Patent · US Active

Tunnel-based object identification and dimensioning system

US7600689B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
215References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 26, 2007
Grant dateOct 13, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 2, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S5/4025
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Methods of and systems for illuminating objects using planar laser illumination beams having substantially-planar spatial distribution characteristics that extend through the field of view (FOV) of image formation and detection modules employed in such systems. Each planar laser illumination beam is produced from a planar laser illumination beam array (PLIA) comprising an plurality of planar laser illumination modules (PLIMs). Each PLIM comprises a visible laser diode (VLD, a focusing lens, and a cylindrical optical element arranged therewith. The individual planar laser illumination beam components produced from each PLIM are optically combined to produce a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam having substantially uniform power density characteristics over the entire spatial extend thereof and thus the working range of the system. Preferably, each planar laser illumination beam component is focused so that the minimum beam width thereof occurs at a point or plane which is the farthest or maximum object distance at which the system is designed to acquire images, thereby compensating for decreases in the power density of the incident planar laser illumination beam …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.