Having A Transmissive Optical Element (e.g., Lens, Prism, Or Aperture) Patents (Class 235/462.35)
  • Patent number: 11763126
    Abstract: An electronic device may be attached to an external item. The electronic device may include an optical identification sensor configured to sense a color-encoded tag in the external item when the item is attached to the device. The optical identification sensor may include a board layer, a protective filter layer, wall structures for supporting the protective filter layer on the board layer, a linear array of photodetectors disposed between the board layer and the protective filter layer, a field-of-view restriction filter interposed between the photodetectors and the protective filter layer, and a light source having multiple emitters for illuminating the color-encoded tag. The emitters may be activated sequentially to produce multiple images that are combined to reconstruct an accurate reading of the color-encoded tag, which can then be used to identify the type of external item currently attached to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Dashevsky, Brian S. Pearson, Dong Zheng, Eugene C. Cheung, Kenneth J. Vampola
  • Patent number: 11727582
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring coordinate values of an environment is provided. The system includes a coordinate measurement scanner that includes a light source that steers a beam of light to illuminate object points in the environment, and an image sensor arranged to receive light reflected from the object points to determine coordinates of the object points in the environment. The system also includes one or more processors for performing a method that includes receiving a previously generated map of the environment and causing the scanner to measure a plurality of coordinate values as the scanner is moved through the environment, the coordinate values forming a point cloud. The plurality of coordinate values are registered with the previously generated map into a single frame of reference. A current map of the environment is generated based at least in part on the previously generated map and the point cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventors: Denis Wohlfeld, Evelyn Schmitz
  • Patent number: 11704512
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating an aiming light of a reader to indicate the field-of-view (FOV) of an imager within the reader includes an optical element. The optical element receives the aiming light from an aiming assembly and redirect the aiming light such that the central axis of the aiming light exiting the optical element is non-coaxial with the central aiming axis of the aiming assembly at the entry of the optical element. The optical element may be configured to project an image on a target that indicates the boundary of the FOV or project an image on the target that indicates the center of the FOV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Yuri Astvatsaturov
  • Patent number: 11691364
    Abstract: A method of forming a liquid lens, comprising the steps of: positioning a first substrate defining a hole over a second substrate, wherein a cavity is defined within the second substrate and aligned with the hole; dispensing a second liquid into the cavity defined within the second substrate; capping the second liquid with a first liquid dispensed through the hole, wherein the first liquid and the second liquid have different refractive indices than each other; and translating at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate such that the hole is not aligned with the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Alejandro Aguilar, Tetyana Buchholz, Raymond Charles Cady, Daniel Warren Hawtof, Shawn Michael O'Malley, Jason Daniel Steadman
  • Patent number: 11487106
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a multi-element fiber scanner includes providing a fiber optic cable having a cladding region and a fiber core and focusing a laser beam at a series of predetermined locations inside the cladding region of the fiber optic cable. The method also includes creating a plurality of damage sites at the predetermined locations, exposing the fiber optic cable to an etchant solution, and preferentially etching the plurality of damage sites to form a base having a base plane and a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the base plane, a retention collar disposed a predetermined distance along the longitudinal axis from the base, a first fiber link including the fiber core, passing through the base plane, and joined to the retention collar, and a plurality of additional links joined to the base, extending from the base to the retention collar, and joined to the retention collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Schowengerdt, Mathew D. Watson, Charles David Melville, William Andrew Lee
  • Patent number: 11350025
    Abstract: Provided is an optical device for reducing the time for auto focusing (AF) performed by a contrast detection system, the optical device comprises a liquid lens having a curvature that varies on the basis of an applied electrical signal and the liquid lens may be auto-focused at one time from the current curvature (i.e., the first curvature state, p) to a target curvature corresponding to a distance to the subject (i.e., a second curvature state) based on the FV slope ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sungmin Woo, Byeongkil Kang, Jongpil Kim, Jeeho Hyun
  • Patent number: 10922506
    Abstract: An illumination device for an optical system of a reader apparatus, comprising a light source (3) disposed concentrically around an annular hollow body (2), an external light reflector (5) for redirecting light to illuminate a zone at its distal end (5b), and a reflector element (8) with a mirror finish outer surface (8a). The internal wall (6) of the external light reflector (5) is made of reflective material, having a first portion (6a) with increasing cross sections from a proximal end (5a) to a first region (6b) with maximum cross section, and a second portion (6c) with decreasing cross sections from the first region (6b) to a second region (6d) with minimum cross section. The reflector element (8) is arranged in front of the light source (3) to redirect light towards the first portion (6a) of the external light reflector (5). The illumination device (1) achieves, in a reduced space, high optical efficiency and uniform illumination on the mark to read, avoiding specular reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SICPA HOLDING SA
    Inventors: François Huot, Pablo Sempere, Todor Dinoev, Nicola Duca
  • Patent number: 10663744
    Abstract: A optical projector device less vulnerable to deformation of projected light by generated heat includes a printed circuit board, a light source, and an optical module. The heat-generating light source emits a laser beam, the optical module being mounted on the printed circuit board and surrounding the light source. The optical module comprises a lens holder, a collimating optical element received in the lens holder, and a diffractive optical element away from the light source. The lens holder comprises an outer lens holder and an inner lens holder fixed in the outer lens holder, and the diffractive optical element is received in the inner lens holder, this arrangement enables the dissipation of any heat-expansion force away from these elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Jing-Wei Li, Shin-Wen Chen, Sheng-Jie Ding, Jian-Chao Song
  • Patent number: 10627221
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of measuring a shape based on reflected light from a surface of an object irradiated with light from a measurement head, includes: acquiring a first measurement result by setting a measurement condition suitable for the measurement of a first region of the object and by measuring a first scanning range of the surface with a first scanning pitch; determining a second region of the surface except the first region from the first measurement result; and acquiring a second measurement result by setting a measurement condition suitable for the measurement of the second region and by measuring a second scanning range of the surface narrower than the first scanning range with a second scanning pitch finer than the first scanning pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakai, Tomonori Goto
  • Patent number: 10534944
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing images of symbols and decoding symbols based on the distance of the target from the reader. The distance of the symbol from the reader causes the controller to switch between different parameters, imaging assemblies, decode modules and/or decode approaches in order to decode different symbology types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher W. Brock
  • Patent number: 10318778
    Abstract: Targets to be electro-optically read by image capture are illuminated with illumination light emitted from an illumination light source and directed along an illumination path through a window to the targets, and return light from the targets is captured through the window and projected along an imaging path to an array of light sensors of an imaging system. An optical element is located in both the illumination path and the imaging path, and has a light-reflecting, non-diffusing portion for directing the captured return light incident on the light-reflecting portion along a folded imaging path to the array, and a light-diffusing portion for diffusing the illumination light incident on the light-diffusing portion along a folded illumination path to scatter and blur an image of the illumination light source, to increase an apparent size of the illumination light source, and to reduce a perceived brightness of the illumination light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Igor R. Vinogradov, Rong Liu, Yuly Mitelman, Eric S. Trongone
  • Patent number: 10303909
    Abstract: An add-on device for an image scanner for scanning barcodes is provided. The add-on device includes a housing mounted to the standard range lens front on an image scanner, and a lens holder. The lens holder has a first position for holding a first lens, a second position being an aperture, and a third position for holding a second lens. A high-density lens is mounted in the first position. An extended range lens is mounted in the third position. The lens holder is mounted in the housing and is transverse to the optical axis of the standard range lens of the image scanner. Further, the lens holder is movable within the housing in order to alternately position the high-density lens, the aperture, and the extended range lens to be in alignment with the optical axis of the standard range lens of the image scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Chen Feng, Tao Xian, Mehul Patel, Sean Philip Kearney, Paul Poloniewicz
  • Patent number: 10168530
    Abstract: A scanning device includes a substrate, which is etched to define an array of two or more parallel rotating members and a gimbal surrounding the rotating members. First hinges connect the gimbal to the substrate and defining a first axis of rotation, about which the gimbal rotates relative to the substrate. Second hinges connect the rotating members to the support and defining respective second, mutually-parallel axes of rotation of the rotating members relative to the support, which are not parallel to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Yuval Gerson, Naftali Chayat, Noel Axelrod, Alexander Shpunt
  • Patent number: 9766466
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser module (10) comprises a tapered laser diode (12) and/or a tapered amplifier diode equipped with beam shaping optics (14). The tapered laser diode and/or the tapered amplifier diode includes an emission facet (16) for emitting a laser beam (18) along a beam axis (24). The beam-shaping optics comprise a plano-convex cylindrical lens oriented so as to change divergence of the beam in the fast axis direction, the plano-convex spherical cylindrical lens having a planar surface (26) arranged facing the facet and a circular cylindrical surface (22) facing away from the facet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: PANTEC ENGINEERING AG
    Inventors: Arne Heinrich, Clemens Hagen
  • Patent number: 9715107
    Abstract: A scanning device includes a substrate, which is etched to define an array of two or more parallel rotating members and a gimbal surrounding the rotating members. First hinges connect the gimbal to the substrate and defining a first axis of rotation, about which the gimbal rotates relative to the substrate. Second hinges connect the rotating members to the support and defining respective second, mutually-parallel axes of rotation of the rotating members relative to the support, which are not parallel to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Yuval Gerson, Naftali Chayat, Noel Axelrod, Alexander Shpunt
  • Patent number: 9488758
    Abstract: A liquid lens structure and method of fabrication are provided. The liquid lens includes a substrate with a channel opening extending through the substrate. A liquid drop is disposed within the channel and an enclosure at least partially surrounds the substrate, and forms a chamber. The liquid drop resides within the chamber, and a second liquid is disposed within the chamber in direct or indirect contact with the liquid drop at a first interface and a second interface. The first and second interfaces define first and second protruding liquid portions relative to the first and second surfaces, respectively. Taken together, the first and second liquid portions define a total protruding liquid volume. A lens magnification control is provided for adjusting magnification of the liquid lens by increasing or decreasing the total protruding liquid volume defined relative to the first and second surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Amir H. Hirsa
  • Patent number: 9429292
    Abstract: The lamp assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a light source unit configured to irradiate light, and a lens unit configured to emit the light from the light source unit toward the outside of the lamp assembly. More specifically, the lens unit includes a non-circular-shaped lens on which a light intensity adjusting portion, which adjusts intensity of the light emitted in a lateral side direction, is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Kook Young Choi, Kwan Ho Lim
  • Patent number: 9411148
    Abstract: Optical apparatus in which a beam deflector is used to reposition the sight beam from a reflex sight. In one example, an optical apparatus includes a reflex sight configured to produce a collimated reflex sight beam directed along an optical axis, and a beam deflector coupled to an output of the reflex sight and configured to deflect the reflex sight beam by a selected angle of deflection relative to the optical axis to reposition an eyebox of the reflex sight off-axis with respect to the optical axis and remote from the reflex sight. In certain examples, the optical apparatus also includes a telescopic sight, and the beam deflector is configured to deflect the collimated reflex sight beam to overlap the reflex sight beam with the exit pupil of the telescopic sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: RAYTHEON CANADA LIMITED
    Inventor: Stanislaw Szapiel
  • Patent number: 9164254
    Abstract: An optical component includes a substrate and two optical lenses, and the substrate and the two optical lenses are an integrated and inseparable structure. A groove that can accommodate a required collimating optical element is provided on the substrate, or a collimating optical element and the substrate are integrated. Because fabrication of optical elements is completed during fabrication of the optical component, the number of elements to fabricate and time and cost of fabricating the elements can be reduced. Also, during assembly of an image capturing device, it is only required that the optical component is locked to a body of the image capturing device to complete arrangement of a front panel and the optical elements, which can greatly simplify an assembly procedure and shorten assembly time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: CIPHERLAB CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Yung Chen, Pin-Chung Lin, Yung-Fu Chang
  • Patent number: 9004363
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a diffusive plate that is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of an imaging lens arrangement and covers a side face of a solid rectangular defining a volume space within which parts of a scan engine are deposited. The parts of the scan engine including at least the illumination light source, the imaging lens arrangement, an imaging sensor, and a controller for controlling both the illumination light source and the imaging sensor. The diffusive plate includes a first opening to allow light enter the imaging lens arrangement through the first opening. The area enclosed by the boundary of the diffusive plate substantially equal to the area of the side face of the solid rectangular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene B. Joseph, Mark E. Drzymala, Duanfeng He
  • Publication number: 20150048167
    Abstract: This patent specification describes an attachment for a mobile device. The attachment may have an attachment feature designed to be attached to a mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet, or smartphone/tablet with a camera. The attachment may also include an optics system and/or an illumination system that cooperates with the camera to facilitate the capture of decodable barcodes. The illumination system may include a targeting illumination system that facilitates proper positioning of the article and/or an exposure illumination system that helps illuminate the article during capture. The optics system may include a lens that modifies the depth of field and/or the size of the field of view of the camera, an aperture that helps define the field of view, a filter that prevents light of undesired wavelengths from reaching the camera, and/or a mirror that redirects the camera's optical pathway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Garrett Russell, Ryan Hoobler, Ming Lei, George Powell, Mark Ashby
  • Publication number: 20150048168
    Abstract: A laser scanning system having a laser scanning field, and a laser beam optics module with an optical axis and including: an aperture stop disposed after a laser source for shaping the laser beam to a predetermined beam diameter; a collimating lens for collimating the laser beam produced from the aperture stop; an apodization element having a first and second optical surfaces for extending the depth of focus of the laser beam from the collimating lens; and a negative bi-prism, disposed after the apodization element, along the optical axis, to transform the energy distribution of the laser beam and cause the laser beam to converge to substantially a single beam spot along the far-field portion of the laser scanning field, and extend the depth of focus of the laser beam along the far-field portion of the laser scanning field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Bernard Fritz, James Allen Cox, Peter L. Reutiman
  • Patent number: 8844823
    Abstract: A laser scanning system having a laser scanning field, and a laser beam optics module with an optical axis and including: an aperture stop disposed after a laser source for shaping the laser beam to a predetermined beam diameter; a collimating lens for collimating the laser beam produced from the aperture stop; an apodization element having a first and second optical surfaces for extending the depth of focus of the laser beam from the collimating lens; and a negative bi-prism, disposed after the apodization element, along the optical axis, to transform the energy distribution of the laser beam and cause the laser beam to converge to substantially a single beam spot along the far-field portion of the laser scanning field, and extend the depth of focus of the laser beam along the far-field portion of the laser scanning field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard Fritz, James Allen Cox, Peter L. Reutiman
  • Patent number: 8789760
    Abstract: An apparatus includes (1) a first housing for housing therein a barcode reading arrangement and (2) an enclosed space for housing therein a battery configured to power the barcode reading arrangement located outside the enclosed space. The first housing includes a window made from one or more materials that has a lower flaming critical temperature than that of any material for making the enclosed space for housing the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Darran M. Handshaw, Alan N. Mears
  • Patent number: 8752767
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an illumination lens, an illumination light source for generating illumination light, and a prism made of optical transparent material. The first section on the first surface of the prism has a length that is at least four times as long as its width. The first surface of the prism includes a second section adjacent to the first section for defining the edge of an aperture. The third surface of the prism is configured to reflect the illumination light received from the first section onto the second surface of the prism. At least a portion of the illumination light received from the first section passes through both the second surface of the prism and the illumination lens for projecting illumination light onto a target object within an imaging field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Vinogradov, David T. Shi
  • Patent number: 8740083
    Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus (10) for a code reader (100) is provided which has an objective (12) having at least one lens and a drive (18) with a cam plate (16) for the positional adjustment of the objective (12). The objective (12) is supported in a parallel guide (14) having a coupling unit (32, 34) for the coupling of the cam plate (16) so that a rotational movement of the cam plate (16) adjusts the position of the objective (12) in the parallel guide (14) with a parallel shift of the objective plane. The coupling unit (32, 34) has a press-on element (32) for the play-free coupling of the parallel guide (14) to the cam plate (16) and a counter-bearing element (34) between the press-on element (32) and the drive (18) for relieving the drive (18) from the press-on element (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Christoph Anselment, Roland Gehring, Ulrich Nubling, Richard Nopper
  • Patent number: 8657194
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rong Liu, David Tsi-Shi
  • Patent number: 8628014
    Abstract: An instruction symbol identifier comprising a digital imaging capturing features that utilizes a light field sensor to capture the intensity and direction of incident light is described. The instruction symbol identifier comprises a computing device, whereby a digitally captured image may be digitally focused to identify an instruction symbol. An instruction symbol identifier is described being coupled to a point of sale counter, whereby product bar codes may be identified more quickly and effectively than conventional bar code scanners. A light emitting feature and an image locator feature are described, to further enhance capturing an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Inventor: John M. Hoffer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8616454
    Abstract: Systems and methods for making and using handheld data readers comprising one or more fluid lenses. One or more fluid lenses are provided to allow a handheld data reader to perform such operations as reading indicia, including such additional operations as zooming, reorienting a viewing direction, focusing, adjusting an optical axis, and correcting for the effects of motion such as hand jitter. The fluid lens or lenses can be operated for example by applying electrical signals to fluid lenses comprising a plurality of fluids including at least one that is conductive and at least one that is non-conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventors: William H. Havens, Ynjiun P. Wang, Vivian L. Hunter, Allan I. Krauter, Ervin Goldfain, Raymond A. Lia, Richard W. Newman, Thomas W. Karpen, Bradford Morse, Dongmin Yang
  • Patent number: 8550348
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device for detecting marks with defined contrast patterns includes a transmitter to emit polarized light beams, a receiver to receive light beams and having an output to produce receiving signals representing the received light beams, and a an evaluation unit to which the receiving signals are fed and in which the contrast pattern of a mark is detected with the aid of the receiving signals present at the receiver output. A thin-film polarization filter is arranged in front of the receiver to filter out a share of the received light beams specular reflected back by the mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Leuze Electronic GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Joerg Droemer
  • Patent number: 8393543
    Abstract: An optical aberration is intentionally introduced into the optical system which produces the scanning beam of an optical code scanner, in order to produce a scanning beam which has plural focal points or waists at different distances from the scanner. The operating range of the scanner can thereby be increased by taking advantage of different beam waist locations when the optical code is at different distances from the scanner. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, coma is intentionally introduced to an optical system providing a light beam for an optical code scanner. This provides a scanning beam with plural beam waists at different distances from the scanner. This may be accomplished by orienting the light source and focusing optical system so that their optical axes intersect or by introducing an optical member, such as a prism, between the original light source and the focusing optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignees: Optoelectronics Co., Ltd., Opticon, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhihui Duan, Masayoshi Yamanouchi, Kazunori Noborio, Yo Tanaka, Hiroshi Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8387883
    Abstract: Bar code imagers and methods of operating bar code imagers are described herein. One method includes selectively illuminating a portion of an axicon optical element of a bar code imager device, forming, by the axicon optical element in response to the selective illumination of the portion of the axicon optical element, an illumination beam, and illuminating a bar code with the illumination beam formed by the axicon optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew S. Marcus, Bernard S. Fritz
  • Patent number: 8282004
    Abstract: There is described a focusing apparatus having a deformable membrane that at least partially defines a cavity and an optical fluid disposed in the cavity. An actuator assembly can be provided for imparting a force to the deformable membrane. In one embodiment, the actuator assembly can include a piezoelectric actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ynjiun P. Wang, Donald Anderson, Samuel Bingo, Robert Bowker, James A. Cairns, Chen Feng, Colleen P. Gannon, Jeffery Gilfus, William H. Havens, Robert John Hennick, Robert Hunsinger, Michael Sterling
  • Patent number: 8276819
    Abstract: An optical code reader of the imager type includes: at least one non-collimated light source having an illumination optics associated therewith including at least one lens; and a photodetector device having a receiving optics associated therewith including at least one lens, wherein the at least one lens of the illumination optics and the at least one lens of the receiving optics are displaceable together to change their distance from the at least one light source and from said photodetector device respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Datalogic Scanning Group S.r.l.
    Inventors: Federico Canini, Guido Maurizio Oliva, Donato Vincenzi, Belinda Bernagozzi
  • Patent number: 8113430
    Abstract: An optical code reader of the imager type includes at least one light source and at least one illumination lens downstream of the at least one light source for projecting a predetermined illumination pattern. The at least one illumination lens comprises a first main face, wherein in a first direction, the first main face has a plurality of elementary regions, each of the elementary regions of the at least one illumination lens having a slope with respect to an optical axis of the reader that is individually calculated so that the elementary region deviates the light fraction coming from the at least one light source and incident thereon towards a specific elementary region of the illumination pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Datalogic Scanning Group S.r.L.
    Inventors: Guido Maurizio Oliva, Donato Vincenzi
  • Patent number: 8066189
    Abstract: A case has a front surface facing an image sensing area, a concave formed on the front surface, and an opening on the bottom of the concave. The case accommodates an area image sensor to image-sense the image sensing area through the opening, and an illumination device to illuminate the entire image sensing area. There are provided a photoelectric converting unit converting an output of the area image sensor into an electric image signal, and an output unit outputs an image signal converted by the photoelectric converting unit to an image processing device. The case also accommodates a lens to form an image of the image sensing area on the area image sensor with a depth of field so as to the image processing device obtain a resolution to enable analysis of a code symbol included in the image signal. A lens side limit position of the depth of field corresponds with the position of the front surface of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiya Yamada, Hitoshi Iizaka, Osamu Tsuchiya, Hidehiro Naitou, Norihiko Kurihara, Hidemi Mihara
  • Patent number: 8028918
    Abstract: Laser power monitoring arrangements interrupt power to a laser used in electro-optical readers upon detection of operating conditions not conforming to preestablished standards. An auxiliary light detector independently monitors the output power of a laser beam, and directly receives a portion of the laser beam reflected from an optical assembly operative for optically modifying the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Heng Zhang, Vladimir Gurevich, Ming Yu
  • Patent number: 8016199
    Abstract: An apparatus for imaging a symbol associated with an object which includes a housing and an imaging module connected to the housing, where the imaging module includes at least one lens for creating an image of the symbol. The imaging module further has a sensor for sensing the image. An electroluminescent light sheet is connected to the housing, and the electroluminescent light sheet provides at least one of dark field illumination and bright field illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventor: Laurens Nunnink
  • Patent number: 7997493
    Abstract: A dual-aperture barcode scanner with tether-free housing. The scanner includes vertical portion including switches and a housing adjacent to but separated from the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Gregerson, Paul O. Detwiler, John R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7956340
    Abstract: An optical receiving device (31) for an optical code reader is described, comprising a solid body, of a transparent material, having a light input face (32), a light output face (33) for coupling with a photodetector device (30), said output face (33) being substantially perpendicular to said input face (32), and an oblique face (34) with respect to both said input face (32) and said output face (34), characterized in that the mutual orientation of the faces (32-38, 40-42, 40?, 41?, 42?) of the optical receiving device (31) is such that the light entering from said input face (32) within a desired field of view is concentrated onto said output face (33) by total internal reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Datalogic Automation S.r.l.
    Inventors: Kurt Vonmetz, Stefano Ciabattoni
  • Publication number: 20110127334
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Tsi Shi, Christopher Brock
  • Publication number: 20110089242
    Abstract: A barcode scanner capable of switching the reading resolution of scanning can be used for scanning a barcode with high resolution or low resolution, including a shell body, a scan module and a switchable magnifying module. The shell body has an opening. The scan module arranged in the shell body has a lighting unit emitting an illuminating light onto the barcode through the opening and a sensing unit sensing a barcode image formed from a reflection of the barcode illuminated by the illuminating light passing through the opening. The switchable magnifying module has a magnifier for magnifying the barcode image and a switch unit for switching the position of the magnifier relative to the sensing unit. The switch unit can move the magnifier between an off-axial position, which is not between the sensing unit and the barcode, and an on-axial position, which is between the sensing unit and the barcode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventor: Kai-Yuan TIEN
  • Patent number: 7905407
    Abstract: A lensholder holds at least one fixed optical lens and a variable focusing element in a spaced relation along an optical path through which light passes in an electro-optical reader. The variable focusing element has a pair of electrodes across which a voltage is applied to optically modify the light passing through the fixed optical lens and the variable focusing element. The lensholder directly electrically conductively contacts the electrodes and establishes an electrically conductive path between each electrode and an exterior of the lensholder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Wittenberg, Mark Drzymala, Chinh Tan
  • Patent number: 7847983
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises an original placement portion on which an original is to be placed, optical unit for optically scanning the original on the original placement portion while moving relative to the original placement portion and a guide member that guides movement of the optical unit. The optical unit includes a sliding member having a screw portion that slides in contact with the guide member and a screw hole portion to which the sliding member is mounted. The screw portion of the sliding member is plastically deformable and screwed into the screw hole portion while being plastically deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ayumu Murakami
  • Patent number: 7830443
    Abstract: An image reader capable of operating in two modes for imaging a target is described. It includes an image sensor, a free-space objective lens system and an optically encoded lens system each adapted to direct light reflected from the target onto the image sensor, and a processor for processing signals from the image sensor. In one mode, the processor processes signals produced by light from the free-space objective lens system and in the other mode, the processor processes signals produced by light from the optically encoded lens system. To achieve this, the two lens systems may direct light to two different areas on the image sensor, or the lens systems may be selectively controlled to direct light from one or other of the systems onto the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Psion Teklogix Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Harry Page
  • Patent number: 7815118
    Abstract: A method for improving the depth of field in the detection of a linear optical code includes simultaneously forming two or more overlapped equally focused but differently diaphragmed in phase images of an optical code onto a linear sensor. Diaphragms and optical receiving devices suitable to implement the method are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Datalogic Scanning Group S.r.l.
    Inventors: Stefano Barsotti, Donato Vincenzi
  • Patent number: 7705288
    Abstract: An optical reading device comprising a sensor array having pixels which are exposed to an image; an illumination generator for illuminating the image with light, the illumination generator being configured to have a front face; a housing for housing the sensor array, aiming pattern generator and illumination generator for hand held operation, the housing having a window disposed between the illumination generator and the image for permitting transmission of the illuminating light; a lens for focusing light to the sensor array, wherein the lens protrudes through the illumination generator; a gasket disposed around the lens for blocking light reflected off of the window from reaching the sensor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Colleen Patricia Gannon, Vivian Loomis Hunter
  • Patent number: 7686224
    Abstract: A diode-laser bar package includes two diode-laser bars mounted on a heat sink with slow-axes of the diode-laser bars aligned. Three spaced apart mounting bosses extend from the front of the heat sink. The package includes two cylindrical lens assemblies. Each lens assembly has an elongated cylindrical lens bonded to a rectangular mounting block. The cylindrical lenses are aligned with the diode-laser bars. Lateral faces of the mounting block are epoxy-bonded to lateral faces of the mounting bosses. Bonding is effected by injecting liquid epoxy between the faces to be bonded though holes extending through the mounting blocks from front to the lateral faces of the mounting blocks. The liquid epoxy is then cured to complete the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: David Schleuning, Paul Lovato, Mike Griffin, John McNulty
  • Patent number: 7637431
    Abstract: An optical system used in a barcode scanner is disclosed to include a lens, two LEDs arranged at two sides of the lens, two condensers arranged in front of the LEDs, and two curved reflectors with multiple curvatures for reflecting a major part of light from the LEDs through the condensers onto the left and right sides of an image mapping surface on a barcode and a minor part of light onto the center area of the image mapping surface so that the receiving characteristic of the lens can pick up an evenly distributed bright image from the image mapping surface on the barcode and the posterior image processing of the barcode scanner can obtain a strong and clear image signal to facilitate barcode and to increase recognition rate and accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Marson Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ting-Hao Hsiao
  • Publication number: 20090302116
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chinh TAN, David Tsi Shi, Igor Vinogradov, Ming Yu