Method for generating multiple scan lines in a thin scanner
AssigneePSC Scanning, Inc.
InventorsRobert W. Rudeen, James W. Ring, Mohan L. Bobba
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of and system for generating multiple parallel scan lines, for a thin, narrow height scanner by generating a reading beam, using a suitable scanning mechanism to scan or dither the reading beam, directing the scanned beam onto an optical element, controlling the system such that the beam is alternately transmitted or reflected by the optical element, and directing multiple scan lines into the scan volume. When the optical element is reflective, a scan line is produced directly off the optical element; when the optical element is transmissive, a scan line passes through the optical element and is reflected by a fold mirror and into the scan volume.
Claims22
A method of scanning an item in a scan volume, comprising the steps of
- generating a laser light beam from a light source;
- scanning the light beam over a scan angle to generate a scan beam along an outgoing path;
- generating a first scan line and a second scan line by positioning a first pattern mirror in the
- outgoing path of the scan beam,
- positioning an optical element in the outgoing path of the scan beam upstream of the first pattern mirror,
- scanning the light beam across the optical element and reflecting the scan beam off the optical element to generate the first scan line and directing the first scan line into the scan volume,
- passing the scan beam through the optical element and then across the first pattern mirror and reflecting the scan beam off the first pattern mirror to generate the second scan line and directing the second scan line into the scan volume.
A scanning method comprising the steps of
- generating a laser light beam from a light source;
- arranging the laser light beam with a given polarity in a first direction;
- scanning the light over a scan angle with a scanning mirror to produce a scan beam;
- arranging a plurality of optical pairs in a pattern about the scanning mirror, each optical pair comprising a first pattern mirror and an optical element;
- generating a first scan line and a second scan line by
- positioning a first pattern mirror in the outgoing path of the scan beam,
- positioning an optical element in the outgoing path of the scan beam upstream of the first pattern mirror,
- scanning the light beam across the optical element and reflecting a first portion of the scan beam off the optical element to generate the first scan line and directing the first scan line into the scan volume,
- allowing a second portion of the scan beam to pass through the optical element and scan across the first pattern mirror and reflecting the second portion of the scan beam off the first pattern mirror to generate the second scan line and directing the second scan line into the scan volume.
A scanning system comprising
- a light source producing a light beam;
- a scanning mechanism for scanning the light beam over a scan angle to produce a scan beam along an outgoing path;
- a first pattern mirror positioned in the outgoing path of the scan beam, the first pattern mirror reflecting the scan beam and directing it toward the scan volume to produce at least a first scan line;
- an optical element disposed in the outgoing path between the scanning mechanism and the first pattern mirror, wherein reflectivity of the optical element is selectively changeable between a first mode to direct the scan beam in a first direction onto the first pattern mirror and form a first scan line and a second mode to direct the beam in a second direction to form a second scan line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.