Imaging module for optical reader

• US 20040195328A1
• Filed: 07/03/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Data Collection Inc (Welch Allyn Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hunter, Vivian L., Barber, Charles P., Gerst, Carl W. III, McCall, Melvin D., Hahn, Bruce L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,296,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10742 including a diffuser for diffusing the light from the light source to create substantially uniform illumination of the target record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/109 adaptations to make the hand-held scanner useable as a fixed scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes

Abstract

The present invention is an imaging module including a frame supporting various optical components and a circuit board, which, in one embodiment, carries essentially an entirety of illumination and aiming LED'"'"'s of the module. The frame may include resilient fingers which enable the frame to receive certain optical components in a snap-fit arrangement. Further, the module may be arranged so that the outer walls of the module provide a containment for preventing structural damage to sensitive internal components of the module.

Claims

1. An optical reader comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a image sensor mounted on said printed circuit board, said image sensor having a field of view, said image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representative of the field of view of said image sensor;

a signal processing circuit disposed to receive said electrical signal from said image sensor, said signal processing circuit mounted on said printed circuit board;

an image capture circuit adapted to receive electrical signal from said signal processing circuit and store said electrical signal, said image capture circuit mounted on said printed circuit board;

an image recognition circuit coupled to said image capture circuit, said image recognition circuit mounted on said printed circuit board;

a light source mounted on said printed circuit board, said light source disposed to illuminate at least a portion of the field of view of said image sensor; and

a control circuit coupled to both said image sensor and said light source;

wherein said control circuit is adapted to control the operation of said image sensor; and

wherein said control circuit is adapted to control the operation of said light source.

2. The optical reader of claim 1, wherein said light source is configured to project a single aiming line.

3. An optical reader comprising:

a mounting frame, said mounting frame including;

a back plate; and

four sidewalls extending outwards from said back plate;

wherein said back plate and said four side walls define an interior volume; and

wherein said back plate defines a plurality of openings;

a printed circuit board coupled to said back plate, wherein said printed circuit board is external to said interior volume;

an image sensor mounted on said printed circuit board, said image sensor disposed such that the field of view of said image sensor faces said interior volume;

a light source disposed within said interior volume, said light source mounted on said printed circuit board;

a control circuit for controlling the operation of said image sensor and said light source, said control circuit disposed on said printed circuit board, said control circuit coupled to said light source and said image sensor;

a signal processing circuit disposed to receive an electrical signal from said image sensor, said signal processing circuit mounted on said printed circuit board;

an image capture circuit adapted to receive the electrical signal from said signal processing circuit and store said electrical signal, said image capture circuit mounted on said printed circuit board; and

an image recognition circuit coupled to said image capture circuit, said image recognition circuit mounted on said printed circuit board.

4. The optical reader of claim 3 further including a receive optics lens assembly coupled to said back plate.

5. The optical reader of claim 4 further including:

a diffuser plate engageable with at least two of said four side walls; and

a aiming lens aperture plate disposed between said diffuser plate and said back plate.

6. The optical reader of claim 5 wherein said light source includes a plurality of light sources.

7. The optical reader of claim 6 wherein said plurality of light sources includes a plurality of light emitting diodes.

8. The optical reader of claim 6 wherein said image sensor is a solid state image sensor and said back plate defines a recess for receiving said solid state image sensor.

9. The optical reader of claim 6 wherein at least one of said at least two of said at least four sidewalls includes a resilient finger engageable with said diffuser plate.

10. An optical reader comprising:

a mounting frame, said mounting frame including;

a back plate; and

four sidewalls extending outwards from said back plate;

wherein said back plate and said four side walls define an interior volume; and

wherein said back plate defines a plurality of openings;

a printed circuit board coupled to said back plate, wherein said printed circuit board is external to said interior volume;

an image sensor mounted on said printed circuit board, said image sensor disposed such that the field of view of said image sensor faces said interior volume;

a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed within said interior volume, said plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on said printed circuit board;

a control circuit for controlling the operation of said image sensor and said light source, said control circuit disposed on said printed circuit board, said control circuit coupled to said light source and said image sensor;

a signal processing circuit disposed to receive an electrical signal from said image sensor, said signal processing circuit mounted on said printed circuit board;

an image capture circuit adapted to receive the electrical signal from said signal processing circuit and store said electrical signal, said image capture circuit mounted on said printed circuit board; and

an image recognition circuit coupled to said image capture circuit, said image recognition circuit mounted on said printed circuit board.

11. The optical reader of claim 10 further including a receive optics lens assembly coupled to said back plate.

12. The optical reader of claim 11 further including:

a diffuser plate engageable with at least two of said four side walls; and

a aiming lens aperture plate disposed between said diffuser plate and said back plate.

13. The optical reader of claim 12 wherein said image sensor is a solid state image sensor and said back plate defines a recess for receiving said solid state image sensor.

14. The optical reader of claim 12 wherein at least one of said at least two of said at least four sidewalls includes a resilient finger engageable with said diffuser plate.

15. An optical reader comprising:

a mounting frame, said mounting frame including;

a back plate; and

four sidewalls extending outwards from said back plate;

wherein said back plate and said four side walls define an interior volume; and

wherein said back plate defines a plurality of openings;

a printed circuit board coupled to said back plate, wherein said printed circuit board is external to said interior volume;

an image sensor mounted on said printed circuit board, said image sensor disposed such that the field of view of said image sensor faces said interior volume;

a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed within said interior volume, said plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on said printed circuit board;

a control circuit for controlling the operation of said image sensor and said light source, said control circuit disposed on said printed circuit board, said control circuit coupled to said light source and said image sensor;

a signal processing circuit disposed to receive an electrical signal from said image sensor, said signal processing circuit mounted on said printed circuit board;

an image capture circuit adapted to receive the electrical signal from said signal processing circuit and store said electrical signal, said image capture circuit mounted on said printed circuit board; and

an image recognition circuit coupled to said image capture circuit, said image recognition circuit mounted on said printed circuit board;

wherein the receive axis of said image sensor is substantially perpendicular to said printed circuit board.

16. The optical reader of claim 15 further including an aperture plate disposed proximate to said plurality of light emitting diodes, wherein said aperture plate defines a plurality of openings, wherein said plurality of openings are disposed such that at least a portion of the light emitted by said plurality of light emitting diodes is directed through said plurality of apertures.

17. The optical reader of claim 16 further comprising a diffuser plate disposed to receive at least a portion of the light emitted from said plurality of light emitting diodes.

18. The optical reader of claim 15 further including a diffuser plate coupled to said mounting frame, wherein said diffuser plate is disposed to receive at least a portion of the light emitted by said plurality of light emitting diodes.

19. The optical reader of claim 18 further including an aperture plate disposed between said diffuser plate and said plurality of light emitting diodes, wherein said aperture plate restricts the amount of light reaching said diffuser plate from said plurality of light emitting diodes.

20. The optical reader of claim 19 wherein said aperture plate defines a plurality of openings and at least a portion of said plurality of openings are aligned with at least a portion of said plurality of light emitting diodes.

21. The optical reader of claim 20 wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes includes:

at least one illumination light emitting diode; and

at least one aiming light emitting diode.

22. The optical reader of claim 21 wherein said at least one aiming light emitting diode and said aperture plate are adapted to generate a horizontal aiming pattern.

23. The optical reader of claim 22 wherein said horizontal aiming pattern includes a horizontal line of light.

24. The optical reader of claim 22 wherein said horizontal aiming pattern consists of a horizontal line of light.

25. The optical reader of claim 20 wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes includes:

a plurality of illumination light emitting diode; and

a plurality of aiming light emitting diode.

26. An optical reader comprising:

a mounting frame, said mounting frame including;

a back plate; and

four sidewalls extending outwards from said back plate;

wherein said back plate and said four side walls define an interior volume;

wherein said back plate includes an exterior surface and

wherein said back plate defines a plurality of openings;

a printed circuit board coupled to said external surface;

an image sensor mounted on said printed circuit board, said image sensor disposed such that the field of view of said image sensor faces said interior volume;

a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed within said interior volume, said plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on said printed circuit board;

illumination optics disposed proximate to said plurality of light emitting diodes;

a control circuit for controlling the operation of said image sensor and said light source, said control circuit disposed on said printed circuit board, said control circuit coupled to said light source and said image sensor;

a signal processing circuit disposed to receive an electrical signal from said image sensor, said signal processing circuit mounted on said printed circuit board;

an image capture circuit adapted to receive the electrical signal from said signal processing circuit and store said electrical signal, said image capture circuit mounted on said printed circuit board; and

an image recognition circuit coupled to said image capture circuit, said image recognition circuit mounted on said printed circuit board;

wherein the receive axis of said image sensor is substantially perpendicular to said printed circuit board.

27. The optical reader of claim 26, wherein said exterior surface defines a receptacle for receiving said image sensor.

28. The optical reader of claim 27, wherein said image sensor includes a lens assembly.

29. The optical reader of claim 28 wherein at least on of said plurality of openings defined by said back plate is disposed to receive said lens assembly.

30. The optical reader of claim 29 wherein at least a portion of said lens assembly is disposed within said interior volume.

31. The optical reader of claim 30 wherein each of said plurality of light emitting diodes includes a plurality of electrical leads.

32. The optical reader of claim 31 wherein the light emitting portion of each of said plurality of light emitting diodes is disposed within said interior volume;

and wherein said plurality of electrical leads for each of said plurality of light emitting diodes extend from said interior volume through at least a portion of said plurality of openings defined by said back plate thereby allowing each of said plurality of electrical leads to be coupled to a respective electrical contact disposed on said printed circuit board.

33. The optical reader of claim 26 wherein said illumination optics include:

an aperture plate; and

a diffuser plate;

wherein said aperture plate includes a plurality of arcuate surfaces;

wherein each of said arcuate surfaces includes a surface having compound curvature; and

wherein each of said arcuate surfaces defines a substantially rectangular aperture.

34. The optical reader of claim 33 wherein at least two of said four side walls include resilient members adapted for coupling said diffuser plate to said mounting frame.

35. An optical reader comprising:

a mounting frame, said mounting frame including;

a back plate; and

four sidewalls extending outwards from said back plate;

wherein said back plate and said four side walls define an interior volume; and

wherein said back plate defines a plurality of openings;

a printed circuit board coupled to said external surface;

an image sensor mounted on said printed circuit board, said image sensor disposed such that the field of view of said image sensor faces said interior volume;

imaging optics coupled to said image sensor, said imaging optics at least partially disposed within said interior volume;

at least one illumination light emitting diode coupled to said printed circuit board wherein said at least one illumination light emitting diode is disposed within said interior volume;

at least one aiming light emitting diode coupled to said printed circuit board wherein said at least one aiming light emitting diode is disposed within said interior volume;

an aperture plate disposed proximate to said at least one illumination light emitting diode and said at least one aiming light emitting diode;

a diffuser plate coupled to said mounting frame, wherein said aperture plate is disposed between said aperture plate and said mounting frame, wherein said diffuser plate applies a clamping force to said aperture plate thereby holding said aperture plate in a predetermined position;

a control circuit for controlling the operation of said image sensor and said light source, said control circuit disposed on said printed circuit board, said control circuit coupled to said light source and said image sensor;

a signal processing circuit disposed to receive an electrical signal from said image sensor, said signal processing circuit mounted on said printed circuit board;

an image capture circuit adapted to receive the electrical signal from said signal processing circuit and store said electrical signal, said image capture circuit mounted on said printed circuit board; and

an image recognition circuit coupled to said image capture circuit, said image recognition circuit mounted on said printed circuit board;

wherein the receive axis of said image sensor is substantially perpendicular to said printed circuit board;

wherein said aperture plate defines at least one opening for allowing light generated by said at least one illumination light emitting diode to pass through; and

wherein said aperture plate defines at least one opening for allowing light generated by said at least one aiming light emitting diode to pass through.