Imaging module for optical reader comprising refractive diffuser
AssigneeWelch Allyn Data Collection, Inc.
InventorsMelvin D. McCall, Vivian L. Hunter, Charles P. Barber, William H. Havens, Eric Coleman, Michael Ehrhart, Robert J. Hennick
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Abstract
The present invention is an imaging module including various optical components and a circuit board, which, in one embodiment, carries essentially an entirety of illumination and aiming LEDs of the module. The module includes a combination of features which result in the size of the module being reduced. The module may comprise a refractive optic diffuser plate manufactured using a textured surface mold.
Claims41
A method for making an imaging module for an optical reader, said module having a plurality of light emitting elements, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a mold;
- applying a texture substantially throughout a surface of said mold;
- making an optical plate using said mold, whereby said plate comprises a textured diffuser surface substantially uniformly formed throughout a surface of said plate;
- and
- disposing said optical plate forward of at least one of said plurality of light emitting elements.
An illumination system for an optical reader having an imaging axis, said illumination system comprising:
- a plurality of light emitting diodes;
- and
- an optical plate positioned forward of said plurality of light emitting diodes, said optical plate having a diffuser surface formed on a light exit surface there of.
A method of making an optical diffuser plate comprising the steps of:
- providing a mold, said mold having at least one textured surface;
- providing a material that is moldable and transmissive of light at predetermined wavelengths;
- and
- forming an optical diffuser plate, wherein the step of forming the optical diffuser plate includes injecting the material into the mold.
An optical reader comprising:
- an image sensor;
- a light source disposed proximate to said image sensor;
- and
- a diffuser plate disposed to receive light from said light source;
- wherein said diffuser plate includes a plurality of microlenses.
29 The optical reader of claim 26 wherein said plurality of light sources includes a plurality of light emitting diodes.
An optical reader comprising:
- a printed circuit board;
- and
- a housing disposed about said printed circuit board,
- wherein said printed circuit board includes:
- an electronic circuit for capturing an image;
- an electronic circuit for storing said image;
- an electronic circuit for decoding said image;
- and
- an electronic circuit for providing illumination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.