Multiple focus optical system for data reading applications
First Claim
1. An optical system for data reading, comprising:
- a single light source generating an optical beam along an outgoing optical path toward an object to be scanned;
a scanning mechanism for scanning the outgoing beam along at least one axis to produce at least one scan line;
a multifocal lens system positioned in the outgoing optical path between the single light source and the scanning mechanism, the multifocal lens system including at least an inner lens portion having a first focal length and an outer lens portion having a second focal length, the multifocal lens system dividing the outgoing optical beam at least into a first beam section and a second beam section, the first beam section being focused by the inner lens portion simultaneously with the second beam section being focused by the outer lens portion;
a detector for detecting light reflecting off the object, the detector being positioned to receive the light reflecting from the object without the light passing through the multifocal lens system.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical system and method for data reading having a light source which generates an optical beam directed toward an object to be read and a focusing system in the outgoing light path which establishes multiple beam functions. In a preferred application, a scanning system includes a multifocal lens having a single lens element having an inner lens portion of a first focal length and an outer annular lens portion with a second focal length, the scanning system therefore establishing two separate focal positions from a single light source. Alternately, the system includes a focusing lens system with an corrector element disposed in the outgoing optical path, the corrector element having a plurality of optical zones, each zone having a different optical characteristic for modifying a portion of the outgoing optical beam. A zone may be a refractive region, a reflective region, a diffractive region, an empty region, a window region, or combinations thereof.
-
Citations
38 Claims
-
1. An optical system for data reading, comprising:
-
a single light source generating an optical beam along an outgoing optical path toward an object to be scanned; a scanning mechanism for scanning the outgoing beam along at least one axis to produce at least one scan line; a multifocal lens system positioned in the outgoing optical path between the single light source and the scanning mechanism, the multifocal lens system including at least an inner lens portion having a first focal length and an outer lens portion having a second focal length, the multifocal lens system dividing the outgoing optical beam at least into a first beam section and a second beam section, the first beam section being focused by the inner lens portion simultaneously with the second beam section being focused by the outer lens portion; a detector for detecting light reflecting off the object, the detector being positioned to receive the light reflecting from the object without the light passing through the multifocal lens system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An optical system for data reading, comprising:
-
a light source generating an optical beam along an outgoing optical path toward an object to be scanned; a scanning mechanism for scanning the outgoing beam along at least one axis to produce at least one scan line; a multifocal lens system comprising at least two lens focusing portions positioned in the outgoing optical path between the light source and the scanning mechanism, the at least two lens focusing portions dividing the optical beam into at least a first cone of light and a second cone of light for simultaneous transmission outward along the outgoing optical path, the first cone of light having a first focal point and the second cone of light having a second focal point, the first focal point being separate from the second focal point, the first cone of light being coaxial with the second cone of light and being transmitted simultaneously therewith; a detector for detecting light reflecting off the object, the detector being positioned to receive the light reflecting from the object without the light passing through the multifocal lens system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for data reading comprising the steps of:
-
emitting an outgoing beam of light from a single light source toward an object to be read; passing the outgoing beam of light through a multifocus lens system having at least a first focusing portion and a second focusing portion, the first focusing portion being coaxial with the second focusing portion; dividing the outgoing beam of light into first and second beam portions by focusing the first beam portion of the outgoing beam of light passing through the first focusing portion at a first focal point and simultaneously focusing the second beam portion of the outgoing beam of light passing through the second focusing portion at a second focal point coaxially with the first beam portion being focused by the first focusing portion, the first focal point being separate from the second focal point; scanning the outgoing beam, which has been focused to first and second focal points, with a scanning mechanism along at least one axis to produce at least one scan line; and detecting return light reflecting off the object along a collection path without passing the return light through the multifocal lens system. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. An optical system for data reading, comprising:
-
a light source generating an optical beam along an outgoing optical path toward an object to be scanned; a scanning mechanism for scanning the outgoing beam along at least one axis to produce at least one scan line; a multifocal lens system positioned in the outgoing optical path between the light source and the scanning mechanism, the multifocal lens system including at least an inner lens portion having a first focal length and an outer lens portion having a second focal length, the multifocal lens system dividing the outgoing optical beam into at least coaxial first and second beam sections, the first beam section being focused by the inner lens portion simultaneously with the second beam section being focused by the outer lens portion; a detector for detecting light reflecting off the object, the detector being positioned to receive the light reflecting from the object without the light passing through the multifocal lens system.
-
-
28. An optical system for data reading, comprising:
-
a single light source generating an optical beam along an outgoing optical path toward an object to be scanned; a scanning mechanism for scanning the outgoing beam along at least one axis to produce at least one scan line; a multifocal lens system comprising at least two lens focusing portions positioned in the outgoing optical path between the light source and the scanning mechanism, the at least two lens focusing portions dividing the optical beam from the single light source into at least a first cone of light and a second cone of light for simultaneous transmission outward along the outgoing optical path, the first cone of light having a first focal point and the second cone of light having a second focal point, the first focal point being separate from the second focal point; a detector for detecting light reflecting off the object, the detector being positioned to receive the light reflecting from the object without the light passing through the multifocal lens system.
-
-
29. An optical system for data reading, comprising:
-
a light source generating an optical beam along an outgoing optical path toward an object to be read; and a focusing lens system positioned in the outgoing optical path for focusing the optical beam, the focusing lens system comprising at least one focusing lens element which focuses the outgoing beam to a given waist location and an optical corrector plate positioned in the outgoing optical path on a side of the focusing lens element opposite to the light source, the optical corrector plate including a plurality of optical zones which divide the outgoing optical beam into at least two respective optical beam portions, the optical corrector plate including a holder portion within which the focusing lens element is mounted in a unitary structure therewith. - View Dependent Claims (30)
-
-
31. An optical system for data reading, comprising:
-
a light source generating an optical beam along an outgoing optical path toward an object to be read; and a focusing lens system positioned in the outgoing optical path for focusing the optical beam, the focusing lens system comprising at least one focusing lens element which focuses the outgoing beam to a given waist location and an optical corrector plate positioned in the outgoing optical path on a side of the focusing lens element opposite to the light source, the optical corrector plate including a plurality of optical zones which divide the outgoing optical beam into at least two respective optical beam portions, the optical corrector plate including a holder portion within which the focusing lens element is mounted in a unitary structure therewith, wherein the plurality of optical zones comprises a central optical zone and an outer annular optical zone, the central optical zone having a given size, shape and material which modifies the optical beam portion passing therethrough to focus at a given waist location, the outer annular optical zone having a given size, shape and material which modifies the optical beam portion passing therethrough to focus at a given waist location for simultaneous transmission along the outgoing optical path.
-
-
32. An optical system for data reading, comprising:
-
a light source generating an optical beam along an outgoing optical path toward an object to be read; and a focusing lens system positioned in the outgoing optical path for focusing the optical beam, the focusing lens system comprising at least one focusing lens element which focuses the outgoing beam to a given waist location and an optical corrector plate positioned in the outgoing optical path on a side of the focusing lens element opposite to the light source, the optical corrector plate including a plurality of optical zones which divide the outgoing optical beam into at least two respective optical beam portions, the optical corrector plate including a holder portion within which the focusing lens element is mounted in a unitary structure therewith, wherein one of the optical zones of the optical corrector plate is dynamically variable, an optical characteristic of the one optical zone being varied by the application of an electrical voltage.
-
-
33. An optical system for data reading, comprising:
-
a light source generating an optical beam along an outgoing optical path toward an object to be read; and a focusing lens system positioned in the outgoing optical path for focusing the optical beam, the focusing lens system comprising at least one focusing lens element which focuses the outgoing beam to a given waist location and an optical corrector plate positioned in the outgoing optical path on a side of the focusing lens element opposite to the light source, the optical corrector plate including a plurality of optical zones coaxially dividing the outgoing optical beam into at least respective first and second optical beam portions, the plurality of optical zones comprising a central optical zone and an outer annular optical zone, the central optical zone having a given size, shape and material which modifies the first optical beam portion passing therethrough to focus at a given waist location, the outer annular optical zone having a given size, shape and material which modifies the second optical beam portion passing therethrough to focus at a given waist location for simultaneous transmission along the outgoing optical path. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. An optical system for data reading, comprising:
-
a light source generating an optical beam along an outgoing optical path toward an object to be read; and a focusing lens system positioned in the outgoing optical path for focusing the optical beam, the focusing lens system comprising at least one focusing lens element and an optical corrector plate positioned in the outgoing optical path, the optical corrector plate including a plurality of optical zones dividing the outgoing optical beam into respective outer and inner optical beams, the plurality of optical zones comprising a central optical zone and an outer annular optical zone, the central optical zone having a given size, shape and material which modifies the inner optical beam passing therethrough to focus at a given waist location, the outer annular optical zone having a given size, shape and material which modifies the outer optical beam passing therethrough to focus at least a portion of the outer optical beam at a given waist location for simultaneous transmission along the outgoing optical path, wherein the outer annular optical zone of the optical corrector plate comprises a beam splitter deflecting a portion of the outer optical beam impinging thereon along an alternate beam path.
-
-
38. An optical system for data reading, comprising:
-
a light source generating an optical beam along an outgoing optical path toward an object to be read; and a focusing lens system positioned in the outgoing optical path for focusing the optical beam, the focusing lens system comprising at least one focusing lens element which focuses the outgoing beam to a given waist location and an optical corrector plate positioned in the outgoing optical path on a side of the focusing lens element opposite to the light source, the optical corrector plate including a plurality of optical zones which divide the outgoing optical beam into at least two respective optical beam portions, the optical corrector plate including a holder portion within which the focusing lens element is mounted in a unitary structure therewith, wherein one of the plurality of optical zones comprises a central optical zone comprised of an opening having a given diameter in a resolving axis, the opening being small enough to be within diffractive limit of the optical beam so as to shift the waist of the first optical beam portion to a given location.
-
Specification