Abstract: A wide angle, athermalized, achromatic, hybrid imaging lens assembly captures return light from a target over a field of view, and projects the captured return light onto an array of image sensors of a solid-state imager during electro-optical reading of the target. The assembly includes a plastic lens group for optical aberration compensation, a glass lens group spaced away from the plastic lens group along an optical axis, and an aperture stop between the lens groups and having an aperture through which the optical axis extends. The glass lens group has substantially all the optical power of the imaging lens assembly for thermal stability, and the plastic lens group has substantially no optical power. A holder holds the lenses and the aperture stop in front of the array.

Abstract: A wide angle, athermalized, achromatic, hybrid imaging lens assembly captures return light from a target over a field of view, and projects the captured return light onto an array of image sensors of a solid-state imager during electro-optical reading of the target. The assembly includes a plastic lens group for optical aberration compensation, a glass lens group spaced away from the plastic lens group along an optical axis, and an aperture stop between the lens groups and having an aperture through which the optical axis extends. The glass lens group has substantially all the optical power of the imaging lens assembly for thermal stability, and the plastic lens group has substantially no optical power. A holder holds the lenses and the aperture stop in front of the array.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for imaging a target, includes a housing having a presentation area, a solid-state imaging sensor having an imaging array of image sensors looking at a field of view that extends through the presentation area to the target, and an imaging lens assembly for capturing return light over the field of view from the target through the presentation area, and for projecting the captured return light onto the imaging array during imaging of the target. The assembly has a plurality of lenses, an aperture stop, and a holder for holding the lenses and the aperture stop in spaced relation along an optical axis. The aperture stop has a non-rotationally symmetrical aperture through which the optical axis extends. Alignment elements on the imaging lens assembly are used to align the non-rotationally symmetrical aperture with the imaging array.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for imaging a target, includes a housing having a presentation area, a solid-state imaging sensor having an imaging array of image sensors looking at a field of view that extends through the presentation area to the target, and an imaging lens assembly for capturing return light over the field of view from the target through the presentation area, and for projecting the captured return light onto the imaging array during imaging of the target. The assembly has a plurality of lenses, an aperture stop, and a holder for holding the lenses and the aperture stop in spaced relation along an optical axis. The aperture stop has a non-rotationally symmetrical aperture through which the optical axis extends. Alignment elements on the imaging lens assembly are used to align the non-rotationally symmetrical aperture with the imaging array.

Abstract: A compact hybrid imaging lens assembly captures return light from a target over a field of view of a linear array of image sensors of a solid-state imager, and projects the captured return light onto the array during electro-optical reading of the target. The assembly includes a plastic lens for optical aberration correction, a glass lens spaced away from the plastic lens along an optical axis, and an aperture stop between the lenses and having an asymmetrical aperture through which the optical axis extends. The glass lens has substantially all the optical power of the imaging lens assembly for thermal stability, and the plastic lens has substantially no optical power. A holder holds the lenses and the aperture stop away from the array. Alignment elements on the plastic lens align the asymmetrical aperture relative to the linear array.

Abstract: A device including a housing, an imaging engine and a transparent exit window. The imaging engine is located within the housing. The exit window is in the housing allowing light to pass from an exterior of the device to the imaging engine within the housing. The exit window has a plurality of segments. Each of the segments has a corresponding optical property.

Abstract: Working range and beam cross-section are adjusted in an electro-optical reader for reading indicia by applying voltages to electrodes in one or more liquid crystal zone plates in which the index of refraction is changed in different regions of each zone plate.

Abstract: An imaging system with in-field image quality testing and reporting features, includes a housing, and a solid-state imager having an array of image sensors supported by the housing for capturing return light from a target located in a range of working distances from the housing in an image capture mode of operation, and for capturing return light from a test pattern positioned at a predetermined position in the range of working distances in a test mode of operation different from the image capture mode. An electrical signal indicative of the captured return light is generated in each mode. A memory is supported by the housing for storing a test program for testing image quality.

Abstract: A method (100) and laser scanning system (10) for reading indicia (18) comprises a laser diode (60) that projects a light beam (LB) along an optical axis of the laser scanning system toward target indicia and a photodetector (34) that receives light reflected from the target indicia during operation of the laser scanning system. The system further comprises an auto-focusing arrangement (64) having a micro-electromechanical device (68) moveably coupled to a focusing lens (66) such that activation of the micro-electromechanical device provides controlled movement of the focusing lens along the optical axis relative to the laser scanning system, altering the profile of the light beam projected from the laser diode upon the target indicia.

Abstract: Laser power control arrangements interrupt power to a laser used in electro-optical readers upon detection of operating conditions not conforming to preestablished standards, and adjust power to the laser to enhance reader performance without violating prevalent safety standards. Dual monitors are used to independently monitor the output power of the laser.

Abstract: An imaging system with in-field image quality testing and reporting features, includes a housing, and a solid-state imager having an array of image sensors supported by the housing for capturing return light from a target located in a range of working distances from the housing in an image capture mode of operation, and for capturing return light from a test pattern positioned at a predetermined position in the range of working distances in a test mode of operation different from the image capture mode. An electrical signal indicative of the captured return light is generated in each mode. A memory is supported by the housing for storing a test program for testing image quality.

Abstract: A module and an arrangement for, as well as a method of, generating a generally uniform distributed line pattern of light on a symbol to be read by image capture employs a light source for generating light along an optical axis in a distribution having different extents along intersecting directions generally perpendicular to the axis, a linear lens array having a plurality of compound curvature lenses spaced apart from one another along one of said directions, for receiving the light from the light source, and for optically modifying the light from the light source to generate the generally uniform distributed line pattern of light on the symbol, each lens having a concave curvature for diverging the light along said one direction, and a convex curvature for collimating the light along the other of said directions, and a solid-state imager having an array of image sensors for capturing return light from the symbol over a field of view having different extents along the intersecting directions.

Abstract: A device including a housing, an imaging engine and a transparent exit window. The imaging engine is located within the housing. The exit window is in the housing allowing light to pass from an exterior of the device to the imaging engine within the housing. The exit window has a plurality of segments. Each of the segments has a corresponding optical property.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first lens, a liquid lens, imaging sensor arrays, an aperture stop, and a barcode decoding system. The first lens has a fixed optical power. The liquid lens has a variable optical power. The imaging sensor arrays are operable to receive light passing through both the first lens and the liquid lens. The liquid lens is positioned between the aperture stop and the imaging sensor arrays. The barcode decoding system receives signals from the imaging sensor arrays.

Abstract: Working range and beam cross-section are adjusted in an electro-optical reader for reading indicia by applying voltages to electrodes in one or more liquid crystal zone plates in which the index of refraction is changed in different regions of each zone plate.

Abstract: An imaging lens assembly focuses light from indicia in a working range of distances along an optical path onto a solid-state imager of an imaging reader. The lens assembly includes a negative spherical aberration component and an aperture stop that together are operative for extending the working range.

Abstract: A solid-state imager is mounted in a reader, such as a bi-optical, dual window, point-of-transaction workstation, for capturing light along an optical axis over a field of view from diverse targets useful for customer identification, customer payment validation, operator surveillance, and coded indicia. An optical converter is located within the housing, for optically modifying and asymmetrically magnifying the field of view along mutually orthogonal directions generally perpendicular to the optical axis, and for increasing resolution of the imager along one of these directions.

Abstract: A compact imaging lens assembly focuses light from indicia along an optical path onto a solid-state imager of an imaging reader. The lens assembly includes a pair of end focusing lenses of substantially a same size and spaced apart along the optical path, an intermediate lens between the end lenses, and an aperture stop between the end lenses.

Abstract: A system and method for reading an optical code is provided. The optical code reader system includes a dual aim/illumination assembly including a single light source generating: a) light having a first intensity for providing an aim pattern visible to a user for aiming the aim pattern at a target during an aim period of a scan cycle having at least an aim period and an exposure period; and b) light having a second intensity greater than the first intensity for providing illumination during the exposure period of the scan cycle. An imager module having an array of photo sensors senses incident light and generating image signals corresponding to the sensing during the exposure period.

Abstract: Described are a method and system for filtering an optical lens. The system includes an imager providing an image of a target based on light from the target; an optical lens having a light-filtering coating blocking ambient light, the optical lens focusing at least a portion of the light from the target onto the imager; and a processing device decoding the image of the target.