Illuminator for DPM scanner
First Claim
1. An illuminator for a direct part marking (DPM) scanner, the illuminator comprising:
- an imager window;
front edge illuminator optics disposed between the imager window and a region of interest, the front edge illuminator optics and imager window defining a field of view and an optical axis;
an enclosure configured to support the front edge illuminator optics at a distance defined by the field of view;
a dome diffuser coaxially aligned with the optical axis, having a front end at least partially surrounding the field of view proximate to the enclosure, and a rear end proximate to the imager window, the dome having at least two optically clear openings configured to facilitate illumination of an object under different illumination conditions to reduce specular reflection by combining a first image and a second image taken with different illumination, wherein a first image is captured with illumination via a first optically clear opening of the two optically clear openings, and a second image is captured with illumination via a second optically clear opening of the two optically clear openings;
an LED assembly coaxially aligned with the optical axis, and proximal to the rear end of the dome diffuser; and
a reflective sleeve coaxially aligned with the optical axis and at least partially surrounding the dome diffuser, having a first end operably coupled to the enclosure and a second end operably coupled to the LED assembly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A compact illuminator for a direct part marking (DPM) scanner is provided to perform dual-field, multi-color, multi-directional, multi-distance illumination functions. The illuminator can selectively provide dark field and bright field illumination with broad spectrum white or narrow band color, in combination with directions for near contact distance as well as far distance barcode readings. Specifically, illuminator includes a front edge illuminator with customized LED optics, a dome diffuser, an LED board assembly, and a reflective sleeve surrounding the dome diffuser. The board assembly can further include an alternative on/off plural point source bright field spot illuminating system. A method for scanning DPM indicia focuses on generating illumination light using an illumination assembly, illuminating the DPM indicia, detecting reflected and/or scattered light, and capturing under different illumination conditions and combining at least two consecutive images of the DPM indicia, followed by processing and decoding the obtained image.
597 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An illuminator for a direct part marking (DPM) scanner, the illuminator comprising:
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an imager window; front edge illuminator optics disposed between the imager window and a region of interest, the front edge illuminator optics and imager window defining a field of view and an optical axis; an enclosure configured to support the front edge illuminator optics at a distance defined by the field of view; a dome diffuser coaxially aligned with the optical axis, having a front end at least partially surrounding the field of view proximate to the enclosure, and a rear end proximate to the imager window, the dome having at least two optically clear openings configured to facilitate illumination of an object under different illumination conditions to reduce specular reflection by combining a first image and a second image taken with different illumination, wherein a first image is captured with illumination via a first optically clear opening of the two optically clear openings, and a second image is captured with illumination via a second optically clear opening of the two optically clear openings; an LED assembly coaxially aligned with the optical axis, and proximal to the rear end of the dome diffuser; and a reflective sleeve coaxially aligned with the optical axis and at least partially surrounding the dome diffuser, having a first end operably coupled to the enclosure and a second end operably coupled to the LED assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A scanner illumination assembly, comprising:
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a front edge illuminator assembly operatively coupled to a customized LED optics; a printed circuit board assembly having a front portion and a back portion, the front portion having at least six color LEDs for dark field illumination, and the back portion having at least four white and/or blue LEDs near four corners of the printed circuit board assembly, and an alternative on/off plural point source bright field spot illumination assembly; a superellipsoidal dome having a front end operatively coupled to the front edge illuminator assembly, and a rear end having a protective window with a camera opening and operatively coupled to the printed circuit board assembly, the dome having at least two optically clear openings configured to facilitate illumination of an object under different illumination conditions to reduce specular reflection by combining images taken with different illumination, wherein a first image is captured with illumination via a first optically clear opening of the two optically clear openings, and a second image is captured with illumination via a second optically clear opening of the two optically clear openings, and a camera aimer beam opening near the rear end of the dome; and an assembly enclosure having an inner sleeve, a front end operatively coupled to the front edge illuminator assembly, and a rear end operatively coupled to the printed circuit board assembly. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for scanning direct part marking (DPM) indicia, comprising:
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generating illumination light using two spot illumination light sources aligned with two optically clear openings in a superellipsoidal dome in an illumination assembly operatively coupled to a DPM scanner, the at least two optically clear openings in the superellipsoidal dome being configured to facilitate illumination of an object under different illumination conditions to reduce specular reflection by combining images taken with different illumination; illuminating the DPM indicia with the illumination light; detecting light reflected and/or scattered from the DPM indicia to capture an image of the DPM indicia; capturing at least two images of the DPM indicia under different illumination conditions; combining at least two consecutive images captured under different illumination conditions, wherein a first image is captured with illumination via a first optically clear opening of the two optically clear openings, and a second image is captured with illumination via a second optically clear opening of the two optically clear openings to obtain a combined image; and processing and decoding the combined image of the DPM indicia. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification