Device and method for the acquisition and automatic processing of data obtained from optical codes

Abstract

The device for the acquisition and automatic processing of data obtained from optical codes comprises a CMOS optical sensor; an analog processing unit connected to the optical sensor; an analog/digital conversion unit connected to the analog processing unit; a logic control unit connected to the CMOS optical sensor, the analog processing unit and the analog/digital conversion unit; and a data-processing unit connected to the logic control unit and the analog/digital conversion unit. The CMOS optical sensor and at least one of the analog processing, analog/digital conversion, logic control and data processing units are integrated in a single chip. The data processing unit processes the digital signals corresponding to the image acquired by the CMOS sensor and extracts the optically coded data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for the acquisition of data obtained from reading at least one type of optical code having data coded therein by a combination of elements in accordance with pre-defined rules, comprising:
 means for generating an electric signal correlated to the brightness of an image including a CMOS optical sensor comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of lines and columns; and   acquisition means for acquiring an electric signal from at least one window of pixels of said CMOS optical sensor, said window comprising a sub-portion of said plurality of pixels, said acquisition means comprising configuration means for configuring at least one of the size and shape of said window dependent upon the type of optical code being read.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein said window includes at least a portion of at least two lines or two columns of said CMOS optical sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2  wherein said at least two lines or two columns are respectively adjacent lines or adjacent columns. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 2  wherein said at least two lines or two columns are respectively non adjacent lines or non-adjacent columns. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 processing means for processing the electrical signal acquired from said window, 
 wherein said acquisition means is configured for acquiring an electric signal from at least one further window of pixels of said CMOS optical sensor according to a result of the processing of the electrical signal by the processing means, said further window being different from said window in at least one of size and shape. 
 
     
     
         6 . A device for the acquisition of data obtained from reading at least one type of optical code having data coded therein by a combination of elements in accordance with pre-defined rules, comprising:
 an image detector comprising a CMOS optical sensor, the CMOS optical sensor comprising a plurality of CMOS sensing elements, the image detector further comprising an analog to digital conversion unit connected to said CMOS optical sensor;   a data-processing unit, connected to said image detector, comprising;
 a microprocessor; and 
 a data memory unit connected to said microprocessor; 
   wherein the device further comprises a volatile memory which is interposed between said analog to digital conversion unit and said microprocessor.   
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said volatile memory is connected to said analog to digital conversion unit by means of a first connection and to said microprocessor by means of a second connection, said second connection being entirely distinct from said first connection. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said volatile memory is part of said image detector. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said volatile memory is a RAM. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 6 , further comprising a Direct Memory Access Controller connected between said analog to digital conversion unit and said data memory unit. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said Direct Memory Access Controller is part of said image detector. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the configuration means has different operative configurations corresponding to reading a linear code, reading a stacked code and reading a two-dimensional code. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the configuration means has two or more different operative configurations corresponding to reading different types of optical codes.