Illumination system for optical reader
First Claim
1. An apparatus for illuminating a sensing region having an object therein, comprising:
- a reflector that is elongated in a first plane, said reflector having a width dimension that is less than a width dimension of a sensing region to be illuminated, and further having a first curved profile in said first plane about a center of curvature, said reflector being disposed between said center of curvature and the sensing region, a reflecting surface of said reflector further comprising a second curved profile in a second plane that is orthogonal to said first plane and includes said center of curvature;
a plurality of substantially Lambertian light sources, each facing said reflector for directing light thereto for reflection toward the sensing region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed an apparatus for illuminating a sensing region having an object therein, comprising a reflector that is elongated in a first plane, the reflector having a width dimension that is less than a width dimension of a sensing region to be illuminated, and further having a first curved profile in the first plane about a center of curvature. In a preferred embodiment the reflector is disposed between the center of curvature and the sensing region. In a second plane which is orthogonal to the first plane and includes the center of curvature, a reflecting surface of the reflector has a second curved profile. A plurality of substantially Lambertian light sources each face the reflector for directing light thereto generally in a direction of the center of curvature for reflection toward the sensing region. The second profile preferably comprises a portion of an ellipse and a light source is disposed substantially at a primary focus thereof. The second profile preferably has a gap for transmitting retroreflected light generated within the sensing region therethrough. An upper portion of the second profile comprises a portion of a first surface of revolution selected from the group of ellipse and parabola, and the lower portion of the second profile can comprise a portion of a second surface of revolution selected from the group of ellipse and parabola, a light source being disposed at a focus of each of the first surface of revolution and the second surface of revolution. The assembly is combined in a scanner for reading optical patterns.
159 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for illuminating a sensing region having an object therein, comprising:
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a reflector that is elongated in a first plane, said reflector having a width dimension that is less than a width dimension of a sensing region to be illuminated, and further having a first curved profile in said first plane about a center of curvature, said reflector being disposed between said center of curvature and the sensing region, a reflecting surface of said reflector further comprising a second curved profile in a second plane that is orthogonal to said first plane and includes said center of curvature; a plurality of substantially Lambertian light sources, each facing said reflector for directing light thereto for reflection toward the sensing region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An optical scanner for reading externally located indicia that are disposed in a sensing region comprising:
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a housing having a median longitudinal plane and a scanning axis disposed in a cross-longitudinal plane; a source of substantially Lambertian illumination; an elongated reflector aligned generally in said scanning axis for reflecting light incident thereon, said reflector having a width dimension that is less than a width dimension of a sensing region to be illuminated, said light travelling along a path extending to said reflector from said source of illumination, and being reflected generally toward the sensing region, said reflector being elongated generally along said scanning axis, and having a central portion, two end portions, a focal line connecting a plurality of primary focal points, a reflecting profile in a plane orthogonal to said focal line, said source of illumination being disposed in said focal line; window means in said housing for transmitting said reflected light to illuminate the sensing region and for admitting light from said sensing region therethrough, a frontal plane orthogonal with said median longitudinal plane being defined at an intersection of said median longitudinal plane with said window means, a displacement of each said end portion from said frontal plane differing from a displacement of said central portion therefrom; a photodetector disposed in said housing in a path of said admitted light and producing an output responsive thereto; and optical means disposed in a path of said admitted light for projecting an image of the indicia onto said photodetector. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An optical scanner for reading externally located indicia that are disposed in a sensing region comprising:
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a housing having a median longitudinal plane and a scanning axis in a cross-longitudinal plane; a source of substantially Lambertian illumination comprising a plurality of quasi-monochromatic light emitting diodes; an elongated reflector aligned generally in said scanning axis for reflecting light incident thereon, said reflector having a width dimension that is less than a width dimension of a sensing region to be illuminated, said light travelling along a path extending to said reflector from said source of illumination, and being reflected generally toward the sensing region, said reflector being elongated generally along said scanning axis, and having a central portion, two end portions, a focal line connecting a plurality of primary focal points, and a nonlinear reflecting profile in a plane orthogonal to said focal line, said light emitting diodes being disposed in said focal line; window means in said housing for transmitting said reflected light to illuminate the sensing region and for admitting light from without the scanner therethrough, a frontal plane orthogonal with said median longitudinal plane being defined at an intersection of said median longitudinal plane with said window means, said reflecting profile having a gap disposed in said path of admitted light for transmission of said admitted light therethrough, said gap defining an upper and a lower portion of said reflecting profile; a photodetector disposed in said housing in a path of said admitted light and producing an output responsive thereto; and optical means disposed in a path of said admitted light for projecting an image of the indicia onto said photodetector; said reflector having a curvature in said cross-longitudinal plane, and a displacement of each said end portion from said frontal plane exceeding a displacement of said central portion therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification