Portable laser diode scanning head
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a laser scanning system for reading symbols, a laser scanning head comprising:
- (a) means including an actuatable laser light source mounted in the head and operative, when actuated, for generating an incident laser beam;
(b) optic means mounted in the head for optically forming and directing said incident laser beam along a first optical path to a substantially planar scanning mirror for reflection therefrom toward a reference plane located exteriorly of the head, and to a symbol located in a working distance range in the vicinity of the reference plane, thereby reflecting off the symbol reflected laser light, at least a returning portion of which travels along a second optical path away from the symbol back toward the head;
(c) scanning means mounted in the head for moving the scanning mirror and for sweeping said incident laser beam in a scan across the symbol, said returning portion of said reflected laser light having a variable intensity over the scan;
(d) sensor means mounted in the head for detecting the variable intensity of said returning portion of said reflected laser light over a field of view, and for generating an electrical analog signal indicative of the detected variable light intensity;
(e) a reciprocally oscillatable spherical mirror mounted to the scanning mirror for joint movement therewith and operative, when moved by the scanning means, for collecting said returning portion of said reflected laser light over the field of view, and for directing said collected returning portion to the sensor means;
(f) signal processing means mounted in the head for processing the analog electrical signal, and for generating a processed signal indicative of the symbol; and
(g) manually-actuatable trigger means on the head and operatively connected to, and operative for actuating, the scanning and spherical mirrors, the laser beam generating means, the scanning means, the sensor means and the signal processing means, to initiate a reading of the symbol upon manual actuation of the trigger means by the user, said trigger means being actuatable for each symbol to be read, each symbol in its respective turn.
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Abstract
A portable laser diode scanning head, aimable at each symbol to be read, emits and receives non-readily-visible laser light, and is equipped with a trigger-actuated aiming light arrangement for visually locating and tracking each symbol. A compact laser diode optical train and an optical folded path assembly, as well as an interchangeable component design and an integral window construction for the head also are disclosed.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. In a laser scanning system for reading symbols, a laser scanning head comprising:
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(a) means including an actuatable laser light source mounted in the head and operative, when actuated, for generating an incident laser beam; (b) optic means mounted in the head for optically forming and directing said incident laser beam along a first optical path to a substantially planar scanning mirror for reflection therefrom toward a reference plane located exteriorly of the head, and to a symbol located in a working distance range in the vicinity of the reference plane, thereby reflecting off the symbol reflected laser light, at least a returning portion of which travels along a second optical path away from the symbol back toward the head; (c) scanning means mounted in the head for moving the scanning mirror and for sweeping said incident laser beam in a scan across the symbol, said returning portion of said reflected laser light having a variable intensity over the scan; (d) sensor means mounted in the head for detecting the variable intensity of said returning portion of said reflected laser light over a field of view, and for generating an electrical analog signal indicative of the detected variable light intensity; (e) a reciprocally oscillatable spherical mirror mounted to the scanning mirror for joint movement therewith and operative, when moved by the scanning means, for collecting said returning portion of said reflected laser light over the field of view, and for directing said collected returning portion to the sensor means; (f) signal processing means mounted in the head for processing the analog electrical signal, and for generating a processed signal indicative of the symbol; and (g) manually-actuatable trigger means on the head and operatively connected to, and operative for actuating, the scanning and spherical mirrors, the laser beam generating means, the scanning means, the sensor means and the signal processing means, to initiate a reading of the symbol upon manual actuation of the trigger means by the user, said trigger means being actuatable for each symbol to be read, each symbol in its respective turn. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An optical component for use in optical scanning systems of the type having a light source and a light sensor, and operative for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:
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(a) a reciprocally oscillatable, generally planar scanning mirror for reflecting light from the light source to the indicia parts in a scan across the indicia parts, thereby reflecting light of variable light intensity off the indicia parts; (b) a reciprocally oscillatable, generally concave collecting mirror for collecting at least a portion of the light reflected off the indicia parts, and for directing the collected portion of light to the light sensor; and (c) means for jointly, reciprocally and simultaneously oscillating the scanning mirror and the collecting mirror. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An optical component for use in optical scanning systems of the type having a light source and a light sensor, and operative for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:
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(a) a reciprocally oscillatable scanning optical element for reflecting light from the light source to the indicia parts in a scan across the indicia parts, thereby reflecting light of variable light intensity off the indicia parts; (b) a reciprocally oscillatable, generally concave collecting optical element for collecting at least a portion of the light reflected off the indicia parts, and for directing the collected portion of light to the light sensor; and (c) means for jointly, reciprocally and simultaneously oscillating the scanning and the collecting elements.
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Specification