Scanner for scanning items marked with near-infrared tags

• US 7,702,187 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Rusman, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, II; Jerome
• Application Number:
  US12/247,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20090032599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 358/473, 358/475, 358/509, 358/510, 358/513, 358/480, 358/482, 382/313, 382/321, 382/312, 235/462.01, 235/462.14, 235/462.24, 235/462.25, 235/462.38, 235/462.39, 235/462.32, 235/462.33, 235/472.01, 235/472.02
• US Class Current: 382/321
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10554 Moving beam scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10623 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10693 for omnidirectional scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10772 Moved readers, e.g. pen, wand
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/59 by controlling the amount of charge storable in the pixel, e.g. modification of the charge conversion ratio of the floating node capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/671 for non-uniformity detection or correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/745 : Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/75 : Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/767 : Horizontal readout lines, multiplexers or registers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/778 : comprising amplifiers shared between a plurality of pixels, i.e. at least one part of the amplifier must be on the sensor array itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/1568 : for disturbance correction or prevention within the image-sensor, e.g. biasing, blooming, smearing correction circuits H04N25/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 : Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A scanner for scanning items marked with near-infrared tags includes a laser configured to produce a narrowband near-infrared beam matched to a peak wavelength of near-infrared ink used to print the tags. A mirror assembly re-directs the beam. A deflecting arrangement receives the re-directed beam. A steering mirror steers the deflected beam. A scanning mirror directs the beam onto the tag to be scanned and a light collection system collects light reflected by the tags.

Claims

1. A scanner for scanning items marked with near-infrared tags, the scanner comprising:

a laser configured to produce a narrowband near-infrared beam matched to a peak wavelength of near-infrared ink used to print the tags;

a mirror assembly to re-direct the beam;

a deflecting arrangement to receive the re-directed beam, the deflecting arrangement including a horizontal deflector, a vertical deflector and a pair of synchronised drivers to drive the deflectors;

a steering mirror to steer the deflected beam;

a scanning mirror to direct the beam onto the tag to be scanned; and

a light collection system to collect light reflected by the tags.

2. A scanner as claimed in claim 1, in which an amplitude modulator is interposed between the laser and the mirror assembly to modulate the amplitude of the beam for ranging purposes.

3. A scanner as claimed in claim 1, in which a beam expander is interposed between the laser and the mirror assembly to produce a desired beam spot size.

4. A scanner as claimed in claim 1, in which a focussing lens is interposed between the mirror assembly and the steering mirror to focus the beam prior to steering the beam.

5. A scanner as claimed in claim 1, which includes a piezo-electric tip-tilt platform on which the steering mirror is mounted, the scanner including a tip-tilt steering driver to control operation of the platform.

6. A scanner as claimed in claim 1, in which a focussing and field-flattening lens is interposed between the scanning and steering mirrors to focus the beam and to flatten a focal plane of the beam.

7. A scanner as claimed in claim 1, in which the light collection system is retroreflective.