Concentric optical path equalizer with radially moving mirrors
First Claim
1. An optical system for equalizing a length of an optical path, said optical path having a first path end at a detector and a second path end at an object, comprising:
- a frame member, anda plurality of movable mirrors movably mounted to said frame member and cooperating to at least partially define said optical path, said mirrors being operative for radial movement relative to a central point to equalize the length of said optical path in response to movement of said second path end from a first position to a second position, wherein said radial movement of each of said mirrors is translational relative to each of the other of said mirrors.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The optical path between a camera positioned above a conveyor and objects traveling on the conveyor is adjusted by moving a plurality of mirrors that at least partially define the optical path. The mirrors are manipulated as a function of the height of the objects so that the length of the optical path between each object and the camera is generally the same. The plurality of movable mirrors are equidistant from and arranged about a central point. The plurality of movable mirrors are contemporaneously moved toward and away from the central point to equalize the length of the optical path. Each of the movable mirrors translates along a different travel path. The travel paths are non-parallel. The plurality of movable mirrors are arranged so that the optical path includes a plurality of segments, and at least one intersection is defined between the segments distant from the movable mirrors.
43 Citations
48 Claims
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1. An optical system for equalizing a length of an optical path, said optical path having a first path end at a detector and a second path end at an object, comprising:
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a frame member, and a plurality of movable mirrors movably mounted to said frame member and cooperating to at least partially define said optical path, said mirrors being operative for radial movement relative to a central point to equalize the length of said optical path in response to movement of said second path end from a first position to a second position, wherein said radial movement of each of said mirrors is translational relative to each of the other of said mirrors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An optical system for equalizing a length of an optical path, said optical path having a first path end at a detector and a second path end at an object, comprising:
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a frame member, and a plurality of movable mirrors movably mounted to said frame member and cooperating to at least partially define said optical path, said mirrors being operative for radial movement relative to a central point to equalize the length of said optical path in response to movement of said second path end from a first position to a second position, wherein each of said mirrors is movable along a different travel path, said travel paths are non-parallel and each of said travel paths defines an elongate distance. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An optical system for equalizing a length of an optical path, said optical path having a first path end at a detector and a second path end at an object, comprising:
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a frame member, and a plurality of movable mirrors movably mounted to said frame member and cooperating to at least partially define said optical path, said optical path including a plurality of segments and said mirrors being configured to move such that at least one intersection is defined between segments of said plurality of segments, said intersection being distant from each of said mirrors, and said mirrors being configured to move such that a final segment of said plurality of segments extends from the object and defines an axis along which one of said mirrors travels. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An optical system for equalizing a length of an optical path, said optical path having a first path end at a detector and a second path end at an object, comprising:
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a frame member, and a plurality of movable mirrors movably mounted to said frame member and cooperating to at least partially define said optical path, said mirrors being contemporaneously movable radially toward and away from a central point along travel paths having lengths to equalize the length of said optical path in response to movement of said second path end from a first position to a second position. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An optical path modifier, comprising:
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a frame member, and a plurality of movable mirrors mounted to said frame member for movement along a corresponding plurality of travel paths having lengths and extending radially relative to a central point, said mirrors cooperating to at least partially define an optical path, said mirrors also being configured for contemporaneous movement along said travel paths toward said central point to decrease a length of said optical path, and said mirrors also being configured for contemporaneous movement along said travel paths away from said central point to increase the length of said optical path. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An optical system for equalizing a length of an optical path, said optical path having a first path end at a detector and a second path end at an object, comprising:
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a frame member, and at least three movable mirrors movably mounted to said frame member and cooperating to at least partially define said optical path, each of said mirrors being operative for translational movement relative to each of the other of said mirrors to equalize the length of said optical path in response to movement of said second path end from a first position to a second position. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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45. An optical system for equalizing a length of an optical path, said optical path having a first path end at a detector and a second path end at an object, comprising:
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a frame member, and at least three movable mirrors movably mounted to said frame member and cooperating to at least partially define said optical path, wherein each of said mirrors is movable along a different travel path to equalize the length of said optical path in response to movement of said second path end from a first position to a second position, each of said travel paths defines an elongate distance, and said travel paths are non-parallel. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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47. An optical path modifier, comprising:
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a frame member, and at least three movable mirrors mounted to said frame member for movement along a corresponding plurality of travel paths having lengths, said mirrors cooperating to at least partially define an optical path, said mirrors also being configured for movement along said travel paths toward a central point to decrease a length of said optical path, and said mirrors also being configured for movement along said travel paths away from said central point to increase the length of said optical path. - View Dependent Claims (48)
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Specification