Reducing perceived brightness of illumination light source in electro-optical readers that illuminate and read targets by image capture
First Claim
1. An apparatus for electro-optically reading targets by image capture, comprising:
- a housing;
a window supported by the housing;
an illumination source supported by the housing and configured to illuminate an area with illumination light directed along an illumination path through the window to the area;
a solid-state imager supported by the housing and having an array of light sensors having an imaging field of view that extends through the window to the area;
an imaging lens system configured to capture return illumination light from the area through the window, and to project the captured return illumination light along an imaging path to the array of light sensors; and
a light-reflecting optical element located within both the illumination path and the imaging path, the light-reflecting optical element including;
a light-reflecting, non-diffusing portion for folding the imaging path and for directing the captured return illumination light incident on the light-reflecting, non-diffusing portion along the folded imaging path to the array of light sensors; and
a light-diffusing portion for folding the illumination path with diffusive reflection of the illumination light incident on the light-diffusing portion along the folded illumination path.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Targets to be electro-optically read by image capture are illuminated with illumination light emitted from an illumination light source and directed along an illumination path through a window to the targets, and return light from the targets is captured through the window and projected along an imaging path to an array of light sensors of an imaging system. An optical element is located in both the illumination path and the imaging path, and has a light-reflecting, non-diffusing portion for directing the captured return light incident on the light-reflecting portion along a folded imaging path to the array, and a light-diffusing portion for diffusing the illumination light incident on the light-diffusing portion along a folded illumination path to scatter and blur an image of the illumination light source, to increase an apparent size of the illumination light source, and to reduce a perceived brightness of the illumination light source.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for electro-optically reading targets by image capture, comprising:
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a housing; a window supported by the housing; an illumination source supported by the housing and configured to illuminate an area with illumination light directed along an illumination path through the window to the area; a solid-state imager supported by the housing and having an array of light sensors having an imaging field of view that extends through the window to the area; an imaging lens system configured to capture return illumination light from the area through the window, and to project the captured return illumination light along an imaging path to the array of light sensors; and a light-reflecting optical element located within both the illumination path and the imaging path, the light-reflecting optical element including; a light-reflecting, non-diffusing portion for folding the imaging path and for directing the captured return illumination light incident on the light-reflecting, non-diffusing portion along the folded imaging path to the array of light sensors; and a light-diffusing portion for folding the illumination path with diffusive reflection of the illumination light incident on the light-diffusing portion along the folded illumination path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for electro-optically reading targets by image capture, comprising:
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a housing; a window supported by the housing; an illumination source supported by the housing, and configured to illuminate an area with illumination light directed along an illumination path through the window to the area; a solid-state imager supported by the housing and having an array of light sensors having an imaging field of view that extends through the window to the area; an imaging lens system configured to capture return illumination light from the area through the window and to project the captured return illumination light along an imaging path to the array of light sensors; and a light-reflecting optical element located within both the illumination path and the imaging path, the light-reflecting optical element including; a light-reflecting, non-diffusing portion to direct the captured return illumination light incident on the light-reflecting, non-diffusing portion along the imaging path to the array of light sensors; and a light-diffusing portion configured to fold the illumination path with diffusive reflection of the illumination light incident on the light-diffusing portion along the folded illumination path to scatter and blur an image of the illumination light source. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method of electro-optically reading targets by image capture, comprising:
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illuminating an area with illumination light emitted from an illumination light source and directed along an illumination path through a window of a housing to the area; capturing return illumination light from the area through the window; and projecting the captured return illumination light along an imaging path to an array of light sensors of a solid-state imager; wherein the illumination light is provided from and the return illumination light is returned to a light-reflecting optical element located within both the illumination path and the imaging path, wherein the light-reflecting optical element has a light-reflecting, non-diffusing portion for folding the imaging path and for directing the captured return illumination light incident on the light-reflecting, non-diffusing portion along the folded imaging path to the array, and has a light-diffusing portion for folding the illumination path with diffusive reflection of the illumination light incident on the light-diffusing portion along the folded illumination path to scatter and blur an image of the illumination light source. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification