A barcode decoding method includes steps of capturing an image of a barcode; dividing the image into a plurality of blocks and dividing the blocks into a plurality of longitudinal regions; calculating a representative gray level for each of the blocks; dividing at least one of the longitudinal regions into a relative majority region and a relative minority region; defining one of the relative majority region and the relative minority region as a normal region and defining the other of the relative majority region and the relative minority region as an abnormal region; selecting a block from each of the normal regions to set a scanning line; and performing a binarization algorithm for a gray level distribution of the scanning line to decode the barcode.

This patent specification describes a barcode reading application for a mobile device. The mobile device comprises a camera, which comprises an image sensor array and an output module coupled to the image sensor array. The image sensor array includes a plurality of pixels and the output module is capable of providing output in both: i) a primary color format wherein each pixel is represented by an intensity of each of three primary colors; and ii) a color space format wherein each pixel is represented by an intensity value and a plurality of chromatic values. The barcode reading application is configured to perform one of: i) confirming that the output module is set to provide output in the color space format; and ii) setting the output module to provide output in the color space format.

A method controls the exposure of an image containing a barcode for a barcode reading device. The method obtains a line of scan data from the image and identifies areas of saturation within the scan data. If there are saturated areas within the scan data, the method switches from an automatic gain control to a predetermined gain control. The method then resumes automatic gain control after a predetermined time.

This patent specification describes a barcode-reading system for a mobile device. The mobile device include an image sensor array for generating a color image of a target area. The color image includes sub-images each captured with a portion of the image sensor array sensitive to different bands of illumination. The barcode reading system may include an optic system configured to produce a targeting illumination pattern of a particular band of illumination passed by an optical filter within the target area. An image processing function of a barcode-reading application may create a grayscale composite image of a barcode by combining the sub-images. In combining the sub-images, a contribution from a sub-image captured by a portion of the image sensor array most sensitive to the particular band for the targeting illumination may be smaller than a contribution from the other two sub-images captured by other portions of the image sensor array.

A method of identifying a two-dimensional bar code in digital image data of the bar code having first and second type elements arranged in an ordered grid and an outline that includes an L-shape solid line without transitions between the first and second type elements. The method includes calculating a gradient field from the digital image data, specifying a gradient of the pixel value in the digital image data; calculating gradient magnitude data from the gradient field; performing a thresholding operation on the calculated gradient magnitude data and obtaining edge segment image data; detecting linear segments in the edge segment image data; identifying pairs of the detected linear segments; and sampling partial digital image data and detecting a presence of the first and second type elements in partial digital image data.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for extracting a one-dimensional digital signal from a two-dimensional digital image along a projection line. In some embodiments a repeating sequence of pixel weight templates, and a sequence of relative positions, are selected in response to the orientation of a projection line and used to compute a sequence of weighted sums. The sequence can be selected to achieve desirable properties, for example photometric accuracy, geometric accuracy, resolution, and/or noise reduction. In some embodiments registers and multiply-accumulators are arranged and controlled so as to compute the 1D signal.

Devices, methods, and computer-readable methods are described for a device with a camera that has the ability to obtain an accelerated barcode scan reading. Embodiments of this disclosure describe how a reduction in resolution and the processing of only one color of light allows a device with a camera to read a barcode image faster.

Described herein are systems and methods configured for serving pixel mapped content to one or more merchandising communication systems. A merchandising communication system may be included at a retail environment or other location. Pixel mapped content may include barcodes, text, and other desired content.

The invention relates to a method for decoding a machine readable code, comprising the machine generation of an input image of the machine readable code, wherein the input image has a plurality of image pixels having a respective value, wherein the sequence of the values of the image pixels defines an input signal development, wherein the input signal development comprises signal regions that each represent the signal energy in an associated signal region. The method comprises the transfer of the signal energy of at least one first signal region to a second signal region, wherein a result signal development is produced by transferring the signal energy. Finally, the method comprises the decoding of the machine readable code based on the result signal development.