Integrated illumination assembly for symbology reader
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An illumination assembly for a mark reader comprising:
- a light pipe arranged in a surrounding relationship to an interior area through which at least a portion of a mark is detectable having a distal end that is chamfered and includes a diffusive surface texture on the outer surface, wherein light transmitted though the light pipe is internally reflected along the pipe and is internally reflected at the chamfered end through a wall of the light pipe facing the interior area as dark field illumination and is refracted onto the surface at the chamfered end as bright field illumination.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
This provides a plurality of novel features that can be applied variously to a reader. In one embodiment, the light pipe is constructed from durable polycarbonate for increased shock resistance and can define a rectangular cross section. The chamfered end of the light pipe is textured or frosted to further diffuse refracted light passing through the end so as to present a more even effect. The conical/tapered diffuser within the light pipe is illuminated by a reflector with a white textured surface that reflects a plurality of rearward-directed illumination sources back into the diffuser. The reflector can define a predetermined cross section that directs further light into the forwardmost, remote regions of the diffuser to generate a better spread of light and alleviate spotting effects. The textured surface on the chamfered light pipe end can be employed to better project indicator light. The illumination sources are arranged in a ring at the inner end of the pipe, and can be multi-colored sources that respond to the controller to project and appropriate color and/or blink in an appropriate pattern to indicate various conditions, such as read success or failure. The controller is adapted to provide indications between image acquisitions. The controller can operate individual portions of the ring so that only corresponding portions of the light pipe perimeter are illuminated in a particular color (quadrants, for example) at a given time. Different quadrants may be simultaneously illuminated in different colors in one example.
250 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An illumination assembly for a mark reader comprising:
a light pipe arranged in a surrounding relationship to an interior area through which at least a portion of a mark is detectable having a distal end that is chamfered and includes a diffusive surface texture on the outer surface, wherein light transmitted though the light pipe is internally reflected along the pipe and is internally reflected at the chamfered end through a wall of the light pipe facing the interior area as dark field illumination and is refracted onto the surface at the chamfered end as bright field illumination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An illumination assembly for a mark reader comprising:
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a light pipe in optical communication with a ring of illumination sources, the light pipe arranged in a surrounding relationship to an interior area through which at least a portion of a mark is detectable and projecting light in a forward direction from a forward end of the light pipe; and a tapered diffuser located within an interior perimeter of the light pipe, the tapered diffuser being in optical communication with a reflector that receives light from a plurality of rearward-directed illumination sources that project in a direction opposite the forward direction. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An illumination assembly for a mark reader comprising:
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a light pipe that projects light from a ring of illumination sources onto a surface, the light pipe arranged in a surrounding relationship to a passage through which an imager views the surface having the mark; and wherein the illumination sources are interconnected with a controller that is adapted to project illumination from the illumination sources so as to indicate a predetermined status of the reader in times between instances of illumination of the surface in which an image of the surface is acquired. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An illumination assembly for a mark reader disposed along an optical viewing axis comprising:
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a light pipe defined by at least four adjacent sides including a first opposing pair of sides and a second opposing pair of sides, the light pipe including a chamfered edge at a distal end that directs light from a ring light source at the proximal end onto a surface as dark field; and wherein a first spacing between the first opposing pair of the sides has a length different than length of a second spacing between the second opposing pair of the sides. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An illumination assembly for a mark reader comprising:
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a light pipe arranged in a surrounding relationship to an interior area through which at least a portion of a mark is detectable, the light pipe having a chamfered distal end that includes a chamfered surface, the chamfered surface having a diffusive surface texture, and wherein light transmitted through the light pipe is internally reflected along the pipe and is internally reflected at the chamfered distal end through an interior wall of the light pipe facing the interior area as dark field illumination and is refracted by the chamfered distal end as bright field illumination. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification