Optical reading device with programmable LED control

Abstract

An apparatus comprising: a sensor array having rows of pixels which are exposed to symbol indicia, wherein the sensor array generates a sync signal; an aiming pattern generator for producing an aiming pattern superimposed on the symbol indicia; a processor which utilizes the sync signal to control the aiming pattern generator to: turn on the aiming pattern during exposure of a first predetermined row of pixels; turn off the aiming pattern during exposure of a second predetermined row of pixels; turn on the aiming pattern during exposure of a third predetermined row of pixels; and, a housing for housing the sensor array, aiming pattern generator and processor for hand held operation.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a sensor array having rows of pixels which are exposed to a target, wherein the sensor array generates a sync signal;    an aiming pattern generator for producing an aiming pattern superimposed on the target;    a processor which utilizes the sync signal to control the aiming pattern generator to:    turn on the aiming pattern during exposure of a first predetermined row of pixels;    turn off the aiming pattern during exposure of a second predetermined row of pixels;    turn on the aiming pattern during exposure of a third predetermined row of pixels; and,    a housing for housing the sensor array, aiming pattern generator and processor;    wherein the sensor array produces a digital image of the target without the aiming pattern superimposed thereon.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the processor has a memory and the processor stores identification information of the first and second predetermined rows in the memory.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a memory which stores identification information of the first and second predetermined rows.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the processor and the memory are provided in the same integrated circuit package.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the processor counts the sync signal to determine the first and second predetermined rows.  
   
   
       6 . A method of reading a target with a hand held device comprising the steps of: 
 exposing a sensor array to the target, the sensor array having rows of pixels;    utilizing an on board processor for: 
 turning on an aiming pattern superimposed onto the target during exposure of a first predetermined row of pixels;  
 turning off the aiming pattern during exposure of a second predetermined row of pixels;  
   wherein the sensor array produces a digital image of the target without the aiming pattern superimposed thereon.    
   
   
       7 . A method in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the processor has a memory and further comprising the step of storing identification information of the first and second predetermined rows in the memory.  
   
   
       8 . A method in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising storing in a memory identification information of the first and second predetermined rows.  
   
   
       9 . A method in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the processor and the memory are provided in the same integrated circuit package.  
   
   
       10 . A method in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the utilizing step comprises counting a sync signal to determine the first and second predetermined rows.  
   
   
       11 . A method for operating a hand held optical reading device comprising the steps of: 
 projecting an aiming pattern onto a target;    exposing one or more rows of pixels in an image sensor;    providing a plurality of row sync pulses;    determining a row sync pulse count representative of each row of pixels;    utilizing an on board processor for turning off the aiming pattern in response to a first predetermined row sync pulse count; and,    turning on the aiming pattern in response to a second predetermined row sync pulse count;    wherein the sensor array produces a digital image of the target without the aiming pattern superimposed thereon.    
   
   
       12 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising the step of storing the first and second predetermined row sync pulse count in a memory of a processor.  
   
   
       13 . A data reader for reading a target comprising: 
 an aiming pattern source for projecting an aiming pattern on the target;    an illumination source for illuminating the target;    a sensor array for exposing an array of pixels to the target and for providing an exposure indication signal;    wherein the exposure indication signal is utilized to turn off the aiming pattern source prior to exposure of the array of pixels; and,    a housing for housing the aiming pattern source, illumination source and sensor array for hand held operation;    wherein the sensor array produces a digital image of the target without the aiming pattern superimposed thereon.    
   
   
       14 . A data reader in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein a processor utilizes the exposure indication signal to turn on the illumination source.  
   
   
       15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a sensor array having rows of pixels which are exposed to a target, wherein the sensor array generates a sync signal indicative of exposure of each pixel row;    an aiming pattern generator for producing an aiming pattern superimposed on the target;    a processor which utilizes the sync signal to control the aiming pattern generator to:    turn on the aiming pattern during exposure of a predetermined row of pixels;    turn off the aiming pattern after a first predetermined time after the aiming pattern is turned on;    turn on the aiming pattern after a second predetermined time after the aiming pattern is turned off; and,    a housing for housing the sensor array, aiming pattern generator and processor for hand held operation;    wherein the sensor array produces a digital image of the target without the aiming pattern superimposed thereon.    
   
   
       18 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the processor has a memory and the processor stores identification information of the predetermined row in the memory.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising a memory which stores identification information of the predetermined row.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the processor and the memory are provided in the same integrated circuit package.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the processor counts the sync signal to determine the predetermined row.  
   
   
       22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the sync signal is indicative of exposure of each pixel row.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the sync signal is comprised of at least one of the following: exposure sync signal; vertical sync signal; horizontal sync signal; and, pixel clock signal.  
   
   
       29 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the housing is adapted for hand held operation.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the target is symbol indicia.  
   
   
       31 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the housing is adapted for hand held operation.  
   
   
       32 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the target is symbol indicia.