FOCUSING APPARATUS AND TERMINAL COMPRISING VARIABLE FOCUS LENS ASSEMBLY
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An indicia reading terminal comprising:
- an imaging assembly including an image sensor having a plurality of pixels;
a memory for storing image data, and a controller for processing the image data for attempting to decode decodable indicia represented in the image data;
a variable lens assembly for focusing an image of a target onto the image sensor, the variable lens assembly having a lens element comprising a deformable membrane and an opposing light transmissive member delimiting a cavity having optical fluid disposed therein, the lens element having an imaging axis, wherein the variable lens assembly further includes an actuator assembly for moving the deformable membrane to thereby change an optical characteristic of the lens element, and wherein the actuator assembly includes a piezoelectric actuator;
wherein the indicia reading terminal is operative to move a lens setting of the lens assembly between at least first and second different lens settings, the lens assembly having a first plane of optimum focus at the first lens setting and a second plane of optimum focus at the second lens setting, the indicia reading terminal further being operative to expose a first frame of image data with the lens assembly at the first lens setting and a second frame of image data with the lens assembly at the second lens setting, and wherein the terminal is further configured so that the terminal is operative to subject each of the first and second frames of image data to a decode attempt for decoding of a decodable indicia.
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Abstract
There is described a focusing apparatus having a deformable membrane that at least partially defines a cavity and an optical fluid disposed in the cavity. An actuator assembly can be provided for imparting a force to the deformable membrane. In one embodiment, the actuator assembly can include a piezoelectric actuator.
87 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An indicia reading terminal comprising:
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an imaging assembly including an image sensor having a plurality of pixels; a memory for storing image data, and a controller for processing the image data for attempting to decode decodable indicia represented in the image data; a variable lens assembly for focusing an image of a target onto the image sensor, the variable lens assembly having a lens element comprising a deformable membrane and an opposing light transmissive member delimiting a cavity having optical fluid disposed therein, the lens element having an imaging axis, wherein the variable lens assembly further includes an actuator assembly for moving the deformable membrane to thereby change an optical characteristic of the lens element, and wherein the actuator assembly includes a piezoelectric actuator; wherein the indicia reading terminal is operative to move a lens setting of the lens assembly between at least first and second different lens settings, the lens assembly having a first plane of optimum focus at the first lens setting and a second plane of optimum focus at the second lens setting, the indicia reading terminal further being operative to expose a first frame of image data with the lens assembly at the first lens setting and a second frame of image data with the lens assembly at the second lens setting, and wherein the terminal is further configured so that the terminal is operative to subject each of the first and second frames of image data to a decode attempt for decoding of a decodable indicia. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An indicia reading terminal comprising:
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a laser source emitting laser light; a scanning apparatus for scanning the laser light across the target, wherein the terminal is operative so that a plane of optimum focus of the laser light scanned across the target varies based on a present lens setting of the lens assembly; a variable lens assembly for focusing the laser light onto a target, the variable lens assembly having a lens element comprising a deformable membrane and an opposing light transmissive member delimiting optical fluid disposed in the cavity, the lens element having an imaging axis, wherein the variable lens assembly further includes an actuator assembly for moving the deformable membrane to thereby change an optical characteristic of the lens element, and wherein the actuator assembly includes a piezoelectric actuator; wherein the terminal is operative to move a lens setting of the lens assembly between a first lens setting and a second lens setting, wherein the lens assembly has a first plane of optimum focus at the first lens setting and a second plane of optimum focus at the second lens setting, said terminal further being operative to generate a first signal corresponding to a first scan with the lens assembly at the first lens setting and a second signal corresponding to a second scan with the lens assembly at the second lens setting, and wherein the terminal is further operative to attempt to decode a decodable indicia utilizing the first signal and the second signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A focusing apparatus comprising:
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a fluid lens element comprising a deformable membrane partially defining a cavity, the cavity holding optical fluid; an actuator assembly operative for imparting force to the fluid lens element to change an optical characteristic of the deformable membrane; a pocket into which the fluid lens element is disposed, the pocket being delimited on a first side by a structural member of the actuator assembly; wherein there is further disposed in the pocket a resilient member; wherein the focusing apparatus is further configured so that a width of the pocket can be adjusted during manufacture of the focusing apparatus for achieving a positional relationship of predetermined criteria between the fluid lens element and members of the focusing apparatus that define the pocket. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification