Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090078775 | Electro-optical imaging reader having plural solid-state imagers with shutters to prevent concurrent exposure - A bioptical workstation includes plural image capture modules for capturing images of indicia along different fields of view. Each module includes an illuminator for illuminating the indicia with illumination light, a megapixel imager with a rolling shutter for sequentially capturing the return light, and a shutter element for passing the return light to its imager in an open state, and for blocking the return light from other modules from reaching its imager in an closed state. A controller prevents interference among the modules by controlling the shutter element to assume the open state only during a respective exposure time period during which its imager produces an electrical signal indicative of the indicia, and by controlling the shutter element to assume the closed state at all times other than the respective exposure time period to prevent capture of the return light from the other modules. | 03-26-2009 |
20100019041 | Arrangement for and method of guiding an operator to move an imaging reader to an optimum reading position - An operator is guided to move an imaging reader to an optimum reading position in which to read a symbol by image capture. Optimum image capture occurs substantially at an imaging plane of an imaging assembly, and the operator is visually guided so that the symbol is located substantially at the imaging plane in a working range of distances. | 01-28-2010 |
20100102128 | Laser power control arrangements in electro-optical readers - A laser power control arrangement and method in an electro-optical reader for reading indicia includes an energizable laser for emitting a laser beam having an output power along a path. An internal light detector, e.g., a monitor photodiode, is mounted inside the laser for monitoring the output power of the laser. An external light detector, e.g., an auxiliary photodiode, is mounted outside the laser for monitoring the output power of the laser independently of the internal light detector. A guide, advantageously a light pipe or a diffuser, is positioned outside the laser in the path of the laser beam for guiding the laser beam from the laser to the external light detector. A controller is operatively connected to each light detector, for controlling a monitored output power of the laser beam by deenergizing the laser when the monitored output power of the laser beam exceeds a safe power level limit. | 04-29-2010 |
20100102130 | Adaptive power management in imaging systems - An imaging system for, and a method of, electro-optically reading targets, utilize an energizable illuminator for illuminating an illuminated target with illumination light, a solid-state, energizable imager having an array of image sensors for capturing return light from the illuminated target over a field of view, and for generating electrical signals indicative of the captured return light, and a controller for energizing the illuminator and the imager to process the electrical signals into data indicative of the illuminated target. A power reducer is operatively connected to the controller, for adaptively reducing electrical power consumption of the illuminator and/or the controller based on system usage. | 04-29-2010 |
20100108765 | Self-calibrating, automatic focusing assembly in electro-optical readers - An electro-optical reader for, and method of, reading a symbol, utilize a light source for emitting a light beam along a path, an optical assembly including a variable focusing element for focusing a major light fraction of the light beam between a range of working distances in which the symbol to be read is located along the path, and a controller for controlling the variable focusing element to have different focusing states. One of the focusing states is a reference focusing state in which the variable focusing element is operative for focusing the major light fraction at a reference focal plane. A detector assembly, including a detector aperture located at the reference focal plane, is operative for detecting an amount of a minor light fraction of the light beam, and for generating a self-calibration signal indicative of the reference focusing state when a predetermined amount of the minor light fraction has been detected. The controller is operative for processing the self-calibration signal to determine the reference focusing state for the variable focusing element during reading. | 05-06-2010 |
20100108766 | Selective working distance range restriction in imaging system - An imaging system for, and a method of, electro-optically reading a symbol located within a range of working distances from the system, utilize a solid-state imager having an array of image sensors for capturing return light from the symbol over a field of view and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the captured return light, and a controller operative for decoding the electrical signal into data indicative of the symbol, and for determining that the symbol has been successfully decoded. The symbol has a plurality of optical characteristics, such as symbol element size and contrast, which vary with working distance. A memory stores a known set of values of the size and contrast characteristics of the symbol when the symbol lies in a restricted zone within the range of working distances. The controller is further operative, after the symbol has been successfully decoded, for processing the size and contrast characteristics of the decoded symbol, and for determining that the decoded symbol has been successfully read within the restricted zone when each size and contrast characteristic lies within the known set of values stored by the memory. | 05-06-2010 |
20110089240 | IMAGING READER WITH ASYMMETRICAL MAGNIFICATION - A solid-state imager is mounted in a reader, such as a bi-optical, dual window, point-of-transaction workstation, for capturing light along an optical axis over a field of view from coded indicia. An optical assembly including non-rotationally symmetrical optics is operative for optically modifying and asymmetrically magnifying an image of the indicia and the field of view of the imager along mutually orthogonal directions generally perpendicular to the optical axis, and for increasing resolution of the imager along one of the directions. Preferably, the non-rotationally symmetrical optics includes a cylindrical lens having an aspherical profile along the one direction, and a planar profile along the other of the directions. | 04-21-2011 |
20110127333 | MULTIPLE CAMERA IMAGING-BASED BAR CODE READER WITH OPTIMIZED IMAGING FIELD - A multicamera imaging-based bar code reader wherein for least one camera assembly of the reader, a sensor array of the camera assembly is non-orthogonal with respect to an optical axis of an imaging lens assembly of the camera assembly such that an imaging or scanning volume of the camera assembly more closely conforms to a desired imaging field or region of the reader. In one exemplary embodiment the reader features: a housing supporting first and second transparent presentation windows and defining an interior region; an imaging system including a plurality of camera assemblies within the interior region, at least one camera assembly includes a sensor array and an imaging lens assembly, the sensor array being positioned with respect to the imaging lens assembly at an angle so as to be non-orthogonal with respect to an optical axis of the imaging lens assembly of the camera assembly. | 06-02-2011 |
20110290885 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING BRIGHTNESS OF AIMING PATTERN IN IMAGING SCANNER - A method and apparatus for using in a barcode reader. The apparatus includes an aiming lens assembly including an irregular-shape lens, an aiming light source positioned behind the aiming lens assembly, and an aperture with the desired aiming pattern shape placed in close proximity to the aiming source for generating a visible aiming light pattern towards the target object. The irregular-shape lens includes at least a recess for accommodating the imaging lens when the irregular-shaped lens is assembled into the apparatus with other components. | 12-01-2011 |
20110297853 | ARRANGEMENT FOR AND METHOD OF GENERATING UNIFORM DISTRIBUTED ILLUMINATION PATTERN FOR IMAGING READER - A substantially uniform distributed illumination pattern of light is generated on and along a symbol to be read by image capture. A solid-state imager is mounted on a tilted printed circuit board in a tilted handle of an ergonomic reader. An imaging lens assembly captures return light over a field of view from the symbol along an imaging axis, and projects the captured return light onto the imager. An illumination light source is mounted on the board for emitting illumination light at an acute angle of inclination relative to the imaging axis. An optical component includes a first lens portion with a polynomial incident surface for intercepting, bending and aligning the emitted illumination light to generate the pattern in a scan direction along the symbol, and a second lens portion with a toroidal or cylindrical aspherical surface for collimating the aligned illumination light to generate the pattern in a transverse direction. | 12-08-2011 |
20120006895 | SCAN ENGINE WITH INTEGRATED OBJECT SENSOR IN ELECTRO-OPTICAL READERS - A scan module in a reader for, and a method of, electro-optically reading symbols, include a light source for directing light at a symbol during reading, a light detector for detecting return light from the symbol during reading and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected return light, and an object sensor for sensing an object bearing the symbol and for generating a trigger signal for initiating the reading. The light source, the light detector and the object sensor are all supported by a common chassis. | 01-12-2012 |
20120085824 | OBJECT PROXIMITY SENSOR RECESSED INTO IMAGING READER - An electro-optical imaging reader includes a chassis mounted in a housing, a window spaced from a rear wall of the chassis, an imaging module for capturing return light from a target through the window over an imaging field of view, a controller for operating the reader in a standby state in which no target is read, and for processing the captured return light to read the target during a reading state, and an object sensing assembly supported by the rear chassis wall and spaced from the window. The object sensing assembly senses the presence of an object bearing the target in front of the window by detecting return sensing light from the object through the window over a sensing field of view that at least partially overlaps the imaging field of view, and triggers the controller to change from the standby state to the reading state upon such detection. | 04-12-2012 |
20120160919 | IMAGING-BASED BARCODE READERS HAVING CURVED WINDOW - An apparatus operative to decode a barcode on a target object includes a mirror located within the housing at a position generally facing both the curved window and the imaging lens arrangement of the scan engine. The curved window is configured to operate together with the mirror to direct any of the illumination light reflected by the curved window away from the imaging lens arrangement to avoid the detrimental hot spots in the image. | 06-28-2012 |
20120325909 | IMAGING READER WITH NON-UNIFORM MAGNIFICATION WITHIN A FIELD OF VIEW - An imaging lens assembly captures return light through a window of a vertical slot scanner from a target located in a range of working distances along an optical axis away from the window, and projects the captured return light onto an array of a solid-state imager. The imaging lens assembly is optically modified for non-uniform magnification within, and for increasing resolution at an outer peripheral region of, a field of view of the array, in an imaging plane generally perpendicular to the optical axis. The magnification is at least partly increased in the imaging plane with increasing radial distance away from the optical axis, to enable reading of the target when tilted relative to the optical axis and located at the outer peripheral region of the field of view. | 12-27-2012 |
20130075474 | ILLUMINATION SYSTEM IN IMAGING SCANNER - A barcode imaging reader includes a housing, a window in the housing, and an imaging sensor having an array of photosensitive elements for capturing light passing through the window. The barcode imaging reader further includes an illumination arrangement for emitting an illumination light from the housing interior to illuminate a barcode target object spaced from the housing. The illumination arrangement includes (i) an illumination source within the housing operative to generate the illumination light during imaging capture, (ii) a first mirror having a shape of a toroidal surface with predominantly concave surface, and (iii) a second mirror having a shape of a toroidal surface with predominantly convex surface. | 03-28-2013 |
20130128084 | APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF IMAGING TARGETS WITH WIDE ANGLE, ATHERMALIZED, ACHROMATIC, HYBRID IMAGING LENS ASSEMBLY - A wide angle, athermalized, achromatic, hybrid imaging lens assembly captures return light from a target over a field of view, and projects the captured return light onto an array of image sensors of a solid-state imager during electro-optical reading of the target. The assembly includes a plastic lens group for optical aberration compensation, a glass lens group spaced away from the plastic lens group along an optical axis, and an aperture stop between the lens groups and having an aperture through which the optical axis extends. The glass lens group has substantially all the optical power of the imaging lens assembly for thermal stability, and the plastic lens group has substantially no optical power. A holder holds the lenses and the aperture stop in front of the array. | 05-23-2013 |
20130306735 | OPTICAL SLOT SCANNER HAVING COAXIAL ILLUMINATON - An optical slot scanner ( | 11-21-2013 |
20130334314 | AIMING SYSTEM FOR IMAGING SCANNER - An apparatus includes (1) an imaging lens arrangement having an optical axis, (2) an aiming light source configured to project visible light through the imaging lens arrangement to create an aiming pattern on a target object, (3) an imaging sensor detecting light from the target object through the imaging lens arrangement, and (4) a folding mirror tilted relative to the optical axis of the imaging lens arrangement. The folding mirror is positioned both on the optical path from the imaging lens arrangement to the imaging sensor and on the optical path from the aiming light source to the imaging lens arrangement. Both the imaging arrangement and the aiming arrangement share the same imaging lens. | 12-19-2013 |
20130334315 | ILLUMINATION SYSTEM WITH PRISM FOR USE IN IMAGING SCANNER - An apparatus includes an illumination lens, an illumination light source for generating illumination light, and a prism made of optical transparent material. The first section on the first surface of the prism has a length that is at least four times as long as its width. The first surface of the prism includes a second section adjacent to the first section for defining the edge of an aperture. The third surface of the prism is configured to reflect the illumination light received from the first section onto the second surface of the prism. At least a portion of the illumination light received from the first section passes through both the second surface of the prism and the illumination lens for projecting illumination light onto a target object within an imaging field of view. | 12-19-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080212204 | Lens Module - Combining one or more elements of a beam shaping assembly in a lens module to, for example, reduce the mechanical tolerances in construction of the assembly. An exemplary lens module comprises a molded plastic lens with alignment features, a cylindrical surface, a focusing surface, and an aperture. The aperture is formed by surface positioned on the lens module at an angle greater than the angle for total internal reflection. | 09-04-2008 |
20080237351 | Image enhancement in imaging system - Image enhancement of symbol targets and non-symbol targets is performed based on the distance to the target, and optionally on the type of target being imaged, by an imaging system to improve reader performance. An axicon and other lenses are preferred to capture light from the target. | 10-02-2008 |
20090001166 | Imaging reader with plural solid-state imagers for electro-optically reading indicia - A plurality of solid-state imagers is mounted in a reader, such as a bi-optical, dual window, point-of-transaction workstation, for capturing images along different fields of view of diverse targets useful for customer identification, customer payment validation, operator surveillance, and coded indicia. The imagers are commonly mounted on a circuit board for joint installation at, and joint removal from, the reader for ease of serviceability. | 01-01-2009 |
20090057405 | Light collection assembly with self-retaining lens in electro-optical reader - An assembly for collecting light from indicia includes a chassis having a port through which the light from the indicia passes, and walls bounding an interior compartment. A self-retaining frame constituted of an optical material is non-adhesively mounted within the compartment in an assembled position. The frame has an integral lens optically aligned with the port in the assembled position for optically modifying the light passing through the port, and a plurality of legs in gripping frictional interference engagement with the walls in the assembled position. A sensor is optically aligned with the lens, for sensing the light optically modified by the lens. | 03-05-2009 |
20090059616 | Illumination light assembly with self-retaining lightpipe for minimizing specular reflection in electro-optical reader - An assembly for illuminating indicia includes a chassis, an illuminator for emitting illumination light, and a self-retaining lightpipe constituted of an optical material and non-adhesively mounted on the chassis with a snap action in an assembled position. The lightpipe is optically aligned with the illuminator in the assembled position, for optically guiding the illumination light from the illuminator to the indicia. The lightpipe has a textured exit surface, preferably with a predetermined scattering directionality, for scattering the illumination light exiting therefrom toward the indicia in a controlled manner to minimize specular reflection. | 03-05-2009 |
20090108074 | Imaging reader with adaptive illumination and adaptive resolution - Infrared light having a wavelength in a range from about 700 nm to about 760 nm, which is non-readily visible, illuminates indicia to be electro-optically read by default. Blue visible light having a wavelength in a range from about 430 nm to about 505 nm illuminates the indicia when high-density and/or low-contrast indicia are detected. | 04-30-2009 |
20090108075 | Sealed housing with integral window and integral pressure indicator in electro-optical reader - A reader for electro-optically reading indicia, includes a sensor for sensing light from the indicia, and for generating a signal indicative of the indicia. A support includes a housing in which the sensor is contained, and a light-transmissive window through which the light from the indicia passes en route to the sensor. The window and the housing are both constituted of a same moldable material and are integrally molded together as a single component of one-piece, seamless construction. A pressure indicator is also integrally formed with the housing, for visually indicating pressure within the housing. | 04-30-2009 |