Barcode-reading system

Abstract

This patent specification describes a barcode-reading enhancement accessory for a mobile device having a barcode-reading capability. The accessory may include an outer case and an inner carriage. A mobile device is encased in the inner carriage, and the combination of the inner carriage and the mobile device may be accommodated in the outer case. The inner carriage is configured to accommodate a mobile device of a particular size such that a mobile device of a different size may be accommodated in the outer case using a different inner carriage. The accessory may also include an optic system to fold an optical path of a field of illumination of a light source of the mobile device and/or a field of view of a camera of the mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A barcode-reading system for a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a camera for capturing an image of a barcode positioned in a field of view of the camera, the barcode-reading system comprising:
 a barcode-reading enhancement accessory secured to the mobile device, comprising:
 a diffuse bright field illumination system comprising at least one white light source powered by a battery within the barcode-reading enhancement accessory, and an optical substrate comprising a front major surface and a back major surface arranged generally perpendicular to an optical axis of the camera, and between which light introduced from the at least one white light source is transferred by total internal reflection primarily in a direction traverse to the optical axis, wherein the optical substrate comprises one or more extraction features configured to extract light from the optical substrate into the field of view of the camera; and 
   a barcode-reading application stored in a memory of the mobile device and executable by a processor of the mobile device, the barcode-reading application comprising:
 an image capture function for controlling the at least one white light source through a communication interface between the mobile device and the barcode-reading enhancement accessory and controlling the camera to capture an image of a barcode, the image of the barcode being affected by the diffuse bright field illumination system; 
 a decoder function for receiving the image of the barcode and generating decoded data representing data encoded in the barcode; and 
 a relay function for sending the decoded data to a remote server via a wireless connection established between the mobile device and a network.