Data symbol reader with observation window

• US 6,036,095 A
• Filed: 05/19/1997
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Seo, Shuzo
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL GUNYOUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/858,765
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472, 235/454, 235/456, 235/462, 235/485, 235/472.01, 235/472.03, 235/462.42, 235/462.43, 235/462.45, 250/221, 250/566, 250/239, 359/216
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners

Abstract

A symbol reading device has a casing formed with an opening which defines a symbol reading area. An image receiving element, such as a CCD, is provided within the casing. A portion of the casing, on a surface opposite to the symbol reading area, is formed with a window portion at which an optical element, which reflects light within a predetermined wavelength range, and transmits other light is provided. Accordingly, a symbol facing the opening is observable through the optical element.

Claims

1. A symbol reading device, comprising:

a casing, at least a portion of said casing being formed with an opening defining a symbol reading area;

an image receiving element, said image receiving element receiving an image outputting an image signal corresponding to a received image; and

an optical system, an image of a symbol to be read being formed on an image receiving surface of said image receiving element through said optical system when said symbol is located in said symbol reading area,

a portion of said casing, on a surface opposite to said surface formed with said opening, being formed with a window portion through which a symbol located at said symbol reading area is observable, said optical system including an optical element provided at said window portion, said optical element extending parallel to a surface of said symbol when said symbol is located within said symbol reading area to be read, said optical element deflecting light having a wavelength within a first wavelength range, and allowing light having a wavelength at least within a second wavelength range, which is out of said first wavelength range, to pass through said optical element, said deflected light being directed to said image receiving element.

2. The symbol reading device according to claim 1, further comprising a light source which emits light having a wavelength within said first predetermined wavelength range towards said symbol reading area.

3. The symbol reading device according to claim 2, wherein said first wavelength range includes a wavelength of infrared light.

4. The symbol reading device according to claim 3, further comprising another light source which emits light having a wavelength within a visible wavelength range.

5. The symbol reading device according to claim 4, further comprising a sensor which detects brightness of said symbol reading area, and a controller which turns on said another light source when said brightness is less than a predetermined threshold value.

6. The symbol reading device according to claim 4, further comprises a manually operable switch for turning on or off said another light source.

7. The symbol reading device according to claim 3, wherein said second wavelength range includes the wavelength of light emitted by said another light source.

8. The symbol reading device according to claim 1, wherein said symbol is an encoded data symbol representative of data, and wherein said symbol reading device further comprises a decoding system which obtains data represented by said data symbol by decoding the image of said data symbol.

9. The symbol reading device according to claim 8, wherein said data symbol comprises a two-dimensional tessellated symbol.

10. The symbol reading device according to claim 1, wherein said optical element comprises a diffraction grating.

11. The symbol reading device according to claim 1, wherein said optical element comprises a holographic lens.

12. The symbol reading device according to claim 1, wherein said optical element is formed with a plurality of inclined surfaces for reflecting light from said data symbol to a predetermined direction, and wherein said optical system further includes a converging lens which receives light reflected by said optical element and converges the received light onto said image receiving element.

13. The symbol reading device according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of inclined surfaces incline by a predetermined angle with respect to said symbol reading surface.

14. The symbol reading device according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of inclined surface are arranged in a longitudinal direction of said casing, and extending in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction.

15. The symbol reading device according to claim 1, wherein surfaces of said optical element through which said light pass are flat and parallel to each other.

16. The symbol reading device according to claim 1, further comprising a filter which only allows light having a wavelength within said first predetermined wavelength range to pass through, said filter being inserted within an optical path between said optical element and said image receiving element.

17. The symbol reading device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of said symbol, said image receiving surface and said converging optical system are arranged such that the Scheimpflug rule is satisfied when said symbol reading device is positioned on said symbol.

18. The symbol reading device according to claim 17, further comprises image processing system which compensates distortion of the image, due to arrangement of said surface of said symbol, said image receiving surface and said converging optical system, formed on said image receiving surface.

19. A symbol reading device, comprising:

a casing, said casing having an opening defining a symbol reading area;

an image receiving element, said image receiving element receiving an image of an object and outputting an image signal corresponding to the received image; and

an optical system, an image of a symbol to be read being formed on an image receiving surface of said image receiving element through said optical system when said symbol is located in said symbol reading area,

a portion of said casing, on a surface opposite and parallel to said surface formed with the said opening, being formed with a window portion through which a symbol located at said symbol reading area is observable, said optical system including an optical element provided at said window portion, said optical element deflecting light having a wavelength within a first wavelength range and directing said deflected light to said image receiving element.

20. The symbol reading device according to claim 19, said optical element comprising a diffraction grating.

21. A symbol reading device, comprising:

a casing, said casing having an opening defining a symbol reading area and a window portion formed on a surface opposite and parallel to said opening;

an image capturing system, said image capturing system receiving light from an object and captures an image of said object; and

a hologram lens provided at said window portion, a symbol located at said symbol reading area being observable through said hologram lens, said hologram lens deflecting light having a wavelength within a first wavelength range and directing said deflected light to said image capturing system.