Optical reader with combined housing and light pipe
First Claim
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1. An optical reader comprising:
- a base member;
an optical sensor array connected to said base member;
a housing positioned over the optical sensor array and defining a chamber in which the optical sensor array is positioned;
a light source positioned in the chamber defined by the housing;
wherein the housing includes a reflecting surface portion positioned to receive light from the light source and direct the received light through the chamber towards a focusing axis at a first end of the housing; and
wherein the reflecting surface portion of the housing includes an optically transmissive inner layer and a reflective cladding outer layer on a surface of the optically transmissive layer opposite the chamber.
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Abstract
An optical reader includes a housing which may environmentally protect the optical path between a light source and a sensor array to reduce dust and debris interfering with transmission of light. The housing may further provide for alignment of the light path by positioning a focusing axis in alignment with the optical sensor array. The housing further acts as a light pipe to reflect transmitted light from a light source toward a focusing axis where the light may be reflected off of a document containing coded information back through the chamber defined by the housing to an optical sensor array. Point of sale devices incorporating an optical reader are also provided.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An optical reader comprising:
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a base member;
an optical sensor array connected to said base member;
a housing positioned over the optical sensor array and defining a chamber in which the optical sensor array is positioned;
a light source positioned in the chamber defined by the housing;
wherein the housing includes a reflecting surface portion positioned to receive light from the light source and direct the received light through the chamber towards a focusing axis at a first end of the housing; and
wherein the reflecting surface portion of the housing includes an optically transmissive inner layer and a reflective cladding outer layer on a surface of the optically transmissive layer opposite the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A point of sale device comprising:
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a housing;
a document driver mounted in the housing to move a document inserted into the point of sale device along a document travel path;
a magnetic reader mounted in the housing and positioned along the document travel path to read MICR coded information from the document;
an optical reader mounted in the housing and positioned along the document travel path to read the MICR coded information from the document;
wherein the optical reader comprises;
a base member;
an optical sensor array connected to said base member;
a sensor housing positioned over the optical sensor array and defining a chamber in which the optical sensor array is positioned;
a light source positioned in the chamber defined by the sensor housing;
wherein the sensor housing includes a reflecting surface portion positioned to receive light from the light source and direct the received light through the chamber towards a focusing axis at a first end of the sensor housing; and
wherein the optical reader is mounted to position the focusing axis so that a portion of the document containing the MICR coded information passes through the focusing axis when the document is moved along the document travel path. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification