Optical reading device with light blocking gasket

• US 7,705,288 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gannon, Colleen Patricia, Hunter, Vivian Loomis
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Thanh X
• Assistant Examiner(s): Legasse, Jr.; Francis M
• Application Number:
  US11/395,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20070228306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 250/229, 250/214.AL, 235/462.35, 235/462.42, 235/462.43
• US Class Current: 250/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources

Abstract

An optical reading device comprising a sensor array having pixels which are exposed to an image; an illumination generator for illuminating the image with light, the illumination generator being configured to have a front face; a housing for housing the sensor array, aiming pattern generator and illumination generator for hand held operation, the housing having a window disposed between the illumination generator and the image for permitting transmission of the illuminating light; a lens for focusing light to the sensor array, wherein the lens protrudes through the illumination generator; a gasket disposed around the lens for blocking light reflected off of the window from reaching the sensor array.

Claims

1. An optical reading device comprising:

a sensor array having pixels which are exposed to an image of a target;

an illumination generator for illuminating the image with light, the illumination generator being configured to have a front face;

an aiming pattern generator for producing a visible aiming pattern on the target;

a housing for housing the sensor array, aiming pattern generator and illumination generator for hand held operation,

the housing having a window disposed between the illumination generator and the image for permitting transmission of the illuminating light which a lens assembly comprising a lens retained by a lens housing, the lens focusing light to the sensor array, wherein the lens assembly protrudes through the illumination generator; and

a gasket disposed around at least part of the lens and an on the front face of the illumination generator, wherein the gasket is positioned to absorb illuminating light reflected off of the window traveling back towards the lens.

2. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination generator is comprised of LEDs disposed behind a light pipe.

3. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination generator comprises a flat face.

4. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 1, wherein illumination the generator comprises a flat semitransparent face.

5. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the gasket is comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer.

6. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the gasket is flanged.

7. An optical reading device comprising:

a sensor array having pixels which are exposed to an image of a target;

an illumination generator for illuminating the image with light, the illumination generator being configured to have a front face;

an aiming pattern generator for producing a visible aiming pattern on the target;

a housing for housing the sensor array, aiming pattern generator and illumination generator for hand held operation, the housing having a window disposed between the illumination generator and the image for permitting transmission of the illuminating light;

a lens assembly comprising a lens for focusing light to the sensor array, wherein the lens assembly protrudes through the illumination generator; and

a gasket disposed around at least part of the lens on the front face of the illumination generator, wherein the gasket is positioned to reduce the amount of light transmission from the illumination generator to the area around the lens.

8. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the illumination generator is comprised of LEDs disposed behind a light pipe.

9. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the illumination generator comprises a flat face.

10. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the illumination generator comprises a flat semitransparent face.

11. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the gasket is comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer.

12. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the gasket is flanged.

13. An optical reading device comprising:

an imaging assembly including an illumination generator for illuminating an image with light, the illumination generator being configured to have a front face, and

a lens for focusing light from a target to a sensor array;

a housing for housing the imaging assembly, the housing configured for hand held operation and having a window disposed between the illumination generator and the image for permitting transmission of the illuminating light;

a gasket disposed around at least part of the lens on the front face of the illumination generator, wherein the gasket is positioned to absorb illuminating light reflected off of the window traveling back towards the lens.

14. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the illumination generator is comprised of LEDs disposed behind a light pipe.

15. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the illumination generator comprises a flat face.

16. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the illumination generator comprises a flat semitransparent face.

17. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the gasket is comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer.

18. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the gasket is flanged.

19. An optical reading device in accordance with claim 13 further including an aiming pattern generator for producing a visible aiming pattern on the target.