Imaging module comprising support post for optical reader

• US 7,270,274 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2002
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gannon, Colleen P., Hunter, Vivian L., Barber, Charles P., Gardiner, Robert C., McCall, Melvin D., Ruhlman, Thomas, Hennick, Robert J., Coleman, Eric, Ehrhart, Michael, Havens, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US10/093,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20030089776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,021 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.25, 235/462.32, 235/462.41, 235/462.2, 235/462.22, 235/472.01, 235/473, 235/454, 235/462.24, 235/462.42, 235/462.43
• US Class Current: 235/462.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/08 Feeding or discharging cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10693 for omnidirectional scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10742 including a diffuser for diffusing the light from the light source to create substantially uniform illumination of the target record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/109 adaptations to make the hand-held scanner useable as a fixed scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14601 Structural or functional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/144 Stacked arrangements of planar printed circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence

Abstract

An imaging module can comprise an image sensor and first and second circuit boards. A support assembly can also be included in the imaging module. Further included in the imaging module can be a support post.

Claims

1. An imaging module comprising:

a first circuit board;

a second circuit board;

an image sensor mounted to one of said circuit boards;

a light source mounted to one of said circuit boards;

a support assembly interposed between said first and second circuit boards;

a post hole defined in each of said first circuit board, second circuit board, and said support assembly, said post holes being substantially aligned with one another; and

a support post extending at least partially through each of said aligned post holes for supporting said first and second circuit boards, and said support assembly.

2. The imaging module of claim 1, wherein said support post is soldered to said first and second circuit boards.

3. The imaging module of claim 1, wherein said support post is electrically conductive and is disposed to provide electrical communication between said first and second circuit boards.

4. The imaging module of claim 1, wherein a plurality of post holes are formed in each of said first circuit board, said second circuit board and said support assembly, for accommodating a plurality of support posts within said module.

5. The imaging module of claim 1, wherein said support post is one of a plurality of support posts included in said imaging module, and wherein each of said plurality of support posts is electrically conductive and adapted to provide electrical communication between said first and second circuit boards.

6. The imaging module of claim 1, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode that is configured to emit white light.

7. The imaging module of claim 1, wherein said imaging module has a width dimension of less than 1.0 inches and a height dimension of less than 0.5 inches.

8. An imaging module comprising:

a support assembly, said support assembly having a back end, a front end, and a lens retainer section, said support assembly having a post hole for accommodating a support post;

an imaging lens disposed in said support assembly;

a first circuit board abutted against said back end of said support assembly;

a second circuit board carrying illumination LEDs, said second circuit board being abutted against said front end of said support assembly;

an image sensor mounted to said first circuit board; and

a support post extending through said post hole and being secured to said each first and second circuit boards.

9. The module of claim 8, wherein said support assembly includes a plurality of post holes and wherein said imaging module includes a plurality of support posts.

10. The module of claim 8, wherein said post holes are formed substantially circumferentially about a periphery of said lens retainer section.

11. The module of claim 8, wherein said imaging lens is a single element imaging lens.

12. The module of claim 8, wherein said lens is a multiple element imaging lens.

13. The module of claim 8, wherein said support assembly includes a containment section for accommodating said image sensor.

14. The module of claim 8, wherein said support post provides electrical communication between electrical components of said first and second circuit boards.

15. The module of claim 8, wherein said first circuit board also comprises a post hole for accommodating said support post, said support post extending through said post hole of said first circuit board, wherein said support post is soldered to said first circuit board.

16. The imaging module of claim 8, wherein said illumination LEDs are configured to emit white light.

17. The imaging module of claim 8, wherein said imaging module has a width dimension of less than 1.0 inches and a height dimension of less than 0.5 inches.

18. An imaging module comprising:

a support assembly having a front end and a back end;

an imaging lens supported by said support assembly;

a first circuit board benched against said back end of said support assembly;

a second circuit board benched against said front end of said support assembly;

an image sensor mounted to said first circuit board; and

at least one substantially rigid electrically conductive support post, said at least one substantially rigid electrically conductive support post electrically connecting said first and second circuit boards, and structurally supporting said second circuit board in a certain position relative to said first circuit board.

19. The module of claim 18, said support assembly includes a plurality of post holes and wherein said at least one substantially rigid electrically conductive support post comprises a plurality of substantially rigid electrically conductive support posts wherein each post is accommodated by said one of said holes.

20. The module of claim 18, wherein said support assembly comprises a retainer section and wherein said at least one substantially rigid electrically conductive support posts disposed circumferentially about a periphery of said retainer section.

21. The module of claim 18, wherein said support assembly is a one piece assembly.

22. The module of claim 18, wherein said imaging lens is a single element imaging lens.

23. The module of claims 18, wherein said imaging lens is a multiple element imaging lens.

24. The module of claim 18, wherein said support assembly includes a containment section for accommodating said image sensor.

25. The module of claim 18, wherein said at least one support post provides electrical communication between electrical components of said first and second circuit boards.

26. The imaging module of claim 18, wherein at least one of said first circuit board and said second circuit board has mounted thereon a light emitting diode that is configured to emit white light.

27. The imaging module of claim 18, wherein said imaging module has a width dimension of less than 1.0 inches and a height dimension of less than 0.5 inches.