Diffusing Optical Element for Reducing Illumination Brightness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging workstations with continuous, repetitive flashing of bright intense light from illumination systems are bothersome, distracting, and inefficient, leading to sluggish performance and energy waste, especially under low ambient light conditions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a one-piece optical element with a light-reflecting and light-diffusing portion to scatter and blur the illumination light, increasing its apparent size and reducing perceived brightness, thereby alleviating the bothersome effects of intense light exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If continuous, repetitive flashing of bright intense light from illumination LEDs is used, then target illumination is sufficient for image capture, but energy is wasted and component lifetime is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination LEDs are activated periodically rather than continuously, with the imaging scan engine waking up at specific intervals to capture images. This periodic operation reduces energy consumption and component wear while still providing sufficient illumination during active scanning periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operation between active scanning periods and idle states. The imaging scan engine can be operated with a very low duty cycle, waking up for short periods to scan and detect targets, then returning to a low-power state, creating a dynamic operational pattern that balances illumination needs with energy conservation.
2Illumination intensity
If continuous, repetitive flashing of bright intense light from illumination LEDs is used, then target illumination is sufficient for image capture, but operators and consumers are bothered and distracted
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing periodic activation of the illumination system synchronized with the imaging scan engine, the bright flashing light is limited to brief intervals during active scanning only. This reduces the frequency and duration of intense light exposure to operators and consumers, minimizing distraction and annoyance while maintaining adequate illumination for target capture during active periods.
3Loss of energy
If imaging scan engine is operated with very low duty cycle to reduce flashing, then energy consumption is reduced, but reader performance becomes sluggish with delays in decoding
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically optimizes the duty cycle based on operational needs. During active scanning periods, the imaging scan engine operates at full capacity to ensure rapid target detection and decoding. Between scans, it enters low-power states. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain high productivity during active periods while reducing energy consumption during idle periods, avoiding the sluggishness that would result from consistently low duty cycle operation.
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 effectively reduces the perceived brightness of the illumination light source, minimizing distractions and energy consumption while maintaining efficient target reading performance without compromising image quality.
Implementation Method 1
The light-diffusing portion is operative for folding the illumination path and for diffusing the illumination light incident on the light-diffusing portion along the folded illumination path to scatter and blur an image of the illumination light source
Implementation Method 2
The light-reflecting portion is also operative for folding the imaging path and for directing the return illumination light incident on the light-reflecting portion along the folded imaging path to the imaging system
Data Source
AI summary
Targets to be electro-optically read by image capture are illuminated with illumination light emitted from an illumination light source and directed along an illumination path through a window to the targets, and return light from the targets is captured through the window and projected along an imaging path to an array of light sensors of an imaging system. An optical element is located in both the illumination path and the imaging path, and has a light-reflecting, non-diffusing portion for directing the captured return light incident on the light-reflecting portion along a folded imaging path to the array, and a light-diffusing portion for diffusing the illumination light incident on the light-diffusing portion along a folded illumination path to scatter and blur an image of the illumination light source, to increase an apparent size of the illumination light source, and to reduce a perceived brightness of the illumination light source.