Bar code-reading capabilities of a portable, hand-held computing device that comprises a camera

Abstract

This patent specification describes an attachment for a camera device. The attachment comprises at least one of a target generating mechanism, a proximity sensor, illumination that is optimized for bar code reading, optics that provide an alternative optical path to the camera device, and a supplementary lens system that is optimized for bar code reading.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An attachment for a camera device comprising a camera, wherein the attachment comprises at least one of:
 a target generating mechanism;   a proximity sensor;   illumination that is optimized for bar code reading;   optics that provide an alternative optical path to the camera device; and   a supplementary lens system that is optimized for bar code reading.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the target generating mechanism facilitates optimal positioning of the camera device with respect to a bar code that the camera device is attempting to read. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor:
 determines a distance between the camera and a bar code that the camera device is attempting to read; and   provides information about the distance to the camera.   
     
     
         4 . The attachment of  claim 3 , further comprising an interface that facilitates communication of the distance information from the proximity sensor to the camera. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment of  claim 3 , further comprising circuitry that sends control signals to the camera, wherein the control signals cause the camera to:
 disable the camera's auto-focusing feature; and   set the camera's focus value based on the distance information that is provided by the proximity sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The attachment of  claim 3 , further comprising circuitry that sends control signals to the camera, wherein the control signals cause the camera to:
 temporarily disable the camera's auto-focusing feature;   set the camera's focus value based on the distance information that is provided by the proximity sensor while the camera's auto-focusing feature is disabled; and   subsequently re-enable the camera's auto-focusing feature after the camera's focus value has been set based on the distance information.   
     
     
         7 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment comprises at least one single-color light source. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment of  claim 7 , further comprising activation/deactivation circuitry that activates and deactivates the at least one single-color light source. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment of  claim 7 , further comprising illumination detection circuitry that detects when a white light source of the camera device is activated and when the white light source of the camera device is deactivated. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the activation/deactivation circuitry activates the at least one single-color light source in response to the white light source of the camera device being activated; and   the activation/deactivation circuitry deactivates the at least one single-color light source in response to the white light source of the camera device being deactivated.   
     
     
         11 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment comprises:
 a light pipe that redirects white illumination that is provided by a white light source of the camera device; and   at least one single-color filter that filters the redirected white illumination, so that single-color illumination is directed toward a target area.   
     
     
         12 . The attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising a mirror that redirects reflected light toward a focusing lens of the camera device. 
     
     
         13 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the supplementary lens system comprises an aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the supplementary lens system comprises a lens that is optimized for bar code reading. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the supplementary lens system comprises a single-color filter. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising an anti-microbial housing. 
     
     
         17 . The attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising a chemical resistant housing. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment automatically activates at least one of the target generating mechanism and the illumination that is optimized for bar code reading in response to a recognizable illumination pattern of the camera device. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 using a camera device equipped with an attachment as defined in  claim 1  for at least one of bar code verification, print verification, and reading direct part marks.