Optical path equalizer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical system for adjusting the optical path length between a detector and a label affixed to a package, said optical system comprising:
- a pair of movable mirrors; and
an array of path defining mirrors;
one of said movable mirrors being positionable to direct an image reflected from the label to any one of said array of path defining mirrors and the other of said movable mirrors being positionable to direct the image reflected by said one of said array of path defining mirrors to the detector.
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Abstract
An optical system for adjusting the optical path between a detector and an object, such as an information-encoded label affixed to a package. The optical system comprises a pair of movable mirrors and an array of fixed mirrors. One of the movable mirrors is positionable to direct an image reflected from the object to any one of the array of fixed mirrors. The other of the movable mirrors is positionable to direct the image reflected by the fixed mirror to the detector. The positions of the movable mirrors are adjusted responsive to variations in the measured height of different objects.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An optical system for adjusting the optical path length between a detector and a label affixed to a package, said optical system comprising:
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a pair of movable mirrors; and an array of path defining mirrors; one of said movable mirrors being positionable to direct an image reflected from the label to any one of said array of path defining mirrors and the other of said movable mirrors being positionable to direct the image reflected by said one of said array of path defining mirrors to the detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An optical reader comprising:
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an optical detector; a light source; an object reflecting light from said light source an optical system defining an optical path between the object and the optical detector, comprising; a pair of movable mirrors; and an array of path defining mirrors; one of said movable mirrors being positionable to direct light reflected from the object to any one of said array of path defining mirrors and the other of said movable mirrors being positionable to direct light reflected by said one of said array of path defining mirrors to the detector. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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15. An optical system for adjusting the optical path length between a detector and an object, said optical system comprising:
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means for measuring a distance relating to the height of the object; first and second movable mirrors interposed between the object and the detector; an array of path defining mirrors positioned to provide a plurality of selectable optical path lengths from the object to said first movable mirror to a selected one of said array of path defining mirrors to said second movable mirror to the detector; and means, responsive to said measuring means, for adjusting the position of said first and second movable mirrors so as to select one of the plurality of selectable optical path lengths.
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16. An optical system for adjusting the optical path length between a detector and an object, said optical system comprising:
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means for measuring a distance relating to the height of the object; a plurality of mirrors arranged in a first and second row such that the first row is spaced apart from and parallel to the second row; means, responsive to said measuring means, for pivoting a selected first mirror from the first row of said plurality of mirrors and a selected second mirror from the second row of said plurality of mirrors; wherein the selected first and second mirrors are pivoted such that a light beam reflected off of the object will be directed to the first mirror to the second mirror to the detector. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method for adjusting the optical path length between a detector and an object, said method comprising the steps of:
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reflecting an image off of the object to a first movable mirror; directing the image from the first movable mirror to a selected one of an array of path defining mirrors; reflecting the image from the selected one of the array of path defining mirrors to a second movable mirror; directing the image from the second movable mirror to the detector; and adjusting the position of the first and second movable mirrors so as to select a different one of the array of path defining mirrors to provide a different optical path length between the detector and the object. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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25. A method for adjusting the optical path length between a detector an a label affixed to a package, said method comprising the steps of:
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reflecting an image off of the label to a first movable mirror; directing the image from the first movable mirror to a selected one of an array of path defining mirrors; reflecting the image from the selected one of the array of path defining mirrors to a second movable mirror; directing the image from the second movable mirror to the detector; and adjusting the position of the first and second movable mirrors so as to select a different one of the array of path defining mirrors to provide a different optical path length between the detector and the label. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification