Illumination assemblies for use in barcode readers and devices and methods associated therewith

An illumination assembly for use in a barcode reader, comprising:

• an illumination source operable to emit an illumination light along a first path, the illumination light having a central axis;
• a lens positioned within the first path of the illumination light,
• the lens configured to redirect the central axis resulting in a redirected central axis and propagate the illumination light along a second path, the central axis and the redirected central axis being non-parallel with respect to each other, the redirected central axis defining a line of intersection between a first plane and a second plane, the first plane being perpendicular to the second plane,
• the lens including a first lens surface proximal to the illumination source, the first lens surface being positioned within the first path and being defined by a first freeform polynomial,
• the lens further including a second lens surface distal to the illumination source, the second lens surface being positioned within the second path and being defined by a second freeform polynomial,
• wherein the first lens surface and the second lens surface are arranged such that a first tangential plane that is tangential to the first lens surface along the central axis and a second tangential plane that is tangential to the second lens surface along the redirected central axis intersect at an oblique angle;
• and
• a window positioned within the second path of the illumination light, the window including a first window-portion and a second window-portion,
• the first window-portion being configured to propagate a first portion of the illumination light along a third path, the first portion of the illumination light being a portion of the of the illumination light that impinges on the first window-portion, the third path having a first divergence angle along the first plane and a second divergence angle that is less than the first divergence angle along the second plane,
• the second window-portion configured to propagate a second portion of the illumination light along a fourth path, the second portion of the illumination light being a portion of the of the illumination light that impinges on the second window-portion, the fourth path having a third divergence angle along the first plane and a fourth divergence that is less than or equal to the third divergence angle along the second plane.

A method of illuminating a target to be read by a barcode reader, the method comprising:

• providing an illumination source operable to emit an illumination light along a first path, the illumination light having a central axis;
• passing the illumination light through a lens positioned within the first path of the illumination light,
• the lens configured to redirect the central axis resulting in a redirected central axis and propagate the illumination light along a second path, the central axis and the redirected central axis being non-parallel with respect to each other, the redirected central axis defining a line of intersection between a first plane and a second plane, the first plane being perpendicular to the second plane,
• the lens including a first lens surface proximal to the illumination source, the first lens surface being positioned within the first path and being defined by a first freeform polynomial,
• the lens further including a second lens surface distal to the illumination source, the second lens surface being positioned within the second path and being defined by a second freeform polynomial;
• and
• upon the operation of passing the illumination light through the lens, passing the illumination light through a window positioned within the second path of the illumination light, the window including a first window-portion and a second window-portion,
• the first window-portion being configured to propagate a first portion of the illumination light along a third path, the first portion of the illumination light being a portion of the of the illumination light that impinges on the first window-portion, the third path having a first divergence angle of at least 25 degrees along the first plane and a second divergence angle that is less than the first divergence angle along the second plane,
• the second window-portion configured to propagate a second portion of the illumination light along a fourth path, the second portion of the illumination light being a portion of the of the illumination light that impinges on the second window-portion, the fourth path having a third divergence angle of at most 20 degrees along the first plane and a fourth divergence angle of at most 8 degrees along the second plane.

An illumination assembly for use in a barcode reader, comprising:

• an illumination source operable to emit an illumination light along a first path, the illumination light having a central axis;
• a lens positioned within the first path of the illumination light,
• the lens configured to redirect the central axis resulting in a redirected central axis and propagate the illumination light along a second path, the central axis and the redirected central axis being non-parallel with respect to each other, the redirected central axis defining a line of intersection between a first plane and a second plane, the first plane being perpendicular to the second plane,
• the lens including a first lens surface proximal to the illumination source, the first lens surface being positioned within the first path and being defined by a first freeform polynomial,
• the lens further including a second lens surface distal to the illumination source, the second lens surface being positioned within the second path and being defined by a second freeform polynomial;
• and
• a window positioned within the second path of the illumination light, the window including
• a first window-portion and a second window-portion, the first window-portion being configured to propagate a first portion of the illumination light along a third path, the first portion of the illumination light being a portion of the of the illumination light that impinges on the first window-portion, the third path having a first divergence angle along the first plane and a second divergence angle that is less than the first divergence angle along the second plane,
• the second window-portion configured to propagate a second portion of the illumination light along a fourth path, the second portion of the illumination light being a portion of the of the illumination light that impinges on the second window-portion, the fourth path having a third divergence angle along the first plane and a fourth divergence angle that is less than or equal to the third divergence angle along the second plane.