Near Co-Axial Polarized Illumination for Reflective Barcode Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine-readable symbology readers face issues with polarized illuminators that negatively impact image capture due to large size requirements and non-uniform illumination caused by angle differentials between the imager axes and polarized illumination, leading to decreased image quality, especially on highly reflective surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A near co-axial polarized illuminator apparatus is designed to minimize the angle differential between imager axes and polarized illumination, maintaining a small form factor while ensuring uniform illumination across various ranges, using a polarized illuminator positioned in close alignment with imagers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the polarized illuminator is positioned far from the imager, then the reader size can be larger, but the angle differential increases causing non-uniform illumination and decreased image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the polarized illuminator and imager into a near co-axial configuration, merging their optical paths to minimize the angle differential. This integration allows the illuminator to be positioned close to the imager axis, achieving uniform illumination without requiring a large reader volume to accommodate separated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the third dimension (depth along the optical axis) to position the polarized illuminator in near co-axial alignment with the imager. By arranging components along the optical axis rather than laterally, the design achieves minimal angle differential without increasing the lateral footprint of the reader.
2Manufacturing precision
If the polarized illuminator is positioned close to the imager axis, then illumination uniformity improves, but the device complexity increases due to alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an equipotential optical arrangement where the polarized illuminator and imager share a common optical axis and focal plane. This symmetric co-axial configuration simplifies alignment by establishing a reference axis, reducing the complexity of maintaining precise angular relationships between components.
3Ease of manufacture
If a standard polarized illuminator configuration is used, then the design is simpler, but the illumination becomes non-uniform on highly reflective surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the critical parameter of illuminator-imager angular relationship from a standard offset configuration to a near co-axial arrangement. This parameter change optimizes the illumination angle for highly reflective surfaces, improving image quality while maintaining design simplicity through the straightforward co-axial geometry.
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 improves image contrast and uniformity, enhancing the ability to accurately detect and decode machine-readable symbologies on reflective surfaces by reducing orientation errors and maintaining a compact reader size.
Implementation Method 1
near co-axial polarized illuminator apparatuses and uses thereof
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure include near co-axial polarized illuminator apparatuses and uses thereof. The near co-axial polarized illuminator is internally positionable in near co-axial alignment with one or more imager(s) utilized to capture a representation of a field of view illuminated by the near co-axial polarized illuminator. Embodiments include small form factor reader(s) that utilize a near co-axial polarized illuminator to improve illumination of a field of view captured via multiple imagers for detecting and/or decoding machine-readable symbologies, such as barcodes. Some embodiments include a DPM channel image sensor, a standard range channel image sensor, a near co-axial polarizer light source positioned adjacent to the DPM channel image sensor and adjacent to the standard range channel image sensor, a near co-axial polarizer aligned with the near co-axial polarizer light source, and an analyzer aligned with the DPM channel image sensor and/or the standard range channel image sensor.