Abstract: The present invention provides an optical leveling instrument with central common point consolidation structure, and more particularly the center of working indicator light beams meet at the center of rotation point of two axes of toggle movement to serve as a central common point of center of rotation. During the stopping process, no height difference occurs in the directional light beams emitted by the instrument. The optical leveling instrument comprises a universal toggle support, and two horizontal working axes thereof intersect in the same plane and serves as the central common point of center of rotation. Moreover, centers of directional light beams emitted by a set of light emitting modules to collectively form the central common point of center of rotation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a mobile information kiosk with a three-dimensional imaging effect, which is primarily applied to a hand-held mobile information kiosk. The kiosk includes a dual-lens photographing device with various light traveling angles, a displayer, a stereoscopic optical element which is provided on the displayer, and a data processing module for three-dimensional display. The displayer displays an interleaved grid-shape pattern which is processed by the data processing module. The grid-shape pattern is deflected leftward and rightward in a longitudinal series through the stereoscopic optical element and is projected respectively to both eyes of a user, such that the user can visually sense a three-dimensional image.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a mobile information kiosk with a three-dimensional imaging effect, which is primarily applied to a hand-held mobile information kiosk. The kiosk includes a dual-lens photographing device with various light traveling angles, a displayer, a stereoscopic optical element which is provided on the displayer, and a data processing module for three-dimensional display. The displayer displays an interleaved grid-shape pattern which is processed by the data processing module. The grid-shape pattern is deflected leftward and rightward in a longitudinal series through the stereoscopic optical element and is projected respectively to both eyes of a user, such that the user can visually sense a three-dimensional image.

Abstract: Optical scanner with a light source (1) for producing a light beam (A), focusing optics (2), means for producing a predetermined first scanning pattern (SP1-SP4) of separate scanning lines, first reflecting means (9; 101-104, 201-204) arranged to receive said predetermined first scanning pattern and to reflect each of the scanning lines of said first scanning pattern in a predetermined direction, and second reflecting means (10; 20; 30; 106, 107, 206, 207) arranged about a scanning axis (T), to receive said scanning lines and reflect them towards said scanning axis from several different directions in order to produce a second scanning pattern of scanning lines on all sides of an object (Q), said scanning lines in said second scanning pattern being substantially parallel to said scanning axis (T).

Abstract: An optical scanner having at least a light source (1), an internal helical scanning line generator (1, 6, 7) for generating a scanning beam defined by a beam focus which in use follows a helical pattern, beam shape conversion means (9; 11; 12; 15, 15a; 16) for receiving the scanning beam from the internal helical scanning line generator and converting its direction in order to make the scanning beam propagating substantially along a virtual conic or cylindrical surface around a scanning axis (T), and deflection means (10; 14; 15b) for receiving the scanning beam from the beam shape conversion means (9; 11; 12; 15, 15a; 16) and deflecting it substantially to the scanning axis (T). Such an optical scanner is particularly suited for reading bar codes on an external cylindrical surface, e.g. on a bottle.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus to scan an object by means of a light beam (B), provided with a housing (40), a light source (1) for generating the light beam (B), at least one mirror (6) for receiving and reflecting the light beam (B), which mirror (6) is, in operation, driven by first driving means (20) through a shaft (21) for continuous rotation about an axis of rotation (x) and by second driving means (30) by means of a carriage (117, 118) arranged on the shaft (21) such that the carriage (117, 118) and the shaft (21) are slidable relative to one another in an axial direction along the axis of rotation (x) for pivoting the at least one mirror (6) relative to the axis of rotation (x) about a pivoting point (102), a holder (115, 415) contacting the carriage (117, 118) by means (116) allowing the shaft (21) and the carriage (117, 118) to rotate concurrently within the holder (115, 415) and such that the holder (115, 415) and the shaft (21) can be shifted relative to one another in the axial direction.

Abstract: An optical scanner for a bar code reader has a rotary driving motor which drives a carrier to rotate about a principal axis, the carrier carries mirror means which is pivoted about a scan axis at right angles to the carrier axis, and force applying means is arranged to apply a turning couple to the mirror to cause it to turn to provide the scan motion while the carrier rotates to change the scan orientation. The timing couple is provided either by being coupled to the drive from the rotary carrier or by means of an axially mounted electro-magnetic coil.

Abstract: Scanning apparatus to scan an object by means of a light beam, including at least one mirror (2), which, during operation, is driven by a drive to make a combined movement of a continuous rotation around an axis of rotation (63) and an oscillating movement relative to the axis of rotation (63), the drive including a rotation drive (7, 8) and an oscillating drive (11, 12), both drives being controlled in such a way that the continuous rotation and the oscillating movement of the mirror are controlled independently. Thus the oscillating drive oscillates only the mirror. The light beam is thus parallel to or coincident with the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A number of scanning devices are shown which are suitable for use in active or passive bar code readers. These devices use a mirror system which is arranged to oscillate for production of a scanning beam, the oscillation being at a resonant frequency and being effected and adjusted by means solely of magnetic or electro magnetic components.

Abstract: Optical scanner having a laser source for generating a laser beam, a first deflector for deflecting the laser beam towards an array of reflectors, the first deflector and the array of reflectors being rotatable relative to each other about a first axis, drive means for providing a rotation, and at least one detector for detecting backscattered light, said first deflector and said array of reflectors being arranged to deflect said laser beam in a direction substantially parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: Scanning device for optically scanning symbol codes, such as bar codes, comprising a laser source for producing a scanning beam, a detector for detecting light backscattered by the scanned symbol codes, first and second rotatable deflection elements for both transmitting and deflecting the scanning beam so as to generate a scanning pattern, and drive devices for rotating the first and second deflection elements around a first and second axis of rotation, respectively, in which scanning device the scanning beam when impinging upon the first deflection element does not coincide with at least one of both axes of rotation.

Abstract: Optical scanner, comprising a laser source for generating a laser beam, a first deflector for deflecting the laser beam towards a array of reflectors, the first deflector and the array of reflectors being rotatable relative to each other about a first axis, drive means for providing a rotation, and at least one detector for detecting backscattered light, further comprising a second deflector being rotatable about a second axis for deflecting the beam reflected by the array of reflectors in a direction substantially parallel or coincident with the second axis.

Abstract: A symbol code reader comprises a two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements for converting light scattered by the symbol code into image signals representative of the symbol code, image storage means for storing image signals produced by the photosensitive elements, and selection means for selectively passing image signals from the photosensitive elements to the image storage means. Preferably, the selection means are arranged for passing the image signals from predetermined sets of photosensitive elements, the elements of each set constituting a pattern in the array.

Abstract: A focussing device for a bar code reader comprises a lens system and a drive therefor. The lens system comprises at least one lens or set of lenses moveable in the direction of its optical axis. The drive comprises at least one coil and a magnetic element, wherein at least one moveable lens or set of lenses is fixed to the magnetic element and the magnetic element is a magnetic ring slideably arranged in a holding element, and wherein said at least one coil is fixed relative to the holding element. The lens system may comprise at least two fixed lenses or sets of lenses, at least one moveable lens or set of lenses being arranged between two fixed lenses or sets of lenses. A gating device selectively passes signals output by a sensor that senses light scattered by a bar code passing through the focussing device.

Abstract: A bar code scanner, comprising a scanning pattern generator for deflecting a laser beam produced by a laser source so as to generate a scanning pattern in a scanning plane, further comprises a pattern divider for intercepting and dividing at least part of the pattern generated by the pattern generator into at least two divisional patterns and for projecting the divisional patterns in a scanning plane so as to form an altered scanning pattern. Preferably, at least some divisional patterns projected in the scanning plane overlap.

Abstract: Focusing system for a bar code reader, comprising a lens system, wherein for varying the focal length the focusing system is provided with a reflector rotatable around a rotational axis, the reflector comprising at least one reflective surface normally intersecting the optical axis of the lens system, the point of intersection having a distance relative to the lens system which varies in response to the rotation of the reflector.

Abstract: Dual-focus optical scanner for scanning an object, provided with optical illuminating means for illumating the object to be scanned with a light point derived from a light source, which illuminating means have their own optics, and with optical imaging means for imaging the object onto a point sensor, which imaging means have their own optics. Said illuminating means and said imaging means are embodied in a coaxial relation with substantially coincident optical axes. The focal plane of the illuminating optics and the focal plane of the imaging optics in the object area are slightly spaced, the separation of said two spaced focal planes being such that the working range of the scanner is the sum of the depths of field of the illuminating and imaging optics, defined according to required spatial resolution. Said optical scanner can be used as a wandtype symbol code reader, such as a bar code reader, for reading the symbol code by relative manual scan movement.

Abstract: Optical scanning system to scan a code on an object comprising a laser source (1), a laser beam shaper (2) receiving a laser beam from the laser source and focussing the laser beam on the object, a mirror polygon (4) having facets (6-9), of which at least one is reflective, and being rotated by a motor (5), a mirror array (10) surrounding the polygon arranged in such a way that the laser beam will generate a scanning pattern (3) on the code to be detected, and a detector (24) receiving the light scatterred by the object, in which system the mirror array (10) is substantially entirely surrounding the polygon (4); the polygon (4) is designed to perform an optical chopper function, in such a way that during one rotation cycle of the polygon (4) each mirror (11-22; 61-75) of the mirror array (10) will at least once receive the laser beam and generate its own scanning line.

Abstract: A method of recording holograms for use in optical scanners comprises the steps of generating a reference beam by means of a reference source, generating an object beam by means of an object source, and illuminating a photosensitive surface with both said object beam and said reference beam, wherein said object beam is divergent in a first direction and non-divergent in a second direction.

Abstract: Scanning device for optically scanning symbol codes, such as bar codes, the device comprising a laser source for producing a scanning beam, a first lens for focussing the scanning beam, a detector for detecting light backscattered by the scanned symbol codes, a second lens for focussing the backscattered light onto the detector, first and second rotatable deflection means for both transmitting and deflecting the scanning beam so as to generate a scanning pattern, and drive means for rotating the deflection means, wherein both the first and the second deflection means comprise triangular prisms.