Barcode Scanner Housing Segmentation for Optical Clarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Imaging scanners face challenges in meeting flammability requirements, particularly with plastics used for windows and other components, which can compromise optical clarity and mechanical properties due to the need for flame retardant additives that cause out-gassing and affect performance.
Innovation Solution
The scanner design includes a housing with a window made from materials with a lower flaming critical temperature than the V1-compliance materials used for the battery enclosure, allowing for reduced flammability requirements and eliminating the need for flame retardant additives in certain components, such as the window and rubber bezels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flame retardant additives are used in plastics for window and housing components, then flammability requirements are met, but optical clarity and mechanical properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the housing into two distinct segments: a first housing portion containing the battery and other heat-generating components, and a second housing portion containing the optical components. This segmentation allows each portion to be made from materials with different flammability characteristics, enabling the optical portion to use materials with better optical clarity that do not require flame retardant additives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the battery and heat-generating components from the optical component housing by placing them in a separate first housing portion. This extraction removes the source of thermal hazard from the optical path, allowing the second housing portion to be made from optically clear materials without flame retardant additives that would compromise optical performance.
2Reliability
If flame retardant additives are used in plastics for window and housing components, then flammability requirements are met, but mechanical properties and out-gassing performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into a first portion for battery housing and a second portion for optical components. This allows the second portion to use materials with superior mechanical properties and low out-gassing characteristics without being constrained by flammability requirements, as the thermal hazard is isolated in the first portion.
Solution Approach 2:
By extracting the battery and power components from the optical housing, the patent eliminates the need for flame retardant additives in the optical portion, thereby preserving the mechanical properties and reducing out-gassing that would otherwise be compromised by flame retardant chemicals.
3Device complexity
If battery is installed directly in housing with other components, then device integration is simplified, but flammability requirements increase for all components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by creating a first housing portion specifically for the battery and power components, separate from the second housing portion for optical components. This segmentation confines the thermal hazard to a specific zone, allowing other components to be made from materials with lower flammability requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different flammability requirements to different portions of the housing. The first portion containing the battery must meet high flammability standards, while the second portion containing optical components can use materials with lower flammability requirements, optimizing each region's material properties for its specific function.
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 approach reduces the flammability requirements for imaging scanner components, improving optical clarity and mechanical properties by avoiding the adverse effects of flame retardant additives, making it easier to manufacture components like windows and triggers without compromising performance.
Implementation Method 1
a lens system operative to focus light reflected from the target object onto the array of photosensitive elements
Implementation Method 2
a lens system operative to focus light reflected from the target object onto the array of photosensitive elements
Implementation Method 3
a solid-state imager having an array of photosensitive elements for capturing an image from a target object having a barcode
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes (1) a first housing for housing therein a barcode reading arrangement and (2) an enclosed space for housing therein a battery configured to power the barcode reading arrangement located outside the enclosed space. The first housing includes a window made from one or more materials that has a lower flaming critical temperature than that of any material for making the enclosed space for housing the battery.