Imaging based engine with multiple elements supported on a common printed circuit board

Abstract

An apparatus for use in decoding a bar code symbol may include an image sensor integrated circuit having a plurality of pixels, timing, and control circuitry for controlling an image sensor, gain circuitry for controlling gain, and analog to digital conversion circuitry for conversion of an analog signal to a digital signal. The apparatus may also include a printed circuit board for receiving the image sensor integrated circuit. The connection between the image sensor integrated circuit and the printed circuit board characterized by a plurality of conductive adhesive connectors disposed between a plurality of electrode pads and a plurality of contact pads, where the conductive adhesive connectors provide electrical input/output and mechanical connections between the image sensor integrated circuit and the printed circuit board. The apparatus may be operative for processing image signals generated by the image sensor integrated circuit for attempting to decode the bar code symbol.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an image sensor integrated circuit, the image sensor integrated circuit having an image sensor including a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns of pixels, timing and control circuitry for controlling the image sensor, gain circuitry for controlling the gain of one or more signals, analog to digital conversion circuitry for conversion of an analog signal to a digital signal, and a plurality of electrode pads on a surface of the image sensor integrated circuit;   a printed circuit board receiving the image sensor integrated circuit, the printed circuit board having a plurality of contact pads disposed on a surface of the printed circuit board;   wherein a connection between said image sensor integrated circuit and said printed circuit board is characterized by a plurality of conductive adhesive connectors disposed between the plurality of electrode pads on the surface of the image sensor integrated circuit and the plurality of contact pads disposed on a surface of the printed circuit board, the conductive adhesive connectors providing electrical input/output and mechanical connections between said image sensor integrated circuit and said printed circuit board; and   a light source positioned on said printed circuit board, the apparatus being adapted to direct light from the light source toward a field of view of the apparatus, wherein the light source is connected to the printed circuit board by an adhesive conductive connector disposed between at least one contact pad disposed on a surface of the printed circuit board and at least one conductive projection extending away from an at least one electrode pad formed on the light source.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a hand held housing encapsulating the image sensor integrated circuit, wherein processing of image signals generated by the image sensor integrated circuit for attempting to decode a symbol is performed within the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein processing of image signals generated by the image sensor integrated circuit for attempting to decode a symbol is performed by a circuit disposed on the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a hand held housing encapsulating the image sensor integrated circuit, wherein processing of image signals generated by the image sensor integrated circuit for attempting to decode a symbol is performed by a computer external to the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is a light source of an illuminating subsystem that projects an illumination pattern. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an image sensor integrated circuit comprising an image sensor and a plurality of electrode pads on a first surface of the image sensor integrated circuit;   a lens assembly disposed on a second surface of the image sensor integrated circuit;   a printed circuit board receiving the image sensor integrated circuit, the printed circuit board having a plurality of contact pads disposed on a surface of the printed circuit board;   a plurality of conductive adhesive connectors disposed between the plurality of electrode pads on the first surface of the image sensor integrated circuit and the plurality of contact pads disposed on the surface of the printed circuit board; and   a first light source of an illumination subsystem and a second light source of an aiming subsystem positioned on the printed circuit board, the apparatus being adapted to direct light from the first light source and the second light source toward a field of view of the apparatus;   wherein the first light source and the second light source are connected to the printed circuit board by an adhesive conductive connector disposed between at least one contact pad disposed on the surface of the printed circuit board and the first light source and the second light source; and   wherein the first light source and the second light source extend away from the printed circuit board by approximately the same distance which the lens assembly extends from the printed circuit board or greater.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first light source and the second light source are provided by LEDs. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , comprising a circuit disposed on the printed circuit board for processing image signals generated by the image sensor integrated circuit for attempting to decode a symbol. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , comprising a housing wherein processing of image signals generated by the image sensor integrated circuit for attempting to decode a symbol is performed by circuitry external to the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first light source projects an illumination pattern. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an image sensor integrated circuit comprising an image sensor and a plurality of electrode pads on a first surface of the image sensor integrated circuit;   a printed circuit board receiving the image sensor integrated circuit, the printed circuit board having a plurality of contact pads disposed on a surface of the printed circuit board;   a plurality of conductive adhesive connectors disposed between the plurality of electrode pads on the first surface of the image sensor integrated circuit and the plurality of contact pads disposed on the surface of the printed circuit board; and   a first light source connected to the printed circuit board by an adhesive conductive connector disposed between a contact pad disposed on the surface of the printed circuit board and the first light source.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising:
 a lens assembly disposed on a second surface of the image sensor integrated circuit;   wherein the first light source extends away from the printed circuit board by approximately the same distance which the lens assembly extends from the printed circuit board or greater.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising a hand held housing encapsulating the image sensor integrated circuit, wherein processing of image signals generated by the image sensor integrated circuit for attempting to decode a symbol is performed within the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising a hand held housing encapsulating the image sensor integrated circuit, wherein processing of image signals generated by the image sensor integrated circuit for attempting to decode a symbol is performed by circuitry external to the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein processing of image signals generated by the image sensor integrated circuit for attempting to decode a symbol is performed by a circuit disposed on the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising a hand held housing encapsulating the image sensor integrated circuit, wherein processing of image signals generated by the image sensor integrated circuit for attempting to decode a symbol is performed by a computer external to the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising a light circuitry for controlling the operation of the first light source, the first light source electrically connected to the light circuitry, and the light circuitry disposed on the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first light source is a light source of an illuminating subsystem that projects an illumination pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first light source is a light source of an aiming subsystem for use in projecting an aiming pattern. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising an aimer light source positioned on the printed circuit board.