Imaging-based reader having light guided illumination
AssigneeSymbol Technologies, Inc.
InventorIgor Vinogradov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An illumination assembly for emitting light for imaging a target object comprises an illumination source that emits at least one light beam upon activation toward an illumination guide. The illumination guide has a first and a second side such that the light beam from the illumination source is scattered between the first and second sides. A textured surface is located substantially along the first side of the illumination guide. The scattered light exits the illumination guide from the textured surface to form a prescribed illumination pattern for imaging a target object.
Claims24
An illumination assembly for emitting illumination for imaging a target object, the imaging assembly comprising:
- a) an illumination source emitting at least one light beam upon activation toward an illumination guide;
- b) said illumination guide having first and second sides, the light beam from said illumination source being scattered between said first and second sides;
- and
- c) a textured surface located substantially along said first side of said illumination guide, the scattered light exiting said illumination guide from said textured surface to form a prescribed illumination pattern for imaging a target object.
A method for imaging a target object, the steps of the method comprising:
- a) energizing an illumination source to form a light beam;
- b) positioning said illumination source in close proximity to an illumination guide having first and second side, one of said sides having a textured surface while the other of said sides having a smooth surface;
- c) propagating and scattering said light beam through said illumination guide;
- and
- d) influencing the scattered light beam to exit from said illumination guide through said textured surface forming a controlled illumination pattern for imaging a target object.
An imaging system for directing an illumination pattern at a target object when the system is actuated, the system includes a pixel array and a focusing lens to focus an image of the target object onto the pixel array, the system further comprising:
- an illumination means for emitting at least one light beam upon activation toward an light scattering means, the illumination means being in contact with said light scattering means;
- said light scattering means having first and second sides, the light beam from said illumination means being scattered by the light scattering means between said first and second sides;
- a directing means located substantially along one of said sides and said other of said sides having a relatively smooth surface, the scattered light exiting said light scattering means from said directing means to form a prescribed illumination pattern scattering the light toward a target object.
An imaging system for directing an illumination pattern at a target object when the system is actuated, the system includes a pixel array and a focusing lens to focus an image of the target object onto the pixel array, the system further comprising:
- at least one illumination source emitting at least one light beam upon activation toward an illumination guide, the illumination source being in contact with said illumination guide;
- said illumination guide having first and second sides, the at least one light beam from said at least one illumination source being diffused by the illumination guide between said first and second sides;
- a textured surface located substantially along one of said sides and said other of said sides having a relatively smooth surface, the diffused light exiting said illumination guide from said textured surface to form a prescribed illumination pattern scattering the light toward a target object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.