Portable data collection device with crosshair targeting illumination assembly

• US 5,949,057 A
• Filed: 01/31/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Telxon Corporation (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Feng, Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien Minh
• Application Number:
  US08/797,552
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/472, 235/463, 235/470, 235/454
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1092 sensing by means of TV-scanning

Abstract

A portable data collection device is disclosed. The device includes an imaging assembly including a two dimensional (2D) photosensor array. The imaging assembly is selectively actuatable with a first trigger for reading a target dataform in the imaging assembly'"'"'s target area and actuatable with a second trigger for capturing a image of the target object in the target area. The device also includes an illumination assembly including an circuit board assembly supporting illumination and targeting light emitting diodes and a lens array or panel positioned adjacent the circuit board assembly for focusing an even pattern of illumination on the target area and generating a crosshair illumination pattern for aiming the device at the target dataform. Three illumination assembly embodiments are disclosed. In a first embodiment, a lens array is disclosed having a first targeting optics generating a vertical illumination pattern and a second targeting optics generating a horizontal illumination pattern which intersect to form a crosshair illumination pattern. In a second embodiment, a lens array is disclosed having a first targeting optics which generates a first crosshair illumination pattern and a second targeting optics generating a second crosshair illumination pattern, the first and second illumination patterns coinciding at a best focus position of an optic assembly of the imaging assembly. In a third embodiment, a lens array is disclosed having a first targeting optics which generates a half frame and a crosshair illumination pattern and a second targeting optics which generates a complementary half frame and crosshair illumination pattern. At the best focus position, the first and second illumination patterns combine to generate a full frame and single crosshair illumination pattern.

Claims

1. A portable data collection device comprising:

a) a camera assembly, including an array of photosensor elements generating a signal representative of an image of a target area, the image including a dataform positioned in the target area;

b) an optics assembly positioned to focus illumination reflected from a generally rectangular target area onto said array of photosensor elements, the optics assembly having a best focus position corresponding to a distance and orientation between the device and the dataform which results in a clear image of the dataform being focused onto the array of photosensor elements;

c) image processing and decoder circuitry receiving said signal and generating decoded data representative of the dataform; and

d) an illumination assembly directing illumination towards the target area, the illumination assembly including a targeting arrangement for directing an illumination targeting pattern aid in aiming the portable data collection device, the targeting arrangement including first and second targeting light emitting diodes and first and second targeting optics, the first targeting optics comprising a single lens positioned adjacent the first targeting light emitting diode and generating a first illumination targeting pattern and the second targeting optics comprising a single lens positioned adjacent the second targeting light emitting diode and generating a second illumination targeting pattern, the first and second targeting pattern substantially coinciding to form a single illumination targeting pattern when the device is at the best focus position.

2. The portable data collection device of claim 1 wherein the first targeting optics includes a light entry optic surface facing the first targeting light emitting diode and a light exit optic surface directed toward the target area and wherein the second targeting optics includes a light entry optic surface facing the second targeting light emitting diode and a light exit optic surface directed toward the target area and further wherein the light entry optic surfaces of each of the first and second targeting optics comprise aspheric optic surfaces.

3. The portable data collection device of claim 2 wherein the light exit optic surface of each of the each of the first and second targeting optics comprise a plurality of cylindrical surfaces.

4. The portable data collection device of claim 2 wherein the first and second targeting optics are supported in a panel having a generally planar front surface which faces the target area and wherein the light exit optic surface of each of the first and second targeting optics is tilted with respect to the generally planar front surface of the panel.

5. The portable data collection device of claim 4 wherein an angle of tilt of the first targeting optics light exit optic surface with respect to the generally planar front surface of the panel is substantially equal to an angle of tilt of the second targeting optics light exit optic surface with respect to the generally planar front surface of the panel.

6. The portable data collection device of claim 5 wherein the first targeting optics light exit optic surface comprises first and second vertically oriented cylindrical optic surfaces and first and second horizontally oriented cylindrical optic surfaces and wherein the targeting pattern generated by the first targeting optics is a crosshair pattern and further wherein the second targeting optics light exit optic surface comprises first and second vertically oriented cylindrical optic surfaces and first and second horizontally oriented cylindrical optic surfaces and wherein the targeting pattern generated by the second targeting optics is a crosshair pattern.

7. A portable data collection device comprising:

a) a camera assembly, including an array of photosensor elements generating a signal representative of an image of a target area, the image including a dataform positioned in the target area;

b) an optics assembly positioned to focus illumination reflected from a generally rectangular target area onto the array of photosensor elements, the optics assembly having a best focus position corresponding to a distance and orientation between the device and the dataform which results in a clear image of the dataform being focused onto the array of photosensor elements;

c) image processing and decoder circuitry receiving said signal and generating decoded data representative of the dataform; and

d) an illumination assembly directing illumination towards the target area, the illumination assembly including a targeting arrangement for directing an illumination targeting pattern aid in aiming the portable data collection device, the targeting arrangement including first and second targeting light emitting diodes and first and second targeting optics, the first targeting optics positioned adjacent the first targeting light emitting diode and generating a first illumination targeting pattern and the second targeting optics positioned adjacent the second targeting light emitting diode and generating a second illumination targeting pattern, the first and second targeting pattern substantially coinciding to form a single illumination targeting pattern when the device is at the best focus position;

e) the first targeting optics including a light entry optic surface facing the first targeting light emitting diode and a light exit optic surface directed toward the target area and the second targeting optics including a light entry optic surface facing the second targeting light emitting diode and a light exit optic surface directed toward the target area, the light entry optic surfaces of each of the first and second targeting optics comprise aspheric optic surfaces; and

f) the first and second targeting optics are supported in a panel having a generally planar front surface which faces the target area and wherein the light exit optic surface of each of the first and second targeting optics is tilted with respect to the generally planar front surface of the panel.

8. The portable data collection device of claim 7 wherein an angle of tilt of the first targeting optics light exit optic surface with respect to the generally planar front surface of the panel is substantially equal to an angle of tilt of the second targeting optics light exit optic surface with respect to the generally planar front surface of the panel.

9. The portable data collection device of claim 8 wherein the first targeting optics light exit optic surface comprises first and second vertically oriented cylindrical optic surfaces and first and second horizontally oriented cylindrical optic surfaces and wherein the targeting pattern generated by the first targeting optics is a crosshair pattern and further wherein the second targeting optics light exit optic surface comprises first and second vertically oriented cylindrical optic surfaces and first and second horizontally oriented cylindrical optic surfaces and wherein the targeting pattern generated by the second targeting optics is a crosshair pattern.

10. A portable data collection device comprising:

a) a camera assembly, including an array of photosensor elements generating a signal representative of an image of a target area, the image including a dataform positioned in the target area;

b) an optics assembly positioned to focus illumination reflected from a generally rectangular target area onto the photosensor elements, the optics assembly having a best focus position corresponding to a distance and orientation between the device and the dataform which results in a clear image of the dataform being focused onto the photosensor elements;

c) image processing and decoder circuitry receiving said signal and generating decoded data representative of the dataform; and

d) an illumination assembly directing illumination towards the target area, the illumination assembly including a targeting arrangement for directing an illumination targeting pattern aid in aiming the portable data collection device, the targeting arrangement including first and second targeting light emitting diodes and first and second targeting optics supported in a panel which faces the target area, the first targeting optics positioned adjacent the first targeting light emitting diode and generating a first illumination targeting pattern and the second targeting optics positioned adjacent the second targeting light emitting diode and generating a second illumination targeting pattern, the first and second targeting pattern substantially coinciding to form a single illumination targeting pattern when the device is at the best focus position.

11. The portable data collection device of claim 10 wherein the panel has a generally planar front surface.

12. The portable data collection device of claim 10 wherein the first targeting optics includes a light entry optic surface facing the first targeting light emitting diode and a light exit optic surface directed toward the target area and wherein the second targeting optics includes a light entry optic surface facing the second targeting light emitting diode and a light exit optic surface directed toward the target area and further wherein the light entry optic surfaces of each of the first and second targeting optics comprise aspheric optic surfaces.

13. The portable data collection device of claim 12 wherein the light exit optic surface of each of the each of the first and second targeting optics comprise a plurality of cylindrical surfaces.

14. The portable data collection device of claim 12 wherein the light exit optic surface of each of the first and second targeting optics is tilted with respect to the generally planar front surface of the panel.

15. The portable data collection device of claim 14 wherein an angle of tilt of the first targeting optics light exit optic surface with respect to the generally planar front surface of the panel is substantially equal to an angle of tilt of the second targeting optics light exit optic surface with respect to the generally planar front surface of the panel.

16. The portable data collection device of claim 15 wherein the first targeting optics light exit optic surface comprises first and second vertically oriented cylindrical optic surfaces and first and second horizontally oriented cylindrical optic surfaces and wherein the targeting pattern generated by the first targeting optics is a crosshair pattern and further wherein the second targeting optics light exit optic surface comprises first and second vertically oriented cylindrical optic surfaces and first and second horizontally oriented cylindrical optic surfaces and wherein the targeting pattern generated by the second targeting optics is a crosshair pattern.