Bar code symbol readers with variable spot size and/or working distance
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a laser scanning system for reading symbols, a combination comprising:
- (a) a housing having an exit port;
(b) laser means in the housing for generating a laser beam;
(c) scanning means in the housing for scanning the laser beam in scans across successive symbols located exteriorly of the housing; and
(d) optical means in the housing for directing the scanning beam along an optical path through the exit port, and for optically forming the scanning beam with a cross-sectional beam spot of a predetermined waist size and at a predetermined distance from the exit port of the housing,said optical means including means for changing the predetermined waist size of the beam spot during scanning.
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Abstract
Systems for changing the working distance and/or the beam spot size of an outgoing laser beam scanned across symbols to be read by a bar code symbol reader use different optical assemblies, or a single optical assembly having changeable light-transmissive portions of a plate, or changeable pupils, or a movable laser light source.
134 Citations
22 Claims
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1. In a laser scanning system for reading symbols, a combination comprising:
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(a) a housing having an exit port; (b) laser means in the housing for generating a laser beam; (c) scanning means in the housing for scanning the laser beam in scans across successive symbols located exteriorly of the housing; and (d) optical means in the housing for directing the scanning beam along an optical path through the exit port, and for optically forming the scanning beam with a cross-sectional beam spot of a predetermined waist size and at a predetermined distance from the exit port of the housing, said optical means including means for changing the predetermined waist size of the beam spot during scanning. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a laser scanning system for reading symbols of different densities, a combination comprising:
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(a) a housing having an exit port; (b) laser means in the housing for generating a laser beam; (c) scanning means in the housing for scanning the laser beam in linear scans extending in scanning directions across successive symbols located exteriorly of the housing; (d) optical means for directing the scanning beam along an optical path through the exit port, and for optically forming the scanning beam with a non-circular cross-sectional beam spot having a longer and a shorter waist dimension in two mutually perpendicular directions and at a predetermined distance from the exit port; and (e) means in the housing for turning the scanning beam between a low density orientation in which the longer waist dimension of the spot extends along the scanning direction for reading low density symbols, and a high density orientation in which the shorter waist dimension of the spot extends along the scanning direction for reading high density symbols. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification