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US 4,392,053 AGranted
Optical probe
AssigneeWestern Publishing Company, Inc.
InventorKarlheinz H. Bockholt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical probe comprising an optical emitter and a detector which are directed through a cylindrical lens to be focused into an elongated pattern which is arranged for reading a printed optical code. The emitter and detector are angled relative to the central and vertical axes of the lens to produce an elongated light pattern adapted for reading an elongated bar code. A shutter may enhance the slit effect. A planar base and viewing aperture may also be provided.
Claims9
A hand-held probe for scanning an optical code comprising:
- a length of optically clear material comprised in the shape of a cylindrical lens having a central axis;
- an optically opaque housing supporting said clear material in axially parallel relationship to the code to be scanned and defining an opening in a first plane which, in use, is adjacent to the code to be scanned;
- an optical emitter mounted in said housing and emitting a beam of radiant energy through said clear material to said opening, said beam being approximately centered relative to said central axis;
- and
- an electro-optical detector, for producing an electronic signal proportional to variations in radiant energy received, mounted in said housing and receiving radiant energy through said lens in a sectional area centered relative to said central axis and directed towards said emitter,
- whereby radiant energy from said emitter is focused by said lens into a line parallel to said central axis and reflected back through said lens material to said detector.
3 more elements
A hand-held probe for scanning an optical code comprising:
- a length of optically clear material comprised in the shape of a cylindrical lens having a central axis;
- an optically opaque housing supporting said clear material in axially parallel relationship to a planar base surface for sliding on a surface to be scanned and defining an opening in a first plane which, in use, is adjacent to the code to be scanned, and further including an aperture therethrough for viewing printed matter adjacent said optical code, and a finger gripping outer surface;
- an optical emitter mounted in said housing and emitting a beam of radiant energy through said clear material to said opening, said beam being approximately centered relative to said central axis;
- and
- an electro-optical detector, for producing an electronic signal proportional to variations in radiant energy received, mounted in said housing and receiving radiant energy through said lens in a sectional area centered relative to said central axis and directed towards said emitter,
- whereby radiant energy from said emitter is focused by said lens into a line parallel to said central axis and reflected back through said lens material to said detector.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.