Visidot Reader

Visidot Reader, an imaging-based AIDC product, utilizes high resolution capture devices with a large field of view, enabling it to decode any number and type of existing, low-cost visual tags (1D barcodes, Data Matrix and QR code) with 100% accuracy. At the same time, it is a high performance solution capable of capturing hundreds of tags in mere seconds.

Visidot Reader can be configured to capture tags on either stationary or moving assets. The fully-featured, patented image processing software accurately decodes all captured tags regardless of location and orientation. Visidot Reader is even able to detect tags that are partially blocked from view or corrupted.

All decoded information is stored in an XML file and transferred to the Visidot Director for subsequent business application use. Additionally, this information is made available on a designated viewer, enabling users to intuitively locate and review the assets and tags decoded information.

Visidot Reader is essentially a combination of hardware units – capture devices, lighting elements and others – and state-of-the-art software. The system’s high durability allows it to perform reliably even in the harshest of environments, including sites characterized by high humidity, high EM radiation, dust, heat, cold or other adverse environmental conditions.

Capture Hundreds of Barcodes in Mere Seconds

In a typical deployment, assets labeled with barcode (1D), Data Matrix (2D) or other industry standard tags are transported past a Visidot Gate. Once triggered, Visidot Reader powers up illumination units and activates an optional busy status signal. It then initiates image capture utilizing one or more capture devices, simultaneously scanning hundreds of tags in a single pass. Images captured on all capture devices are quickly processed and decoded by the Visidot Reader software, then transferred to the Visidot Controller software component.

The Controller software component merges all decoded data, eliminating duplicated data from overlapping captures or applying highly granular, user-specified data filters, and delivers captured results in the form of XML files to a calling business application, such as Visidot Director for SCT. These XML files contain data on the number of items detected, their location and orientation, and even indications of tags that could not be properly detected.

Detect and Decode Assets in Motion

Visidot Reader’s sophisticated ability to quickly identify and correlate information from successive frames, enables accurate detection and decoding of assets in motion. This capability means that no tag is left unidentified while duplicate detections are effectively eliminated.

Accurate reading of assets in motion is particularly useful in dock door deployments, where loading/unloading, routing & sequencing decisions must be made in mere seconds.

A Virtually Unlimited Field of View

The actual field of view and the amount of detail that can be picked up by a single capture device are defined by the ratio between barcode modules’ physical size and the capture device’s resolution. Should the desired field of view exceed the coverage range of a single capture device, Visidot Reader utilizes numerous capture devices. Visidot Reader is capable of assembling the decoded data from these multiple capture devices, delivering clear and consolidated results as if produced by a single capture device in a single shot.

Custom Triggers and Control

Visidot Reader may be prompted to action via a variety of triggering methods, including push buttons (wired or wireless remote controls), sensors (motion/directional detectors and others) and Visidot Director software triggers.

In certain scenarios, Visidot Reader may be configured to control additional devices, so as to ideally streamline operations. Devices that may be controlled by Visidot Reader include rotating tables, shrink-wrap machines, conveyors and traffic lights to serve as status indicators.

Product Architecture

Visidot Reader typically comprises the following:

• One or more capture devices – color or monochromatic, for stationary or in-motion capture
• Imagers (in each capture device) – for image processing and decoding of tagged information
• One or more Visidot Reader software instances, each of which receives information from one or more imagers, consolidates this information and performs advanced processing
• A controller that packages the information delivered by all Visidot Reader software instances and ensures close coordination and synchronization among all capture devices, mechanical elements, lighting units and the user application