Illumination system with active element for generating different illumination patterns for a data reader
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A data reader for reading data from items, the data reader comprising:
- a housing;
an imager carried within the housing, the imager operable to form an image of a decodable code from an item located in a field of view of the data reader; and
an illumination system carried within the housing, the illumination system comprising;
one or more illumination sources operable for emanating light; and
an optics system arranged to direct the light emanating from the one or more illumination sources outwardly of the housing to illuminate the field of view of the data reader, the optics system comprising;
a first mirror and a second mirror, the first mirror arranged to direct the light emanating from at least one of the one or more illumination sources toward the second mirror along a first optical path, wherein the second mirror redirects the light outwardly of the housing to illuminate the field of view with a first light pattern;
a window operable to allow at least a first portion of the light emanating from at least one of the one or more illumination sources to pass through the window and toward the field of view;
a wall having a reflective surface, the reflective surface receiving at least a second portion of the light emanating from at least one of the one or more illumination sources and reflecting the light along a second optical path and through the window to illuminate the field of view with a second light pattern; and
an active element controllable to selectively direct the light emanating from at least one of the one or more illumination sources along the first optical path associated with the first light pattern and along the second optical path associated with the second light pattern.
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Abstract
A data reader for reading and decoding a code from an item. The data reader includes an imager operable to form an image of the code from an item located in a field of view of the data reader. The data reader further includes an illumination system including optics arranged to direct light from one or more illumination sources along one of a variety of different optical paths to illuminate the field of view of the data reader with one of a plurality of light patterns. The data reader also includes an active element controllable to selectively direct the light along one of the optical paths.
22 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A data reader for reading data from items, the data reader comprising:
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a housing; an imager carried within the housing, the imager operable to form an image of a decodable code from an item located in a field of view of the data reader; and an illumination system carried within the housing, the illumination system comprising; one or more illumination sources operable for emanating light; and an optics system arranged to direct the light emanating from the one or more illumination sources outwardly of the housing to illuminate the field of view of the data reader, the optics system comprising; a first mirror and a second mirror, the first mirror arranged to direct the light emanating from at least one of the one or more illumination sources toward the second mirror along a first optical path, wherein the second mirror redirects the light outwardly of the housing to illuminate the field of view with a first light pattern; a window operable to allow at least a first portion of the light emanating from at least one of the one or more illumination sources to pass through the window and toward the field of view; a wall having a reflective surface, the reflective surface receiving at least a second portion of the light emanating from at least one of the one or more illumination sources and reflecting the light along a second optical path and through the window to illuminate the field of view with a second light pattern; and an active element controllable to selectively direct the light emanating from at least one of the one or more illumination sources along the first optical path associated with the first light pattern and along the second optical path associated with the second light pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A data reader for reading data from items, the data reader comprising:
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a housing; an imager carried within the housing, the imager operable to form an image of a decodable code from an item located in a field of view of the data reader; and an illumination system carried within the housing, the illumination system comprising; a plurality of illumination sources operable for emanating light; and an optics system arranged to direct light from the one or more illumination sources outwardly of the housing to illuminate the field of view of the data reader, the optics system comprising; a first mirror arranged to direct light emanating from a first illumination source of the plurality of illumination sources toward an exit window along a first optical path, the light passing through the exit window to illuminate the field of view with a first light pattern; a lens element arranged to direct light emanating from a second illumination source of the plurality of illumination sources toward a window along a second optical path, the light passing through the window to illuminate the field of view with a second light pattern; a wall having a reflective surface, the reflective surface receiving at least a portion of light emanating from a third illumination source of the plurality of illumination sources and reflecting the light along a third optical path and through the window to illuminate the field of view with a third light pattern; and an active element controllable to selectively operate the plurality of illumination sources. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of data reading, comprising:
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activating one or more illumination sources carried within a housing of the data reader to emanate light therefrom; selectively directing, via an active element, the light from the one or more illumination sources along a first optical path associated with a first light pattern or along a second optical path associated with a second light pattern; for the first optical path; directing a first light portion from the one or more illumination sources toward a first mirror; redirecting the light from the first mirror toward a second mirror along a first optical path; and redirecting the light from the second mirror outwardly of the housing to illuminate a field of view of the data reader with a first light pattern; for the second optical path; directing a second light portion from the one or more illumination sources toward a window, wherein a first portion of the second light portion passes through the window and toward the field of view; redirecting, via the window, a second portion of the second light portion toward a wall having diffusive and reflective optical properties; reflecting, via the wall, the second portion of the second light portion back toward the window along a second optical path, wherein the second portion of the second light portion passes through the window to illuminate the field of view of the data reader with a second light pattern; and forming an image of a decodable code from an item located in the field of view of the data reader, wherein the field of view of the data reader is illuminated with one or both of the first and second light patterns.
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Specification