Long range optical reader

• US 20030226895A1
• Filed: 09/23/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Izzo, John, Havens, William H., Hennick, Robert J., Robinson, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,055,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10801 Multidistance reading
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09072 Hole or recess under component or special relationship between hole and component
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09463 Partial lands, i.e. lands or conductive rings not completely surrounding the hole landless plated-through hole or via H05K2201/09545
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0949 Pad close to a hole, not surrounding the hole if used for surface mounting H05K1/114
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09645 Patterning on via walls; Plural lands around one hole
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09809 Coaxial layout reduction of cross-talk, noise or interference by printed shielding conductors for shielding around a single via or around a group of vias H05K1/0222
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10121 Optical component, e.g. opto-electronic component
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/244 Finish plating of conductors, especially of copper conductors, e.g. for pads or lands selective plating methods H05K3/243; finish plating of conductors made by printing techniques H05K3/246; solder as finish H05K3/3457, e.g. by plating H05K3/3473

Abstract

An optical reader including an image sensor, imaging optics, a short range aiming assembly, and a long range aiming assembly. The short range aiming assembly may comprise a plurality of LEDs. The long range aiming assembly may comprise a laser diode assembly which projects an aiming pattern that is readily visible at reading distances of several feet. The optical reader can be configured so that long range aiming assembly is enabled or disabled depending upon a present operating condition.

Claims

1. An optical reader comprising:

an imaging assembly including a plural photodetector image sensor and an imaging axis; and

an illumination assembly including at least one illumination LED and a targeting system comprising at least one laser diode assembly adapted to project an aiming pattern onto a target area.

2. The optical reader of claim 1, further comprising:

a mounting assembly for pivotally mounting said at least one laser diode assembly, said mounting assembly enabling an angle between an axis of a beam projected by said laser diode assembly and said imaging axis to be precisely adjusted.

3. The optical reader of claim 1, further including:

a support assembly supporting at least one component of said imaging assembly and at least one component of said illumination assembly; and

a mounting assembly for pivotally mounting said at least one laser diode assembly to said support assembly, said mounting assembly enabling an angle between an axis of a beam projected by said laser diode assembly and said imaging axis to be precisely adjusted.

4. The optical reader of claim 1, wherein said targeting system comprises:

a single laser diode assembly emitting a laser beam; and

a first prism disposed to split said beam so that a plurality of aiming spots are projected onto a target substrate.

5. The optical reader of claim 1, wherein said targeting system is configure so that said aiming spots are projected substantially along line that is substantially parallel to a horizontal centerline of a field of view of said reader.

6. The optical reader of claim 1, wherein said targeting system includes a plurality of laser diode assemblies, each of said plurality of laser diode assemblies projecting a single spot onto a target substrate.

7. The optical reader of claim 1, wherein said targeting system comprises a pair of laser diode assemblies projecting first and second aiming spots on a target substrate.

8. The optical reader of claim 1, wherein said imaging assembly includes a best focus distance of at least five feet.

9. The optical reader of claim 8, wherein said illumination assembly includes a slit aperture and emit optics for imaging said slit aperture onto a target substrate, wherein said emit optics are adapted so that said slit aperture is optimally focused onto a target at a substrate at a reader distance greater than a best focus receive position of said reader.

10. The optical reader of claim 1, wherein said image sensor is a 1D image sensor.

11. The optical reader of claim 1, wherein said image sensor is a 2D image sensor.

12. The optical reader of claim 1, wherein said targeting system includes light redirecting optics for redirecting a beam emitted by said at least one laser diode assembly.

13. The optical reader of claim 12, wherein said light redirecting optics redirect light so that an axis of an emit beam emitted by said at least one laser diode assembly are substantially parallel to said imaging axis.

14. The optical reader of claim 12, wherein said light redirecting optics includes a prism.

15. The optical reader of claim 12, wherein said light redirecting optics include a mirror.

16. The optical reader of claim 1, wherein said imaging assembly includes folding optics for folding said imaging axis.

17. The optical reader of claim 6, wherein said folding optics includes a mirror.

18. The optical reader of claim 16, wherein said folding optics includes a prism.

19. An optical reader comprising:

an imaging assembly including an image sensor, imaging optics, and an imaging axis, wherein said imaging optics are adapted so that said reader includes a best focus receive distance of at least five feet;

a targeting system including a laser diode assembly for projecting a spot of light onto a target substrate, said targeting optics system including nonmoving light redirecting elements for directing a beam projected by said laser diode assembly in a direction substantially parallel with an imaging axis of said reader.

20. An optical reader comprising:

an imaging assembly having a plural photodetector image sensor and an imaging axis;

an illumination assembly comprising at least one illumination LED and at least one laser diode assembly, wherein said laser diode assembly is adapted to project a long range aiming pattern onto a target substrate;

a control circuit in communication with said imaging assembly and said illumination assembly, wherein said reader has an adaptive laser aimer operating mode wherein said control circuit, in response to receipt of a trigger signal;

calculates a delay; and

enables said laser diode assembly if said delay is equal to or greater than a threshold delay.

21. The reader of claim 20, wherein said adaptive laser aimer operating mode is a user selected operating mode available as an option out of a plurality of operating modes selected by actuation of a menu interface.

22. The reader of claim 20, wherein said plural photodetector image sensor is a 1D image sensor.

23. The reader of claim 20, wherein said plural photodetector image sensor is a 2D image sensor.

24. The reader of claim 20, wherein said laser diode assembly is pivotally mounted about a pivoting axis within said reader, said pivoting axis being substantially perpendicular to said imaging axis.

25. The reader of claim 20, further including a prism for redirecting an optical path of a beam emitted by said laser diode assembly.

26. The reader of claim 20, wherein said imaging assembly includes a best focus distance of at least five feet.

27. The reader of claim 20, wherein said reader includes an optical assembly which split a beam emitted by said laser diode assembly to project a plurality of spots on a target substrate, said spots being projected substantially along a horizontal axis of a target.

28. An optical reader comprising:

an imaging assembly having a plural photodetector image sensor and an imaging axis;

an illumination assembly comprising at least one illumination LED and at least one laser diode assembly, wherein said laser diode assembly is adapted to project a long range aiming pattern onto a target substrate; and

a control circuit in communication with both of said imaging assembly and said illumination assembly, wherein said reader has an adaptive laser aimer operating mode wherein said control circuit, in response to receipt of a trigger signal;

calculates a reader-to-target distance; and

enables said laser diode assembly if said calculated reader-to-target distance is equal to or greater than a threshold reader-to-target distance.

29. The reader of claim 28, wherein said control circuit in calculating said reader-to-target distance generates a degree of focus signal.

30. The reader of claim 28, wherein said control circuit in calculating a reader-to-target distance, measures a distance between aiming spots in a captured image.

31. The reader of claim 28, wherein said control circuit, further in response to receipt of a trigger signal disables said laser diode assembly if said calculated reader-to-target distance is less than said threshold reader to target distance.

32. The reader of claim 28, wherein said control circuit, further in response to receipt a trigger signal, disables said illumination LED if said calculated reader-to-target distance is greater than a threshold reader-to-target distance.

33. The reader of claim 28, wherein said adaptive laser aimer operating mode is a user selected operating mode available as an option out of a plurality of operating modes selected by actuation of a menu interface.

34. The reader of claim 28, wherein said plural photodetector image sensor is a 1D image sensor.

35. The reader of claim 28, wherein said plural photodetector image sensor is a 2D image sensor.

36. The reader of claim 28, wherein said laser diode assembly is pivotally mounted about a pivoting axis within said reader, said pivoting axis being substantially perpendicular to said imaging axis.

37. The reader of claim 28, further including a prism fold redirecting an optical path of a beam emitted by said laser diode assembly.

38. The reader of claim 28, wherein said imaging assembly includes a best focus distance of at least five feet.

39. The reader of claim 28, wherein said reader includes an optical assembly which split a beam emitted by said laser diode assembly to project a plurality of spots on a target substrate, said spots being projected substantially along a horizontal axis of a target.