WO2019169515A1 - Barcode recognition engine and power consumption reduction control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a barcode recognition engine and a power consumption reduction control method therefor. The barcode recognition engine comprises an optical imaging unit (1), a light supplementing unit (2), an aiming unit (3), a decoding unit (4), and an engine single-chip microcomputer (5). When the decoding unit (4) is triggered for decoding, the optical imaging unit (1) collects an optical signal, converts the optical signal into image data and transmits the image data to the decoding unit (4) for decoding. The optical imaging unit (1) controls a power supplying state of the light supplementing unit (2, 21, 22) according to a frame period signal generated in the optical imaging unit and a power control signal output by the engine single-chip microcomputer (5). The optical imaging unit (1) controls the light supplementing unit (2, 21, 22) to turn on for light supplementing in an exposure time period of the frame period signal, and controls the light supplementing unit (2, 21, 22) to turn off in a sampling time period of the frame period signal. The light supplementing unit (2, 21, 22) carries out light supplementing enhancement for the optical imaging unit (1) when the light supplementing unit is turned on, and the aiming unit (3) is used for aiming instruction. A light supplementing time duration is synchronously adjusted through an exposure time, and the periodic and regular switching of light supplementing is achieved, thereby causing no impact on the quality of imaging while achieving low power consumption and low temperature, and thus enabling the imaging to be more stable.

Description

Bar code recognition engine and control method thereof for reducing power consumption Technical field

The invention relates to the field of bar code recognition technology, in particular to a bar code recognition engine and a control method thereof for reducing power consumption.

Background technique

With the popularity of bar code applications and mobile payments, QR code recognition has gradually been applied to various industries in society. At present, two-dimensional code recognition usually adopts image-based reading mode, and the mainstream technology is through CCD (Charge Coupled Device, a semiconductor device) / CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor, an amplifier device controlled by voltage) The lens is used for optical imaging, and then the image recognition is performed by the decoded portion of the back end. The original image quality is critical to the efficiency of the decoding, and for better image quality, additional fill light is often used to improve the quality of the image obtained. Especially in the dark environment, in order to ensure the effect of reading and the depth of field, it is necessary to use the high-intensity fill light to compensate, which inevitably leads to an increase in heat generation and power consumption. For example, after a long period of high-intensity work, the ambient temperature is high, and the heat generated by the device itself is not well conducted, the light quality may affect the imaging quality of the CCD/CMOS, which may cause damage to the device and stop working.

Summary of the invention

In response to the above technical problem, an embodiment of the present invention provides a bar code recognition engine and a control method thereof for reducing power consumption, so as to solve the problem that the existing two-dimensional code recognition causes an increase in heat generation and power consumption and image imaging quality due to long-term work. .

Embodiments of the present invention provide a barcode recognition engine, including an optical imaging unit, a fill light unit, a targeting unit, a decoding unit, and an engine single chip microcomputer;

When the decoding unit triggers decoding, the optical imaging unit collects the optical signal and converts it into image data and transmits it to the decoding unit for decoding; the optical imaging unit controls the fill light according to the frame period signal generated internally and the power control signal output by the engine single chip. The power supply state of the unit; the optical imaging unit controls the fill light unit to turn on the fill light at the exposure time of the frame period signal, and controls the fill light unit to be turned off at the sampling time of the frame period signal; and complements the optical imaging unit when the fill light unit is turned on Light enhancement, the aiming unit is used for aiming instructions.

Optionally, in the barcode recognition engine, the optical imaging unit includes a lens, a CMOS image sensor, a fill light control circuit, and an MIPI interface chip; and the fill light unit includes a fill light;

The CMOS image sensor converts an optical signal collected by the lens into an electrical signal, converts it into image data through analog conversion, and outputs the image;

The CMOS image sensor outputs the image frame period signal, and the fill light control circuit controls the power supply state of the fill light unit according to the combination of the frame period signal and the high and low level of the power control signal; the signal of the fill light control circuit in each frame period The exposure time controls the fill light unit to turn on the fill light, and controls the fill light unit to turn off the fill light at the sampling time of each frame period signal;

The CMOS image sensor collects and outputs image data at the sampling time, is converted by the MIPI interface chip format, and then transmitted to the decoding unit for decoding processing.

Optionally, in the barcode recognition engine, the fill light control circuit includes a first triode, a second triode, a third triode, a first resistor and a second resistor;

The base of the first triode is connected to the single-chip microcomputer, the emitter of the first triode is connected to the power supply end, and the collector of the first triode is connected to the anode of the fill lamp and the emitter of the second triode, The base of the second triode is connected to one end of the first resistor and the frame exposure output pin of the CMOS image sensor, the other end of the first resistor is connected to the power supply end, and the collector of the second triode is connected to the base of the third triode The collector of the third transistor is connected to the cathode of the fill lamp, and the emitter of the third transistor is grounded through the second resistor.

Optionally, in the barcode recognition engine, the first triode and the second triode are PNP type triodes, and the third triode is an NPN type triode.

Optionally, in the barcode recognition engine, the fill light control circuit further includes a first capacitor, one end of the first capacitor is connected to the power terminal and the emitter of the first transistor, and the other end of the first capacitor Ground.

Optionally, in the barcode recognition engine, the fill light control circuit further includes a third resistor and a fourth resistor;

One end of the third resistor is connected to the base of the second transistor, and the other end of the third resistor is connected to one end of the first resistor and the frame exposure output pin of the CMOS image sensor, and one end of the fourth resistor is connected to the second transistor The collector, the other end of the fourth resistor is connected to the base of the third transistor.

A second aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a control method for reducing power consumption by using the barcode recognition engine, including:

Step A: When the decoding unit triggers decoding, the optical imaging unit collects the optical signal and converts it into image data, and then transmits the data to the decoding unit for decoding;

Step B: The optical imaging unit controls the power supply state of the fill light unit according to the frame period signal generated by the internal frame and the power control signal output by the engine single chip; and controls the fill light unit to open the fill light during the exposure time of the frame period signal, in the frame period. The sampling time of the signal controls the fill light unit to be turned off;

Step C: When the fill light unit is turned on, the optical imaging unit is supplemented with light, and the aiming unit is used for aiming indication.

Optionally, in the method for controlling power consumption of the barcode recognition engine, the step B includes:

Step B1, the fill light control circuit of the optical imaging unit controls the power supply state of the fill light unit according to the combination of the frame period signal and the high and low level of the power control signal;

Step B2: The fill light control circuit controls the fill light unit to turn on the fill light at the exposure time of each frame period signal, and controls the fill light unit to turn off the fill light at the sampling time of each frame period signal.

In the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the barcode recognition engine includes an optical imaging unit, a fill light unit, a aiming unit, a decoding unit, and an engine single chip. When the decoding unit triggers decoding, the optical imaging unit collects an optical signal and After being converted into image data, the image is transmitted to the decoding unit for decoding; the optical imaging unit controls the power supply state of the light-compensating unit according to the frame period signal generated internally and the power control signal output by the engine single-chip microcomputer; the optical imaging unit controls the exposure time of the frame period signal. The light unit turns on the fill light, and controls the fill light unit to be turned off at the sampling time of the frame period signal; when the fill light unit is turned on, the optical imaging unit is supplemented with light, and the aiming unit is used for the aiming indication. The exposure time is used to synchronously adjust the fill light duration, and the periodic and regular switch fill light, achieving low power consumption and low temperature without affecting the quality of image imaging, and making the imaging more stable.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a barcode recognition engine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a structural block diagram of a barcode recognition engine in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a structural block diagram of an optical imaging unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a timing diagram of a CMOS imaging period and a fill period in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of a fill light control circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for controlling power consumption of a bar code recognition engine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention are clearly and completely described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. It is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, but not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative efforts are within the scope of the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 simultaneously. The barcode recognition engine includes an optical imaging unit 1 and a fill light unit 2 (one fill light is arranged on each of the left and right sides of the optical imaging unit 1 , that is, 21 and 22). , targeting unit 3, decoding unit 4 and engine microcontroller 5. When the decoding unit 4 triggers decoding, the optical imaging unit 1 collects the optical signal and converts it into image data and transmits it to the decoding unit 4 for decoding. The fill light unit is illuminated for supplemental enhancement of the sensor inside the optical imaging unit 1 so that the barcode recognition engine can be applied to a low light environment. The aiming unit 3 is used for aiming instructions, and the user plays a guiding role when using decoding. The main source of heat and power consumption of these devices is the fill light unit. Take the fill light (Figure 3 with D for two fill lights, corresponding to 21, 22 in Figure 1) as an example, its instantaneous power consumption is close to 0.5W, accounting for >50% of the total optical device power consumption. The source of fever. Therefore, the present embodiment utilizes the principle of the imaging period of the CMOS image sensor (which needs to be continuously imaged by periodic exposure), and the optical imaging unit 1 controls the frame period signal generated by the internal unit and the power supply control signal POWER outputted by the engine unit 5 The power supply state of the fill light unit 2; the optical imaging unit 1 controls the fill light unit to turn on the fill light at the exposure time of the frame period signal, and controls the fill light unit to turn off at the sampling time of the frame period signal. Compared with the existing method of always opening the fill light, the embodiment synchronously adjusts the fill light duration by the exposure time, and periodically and regularly switches the fill light to achieve low power consumption and low temperature without affecting the quality of image imaging. To make imaging more stable.

The optical imaging unit 1 includes a lens 11, a CMOS image sensor 12, a fill light control circuit 13, and an MIPI (Mobile Industry Processor Interface) interface chip 14. The fill light unit includes a fill light. The CMOS image sensor 12 converts the optical signal collected by the lens 11 into an electrical signal, and converts the electrical signal into corresponding image data through an internal analog circuit and a digital circuit and outputs the same. The CMOS image sensor 12 outputs the imaged frame period signal Strobe; the fill light control circuit 13 controls the power supply state of the fill light unit according to the combination of the frame period signal and the high and low level of the power supply control signal, and the exposure of the signal in each frame period The time control fill light turns on the fill light, and controls the fill light to turn off the fill light during the sampling time of each frame period signal (that is, when the image data is stopped when the exposure is stopped). The CMOS image sensor 12 collects and outputs the image data Data at the sampling time, is converted by the MIPI interface chip 14, and is transmitted to the decoding unit 4 of the back end for decoding processing.

It should be understood that the CMOS image sensor 12 is powered by the power source VIN_3V3, performs I2C communication with the decoding unit 4, and outputs a timing control signal Timing (including the frame period signal Strobe and the field sync signal Vsync) to the MIPI interface chip 14. This is prior art and will not be described in detail herein.

The timing of the CMOS imaging period CIC and the fill period FLC is as shown in FIG. In the CMOS image sensor 12, one frame period signal T includes an exposure time N and a sampling time S, which is a time at which the CMOS image sensor 12 receives an electric signal and converts it into image data, and the sampling time S (non-exposure time) is CMOS. The time at which the image sensor collects and transmits image data. The start time of the exposure time is t1, and the time at which the exposure ends is t2, and the time during which the fill light continues is Δt (the time of Δt is equal to the exposure time N). In this embodiment, the fill light is turned on at the exposure time N for Δt, and the fill light is turned off at the sampling time. The continuous periodic fill light can effectively save power consumption, reduce the heat of the light emitting device, and improve the service life of each device.

Referring to FIG. 5 together, the fill light control circuit 13 includes a first transistor Q1, a second transistor Q2, a third transistor Q3, a first resistor R1 and a second resistor R2; The base of the transistor Q1 is connected to the engine MCU, the emitter of the first transistor Q1 is connected to the power supply terminal VCC, and the collector of the first transistor Q1 is connected to two fill lamps D (here, D represents two fill lights The anode of the lamp) and the emitter of the second transistor Q2, the base of the second transistor Q2 is connected to one end of the first resistor R1 and the frame exposure output pin of the CMOS image sensor 12, and the other end of the first resistor R1 is connected The power terminal VCC, the collector of the second transistor Q2 is connected to the base of the third transistor Q3, the collector of the third transistor Q3 is connected to the cathode of the two fill lamps D, and the third transistor Q3 is The emitter is grounded through a second resistor R2.

The first triode Q1 and the second triode Q2 are PNP type triodes, and the third triode Q3 is an NPN type triode. The engine of the bar code recognition engine controls the control pin of the laser power switch to output the power control signal POWER. When it is low, the first transistor Q1 is turned on, and when it is high, the first transistor Q1 is turned off. The frame exposure output of the CMOS image sensor 12 indicates that the pin outputs a frame period signal Strobe, which turns on the second transistor Q2 when it is at a low level and turns off the second transistor Q2 when it is at a high level. When the base of the third transistor Q3 outputs a high level, it is turned on, and the low level is turned off.

When the barcode recognition engine is in operation, the power control signal POWER continues to be low, and the first transistor Q1 is turned on. The second transistor Q2 is synchronously switched by the high and low levels of the frame period signal Strobe. Specifically, when the frame period signal Strobe is low level, the second transistor Q2 is turned on. At this time, the base of the third transistor Q3 is input to a high level and is turned on, and the fill light D is controlled to be lit; the frame period signal Strobe When the level is high, the second transistor Q2 is turned off, and the third transistor Q3 is turned off to control the fill light D to be extinguished. In this way, the periodic and precise illumination of the fill light can be achieved, thereby reducing power consumption and reducing heat generation of the device.

Preferably, the fill control circuit 13 further includes a first capacitor C1, one end of the first capacitor C1 is connected to the power terminal VCC and the emitter of the first transistor Q1, and the other end of the first capacitor C1 is grounded; The first capacitor filtering denoising makes the power supply voltage of the input fill light more stable, and the fill light effect of the fill light is better.

Preferably, the fill control circuit 13 further includes a third resistor R3 and a fourth resistor R4; one end of the third resistor R3 is connected to the base of the second transistor Q2, and the other end of the third resistor R3 is connected. One end of a resistor R1 and a frame exposure output pin of the CMOS image sensor, one end of the fourth resistor R4 is connected to the collector of the second transistor Q2, and the other end of the fourth resistor R4 is connected to the base of the third transistor Q3. The second transistor Q2 is protected by the current limit of the third resistor R3, and the current limit of the fourth resistor R4 protects the third transistor Q3.

Preferably, the fill light adopts an LED, which can be periodically extinguished at a high frequency, and reliably meets the requirement of long-term cycle lighting. The measured power is effectively reduced while the brightness is guaranteed to be imaged.

Based on the bar code recognition engine described above, the present invention further provides a bar code recognition engine for reducing power consumption. Referring to FIG. 6, the method for controlling power consumption reduction includes:

S10. When the decoding unit triggers decoding, the optical imaging unit collects the optical signal and converts it into image data, and then transmits the image to the decoding unit for decoding.

S20. The optical imaging unit controls the power supply state of the light-filling unit according to the frame period signal generated by the internal frame and the power control signal output by the engine single-chip microcomputer; and controls the light-filling unit to turn on the fill light during the exposure time of the frame period signal, and the frame period signal is The sampling time controls the fill light unit to be turned off;

S30. When the fill light unit is turned on, the optical imaging unit is supplemented with light, and the aiming unit is used for aiming indication.

The step S20 includes:

Step 21: The fill light control circuit of the optical imaging unit controls the power supply state of the fill light unit according to the combination of the frame period signal and the high and low level of the power control signal;

Step 22: The fill light control circuit controls the fill light unit to turn on the fill light at the exposure time of each frame period signal, and controls the fill light unit to turn off the fill light at the sampling time of each frame period signal.

In summary, the present invention provides a barcode recognition engine and a control method for reducing power consumption, which are applicable to all embedded devices for barcode recognition by optical imaging. By obtaining the frame period signal of the exposure and sampling of the CMOS image sensor, the fill light is turned on at the exposure time, and the fill light is turned off at the sampling time, and the periodic fill light greatly reduces the work of the fill light while ensuring the compensation effect of the fill light. Consumption and heat generation, the measured range is reduced by 30%-50%, reducing the imaging effect of CCD/CMOS due to the fill light heating; at the same time, it also indirectly prolongs the service life of the device, and can effectively save power consumption, with low Power consumption, low cost, and the ability to ensure long-term stable operation of the reading engine. It solves the problem that the long-term work of the industrial scanning engine on the market inevitably leads to an increase in power consumption and heat generation.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to be limiting; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that The technical solutions are described as being modified, or equivalent to some of the technical features, and the modifications and substitutions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims (8)

A barcode recognition engine, comprising: an optical imaging unit, a fill light unit, a aiming unit, a decoding unit, and an engine single chip; When the decoding unit triggers decoding, the optical imaging unit collects the optical signal and converts it into image data and transmits it to the decoding unit for decoding; the optical imaging unit controls the fill light according to the frame period signal generated internally and the power control signal output by the engine single chip. The power supply state of the unit; the optical imaging unit controls the fill light unit to turn on the fill light at the exposure time of the frame period signal, and controls the fill light unit to be turned off at the sampling time of the frame period signal; and fills the optical imaging unit when the fill light unit is turned on Enhanced, the aiming unit is used for aiming instructions. The bar code recognition engine according to claim 1, wherein the optical imaging unit comprises a lens, a CMOS image sensor, a fill light control circuit, and an MIPI interface chip; and the fill light unit comprises a fill light; The CMOS image sensor converts the optical signal collected by the lens into an electrical signal, which is converted into image data by simulation and output; The CMOS image sensor outputs the image frame period signal, and the fill light control circuit controls the power supply state of the fill light unit according to the combination of the frame period signal and the high and low level of the power control signal; the signal of the fill light control circuit in each frame period The exposure time controls the fill light unit to turn on the fill light, and controls the fill light unit to turn off the fill light at the sampling time of each frame period signal; The CMOS image sensor collects and outputs image data at the sampling time, is converted by the MIPI interface chip format, and then transmitted to the decoding unit for decoding processing. The bar code recognition engine according to claim 2, wherein the fill light control circuit comprises a first triode, a second triode, a third triode, a first resistor and a second resistor; The base of the first triode is connected to the single-chip microcomputer, the emitter of the first triode is connected to the power supply end, and the collector of the first triode is connected to the anode of the fill lamp and the emitter of the second triode, The base of the second triode is connected to one end of the first resistor and the frame exposure output pin of the CMOS image sensor, the other end of the first resistor is connected to the power supply end, and the collector of the second triode is connected to the base of the third triode The collector of the third transistor is connected to the cathode of the fill lamp, and the emitter of the third transistor is grounded through the second resistor. The bar code recognition engine according to claim 3, wherein said first triode and said second triode are PNP type triodes, and said third triode is an NPN type triode. The bar code recognition engine according to claim 3, wherein the fill light control circuit further comprises a first capacitor, one end of the first capacitor is connected to the power terminal and the emitter of the first transistor, and the first capacitor The other end is grounded. The barcode recognition engine according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the fill light control circuit further comprises a third resistor and a fourth resistor; One end of the third resistor is connected to the base of the second transistor, and the other end of the third resistor is connected to one end of the first resistor and the frame exposure output pin of the CMOS image sensor, and one end of the fourth resistor is connected to the second transistor The collector, the other end of the fourth resistor is connected to the base of the third transistor. A method for controlling power consumption reduction using the barcode recognition engine of claim 1 , comprising: Step A: When the decoding unit triggers decoding, the optical imaging unit collects the optical signal and converts it into image data, and then transmits the data to the decoding unit for decoding; Step B: The optical imaging unit controls the power supply state of the fill light unit according to the frame period signal generated by the internal frame and the power control signal output by the engine single chip; and controls the fill light unit to open the fill light during the exposure time of the frame period signal, in the frame period. The sampling time of the signal controls the fill light unit to be turned off; Step C: When the fill light unit is turned on, the optical imaging unit is supplemented with light, and the aiming unit is used for aiming indication. The method for controlling power consumption of a bar code recognition engine according to claim 7, wherein the step B comprises: Step B1, the fill light control circuit of the optical imaging unit controls the power supply state of the fill light unit according to the combination of the frame period signal and the high and low level of the power control signal; Step B2: The fill light control circuit controls the fill light unit to turn on the fill light at the exposure time of each frame period signal, and controls the fill light unit to turn off the fill light at the sampling time of each frame period signal.

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