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US 4,286,145 AGranted
Fiber optic bar code reader
AssigneeGeneral Dynamics, Pomona Division
InventorJohn P. Palmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fiber optic bar code reader utilizing a light source coupled to one port of a three-port directional coupler. A light detector is coupled to a second port of the coupler, a single fiber probe for receiving and transmitting light is coupled to the third port of the coupler. The coupler joins the three fibers so that light is initially transmitted from the light source to the probe fiber, exits the probe fiber, is selectively reflected by the bar code, and finally is transmitted through the directional coupler to the light detector.
Claims23
An optical information reader comprising:
- probe means effective to emit optical signals and receive reflected optical signals;
- a single optical fiber having two ends, coupled at one end to said probe means for bidirectional transmission of optical signals;
- optical coupler means having three ports, the first of said ports being coupled to the other end of said fiber;
- optical signal generating means coupled to the second port of said coupler means in order to provide signals for emission from said probe;
- and
- optical signal receiving means coupled to the third port of said coupler means in order to sense reflected signals received by said probe.
3 more elements
An optical information reader comprising:
- signal generating means;
- signal receiving means;
- and
- signal transmission means comprising single-optical-fiber means and a first single optical fiber operatively connected together;
- said fiber means having two ends, the first end thereof being operatively connected to said signal receiving means and the second end thereof being effective to transmit signals and receive modulated optical signals responsive to recorded information;
- said first fiber having two ends, one end being coupled to receive optical signals from said signal generating means, the other end being joined in substantially unidirectional light-transmitting relationship to said fiber means at a point between the ends of said fiber means;
- whereby optical signals generated by said generating means are coupled to said fiber means by said first fiber, transmitted to the second end of said fiber means, modulated by the recorded information and partially reflected back to said fiber means, and transmitted to said receiving means.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.