Camera system optics
First Claim
1. An optical object scanning system having an optical scanning device for providing a scan output signal including a scan output information portion representative of a scanned region of said object, said scan output information portion having a varying information amplitude, comprising:
- illumination source means for illuminating said scanned region of said object;
detection means for receiving light reflected from said scanned region of said object;
white reference means for providing a white reference signal, said white reference means including at least one dedicated pixel for receiving light transmitted from said illumination source means, said at least one dedicated pixel being unavailable for receiving said reflected light from said scanned region of said object; and
adjusting means for adjusting said varying information amplitude of said scan output information portion in accordance with said white reference signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The camera system of the present invention simultaneously searches for a number of differing optical acquisition targets. This system may decode, for example, both bar codes and concentric rings. The scan signal is constantly adjusted according to both a dark reference for correcting offset and a white reference for correcting gain. The gain is also corrected according to the scanning rate as well as the amount of illumination present. A measure of this illumination may be applied directly to the optical scanning device by way of a fiber optic cable which transmits light from the illumination source. Optical calibration is eliminated by fixed optics wherein all optical elements are rigidly mounted at very close tolerances. The illumination source is disposed on one focus of an ellipse wherein the other focus is disposed at the maximum scanning distance and the reflector is formed to define the illumination ellipse to maximize the light applied to the object. The various heat producing elements are disposed in sealed compartments which are cooled by forced air which is circulated through a heat exchanger. A real time focusing system is provided wherein the distance from the scanning device to an opposing surface is constantly monitored and the system is constantly focused according to the distance.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An optical object scanning system having an optical scanning device for providing a scan output signal including a scan output information portion representative of a scanned region of said object, said scan output information portion having a varying information amplitude, comprising:
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illumination source means for illuminating said scanned region of said object; detection means for receiving light reflected from said scanned region of said object; white reference means for providing a white reference signal, said white reference means including at least one dedicated pixel for receiving light transmitted from said illumination source means, said at least one dedicated pixel being unavailable for receiving said reflected light from said scanned region of said object; and adjusting means for adjusting said varying information amplitude of said scan output information portion in accordance with said white reference signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An optical scanning method in a system including an optical scanning device having scan cycles with an optical scanning rate for providing a scan output signal including a scan output information component having a varying information amplitude representative of light received by said optical scanning device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) illuminating a region of an object with illumination source means; (b) receiving light reflected from said region of said object with detection means; (c) providing a varying white reference signal with white reference means, said white reference means including at least one dedicated pixel for receiving light transmitted from said illumination source means, said at least one dedicated pixel being unavailable for receiving said reflected light from said region of said object; and
,(d) adjusting said varying information amplitude of said scan output information component in accordance with said white reference signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification