CN108416239B - A barcode recognition engine and its control method for reducing power consumption - Google Patents

Abstract

The embodiment of the present invention discloses a barcode recognition engine and its control method for reducing power consumption. The barcode recognition engine includes an optical imaging unit, a supplementary light unit, an aiming unit, a decoding unit and an engine single-chip microcomputer; when the decoding unit triggers decoding , the optical imaging unit collects light signals and converts them into image data and transmits them to the decoding unit for decoding; the optical imaging unit controls the power supply state of the supplementary light unit according to the frame period signal generated inside it and the power supply control signal output by the engine microcontroller; the optical imaging unit The unit controls the supplementary light unit to turn on the supplementary light at the exposure time of the frame period signal, and controls the supplementary light unit to close at the sampling time of the frame period signal; when the supplementary light unit is turned on, the optical imaging unit is used for supplementary light enhancement, and the aiming unit is used for aiming instruct. The duration of supplementary light is adjusted synchronously through the exposure time, and the supplementary light is switched on and off periodically to achieve low power consumption and low temperature without affecting the quality of image imaging, making imaging more stable.

Description

A barcode recognition engine and its control method for reducing power consumption

technical field

The invention relates to the technical field of barcode identification, in particular to a barcode identification engine and a control method for reducing power consumption thereof.

Background technique

With the popularity of barcode applications and mobile payments, two-dimensional code recognition has gradually been applied to various industries in society. At present, two-dimensional code recognition usually adopts image-based reading method, and the mainstream technology is through CCD (charge-coupled device, a semiconductor device)/CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor, a voltage-controlled amplification device) with appropriate The lens is used for optical imaging, and then the decoding part of the back end is used for image recognition. The original image quality is crucial to the efficiency of decoding. In order to obtain better image quality, additional light is usually used to improve the obtained image quality. Especially in low-light environments, in order to ensure the reading effect and depth of field, it is necessary to use high-brightness fill light to compensate, which will inevitably lead to an increase in heat generation and power consumption. For example, after a long time of high-intensity work, the ambient temperature is high, and the heat generated by the device itself cannot be well conducted. In mild cases, the imaging quality of CCD/CMOS will be affected, and in severe cases, the device will be damaged and stop working.

Contents of the invention

In view of the above-mentioned technical problems, the embodiment of the present invention provides a barcode recognition engine and its control method for reducing power consumption, so as to solve the problems of increasing heat generation and power consumption and image quality caused by long-time work of existing two-dimensional code recognition .

An embodiment of the present invention provides a barcode recognition engine, including an optical imaging unit, a supplementary light unit, an aiming unit, a decoding unit, and an engine single-chip microcomputer;

When the decoding unit triggers the decoding, the optical imaging unit collects the optical signal and converts it into image data and then transmits it to the decoding unit for decoding; the optical imaging unit controls the supplementary light according to the frame period signal generated inside it and the power supply control signal output by the engine microcontroller The power supply state of the unit; the optical imaging unit controls the supplementary light unit to turn on the supplementary light at the exposure time of the frame period signal, and controls the supplementary light unit to close at the sampling time of the frame period signal; when the supplementary light unit is turned on, it is used as supplementary light for the optical imaging unit Light intensified, aiming unit for aiming indication.

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

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

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

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

Optionally, in the barcode recognition engine, the supplementary 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 engine microcontroller, the emitter of the first triode is connected to the power supply terminal, the collector of the first triode is connected to the anode of the fill light and the emitter of the second triode, The base of the second transistor 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 terminal, and the collector of the second transistor is connected to the base of the third transistor. pole, the collector of the third triode is connected to the negative pole of the supplementary light, and the emitter of the third triode is grounded through the second resistor.

Optionally, in the barcode recognition engine, the first transistor and the second transistor are PNP transistors, and the third transistor is an NPN transistor.

Optionally, in the barcode recognition engine, the supplementary light control circuit further includes a first capacitor, one end of the first capacitor is connected to the power supply terminal and the emitter of the first triode, and the other end of the first capacitor is grounded.

Optionally, in the barcode recognition engine, the supplementary 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, 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 of the fourth resistor is connected to the base of the third triode.

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

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

Step B, the optical imaging unit controls the power supply state of the supplementary light unit according to the frame period signal generated inside it and the power supply control signal output by the engine microcontroller; controls the supplementary light unit to turn on the supplementary light at the exposure time of the frame period signal, and in the frame period The sampling time of the signal controls the light supplement unit to turn off;

Step C, when the supplementary light unit is turned on, it provides supplementary light enhancement for the optical imaging unit, and the aiming unit is used for aiming instructions.

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

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

Step B2, the supplementary light control circuit controls the supplementary light unit to turn on the supplementary light at the exposure time of each frame period signal, and controls the supplementary light unit to turn off the supplementary 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 supplementary light unit, an aiming unit, a decoding unit, and an engine microcontroller; when the decoding unit triggers decoding, the optical imaging unit collects optical signals and After being converted into image data, it is transmitted to the decoding unit for decoding; the optical imaging unit controls the power supply state of the supplementary light unit according to the frame period signal generated internally and the power supply control signal output by the engine microcontroller; the optical imaging unit controls the supplementary light unit at the exposure time of the frame period signal. The light unit turns on the supplementary light, and controls the supplementary light unit to turn off at the sampling time of the frame period signal; when the supplementary light unit is turned on, it provides supplementary light enhancement for the optical imaging unit, and the aiming unit is used for aiming instructions. The duration of supplementary light is adjusted synchronously through the exposure time, and the supplementary light is switched on and off periodically to achieve low power consumption and low temperature without affecting the quality of image imaging, making imaging more stable.

Description of drawings

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

Fig. 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 in an embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a supplementary light control circuit in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a control method for reducing power consumption of a barcode recognition engine in an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments of the present invention, and all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative efforts, all belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

Please refer to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 at the same time, the barcode recognition engine includes an optical imaging unit 1 and a supplementary light unit 2 (one supplementary light is respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the optical imaging unit 1, namely 21, 22) , aiming unit 3, decoding unit 4 and engine single-chip microcomputer 5. When decoding is triggered by the decoding unit 4 , the optical imaging unit 1 collects optical signals and converts them into image data, which are then transmitted to the decoding unit 4 for decoding. The supplementary light unit is turned on to enhance the supplementary light for the sensor inside the optical imaging unit 1, so that the barcode recognition engine can be applied in a low-light environment. The aiming unit 3 is used for aiming instructions, and plays a guiding role when the user uses decoding. The main source of heat generation and power consumption of these devices is the supplementary light unit. Take the supplementary light (D in Figure 3 represents two supplementary lights, corresponding to 21 and 22 in Figure 1) as an example, its instantaneous power consumption is close to 0.5W, accounting for >50% of the power consumption of the entire optical device, and it is also the main source of heat. This is, the present embodiment utilizes the principle of the imaging period of the CMOS image sensor (need to be continuously imaged by periodic exposure), and the optical imaging unit 1 is controlled according to the frame period signal generated inside it and the power supply control signal POWER output by the engine microcontroller 5. The power supply state of the supplementary light unit 2: the optical imaging unit 1 controls the supplementary light unit to turn on the supplementary light at the exposure time of the frame period signal, and controls the supplementary light unit to turn off at the sampling time of the frame period signal. Compared with the existing method of always turning on the fill light, this embodiment adjusts the fill light duration synchronously through the exposure time, and periodically and regularly switches the fill light to achieve low power consumption and low temperature without affecting the image quality , making the imaging more stable.

The optical imaging unit 1 includes a lens 11, a CMOS image sensor 12, a supplementary light control circuit 13 and a MIPI (Mobile Industry Processor Interface, mobile industry processor interface) interface chip 14. The supplementary light unit includes a supplementary light lamp. 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 it. The CMOS image sensor 12 outputs the imaging frame period signal Strobe; the supplementary light control circuit 13 controls the power supply state of the supplementary light unit according to the combination of the high and low levels of the frame period signal and the power supply control signal, and the exposure of each frame period signal The time-controlled supplementary light turns on the supplementary light, and controls the supplementary light to turn off the supplementary light at the sampling time of each frame period signal (that is, when the exposure is stopped and the image data is collected). The CMOS image sensor 12 collects and outputs the image data Data at the sampling time, and after format conversion by the MIPI interface chip 14, it is transmitted to the decoding unit 4 at the backend for decoding processing.

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

The time sequence of the CMOS imaging cycle CIC and the supplementary light cycle FLC is shown in FIG. 4 . In the CMOS image sensor 12, a frame period signal T includes an exposure time N and a sampling time S. The exposure time is the time when the CMOS image sensor 12 receives an electrical signal and converts it into image data, and the sampling time S (non-exposure time) is CMOS The acquisition and transmission time of image data by the image sensor. The start time of the exposure time is t1, the end time of the exposure is t2, and the supplementary light duration is Δt (the time of Δt is equal to the exposure time N). In this embodiment, the supplementary light is turned on at the exposure time N for a duration of Δt, and the supplementary light is turned off at the sampling time. The continuous periodic supplementary light can more effectively save power consumption, reduce the heat of the light-emitting device, and increase the service life of each device.

Please also refer to FIG. 5 , the supplementary light control circuit 13 includes a first triode Q1, a second triode Q2, a third triode Q3, a first resistor R1 and a second resistor R2; The base of the triode Q1 is connected to the engine microcontroller, the emitter of the first triode Q1 is connected to the power supply terminal VCC, and the collector of the first triode Q1 is connected to two fill lights D (here, D represents two fill lights lamp) and the emitter of the second triode Q2, the base of the second triode 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 to The power supply terminal VCC, the collector of the second triode Q2 is connected to the base of the third triode Q3, the collector of the third triode Q3 is connected to the negative poles of the two supplementary lights D, and the third triode Q3 The emitter is grounded through the second resistor R2.

Wherein, the first transistor Q1 and the second transistor Q2 are PNP transistors, and the third transistor Q3 is an NPN transistor. The engine microcontroller of the barcode recognition engine controls the control pin of the laser power switch to output a power control signal POWER, which turns on the first triode Q1 when it is low level, and turns off the first triode Q1 when it is high level. The frame exposure output indication pin of the CMOS image sensor 12 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. The base of the third transistor Q3 is turned on when the output is at a high level, and is turned off at a low level.

When the barcode recognition engine is working, the power control signal POWER is kept at low level, and the first transistor Q1 is turned on. The second triode Q2 is switched synchronously by the high and low levels of the frame period signal Strobe. Specifically: when the frame period signal Strobe is at a low level, the second triode Q2 is turned on, at this time, the base of the third triode Q3 is turned on by inputting a high level, and the supplementary light D is controlled to light up; the frame period signal Strobe When the level is high, the second triode Q2 is turned off, and the third triode Q3 is turned off so as to control the supplementary light D to go out. In this way, the periodic and precise turning on and off of the fill light can be realized, so as to reduce power consumption and heat generation of the device.

Preferably, the supplementary light control circuit 13 further includes a first capacitor C1, one end of the first capacitor C1 is connected to the power supply terminal VCC and the emitter of the first triode Q1, and the other end of the first capacitor C1 is grounded; The first capacitor filtering and 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 supplementary light 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 to the second transistor Q2. One end of a resistor R1 is connected to the 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 current limiting through the third resistor R3 can protect the second transistor Q2, and the current limiting through the fourth resistor R4 can protect the third transistor Q3.

Preferably, the supplementary light adopts LED, which can be turned on and off periodically at a high frequency, and can reliably meet the requirement of turning on and off for a long period of time. It is measured that while the brightness ensures imaging, the power consumption is effectively reduced.

Based on the above-mentioned barcode recognition engine, the present invention also provides a control method for reducing power consumption of the barcode recognition engine, please refer to FIG. 6, the control method for reducing power consumption includes:

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

S20, the optical imaging unit controls the power supply state of the supplementary light unit according to the frame period signal generated inside it and the power supply control signal output by the engine microcontroller; controls the supplementary light unit to turn on the supplementary light at the exposure time of the frame period signal, and controls the supplementary light unit to turn on the supplementary light during the frame period signal The sampling time controls the closing of the supplementary light unit;

S30. When the supplementary light unit is turned on, it provides supplementary light enhancement for the optical imaging unit, and the aiming unit is used for aiming instructions.

Wherein, the step S20 includes:

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

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

In summary, the present invention provides a barcode recognition engine and its control method for reducing power consumption, which are applicable to all embedded devices that perform barcode recognition through optical imaging. By obtaining the exposure and sampled frame period signals of the CMOS image sensor, the supplementary light is turned on at the exposure time, and the supplementary light is turned off at the sampling time. Periodic supplementary light greatly reduces the power of the supplementary light while ensuring the compensation effect of the supplementary light. Consumption and heat generation, the measured reduction rate reaches about 30%-50%, reducing the imaging impact of CCD/CMOS due to the heat of the supplementary light; at the same time, it also indirectly prolongs the service life of the device, and can effectively save power consumption. The advantages of power consumption, low cost, and the ability to ensure long-term stable operation of the reading engine. It solves the problem that the industrial scanning engines on the market will inevitably increase power consumption and heat generation when they work for a long time.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: it can still be described in the foregoing embodiments Modifications are made to the recorded technical solutions, or equivalent replacements are made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims (7)

1. A barcode recognition engine is characterized in that, comprises optical imaging unit, supplementary light unit, aiming unit, decoding unit and engine single-chip microcomputer; When the decoding unit triggers the decoding, the optical imaging unit collects the optical signal and converts it into image data and then transmits it to the decoding unit for decoding; the optical imaging unit controls the supplementary light according to the frame period signal generated inside it and the power supply control signal output by the engine microcontroller The power supply state of the unit; the optical imaging unit controls the supplementary light unit to turn on the supplementary light at the exposure time of the frame period signal, and controls the supplementary light unit to close at the sampling time of the frame period signal; when the supplementary light unit is turned on, it is the supplementary light for the optical imaging unit Reinforced, aiming unit for aiming indication; The optical imaging unit includes a lens, a CMOS image sensor, a supplementary light control circuit and a MIPI interface chip; the supplementary light unit includes a supplementary light lamp; The CMOS image sensor converts the optical signal collected by the lens into an electrical signal, and converts it into image data by analog and outputs it; The CMOS image sensor outputs the frame period signal of imaging, and the supplementary light control circuit controls the power supply state of the supplementary light unit according to the combination of the high and low levels of the frame period signal and the power control signal; when the barcode recognition engine is working, the power supply control The signal is continuously at low level, and the supplementary light control circuit controls the supplementary light unit to turn on the supplementary light at the exposure time of each frame period signal, and controls the supplementary light unit to turn off the supplementary light at the sampling time of each frame period signal; The CMOS image sensor collects and outputs image data at the sampling time, and after format conversion by the MIPI interface chip, it is transmitted to the decoding unit for decoding processing. 2. The barcode recognition engine according to claim 1, wherein the supplementary 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 engine microcontroller, the emitter of the first triode is connected to the power supply terminal, the collector of the first triode is connected to the anode of the fill light and the emitter of the second triode, The base of the second transistor 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 terminal, and the collector of the second transistor is connected to the base of the third transistor. pole, the collector of the third triode is connected to the negative pole of the supplementary light, and the emitter of the third triode is grounded through the second resistor. 3. The barcode recognition engine according to claim 2, wherein the first triode and the second triode are PNP transistors, and the third triode is an NPN transistor. 4. The barcode recognition engine according to claim 2, wherein the supplementary light control circuit also includes a first capacitor, one end of the first capacitor is connected to the power supply terminal and the emitter of the first triode, and the second The other end of a capacitor is grounded. 5. The barcode recognition engine according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the supplementary light control circuit also includes a third resistor and a fourth resistor; One end of the third resistor is connected to the base of the second transistor, 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 of the fourth resistor is connected to the base of the third triode. 6. A control method for reducing power consumption that adopts the barcode recognition engine claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, comprising: Step A, when the decoding unit triggers the decoding, the optical imaging unit collects the optical signal and converts it into image data, and then transmits it to the decoding unit for decoding; Step B, the optical imaging unit controls the power supply state of the supplementary light unit according to the frame period signal generated inside it and the power supply control signal output by the engine microcontroller; controls the supplementary light unit to turn on the supplementary light at the exposure time of the frame period signal, and in the frame period The sampling time of the signal controls the light supplement unit to turn off; Step C, when the supplementary light unit is turned on, it provides supplementary light enhancement for the optical imaging unit, and the aiming unit is used for aiming instructions. 7. the control method of the reduction power consumption of barcode recognition engine according to claim 6, is characterized in that, described step B comprises: Step B1, the supplementary light control circuit of the optical imaging unit controls the power supply state of the supplementary light unit according to the high-low level combination of the frame period signal and the power control signal; Step B2, the supplementary light control circuit controls the supplementary light unit to turn on the supplementary light at the exposure time of each frame period signal, and controls the supplementary light unit to turn off the supplementary light at the sampling time of each frame period signal.