Method and apparatus for reading lased bar codes on shiny-finished fuel rod cladding tubes
US4960984A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 4, 1988 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 4, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06K7/10861
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a nuclear fuel rod identification system, a bar code etched directly on a surface of a nuclear fuel rod is read by first positioning the fuel rod such that its surface portion having the bar code etched directly thereon, such as by a laser, is disposed adjacent to a light diffuser surface and between such surface and a light reader. Next, a beam of laser light is directed on the bar code on fuel rod surface portion such that the light is reflected therefrom onto the light diffuser surface. Then, the light reflected from the bar code via the light diffuser surface is received and read by the light reader. The light diffuser surface is disposed at about thirty degrees relative to the path of the beam of light directed to the fuel surface portion such that only about twenty-five percent of the light is reflected by the diffuser surface back to the light reader.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.