US 11,941,478 B2
Barcode scanning of bulk sample containers
Philip T. Merlo, Clarkston, MI (US); John Jacob Torongo, Thompsonville, MI (US); Matthew Andrew Laise, Utica, MI (US); Patrick Aloysius Merlo, Troy, MI (US); and Larry Michaels, Southfield, MI (US)
Assigned to Diagnostics Instruments, Inc., Sterling Heights, MI (US)
Filed by Diagnostic Instruments, Inc., Sterling Heights, MI (US)
Filed on Jul. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/365,148.
Application 17/365,148 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/656,680, filed on Oct. 18, 2019, granted, now 11,054,431.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/766,464, filed on Oct. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0326548 A1, Oct. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. G06K 7/10 (2006.01); G06K 7/14 (2006.01)
CPC G06K 7/10722 (2013.01) [G06K 7/1413 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for scanning and decoding barcodes, the apparatus comprising:
an imager configured to capture images within a selectable field of view;
a sample imaging area configured to support a plurality of sample/tissue containers, wherein each sample/tissue container of the plurality of sample/tissue containers comprises a respective barcode, and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of sample/tissue containers are positioned within the field of view such that a plurality of the respective barcodes are within the field of view; and
a processor configured to receive captured images from the imager;
wherein the processor is operable to detect and decode each of the plurality of respective barcodes present in a first image of the captured images; and
wherein the processor is configured to identify a respective region of interest in the first image for each barcode present in the first image, and wherein an identified first region of interest identifies a portion of a corresponding first sample/tissue container of the plurality of sample/tissue containers upon which tissue sample materials can be found.