Apparatus for reading barcodes and capturing non-barcode images

Abstract

This patent specification describes an attachment for a mobile device. The attachment may have an attachment feature designed to be attached to a mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet, or smartphone/tablet with a camera. The attachment may also include an optics system and/or an illumination system that cooperates with the camera to facilitate the capture of decodable barcodes. The illumination system may include a targeting illumination system that facilitates proper positioning of the article and/or an exposure illumination system that helps illuminate the article during capture. The optics system may include a lens that modifies the depth of field and/or the size of the field of view of the camera, an aperture that helps define the field of view, a filter that prevents light of undesired wavelengths from reaching the camera, and/or a mirror that redirects the camera's optical pathway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus capable of scanning barcodes and capturing non-barcode images through the use of a mobile device comprising a processor, a display screen, an image sensing system, and memory containing executable code configured to cause the image sensing system to capture image data, wherein the apparatus comprises:
 a first set of imaging optics that receives, from within a first field of view, first light defining a first portion of image data captured by the image sensing system, the first portion comprising a barcode image, wherein the first field of view is centered on a first optical pathway; and   a second set of imaging optics that receives, from within a second field of view, second light defining a second portion of the image data, the second portion comprising a non-barcode image, wherein the second field of view is centered on a second optical pathway nonparallel to the first optical pathway;   wherein the first set of imaging optics is positioned to direct the first light at the image sensing system of the mobile device and the second set of imaging optics is positioned to direct the second light at the image sensing system of the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is selected from the group consisting of smartphones, tablets, and smartphone/tablets.