Optical pattern reading apparatus with movable optical unit
US5959283A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 19, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06K7/10722
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optical reading apparatus for moving a mirror in a back and forth motion such that the mirror scans the light reflected from an optical pattern and sequentially projects narrow segments of the reflected image onto a linear image sensor. Moving the mirror includes means for mounting the mirror within a movable case which is mounted on a shaft to selectively cause the case to go back and forth in a seesaw-like fashion. As the case goes back and forth, it causes the mirror to sweep or scan across the reflected image of an optical pattern. As the mirror sweeps across the reflected image of the optical pattern it sequentially projects different segments of the optical pattern onto the linear image sensor until the entire optical pattern is projected onto the linear image sensor. The linear image sensor is operable at a high rate of speed and is sufficiently sensitive that it can sense numerous (e.g., 50, or more) segments of the reflected image during one sweep of the mirror. The image sensor may be a solid state device having a large number of photosensitive elements formed along a row. In a preferred embodiment, the light for illuminating the optical pattern to be read is also moun…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.