Oblique access to image data for reading dataforms

摘要

An image sensor array system is arranged to enable oblique access for readout of image data from a stepped pixel pattern of sensor cells. The stepped pixel pattern represents an oblique line component of an image portion containing a 2-D bar code or other dataform. An obliquely aligned bar code image can thus be read out along oblique lines which follow rows of bar code elements traversing the elements. The sensor array (16) is accessed by horizontal and vertical readout circuits (22 and 24) under the control of address signals from an address unit (20). Location signals, from a source (12), indicative of a selected image portion (39) may be used by the address unit (20) to provide address signals representative of the stepped pixel pattern for a particular oblique line component. Under the control of the address signals, image data from cells at the intersection of array lines and columns are sampled by sampling devices (26-32) and provided as output signals representative of the selected oblique line component. The output signals are then usable for decoding the bar code or other dataform.