Laser scanner with deformable lens

• US 8,038,066 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Havens, William H., Wang, Ynjiun P.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US12/432,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.23, 235/462.15, 235/470
• US Class Current: 235/470
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/105 with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors G02B26/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1012 Special detection of object
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1013 Multi-focal
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1016 Motor control or optical moving unit control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10801 Multidistance reading
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10831 Arrangement of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms optical elements per se G02B

Abstract

A scanning apparatus comprises a laser source adapted to emit a beam along an axis and illuminate a target, a detector adapted to receive light of varying intensities scattered from the target and convert the light into a signal, and a controller operatively associated with the detector for receiving the signal from the detector and decoding the signal. A focusing apparatus comprising a deformable lens element in optical communication with the laser source has a deformable surface, at least part of which transmits the beam. The deformable lens element defines an index of refraction difference with an index of refraction of an adjacently disposed substance. In one embodiment the index of refraction difference is greater than 0.30.

Claims

1. A scanning apparatus comprising:

a laser source adapted to emit a beam along an axis and illuminate a target;

a scanning mirror disposed intermediate the laser source and the target, the scanning mirror adapted to deflect the beam emitted from the laser source so that the beam scans across the target according to a scan pattern;

a focusing apparatus comprising an actuator and a deformable lens element, said deformable lens element being in optical communication with the laser source and having a deformable surface, at least part of which transmits the beam, the actuator adapted to impart a force to the deformable surface, the force being in a first direction substantially parallel with the axis;

a detector adapted to receive light of varying intensities scattered from the target and convert the light into a signal; and

a controller operatively associated with the detector for receiving the signal from the detector and decoding the signal, and further operatively associated with the focusing apparatus for actuating the actuator to vary a lens setting, the lens setting establishing a focus distance to the target;

wherein the scanning apparatus is operative to capture a first signal with the focusing apparatus set to a first focus distance;

wherein the scanning apparatus is operative to capture a second signal with the focusing apparatus set to a second focus distance;

wherein the scanning apparatus is further operable so that the controller utilizes each of the first signal and the second signal for attempting to decode the target.

2. The scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scanning apparatus is operative so that the focusing apparatus switches between the first focus distance and the second focus distance responsive to a command or set of commands input by an operator.

3. The scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scanning apparatus is operative so that the focusing apparatus automatically varies the focus distance between the first focus distance and the second focus distance responsive to an attempt to decode being activated by an operator.

4. The scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator imparts the force at a continuum of force impartation points formed in an area pattern about the axis.

5. The scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a voice coil actuator comprising a magnet and a wire coil, the magnet or wire coil adapted to move in a direction parallel to the axis responsive to an electrical current being applied to the wire coil, thereby imparting the force to the deformable surface.

6. The scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deformable surface is configured to deform along a second direction, opposite the first direction.

7. The scanning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing adapted to secure the deformable lens element therein, the deformable lens element comprising a deformable membrane and an end plate, wherein a cavity defined by the housing, the deformable membrane, and the end plate is adapted to hold a focus fluid.

8. The scanning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the focus fluid is fluidly isolated from the actuator.

9. A scanning apparatus comprising:

a laser source adapted to emit a beam along an axis and illuminate a target;

a deflecting mirror disposed intermediate the laser source and the target, the deflecting mirror adapted to deflect the beam emitted from the laser source and direct the beam to the target;

a focusing apparatus comprising an actuator and a deformable lens element in optical communication with the laser source and having a deformable surface, at least part of which transmits the beam, the focusing apparatus adapted to vary a focus distance between a minimum focus distance and a maximum focus distance wherein a distance between the minimum focus distance and the maximum focus distance is greater than one foot, the actuator adapted to impart a force to the deformable surface, the force being in a first direction substantially parallel with the axis;

a detector adapted to receive light of varying intensities scattered from the target and further adapted to convert the light into a signal; and

a controller operatively associated with the focusing apparatus for actuating the actuator.

10. The scanning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the distance between the minimum focus distance and the maximum focus distance is greater than eight feet.

11. The scanning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the distance between the minimum focus distance and the maximum focus distance is greater than thirty feet.

12. The scanning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the actuator imparts the force at a continuum of force impartation points formed in an area pattern about the axis.

13. The scanning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the deformable surface is configured to deform along a second direction, opposite the first direction.

14. A scanning apparatus comprising:

a laser source adapted to emit a beam along an axis and illuminate a target;

a scanning mirror disposed intermediate the laser source and the target, the scanning mirror adapted to deflect the beam emitted from the laser source so that the beam scans across the target according to a scan pattern;

a focusing apparatus comprising a deformable lens element in optical communication with the laser source and having a deformable surface, at least part of which transmits the beam, the deformable lens element defining an index of refraction difference with an index of refraction of an adjacently disposed substance, the index of refraction difference being greater than 0.30;

a detector adapted to receive light of varying intensities scattered from the target and convert the light into a signal; and

a controller operatively associated with the detector for receiving the signal from the detector and decoding the signal, and further operatively associated with the focusing apparatus for actuating an actuator to vary a lens setting, the lens setting establishing a focus distance to the target.

15. The scanning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the adjacently disposed substance is air.

16. The scanning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the index of refraction difference is greater than 0.40.

17. The scanning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the deformable lens element comprises a membrane.

18. The scanning apparatus of claim 17, wherein the deformable lens element is a focus fluid.

19. The scanning apparatus of claim 18, wherein the focus fluid has an index of refraction greater than 1.40.

20. The scanning apparatus of claim 17, wherein the deformable lens element is a gel.

21. The scanning apparatus of claim 17, wherein the index of refraction difference is between the index of refraction of the membrane and the index of refraction of the deformable lens element.