Diffuse surface illumination apparatus and methods

A method of providing diffuse illumination to illuminate a target surface for electronic imaging of the target surface, comprising:

• (a) arranging a plurality of illumination emitting devices into an array and so that each such device, when energized, will cast its illumination in a first predetermined direction;
• (b) providing an illuminator with at least a first diffusing surface and positioning said illuminator so that said light diffusing surface receives illumination from said illumination emitting devices and projects diffuse light along a predetermined light path and in a second predetermined direction opposite to said first predetermined direction and to be toward where a target surface might be positioned for imaging;
• (c) utilizing said array of illumination emitting devices for dark field illumination;
• and
• (d) providing a second array of illumination emitting devices for bright field illumination.

A method of providing diffuse illumination to illuminate a target surface for electronic imaging of the target surface, comprising:

• (a) arranging a plurality of illumination emitting devices into an array and so that each such device, when energized, will cast its illumination in a first predetermined direction;
• (b) providing an illuminator with at least a first diffusing surface and positioning said illuminator so that said light diffusing surface receives illumination from said illumination emitting devices and projects diffuse light along a predetermined light path and in a second predetermined direction opposite to said first predetermined direction and to be toward where a target surface might be positioned for imaging;
• and
• (c) positioning said illuminator and said plurality of illumination emitting devices so that light reflected from a target will pass through said illuminator and illumination emitting devices.

An imager for electronically capturing and decoding data carrying symbology;

• comprising:
• (a) housing means;
• (b) CCD image receiving means disposed within said housing means;
• (c) camera engine means disposed within said housing means to capture an image of symbology and present same to sa id CCD image receiving means;
• (d) illumination apparatus including:
• (i) illuminator means for projecting diffuse illumination in a predetermined configuration and in a predetermined direction;
• (ii) illumination means for casting illumination upon said illuminator means;
• and
• (iii) at least a portion of a surface of said illuminator means, when illumination from said illumination means is cast thereupon, projecting said diffuse illumination in said predetermined direction opposite to said first predetermined direction and upon the data carrying symbology, when disposed in proximity thereto, such that the data carrying symbology is presented to said camera engine means for capture thereby,
• (c) said illuminator means being substantially bowl-shaped with a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall extending from and encircling said bottom wall, an inner surface of said bottom wall and an inner surface of said peripheral side wall having a diffusing finish applied thereto to provide diffuse illumination.

A diffuse illumination apparatus to illuminate a target surface for electronic imaging of the target surface, comprising:

• (a) illumination means;
• and
• (b) illuminator means positioned to receive upon a surface thereof illumination from said illumination means;
• (c) at least a portion of said surface of said illuminator means, when illumination from said illumination means is received thereupon, diffusing said illumination and projecting said diffuse illumination in a predetermined direction;
• (d) said illumination means directing its illumination towards said illuminator means and in an illumination direction opposite to said predetermined direction to illuminate a target surface when disposed in proximity thereto.

An imager for electronically capturing and decoding data carrying symbology;

• comprising:
• (a) housing means;
• (b) CCD image receiving means disposed within said housing means;
• (c) camera engine means disposed within said housing means to capture an image of symbology and present same to said CCD image receiving means;
• and
• (d) illumination apparatus including:
• (i) illumination means;
• (ii) illuminator means positioned to receive upon a surface thereof illumination from said illumination means;
• (iii) at least a portion of said surface of said illuminator means, when illumination from said illumination means is received thereupon, diffusing said illumination and projecting said diffuse illumination in a predetermined-direction and upon the data carrying symbology, when disposed in proximity thereto, such that the data carrying symbology is presented to said camera engine means for capture thereby;
• (iv) said illumination means directing its illumination towards said illuminator means and in an illumination direction opposite to said predetermined direction.