Angled FOV Scanner Tilted Optics Prevent Reflections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable scanning devices face challenges in effectively illuminating encoded indicia directly marked on objects, leading to contrast issues and illumination problems, such as shadow regions and blinding of the image sensor, especially when using diffuse or non-diffuse lighting sources.
Innovation Solution
The scanning device incorporates a tilted optics component and image sensor configuration, along with a lighting cone that diffuses light from shorter distance sources and a non-diffuse light source for longer distances, to optimize illumination and prevent direct reflections, allowing for improved contrast and reduced shadow regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple relatively large diffuse light sources are used to enhance contrast, then illumination effectiveness is improved, but device portability and power consumption are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into multiple individual LED light sources rather than using a single large diffuse light source. Each LED can be independently positioned and controlled, allowing the system to achieve effective illumination while maintaining portability. The segmentation allows strategic placement of smaller, lighter components that collectively provide the needed illumination without the bulk of a single large diffuse source.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the lighting parameters by using multiple point light sources (LEDs) instead of a single diffuse source. This parameter change allows for flexible adjustment of illumination characteristics while reducing the overall size and weight of the lighting system. The multiple LEDs can be positioned at different locations and angles to optimize illumination effectiveness without requiring a large diffuse light source.
2Length of stationary object
If non-diffuse light sources are used for long-distance illumination, then illumination reach is improved, but direct reflections blind the image sensor
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the lighting system have different qualities - some LEDs provide non-diffuse illumination for distance while others provide diffuse illumination to control reflections. The lighting cone component creates localized diffusion in specific directions. This local quality differentiation allows the system to achieve long-distance illumination while controlling harmful reflections through strategically placed diffuse elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting cone acts as an intermediary component that modifies the light from LEDs before it reaches the target surface. By positioning the lighting cone between the light source and the object, it diffuses the light in controlled directions, preventing direct reflections from entering the image sensor while still providing sufficient illumination distance.
3Illumination intensity
If diffuse lighting is used for close-distance illumination, then contrast enhancement is improved, but shadow regions are created in the field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination is segmented into multiple directional light sources rather than a single omnidirectional diffuse source. This segmentation allows light to be directed from multiple angles simultaneously, filling in shadow regions that would be created by a single diffuse source while still providing the contrast enhancement benefits of diffuse lighting in the areas where it is most effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system adds angular dimensionality by positioning multiple LEDs at different angles and locations around the optical axis. This multi-dimensional lighting approach ensures that shadow regions created by one light source are illuminated by light from other angles, eliminating the shadow problems associated with single-direction diffuse lighting while maintaining contrast enhancement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances the ability to capture encoded indicia images by minimizing shadow regions and preventing image sensor blinding, ensuring effective scanning across various distances and object orientations.
Implementation Method 1
a lighting cone that diffuses light from shorter distance sources
Implementation Method 2
preventing direct reflections, allowing for improved contrast and reduced shadow regions
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
A scanning device includes: a housing portion defining a scanner head axis and a nose end; an image sensor to capture an indicia; an optics component between the image sensor and the nose end to cooperate with the image sensor to define a scanning device FOV extending along a scanning device optical axis through the nose end and toward an object surface, and to convey light reflected from the object surface within the scanning device FOV to the image sensor; and a light source to illuminate the object surface, wherein the scanning device optical axis is tilted relative to the scanner head axis to cause the scanning device FOV to extend along the scanning device optical axis in a direction tilted away from in parallel with the scanner head axis to prevent including a direct reflection of the light source from the object surface in the scanning device FOV.