Beam shaping system and diverging laser beam for scanning optical code
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical code scanner comprising:
- a source for projecting a laser beam from the scanner along a propagation axis to scan optical code symbols and means for optically modifying the laser beam to havea central peak which diverges from the scanner to the symbols and a wave front which is generally conical near the propagation axis and flattens at its radial edges with increasing radial distance from the propagation axis.
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Abstract
An improved optical system for scanning optical codes is disclosed. A laser beam produced thereby is a diverging, nearly diffraction free beam and may be used to produce an elongated scanning spot. A laser assembly which may be used to produce such beams and spots, combines various optical functions in structures which are relatively insensitive to temperature change.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An optical code scanner comprising:
- a source for projecting a laser beam from the scanner along a propagation axis to scan optical code symbols and means for optically modifying the laser beam to have
a central peak which diverges from the scanner to the symbols and a wave front which is generally conical near the propagation axis and flattens at its radial edges with increasing radial distance from the propagation axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- a source for projecting a laser beam from the scanner along a propagation axis to scan optical code symbols and means for optically modifying the laser beam to have
- 6. A laser beam for use in reading bar codes, the beam having a wave front and a deviation which deviates from a reference plane perpendicular to an axis of propagation, the deviation being characterized by the formula:
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9. An apparatus for scanning an optical code, comprising:
- a source of a scanning laser beam for directing the laser beam along a propagation axis toward the optical code to be scanned and causing the beam to move along a scan line; and
a light detector for receiving light reflected from the optical code, wherein the source of the laser beam includes a laser diode and an optical system positioned with respect to the laser diode and configured to produce a generally conical-shaped wave front in the laser beam and a central spot which increases in area with distance from the scanning apparatus to the code, said wave front flattening at its radial edges with increasing radial distance from the propagation axis. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
- a source of a scanning laser beam for directing the laser beam along a propagation axis toward the optical code to be scanned and causing the beam to move along a scan line; and
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14. A method of producing a laser beam for scanning an optical code comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a diverging laser beam from a laser diode along a propagation axis to the optical code;
(b) reducing the divergence of the laser beam to a predetermined non-zero divergence, and (c) imposing a generally conical wave front deformation on the beam, said wave front flattening at its radial edges with increasing radial distance from the propagation axis;
wherein the steps (b) and (c) can be performed in any order or simultaneously, and wherein a diverging laser beam is produced from the laser diode to the optical code for scanning the optical code.
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15. A method of scanning a symbol comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating a beam of laser light;
(b) modifying the beam of light to create a beam which has a generally conical wave front and an intensity profile along a line perpendicular to the axis of propagation characterized by a central peak and a plurality of secondary peaks symmetrically located on either side of the central peak and which central peak has a diameter which increases in area as a function of distance from the scanner to the symbol; and
(c) moving the modified beam across the symbol to be read. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. Laser scanner apparatus for producing a laser beam with an elongated spot for scanning a symbol, comprising:
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a source of a laser beam; and
an optical system for splitting the laser beam from said source and directing circular spot portions of the split beam toward the symbol, centers of said beam circular spot portions being displaced from one another along an axis perpendicular to a direction of scanning of the laser scanner apparatus to produce thereby an elongated region of illumination on a reference plane perpendicular to the beam spot portions in at least part of a working range of the laser scanner apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
wherein y is the dimension along the axis perpendicular to the direction of scanning, A is a vertical aperture of the system and W0 is the amplitude of the grating phase.
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21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the optical system includes an optical plate having two planar refractive surfaces which are non-parallel and from each of which a portion of the laser beam is propagated.
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22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the optical system includes a partially reflective plate having two planar reflective surfaces from each of which a portion of the laser beam is propagated.
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23. A lens system for an apparatus for providing a laser beam for scanning optical codes, the lens system comprising:
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a glass lens with at least one spherical surface; and
a molded plastic element for correcting aberration in the glass lens and for retaining the glass lens in position in the lens system and having a non-planar refractive surface located on an optical axis of the glass lens, which in combination with the glass lens provides an aspherical lens system with greater temperature stability than an optically equivalent aspherical plastic lens. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification