Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

When imaging with a smartphone, a user typically uses the smartphone's display as a viewfinder. The user aligns the smartphone's camera with a target by focusing on the display rather than the target. Traditionally, barcode scanners have used aimers rather than viewfinders for this alignment. An aimer projects a visible pattern onto a target. To scan a barcode, a user aligns and positions this visible pattern with the barcode. This approach to barcode targeting is highly desirable for regular barcode scanning. The present invention embraces an aimer for a smartphone that allows a user to target a barcode with a projected pattern, while using the smartphone's imaging-system and processing to scan the barcode. In some embodiments, the aimer is incorporated in a case for the smartphone.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim