# US 10,311,271 B2 · Diffuse bright field illumination system for a barcode reader > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,311,271 B2 - Document ID: US10311271B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/613,503 - Filed: 2017-06-05 - Published: 2017-09-21 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-24 - Assignees: The Code Corporation - Applicants: The Code Corporation - Inventors: Ming Lei; George Powell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311271B2 ## CPC - G06K 7/10742: {including a diffuser for diffusing the light from the light source to create substantially uniform illumination of the target record carrier} - G06K 7/10732: {Light sources} - G06K 7/10811: {Focalisation} - G06K 7/10831: {Arrangement of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms (optical elements per se G02B)} - G06K 7/1413: {1D bar codes} - G06K 19/06028: {using bar codes} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract One aspect of the present disclosure is related to a barcode reader that includes a bright field illumination system, a dark field illumination system, and an additional illumination system that is better able to illuminate an area of the reader's field of view between the far zone (where bright field illumination is optimal) and the close zone (where dark field illumination is optimal). In this “center zone,” the dark field illumination may not be bright enough and the bright field illumination may not be diffuse enough for reading a barcode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A diffuse bright field illumination system for a barcode reader, comprising: an optic comprising light-diffusing characteristics; and a plurality of illumination elements located on edges of the optic, wherein the plurality of illumination elements direct illumination into the optic, wherein the light-diffusing characteristics of the optic diffuse the illumination, and wherein a majority of the diffused illumination exits a front major surface of the optic. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The diffuse bright field illumination system of claim 1, wherein a back major surface and other external edge surfaces of the optic are coated with an opaque reflective coating. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The diffuse bright field illumination system of claim 1, wherein the optic comprises a non-uniform index of refraction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The diffuse bright field illumination system of claim 3, wherein the optic comprises: a substrate having a first index of refraction; and particles embedded within the substrate, wherein the particles have a second index of refraction that is different than the first index of refraction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The diffuse bright field illumination system of claim 3, wherein the front major surface and a back major surface of the optic are smooth and planar. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The diffuse bright field illumination system of claim 3, wherein: the front major surface of the optic is smooth and planar; and a back major surface of the optic is non-planar. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The diffuse bright field illumination system of claim 3, wherein: the optic comprises a first material having a first index of refraction; the optic comprises a second material having a second index of refraction that is different than the first index of refraction; and the first material is in contact with the second material along a non-planar surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The diffuse bright field illumination system of claim 3, wherein the front major surface and a back major surface of the optic are non-planar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The diffuse bright field illumination system of claim 1, wherein the optic further comprises an aperture through which a field of view is visible to a camera of the barcode reader. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The diffuse bright field illumination system of claim 1, wherein the optic further comprises a plurality of apertures that permit illumination from another illumination system within the barcode reader to be directed into a field of view without being affected by the optic. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The diffuse bright field illumination system of claim 1, wherein the optic further comprises a plurality of apertures that permit targeting illumination to be projected into a field of view without being affected by the optic. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The diffuse bright field illumination system of claim 1, wherein aperture surfaces within the optic are coated with an opaque reflective coating. ### Claim 13 An illumination system for a barcode reader, comprising: an optical substrate having a front major surface and a back major surface, the optical substrate comprising at least one extraction feature; and a plurality of light sources positioned between the front major surface and the back major surface, wherein the plurality of light sources direct illumination into the optical substrate, and wherein the at least one extraction feature extracts the illumination through the front major surface as diffuse illumination. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The illumination system of claim 13, wherein the at least one extraction feature introduces a variation in the optical substrate's index of refraction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The illumination system of claim 13, wherein: the optical substrate has a first index of refraction; the at least one extraction feature comprises particles embedded within the optical substrate; and the particles have a second index of refraction that is different than the first index of refraction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The illumination system of claim 13, wherein the front major surface and the back major surface of the optical substrate are smooth and planar. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The illumination system of claim 13, wherein: the front major surface of the optical substrate is smooth and planar; and the back major surface of the optical substrate comprises convex and concave indentations and protrusions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The illumination system of claim 13, wherein: the optical substrate comprises a first material having a first index of refraction; the optical substrate comprises a second material having a second index of refraction that is different than the first index of refraction; and the first material is in contact with the second material along a surface of convex and concave shapes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The illumination system of claim 13, wherein the front major surface and the back major surface of the optical substrate comprise convex and concave indentations and protrusions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The illumination system of claim 13, wherein the optical substrate further comprises: a first plurality of apertures that permit illumination from another illumination system within the barcode reader to be directed into a field of view without being affected by the optical substrate; and a second plurality of apertures that permit targeting illumination to be projected into the field of view without being affected by the optical substrate.