Angled Illumination Element for Slot Scanner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing barcode scanners face increased complexity, cost, and susceptibility to damage due to differing design requirements for horizontal and vertical orientations, which necessitate multiple illumination sources, optics, and housing configurations, leading to higher failure points and incompatibility with certain scanning stations.
Innovation Solution
A slot scanner illumination system with a chassis featuring an optical cavity and a scanning window, where the illumination element is positioned at an angle relative to the optical axis, providing off-axis illumination that is non-parallel to the optical axis, and includes a flange to obscure the illumination elements, reducing system complexity and enhancing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If separate illumination sources and optics are used for horizontal and vertical orientations, then each orientation can have optimized illumination, but system complexity increases and the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single illumination source is designed to provide optimized illumination for both horizontal and vertical orientations through strategic positioning at an angle relative to the optical axis. The illumination element is placed proximal to the first edge of the front opening and angled toward the second edge, enabling it to serve multiple scanning orientations without requiring separate illumination systems for each orientation.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple illumination sources and components are used, then illumination requirements for multiple FOVs are met, but the number of fail points increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple illumination functions are merged into a single illumination element by positioning it at an angle within the optical cavity. This consolidation reduces the total number of components that could fail, thereby improving reliability while still providing adequate illumination coverage for both horizontal and vertical fields of view through the angled illumination geometry.
3Illumination intensity
If additional components such as lenses and electronics are added, then illumination requirements are satisfied, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single angled illumination element serves multiple illumination requirements simultaneously, eliminating the need for additional lenses, electronics, and other components that would be required if separate illumination sources were used for each orientation. This reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining adequate illumination performance.
4Device complexity
If larger housing is used to accommodate multiple components, then all components can be housed, but compatibility with certain scanning stations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple illumination functions into a single compact illumination element positioned at an angle within the optical cavity, the overall housing size is reduced. This compact design improves compatibility with various scanning station configurations while still accommodating all necessary components in a space-efficient manner.
5Illumination intensity
If more components are included, then illumination functionality is enhanced, but susceptibility to damage from liquids and foreign matter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The consolidation of multiple illumination sources into a single sealed illumination element positioned within the optical cavity reduces the number of potential entry points for liquids and foreign matter. This streamlined design with fewer seams and openings improves resistance to environmental contaminants while maintaining full illumination functionality.
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
The solution enables efficient, even illumination across multiple fields of view while reducing the number of components and potential failure points, making the system more reliable and cost-effective, with improved resistance to damage from liquids and foreign matter.
Implementation Method 1
An illumination element is disposed inside of the optical cavity of the chassis. The illumination element is configured to provide illumination along an illumination axis
Implementation Method 2
The flange is configured to at least partially obscure the illumination element from the scanning window
Data Source
AI summary
A slot scanner illumination system for a convertible slot scanner assembly includes a chassis having an optical cavity and a front opening. The optical cavity has an optical axis therethrough, with the optical axis being an axis along which light may be received by the chassis through the front opening. The front opening further has a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. A scanning window is configured to at least partially cover the front opening of the chassis, and the scanning window has a normal axis orthogonal to a flat surface of the scanning window. An illumination element is disposed inside of the optical cavity of the chassis. The illumination element is disposed proximal the first edge of the front opening. The illumination element is configured to provide illumination along an illumination axis, wherein the illumination axis is non-parallel with the optical axis and at an angle directed toward the second edge of the front opening.