Variable focus optical system for data reading

An optical system for data reading comprising:

• a light source generating an optical beam along an outgoing optical path toward an object to be read;
• a focusing system positioned in the outgoing optical path for focusing the optical beam to a given waist location;
• a module positioned in the outgoing optical path, the module comprising LCD regions arranged to define at least one aperture width, the module varying position of the waist location upon activation of the LCD regions;
• a scanning apparatus for receiving the optical beam which has passed through the module and for producing a scanning pattern of the optical beam toward the object;
• a detector for detecting light reflecting and/or scattered off the object;
• and
• a controller connected to the LCD regions for activating the LCD regions to a desired activation level less than fully activated thereby selecting a degree to which the optical beam is inhibited from passing through the module thereby positioning the waist at a desired location.

An optical system for data reading comprising

• a light source generating an optical beam along an outgoing optical path toward an object to be read;
• a focusing system positioned in the outgoing optical path for focusing the optical beam to a given waist location;
• a module positioned in the outgoing optical path, the module comprising LCD regions arranged to define at least one aperture width, the module varying position of the waist location upon activation of the LCD regions;
• a scanning apparatus for receiving the optical beam which has passed through the module and for producing a scanning pattern of the optical beam toward the object;
• a detector for detecting light reflecting and/or scattered off the object;
• and
• a controller connected to the LCD regions for selectively controlling variable amount of polarization in the LCD regions to variably inhibit passage of the optical beam through the module thereby positioning the waist at a desired location.

An optical system for data transfer comprising:

• a light source generating an optical beam along an outgoing optical path toward a target object;
• focusing means positioned in the outgoing optical path for focusing the outgoing beam to a waist position at a given distance from the optical system;
• an aperture mechanism positioned in the outgoing optical path, the aperture mechanism comprising LCD regions for moving the waist position to a new distance from the optical system upon activation of the LCD regions;
• a controller connected to the LCD element for activating the LCD regions to a desired activation level less than fully activated thereby selecting a degree to which the optical beam is inhibited from passing through the aperture mechanism for positioning the waist at a desired location.

A method for data reading comprising the steps of:

• emitting an outgoing beam of light from a light source toward an object to be read;
• focusing the outgoing beam with a focusing element along an outgoing beam path to a waist at a first distance from the focusing element;
• repositioning the waist between a desired second distance and a desired third distance nearer to said light source by
• passing the outgoing beam through an aperture device having LCD regions disposed in an LCD modules, the LCD regions alternately defining an aperture opening of a first size and a second size and
• selectively actuating the LCD regions to define the aperture opening to the first size to position the waist at the second distance and to define the aperture opening to the second size to position the waist at the third distance;
• and
• detecting a signal reflected and/or scattered off the object.

A method for data reading comprising the steps of:

• emitting an outgoing beam from a light source toward an object to be read;
• directing the outgoing beam along an outgoing beam path;
• positioning the waist of the outgoing beam at a desired distance by:
• passing the outgoing beam through a first LCD region in an LCD module, the first LCD region defining a first aperture;
• polarizing the outgoing beam entering the first aperture;
• varying effective aperture size of the first aperture by activating the first LCD region to a desired level less than fully activated.

A method for data reading comprising the steps of:

• emitting an outgoing beam from a source toward an object to be read;
• focusing the outgoing beam along an outgoing optical path;
• passing the outgoing beam through an LCD module having at least a first LCD region defining a first aperture;
• adjusting the transmissivity of the first LCD region to create a grey-scale control for positioning the waist at any desired location within an available range of the aperture device.

A method for data reading comprising the steps of:

• emitting an optical beam from a source toward an object to be read;
• focusing the optical beam along an outgoing optical path;
• positioning the waist to a desired location by passing the optical beam through an aperture device;
• passing the optical beam through a polarized element having an aperture comprising the aperture device;
• and
• positioning the waist of the optical beam at any desired location within an available range of the aperture device by adjusting the polarization of the optical beam entering the aperture device.