Imaging engine employing planar light illumination and linear imaging
First Claim
1. An imaging engine comprising:
- a plurality of linear imaging arrays and image formation optics that provide field of views corresponding to the plurality of linear image arrays;
at least one illumination module that produces planar light illumination that substantially overlaps the field of views corresponding to the plurality of linear imaging arrays; and
supporting circuitry that operably cooperates with said plurality of linear image arrays and said at least one illumination module during operation of the imaging engine;
wherein one linear imaging array has a variable line rate that is controlled by timing signals supplied thereto such that the image capture operations performed by the one linear imaging array maintains a substantially constant aspect ratio, to thereby compensate for aspect ratio distortions that result from variations in velocity of the imaging engine with respect to target object(s).
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An imaging engine includes a plurality of linear imaging arrays, image formation optics, at least one illumination module and supporting circuitry that are embodied within a modular engine housing. The plurality of linear imaging arrays and image formation optics are mounted on an optical bench (which is integral to the engine housing) and provide field of views corresponding to the plurality of linear image arrays. The at least one illumination module produces planar light illumination that substantially overlaps the field of views corresponding to the plurality of linear imaging arrays. The supporting circuitry includes: timing signal generation circuitry that supplies timing signals to the linear imaging arrays in order to read out the row image data produced by such arrays and converts the row image data supplied thereto into digital form.
91 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. An imaging engine comprising:
-
a plurality of linear imaging arrays and image formation optics that provide field of views corresponding to the plurality of linear image arrays; at least one illumination module that produces planar light illumination that substantially overlaps the field of views corresponding to the plurality of linear imaging arrays; and supporting circuitry that operably cooperates with said plurality of linear image arrays and said at least one illumination module during operation of the imaging engine; wherein one linear imaging array has a variable line rate that is controlled by timing signals supplied thereto such that the image capture operations performed by the one linear imaging array maintains a substantially constant aspect ratio, to thereby compensate for aspect ratio distortions that result from variations in velocity of the imaging engine with respect to target object(s). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. An imaging engine comprising:
-
an engine housing; a plurality of linear imaging arrays and image formation optics dispersed in said engine housing that provide field of views corresponding to the plurality of linear image arrays; at least one illumination module dispersed in said engine housing, that produces planar light illumination that substantially overlaps the field of views corresponding to the plurality of linear imaging arrays; and supporting circuitry disposed in said engine housing, that operably cooperates with said plurality of linear image arrays and said at least one illumination module during operation of the imaging engine; wherein said planar light illumination is produced by at least one planar light illumination module comprising an illumination source, at least one focusing lens element, and at least one cylindrical lens element integrated into a modular housing disposed within said engine housing; and wherein said planar light illumination is produced by planar light illumination arrays disposed on opposite sides of said plurality of linear imaging arrays, each planar light illumination array comprising at least one planar light illumination module. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification