A focus module for an optoelectronic sensor is provided that has a focus adjustable optics, a focus adjustment unit for varying a focal position of the optics, and a focus control to move the optics into a focal position corresponding to a distance value by means of the focus adjustment unit. The focus module here furthermore has a distance sensor for determining the distance value and the focus adjustment unit, the focus control, and the distance sensor are parts of the focus module.

An imager module for an optical code reader may include a camera comprising a lens system, and an actuator for moving the lens system operatively connected to the lens system for autofocus adjustment. The actuator for moving the lens system comprises a linear electric motor with a drive shaft, a position sensor device adapted to detect the position of the drive shaft within a predefined stroke length and a control device adapted to control the movement of the drive shaft. The control device and the position sensor device are integrated in a single PCB, the electric motor comprises a frame that supports the drive shaft, and the single PCB constitutes part of said frame. On optical code reader may include such an imager module.

An optical code reader (10) is provided that has a light transmitter (12) having a transmission optics (14) for transmitting a reading beam (16) in a reading region (18); a focus adjustment unit (28) for focusing the reading beam (16) in a distance range; a light receiver (24) for generating a received signal from the reading beam (20) reflected in the reading region (18); and an evaluation unit (26) to read code information from the received signal. In this respect, the focus adjustment unit (28) has a pivot arm (30) that holds the transmission optics (14) at a different distance from the light transmitter (12) in dependence on the pivot position of the pivot arm (30) and that has a moving coil unit (34) to pivot the pivot arm (30).

A method of reading machine-readable marks on a movable support and object of a sample instrument. The method includes capturing a first image of the moveable support as the moveable support moves from a first position to a second position using an image capture device; determining whether a first fiducial machine-readable mark on the moveable support is in the first image; determining, when the first fiducial machine-readable mark is in the first image, whether a first machine-readable mark on a first object coupled to the moveable support is in the first image at a predetermined position relative to the first fiducial machine-readable mark; and associating information decoded from the first machine-readable mark on the first object with a first location on the moveable support associated with the first fiducial machine-readable mark.

There is provided in one embodiment an apparatus having an image sensor array. In one embodiment, the image sensor array can include monochrome pixels and color sensitive pixels. The monochrome pixels can be pixels without wavelength selective color filter elements. The color sensitive pixels can include wavelength selective color filter elements.

A method for correcting focus drift of an imaging system. The method includes an imaging system obtaining a plurality of images of an object of interest with each image obtained at a different focus of the imaging system. A processor then determines image property values of each image of the plurality of images and determines an image quality metric from each image of the plurality of images. The processor then compares the image quality metric to a reference metric and determines, based on the comparison, if a focus drift has occurred, and further adjusts a focus of the imaging system if a focus drift has occurred.

An image processing apparatus communicates an image capture device having panning, tilting, and zooming function. A code area is detected by performing a matching process on a whole object image area acquired by photographing an area including a whole predetermined object on which codes are attached, by an image capture device. Grouped areas are generated by grouping detected code areas, based on an angle of view to be set when performing photographing with zooming. The image capture device performs panning, tilting, and zooming operations, such that the generated grouped areas are sequentially photographed at a zoom magnification setting value. An image processing area set with respect to a group image obtained by performing the panning, tilting, and zooming operations and photographing each of the generated grouped area. Information on each code area included in the set image processing area is read.

Systems and methods of conducting a bar code scan using an imaging-based bar code scan device are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is performed by an imaging-based bar code device that includes processing circuitry, an optical lens assembly having an image sensor and an optical lens with a focused region at a certain distance in front of the optical lens along an optical axis of the optical lens, a plurality of light emitting elements configured proximate the optical lens and laterally offset from the optical axis. The method includes sending, by the processing circuitry, to each light emitting element, an indication to enable that light emitting element to project a light beam towards the optical axis in the focused region so that the light beams overlap when a target bar code is in the focused region and non-overlap when a target bar code is outside the focused region.

A machine vision system can include an image sensor assembly including an image sensor, a lens assembly coupled to the image sensor assembly, an illumination assembly coupled to the lens assembly, and a removable front cover positioned in front of the illumination assembly. The illumination assembly can include a plurality of multispectral light assemblies. Each multispectral light assembly of the plurality of multispectral light assemblies can include a multispectral light source having a plurality of color LED dies configured to generate at least two different wavelengths of light, a light pipe positioned in front of the multispectral light source and having an exit surface, a diffusive surface on the exit surface of the light pipe, and a projection lens positioned in front of the diffusive surface. The machine vision system can also include an illumination sensor configured to detect light from the illumination assembly.

A method of reading machine-readable marks on a movable support and object of a sample instrument. The method includes capturing a first image of the moveable support as the moveable support moves from a first position to a second position using an image capture device; determining whether a first fiducial machine-readable mark on the moveable support is in the first image; determining, when the first fiducial machine-readable mark is in the first image, whether a first machine-readable mark on a first object coupled to the moveable support is in the first image at a predetermined position relative to the first fiducial machine-readable mark; and associating information decoded from the first machine-readable mark on the first object with a first location on the moveable support associated with the first fiducial machine-readable mark.