Optical information reading device

• US 7,599,514 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yasuda, Shin, Hayashi, Kazuhiro, Minabe, Jiro, Ogasawara, Yasuhiro, Kawano, Katsunori, Yoshizawa, Hisae
• Primary Examiner(s): Werner; Brian P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Jayesh
• Application Number:
  US10/939,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20050207312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0011 for security or authentication holograms on information-bearing cards B42D25/328; testing papers with holograms G07D7/0032
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/22 Processes or apparatus for obtaining an optical image from holograms G03H1/26 - G03H1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/0419 for recording combined transmission and reflection holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2236 Details of the viewing window
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2244 Means for detecting or recording the holobject
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2222/34 Multiple light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2227/02 Handheld portable device, e.g. holographic camera, mobile holographic display
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2227/06 Support including light source
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2270/12 Fibrous, e.g. paper, textile
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0032 using holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/121 Apparatus characterised by sensor details

Abstract

The present invention provides an optical information reading device includes: a light source that irradiates, with reference beam, a hologram recorded in an optical recording medium; a reading unit that reads information from a holographic image reconstructed by the reference beam being diffracted by the hologram; a housing; a contact member of the housing contacting a paper; an open portion formed in the contact member, through which the optical recording medium is exposed and towards which the reference beam is emitted; an alignment mark formed at a periphery of the open portion, the reference beam irradiating the hologram satisfying a holographic image reconstruction condition by the alignment mark being aligned with an optical recording medium alignment mark recorded on the optical recording medium; and a viewing portion that is positioned in the housing and through which the alignment mark and the optical recording medium alignment mark are visible.

Claims

1. An optical information reading device comprising:

a light source that irradiates, as a reference beam, a hologram recorded in an optical recording medium;

a reading unit that reads information from a holographic image reconstructed by the reference beam when diffracted by the hologram;

a housing;

a contact member that is disposed in the housing and contacts a paper on which the optical recording medium is formed;

an open portion that is formed in the contact member, through which the optical recording medium is exposed, and towards which the reference beam is emitted;

a first alignment mark formed at a periphery of the open portion, the first alignment mark having first mark portions that are formed by a plurality of mark portions;

a matching unit that matches a second alignment mark, having second mark portions that are formed by a plurality of mark portions, at a periphery of the hologram on the optical recording medium with the first mark portions, wherein the second mark portions correspond to the first mark portions, and a holographic image reconstruction condition of the reference beam is satisfied when the second mark portions match the first mark portions; and

a viewing portion that is positioned in the housing, the first alignment mark and the second alignment mark being visible through the viewing portion, wherein

the housing is vertically slidable with respect to the contact member, and one of the contact member or the housing includes a switch that switches the light source ON when the housing is lowered with respect to the contact member, and

when the housing is lowered with respect to the contact member, the housing and the contact member push against the paper.

2. The optical information reading device of claim 1, wherein a window portion, serving as the viewing portion, through which the first and second alignment marks are visible, is disposed at the housing.

3. The optical information reading device of claim 1, wherein the second mark portions are formed by holograms.

4. The optical information reading device of claim 1, wherein the light source and the reading unit are disposed on the contact member.

5. The optical information reading device of claim 1, wherein the housing is formed by a transparent member.

6. The optical information reading device of claim 1, wherein the light source and the reading unit are disposed on the housing.

7. The optical information reading device of claim 1, wherein an urging member is provided between the housing and the contact member.

11. The optical information reading device of claim 1, wherein the first mark portions constitute cross hairs and the second mark portions correspond to the cross hairs.

13. The optical information reading device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of mark portions of the first alignment mark are formed at an outer side of an edge of the open portion.

14. The optical information reading device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of mark portions of the second alignment mark are formed at an outer side of the hologram on the optical recording medium.

8. An optical information reading device comprising:

a light source that irradiates, as a reference beam, a hologram recorded in an optical recording medium;

a reading unit that reads information from a holographic image reconstructed by the reference beam when diffracted by the hologram;

a housing;

a contact member that is disposed in the housing and contacts a paper on which the optical recording medium is formed;

an open portion that is formed in the contact member, through which the optical recording medium is exposed, and towards which the reference beam is emitted;

a viewing portion that is positioned in the housing and through which an interior of the housing is visible;

a third alignment mark that is formed at the viewing portion, the third alignment mark having third mark portions that is formed by a plurality of mark portions; and

a matching unit that matches a fourth alignment mark, having fourth mark portions that are formed by a plurality of mark portions, at a periphery of the hologram on the optical recording medium with the third mark portions, wherein the fourth mark portions correspond to the third mark portions, and a holographic image reconstruction condition of the reference beam is satisfied when fourth mark portions match the third mark portions, wherein

the housing is vertically slidable with respect to the contact member, and one of the contact member or the housing includes a switch that switches the light source ON when the housing is lowered with respect to the contact member, and

when the housing is lowered with respect to the contact member, the housing and the contact member push against the paper.

9. The optical information reading device of claim 8, wherein the fourth mark portions are formed as holograms, a holographic image of the fourth mark portions are formed by the reference beam when diffracted by the hologram of the fourth mark portions and displayed in the viewing portion, and the holographic image reconstruction condition is satisfied by the reference beam when matching the holographic image of the fourth mark portions with the third mark portions.

10. The optical information reading device of claim 8, wherein a window portion, serving as the viewing portion, is disposed at the housing.

12. The optical information reading device of claim 8, wherein the third mark portions constitute cross hairs and the fourth mark portions correspond to the cross hairs.