are becoming quite common for various commercial and
industrial operations today. This has led to smaller and more efficient
readers for
operators who have found that carrying the readers was an inconvenience. There
are
currently in the art, wearable laser scanners for scanning one-dimensional
barcodes in
similar applications. These are usually in ring or back of hand
configurations.
1S
US Patent 6,115,482, which issued on September S, 2000 to Sears et al, is an
example of a wearable reader. The Patent discloses a reading system for the
visually
impaired and describes an embodiment for reading bar code symbols. In this
embodiment, miniature cameras are mounted on the temples of eyeglasses worn by
a
human operator.
Another example is disclosed in US Patent 6,853,293, which issued on
February 8, 2005 to Swartz et al. This patent describes a portable data input
system to
scan barcodes. The scanner is a wearable device which is wrist mounted and the
system
2S includes a switch in a ring configuration and a headpiece including an
eyepiece display,
microphone and speaker.
These systems, however, do not have the capability of positioning the cameras
to
within an optimal reading range, range-finding and/or feedback for positioning
the reader
to within an optimal reading range, that is so say the range of distances at
which a
successful image acquisition may be obtained.
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Therefore there is a need for a wearable, data acquisition system in which
data
input components of the system are contained in a headpiece configuration.
There is a further need for operator control of the system and feedback to the
operator may be achieved through various hand-free operations, such as by
voice
commands, audio feedback and/or visual displays.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing
a
wearable, data acquisition apparatus in which the data input components are
contained
within a headpiece apparatus thereby permitting the human operator to control
acquisition integration of image capture and display in a hands free
environment.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the wearable data acquisition
system comprising a data terminal and a headpiece apparatus adapted to be worn
by an
operator. The headpiece apparatus includes an image acquisition device adapted
to
communicate with the data terminal, a microphone for receiving voice commands
from
the operator for transmission to the data terminal and a speaker for receiving
signals from
the data terminal and transmitting audio signals to the operator.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention the wearable data
acquisition system comprises a portable data terminal, an image acquisition
device
having a target pattern generator for providing visual feedback for aiming and
range-
fording. The wearable data acquisition system further includes a microphone
for
receiving voice commands from a human operator to the portable data terminal,
and a
speaker whereby the human operator receives audio feedback from the portable
data
terminal.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the image acquisition
device,
microphone and speaker acre contained in eyeglasses worn by a human operator.
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However, it should be noted by a person skilled in the art that the eyeglasses
might be
replaced by a hat, helmet or any headgear configuration, without departing
from the
scope of the invention.
In accordance with a specific aspect of the present invention, the headpiece
apparatus comprises an image display system having a scanning laser heads-up
display
for projecting image data into the vision field of the human operator. This
image display
system allows the human operator to preview an image to be captured or to
recall stored
image data from the memory of the portable data terminal.
In the various embodiments of the invention, upon completion of a data
acquisition, the data is transferred to the portable data terminal. The data
terminal may
then wirelessly transmit the decoded data to a remote access point of an
information
system or store the data in memory until a batch process is performed at a
later time.
The invention is further directed to a method of operating a wearable data
acquisition system having an image acquisition device on a headpiece apparatus
adapted
to be worn by an operator. The method comprises positioning the headpiece
apparatus
before a target such that the image acquisition device views the target,
adjusting the
relative position between the headpiece apparatus and the target until the
image
acquisition device is in the; optimal range of the target and triggering an
image acquisition
cycle by the data acquisition system when the image acquisition device is in
the optimal
range of the target.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method includes
projecting a target pattern on the target for aiming the image acquisition
device and for
determining when the image acquisition device is in the optimal range of the
target.
Alternately, the method includes projecting a target pattern on the target for
aiming the
image acquisition device and projecting a range-finding signal on the target
for
determining when the image acquisition device is in the optimal range of the
target.
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In accordance with a specific aspect of the invention, the image acquisition
cycle
may be triggered by voice .command by the operator or manually triggered by
the
operator.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and
operation of various embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to
those
ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of the
invention in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wearable headpiece portion of an
embodiment of the
present invention.
Figure 2 is a front view of the wearable headpiece portion of an embodiment of
the
present invention.
Figure 3 is a side view of the wearable headpiece portion of an embodiment of
the
present invention.
Figure 4 is a front view of the wearable data acquisition system of an
embodiment of the
present invention.
Detailed Description of fhe Invention
For purposes of explanation, specific embodiments are set forth to provide a
thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be
understood by one
skilled in the art, from reading this disclosure, that the invention may be
practiced
without these specific details. Moreover, well-known elements, devices,
process steps
and the like are not set forth in detail in order to avoid obscuring the scope
of the
invention described.
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The present invention is a wearable, data acquisition system that permits the
human operator to control acquisition integration of image capture and display
in a
generally hands free environment. The wearable system includes a headpiece
containing
the data input components including an image acquisition device and
microphone, and a
data terminal which may b~e worn on an operator's belt. The human operator, by
looking
at the target of interest, aims the image acquisition device and through voice
activation,
initiates an image acquisition cycle. For example, the target of interest may
be a barcode
symbol. The human operator receives feedback on the accuracy of aiming from an
integrated laser or LED-based target pattern generator. The feedback guides
the operator
to position the device to within an optimal reading range. Once within range,
the human
operator may trigger the acquisition by pressing a switch or by issuing a
voice command.
Upon completion of the image acquisition the image is transferred to the
portable data
terminal or handheld computer where image detection and decoding routines
determine
I 5 the presence of and content of detected symbologies. The data terminal or
handheld
computer can then wirelessly transmit the decoded data to a remote access
point of an
information system or store the data in memory until a batch process is
performed at a
later time.
The wearable portion of the unit 10 is illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and
consists
of a pair of glasses 12 that may be safety glasses into which are incorporated
the data
acquisition components of the data acquisition system. These include an image
acquisition device 16, a microphone 14 and a speaker 20.
The image acquisition device 16 also referred to as an image reader in this
specification, which may be any suitable image reader known in the art, is
mounted on
the temple portion of the flame of the eyeglasses 12. Device 16 comprising a
laser or
LED target pattern generator for providing visual feedback on aiming and range-
finding,
an illumination source for providing incremental light in low ambient
conditions, a lens
for focusing the reflected light, an image sensor for capturing the reflected
light. The
image reader 16 in this embodiment includes an array image sensor but could
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alternatively be a linear imager or RFID interrogator. In dedicated symbology
reading
systems, which do not require image acquisition, a laser scanner may also be
used.
S The microphone 14 may be a miniature microphone permanently mounted on the
eyeglass 12 frame or temples, or it may be a mini-boom microphone that can be
adjusted
to provide more optimal voice input, mounted on either the frame or temples.
The speaker 20 for audio feedback may be in the form of an audio receiver
mounted on a temple of the eyeglasses 12 or in an ear bud style headset as
illustrated in
Figures 2 and 3.
It should be noted by those skilled in the art that the eyeglasses may be
replaced
with a hat, helmet, headphones or other headgear configurations, without
departing from
the scope of the invention.
As illustrated in figures 3 and 4, the image reader 16, microphone 14 and
audio
receiver 20 are connected 'by cables 22 to a remote portable data terminal 26
that may be
worn on the belt of the operator. The data terminal unit 26 may be any
suitable data
terminal or portable computer that is commonly known in the art that comprises
a data
bus, a microprocessor, memory, a keyboard and display, wire line and/or
wireless system
interconnect capabilities, drive electronics that receive and process signals
from an image
source (e.g., the microprocessor or the image sensor). The processed signals
contain
information that controls the intensity and mix of color and the coordinates
to position the
individual picture elements (pixels) that comprise the image. The data
terminal 26
receives voice input from the microphone 14 to select or change modes, it
receives
images from the image reader 16 for either symbology detection and decoding or
image
processing including image enhancement and compression, and generates images
for
display on the display system.
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With reference again to Figures 1 and 2, a further embodiment of the present
invention is disclosed having an image display system 24 mounted in the
wearable unit
to provide a personal heads-up display. The image display system 24 consists
of a
5 scanning laser heads-up display system that overlays see-through information
on a
translucent screen 18 or on an operator's vision. With this image display
system 24, the
human operator has the ability to see the superimposed data and still view the
work
environment. The image display system 24 may be any suitable image display
system
known in the art, comprising a light source with refractive and reflective
optical elements
10 that project the rapidly scanned beam of light as an image on a screen or
on the viewer's
eye. To produce an image, a horizontal and vertical scanner or a single micro-
electromechanical scanner (MEMS) directs the light beam that creates the
image.
Alternatively, an LCD screen may be used in the same manner, to provide visual
information to the human operator.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the actuation of the data or
image acquisition can be implemented through a thumb-activated switch (not
shown) that
fits on the human operator's finger. This switch uses a hand motion to
activate the
acquisition sequence while; leaving the human operator's hands free for
necessary
handling activities at the point of use.
The wearable portions of the image acquisition system 10 of the present
invention
are shown to be connected by cables 22 to a remote portable data terminal 26,
such as a
hand-held computer, that is worn on a belt or garment of the human operator.
The image
acquisition system 10 may have wireless or wire-line network interconnection
and may
have a variety of application level software capabilities.
The data terminal 26 may receive voice input from the microphone 14 to select
or
change modes of operation. In the case where the human operator is attempting
to
capture an image rather than decode information, the human operator would
instruct the
unit to enable the imaging mode through voice command. The portable data
terminal 26
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would have voice recognition capabilities in order to receive and recognize
voice
commands. The human operator would aim the unit as before, first receiving
visual
feedback as to the accuracy of aiming from the integrated laser or LED-based
target
pattern generator of the image reader unit 16. The data terminal 26 may also
receive
commands from the human operator in more conventional ways such as through a
keyboard or through a pen-based touch screen or the like.
During the image acquisition process, the data terminal unit 26 may receive
raw
or processed images of a t~crget for either symbology detection and decoding
or image
processing. The images are generated for display on the screen of the data
terminal unit
26 or on the heads-up imal;e display system 24 described in an alternative
embodiment to
allow the human operator ~:o preview the image. A preview of the image of
interest may
be viewed, or stored image, data may be retrieved from the memory of the
portable data
I S terminal 26 for display.
Depending on the operating mode selected by the human operator, the portable
data terminal unit 26 may call upon resident application software to apply a
variety of
recognition, processing and decoding algorithms to the acquired image.
Capabilities
range from simple detection and decoding of a bar code, to more complex
pattern
matching required by certain optical characters, to full optical character
recognition. In
addition, the acquired image may be processed to enhance the visual image.
This may
include applying algorithms to remove image distortion, to correct for
perspective, to
compensate for uneven illumination and/or to compress the image data as
required.
Using the image acquisition capability, the device may also be capable of
capturing video
clips of certain events as commanded by the human operator.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the human operator may
connect the wearable portion of the unit 10 to a wireless transceiver (not
shown) that is
worn on the body. In this embodiment, the actual processing of incoming or
outgoing
information is accomplished on a remote host such as a personal computer with
the
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appropriate application software or on a networked application whereby the
transmitted
data is received and forwarded to an appropriate application server by a
wireless access
point.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a remote display (not
shown)
worn on the arm of the human operator may be integrated into the data
acquisition system
as an alternative or additional to the image display of the portable data
terminal 26. The
operator could see the results of an image or data acquisition on for example,
a small
LCD panel located on a forearm or wrist. The remote display may be useful in
situation
where it is deemed that the wearable display is too intrusive or adds too much
mass to the
wearable unit.
Both the head worn and arm or wrist worn segments of the wearable data
acquisition system may be wireless devices that communicate though personal
area
network wireless communication protocols with the portable data terminal 26.
This
removes the need for cables 22 between components. In this configuration, both
the
wearable headset 10 and a:rm portion would require rechargeable battery
sources to power
the acquisition and drive components.
This invention advantageously overcomes problems relating to hand operated
barcode scanners or portable data terminals in high volume applications.
Specifically, the
present invention enables the operator to have free use of both hands during
the handling
of materials that require either data or image acquisition.
The invention advantageously provides the ability to separate the data input
(image reader) from the portable data terminal to allow for easier updating of
either
capability. This is extremely important given the relatively short product
lifecycles of
portable data terminals. By using standard interfaces, both software and
hardware, the
data input devices may be mated to a wide range of portable data terminals and
allows for
an easy expansion of capabilities.
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While the invention. has been described according to what is presently
considered
to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it must be understood that
the
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Those ordinarily
skilled in the art
will understand that various modifications and equivalent structures and
functions may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined
in the
claims. Therefore, the invention as defined in the claims must be accorded the
broadest
possible interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent
structures and functions.
