Optical reading apparatus having variable settings

• US 9,262,662 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Xin, Yin, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Mikels, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US14/416,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20150186703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 235/435, 235/439, 235/454, 235/462
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10564 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10633 by oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation

Abstract

A laser scanning indicia reading apparatus (1000) comprises one or more adjustable aperture assemblies (2024) for adjusting the diameter of a laser beam and adjustable lens assemblies (2026) for adjusting the distance of a laser beam waist (W).

Claims

1. An indicia reading apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a laser diode assembly;

a scanning mechanism for scanning a laser beam in a scan pattern across a target substrate;

a lens assembly for adjusting a waist distance of a laser beam canned by the scanning mechanism;

an adjustable aperture assembly positioned between the laser diode assembly and the lens assembly, the adjustable aperture assembly adjusting a beam diameter of emitted laser light;

wherein the indicia reading apparatus is operative to output image data representing reflected light;

wherein the indicia reading apparatus is operative to process image data output by the indicia reading apparatus for attempting to decode decodable indicia;

a first configuration in which the adjustable aperture assembly is set to a first aperture assembly setting and the lens assembly is set to a first best focus distance setting;

a second configuration in which the adjustable aperture assembly is set to a second aperture assembly setting and the lens assembly is set to a second best focus distance setting, the second aperture assembly setting being a larger diameter aperture assembly setting than the first aperture assembly setting, and wherein the second best focus distance setting is a best focus distance setting longer than the first best focus distance setting;

wherein the indicia reading apparatus is operative to output first image data representing reflected laser light reflected from a target substrate with the first configuration active and is further operative to output second image data representing reflected light reflected from the target substrate with the second configuration active;

wherein the apparatus is operative to attempt to decode decodable indicia utilizing the first image data and the second image data.

2. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted so that the first configuration can be selected responsively to a user input control and further so that the first configuration remains active for a duration of a trigger signal activation period of the apparatus.

3. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted so that each of the first configuration and second configuration are active during a trigger signal activation period.

4. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is adapted so that the indicia reading apparatus changes between at least the first configuration and the second configuration on an open loop basis during a trigger signal activation period.

5. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is adapted so that the indicia reading apparatus changes between at least the first configuration and the second configuration on a closed loop basis during a trigger signal activation period.

6. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is adapted so that the indicia reading apparatus changes between at least the first configuration and the second configuration on a closed loop basis responsively to a detected apparatus to target substrate distance during a trigger signal activation period.

7. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a supplementary configuration in which the aperture assembly setting is set to a setting intermediate the first and second aperture assembly setting and the lens setting is set to a best focus distance between the first and second best focus distance.

8. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is adapted so that the supplementary configuration can be selected responsively to a user input control and further so that the supplementary configuration remains active for a duration of a trigger signal activation period of the apparatus.

9. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 7, wherein apparatus is adapted so that each of the first configuration, the supplementary configuration and the second configuration are active during a trigger signal activation period.

10. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable aperture assembly is an electronic aperture assembly.

11. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable aperture assembly is a liquid crystal display (LCD) electronic aperture assembly.

12. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lens assembly includes a fluid lens.

13. The indicia reading apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fluid lens is an electro-wetting fluid lens.