Code mark reader

• US 5,463,213 A
• Filed: 05/03/1994
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takafaru Honda
• Original Assignee: Takafaru Honda
• Inventors: Honda, Takafaru
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US08/237,487
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 235/467, 235/472, 235/468
• US Class Current: 235/468
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1092 sensing by means of TV-scanning

Abstract

So that even small code marks or code marks put on metal by laser marking can be correctly read, an infrared camera 6 is disposed in a focus adjustable manner above a stage 1 on which an object to be read is placed, and two laser beam irradiators 8, 8'"'"' are disposed on both sides of the camera to face obliquely downwards such that one laser beam provides a spot of light elongated lengthwise (vertically) and the other laser beam provides a spot of light elongated widthwise (horizontally), and that these two light spots intersect with each other in a crisscross at the position coincidental with the focus of the camera. In addition, a plurality of illumination blocks 10 each equipped with infrared emitting diodes 9 are disposed in the polygonal form around the camera 6 so as to illuminate the stage 1, the angle of each of the illumination blocks being variable, brightness of each of the illumination blocks being adjustable.

Claims

1. A code mark reader comprising:

a stage on which an object to be read can be placed,

an infrared camera disposed in a focus adjustable manner above said stage, and

two laser beam irradiators disposed on opposite sides of said camera and facing downwards toward said stage in an oblique manner such that one laser beam provides a first spot of light on said stage elongated in a first direction and the other laser beam simultaneously provides a second spot of light on said stage elongated in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction and intersecting said first spot of light in a criss-cross manner at a position coincidental with a focus point of said camera on said stage.

2. A code mark reader according to claim 1, further comprising means for permitting adjustable movement of said camera to adjust the focus thereof.

3. A code mark reader according to claim 2, wherein said means for permitting includes mount means for slidably mounting said camera thereon.

4. A code mark reader comprising:

a stage on which an object to be read can be placed,

an infrared camera disposed in a focus adjustable manner above said stage, and

a plurality of illumination blocks disposed in a polygonal formation around the camera so as to illuminate said stage, each block being provided with infrared emitting diodes, each block being oriented at an angle that is adjustable and the brightness of light from each block being adjustable.

5. A code mark reader according to claim 4, wherein each said illumination block has a lower arcuate surface, and said infrared emitting diodes are positioned on said lower arcuate surface such that all of said infrared emitting diodes are disposed at the same distance from said focus point of said camera on said stage.

6. A code mark reader according to claim 5, wherein said arcuate surface is a concave surface, with a middle portion thereof being positioned higher than end portions thereof.

7. A code mark reader according to claim 6, wherein said infrared emitting diodes are positioned in two rows extending in an arcuate direction of said lower arcuate surface.

8. A code mark reader according to claim 4, further comprising means for adjusting the brightness of light from each block by adjusting power supplied to each block.

9. A code mark reader according to claim 4, further comprising means for adjusting the brightness of light from each block, independent of the other blocks.

10. A code mark reader according to claim 4, further comprising means for adjusting the angle at which each said block is oriented.

11. A code mark reader comprising:

a stage on which an object to be read can be placed,

an infrared camera disposed in a focus adjustable manner above said stage,

two laser beam irradiators disposed on opposite sides of said camera and facing downwards toward said stage in an oblique manner such that one laser beam provides a first spot of light on said stage elongated in a first direction and the other laser beam simultaneously provides a second spot of light on said stage elongated in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction and intersecting said first spot of light in a criss-cross manner at a position coincidental with the focus of said camera, and

a plurality of illumination blocks disposed in a polygonal formation around the camera so as to illuminate said stage, each block being provided with infrared emitting diodes, each block being oriented at an angle that is adjustable and the brightness of light from each block being adjustable.

12. A code mark reader according to claim 11, further comprising means for permitting adjustable movement of said camera to adjust the focus thereof.

13. A code mark reader according to claim 12, wherein said means for permitting includes mount means for slidably mounting said camera thereon.

14. A code mark reader according to claim 11, wherein each said illumination block has a lower arcuate surface, and said infrared emitting diodes are positioned on said lower arcuate surface such that all of said infrared emitting diodes are disposed at the same distance from said focus point of said camera on said stage.

15. A code mark reader according to claim 14, wherein said arcuate surface is a concave surface, with a middle portion thereof being positioned higher than end portions thereof.

16. A code mark reader according to claim 15, wherein said infrared emitting diodes are, positioned in two rows extending in an arcuate direction of said lower arcuate surface.

17. A code mark reader according to claim 11, further comprising-means for adjusting the brightness of light from each block by adjusting power supplied to each block.

18. A code mark reader according to claim 11, further comprising means for adjusting the brightness of light from each block, independent of the other blocks.

19. A code mark reader according to claim 11, further comprising means for adjusting the angle at which each said block is oriented.