Imaging Module Aiming Light Pattern Center Zone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging readers face challenges in accurately centering targets due to horizontal offset between imaging and aiming light systems, especially in crowded fields of view, and the aiming mark is not always clear or visible, particularly against white backgrounds or in brightly lit environments.
Innovation Solution
The imaging module includes an aiming light system with a pair of aiming light lines that are collinear along the horizontal axis and optically configured to have non-uniform brightness, with greater brightness closer to the imaging axis, forming a prominent aiming mark that indicates the center zone of the field of view, enhancing visibility and reducing parallax errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the aiming light system is physically offset from the imaging system to provide a visible aiming light pattern, then the operator can visually locate the target and understand which way to move the reader, but the horizontal/vertical offset positions the aiming light pattern off-center relative to the imaging axis, causing parallax error and inaccurate target centering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the center portion of the aiming light pattern distinctly different from the rest. Specifically, the center 20-30% of the aiming light pattern has enhanced brightness or a different color hue compared to the outer portions, creating a visually distinct center zone that operators can easily identify and align with the target center, thereby compensating for the physical offset between aiming and imaging systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes by incorporating a center zone within the aiming light pattern that exhibits a different color hue or enhanced brightness compared to the surrounding areas. This color differentiation creates a prominent visual indicator that helps operators accurately locate and center the target within the field of view, effectively resolving the parallax error caused by system offset
2Ease of manufacture
If a uniform brightness aiming light pattern is used, then the system is simple to implement, but the aiming mark is not always clear or discernible, especially against white backgrounds or in brightly lit venues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the center portion of the aiming light pattern distinctly different from the rest. Specifically, the center 20-30% of the aiming light pattern has enhanced brightness or a different color hue compared to the outer portions, creating a visually distinct center zone that operators can easily identify and align with the target center, thereby compensating for the physical offset between aiming and imaging systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes by incorporating a center zone within the aiming light pattern that exhibits a different color hue or enhanced brightness compared to the surrounding areas. This color differentiation creates a prominent visual indicator that helps operators accurately locate and center the target within the field of view, effectively resolving the parallax error caused by system offset
3Loss of information
If the aiming mark brightness is increased to improve visibility against white backgrounds, then the aiming mark becomes more prominent, but the overall brightness distribution becomes non-uniform requiring complex optical configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the center portion of the aiming light pattern distinctly different from the rest. Specifically, the center 20-30% of the aiming light pattern has enhanced brightness or a different color hue compared to the outer portions, creating a visually distinct center zone that operators can easily identify and align with the target center, thereby compensating for the physical offset between aiming and imaging systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes by incorporating a center zone within the aiming light pattern that exhibits a different color hue or enhanced brightness compared to the surrounding areas. This color differentiation creates a prominent visual indicator that helps operators accurately locate and center the target within the field of view, effectively resolving the parallax error caused by system offset
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 solution ensures reliable centering of targets within the field of view across various working distances, even in crowded conditions, by creating a more prominent and visible aiming mark, improving the accuracy of target positioning and reading.
Implementation Method 1
an aiming light system that is offset from the imaging system and that directs an aiming light pattern at the target and optically forms the aiming light pattern with an aiming mark in a central area of the aiming light pattern and with a pair of aiming light lines that are collinear along a horizontal axis
Implementation Method 2
The aiming light system also optically enhances the visibility of the aiming mark relative to a remaining area of the aiming light pattern by optically configuring the aiming light lines to be of non-uniform brightness and, more particularly, to have a greater brightness closer to the imaging axis and a lesser brightness further away from the imaging axis
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging sensor of an imaging reader senses return light from a target to be read by image capture along an imaging axis over a field of view that extends along mutually orthogonal, horizontal and vertical axes. Two aiming light assemblies are offset from the sensor, and direct an aiming light pattern at the target. The pattern has an aiming mark in a central area of the pattern, and a pair of aiming light lines that are collinear along the horizontal axis. The visibility of the aiming mark is enhanced by optically configuring the aiming mark to be different in brightness relative to a remaining area of the pattern by specially configuring aiming lenses with regions of different optical power to forte each aiming light line of non-uniform brightness. The aiming mark of enhanced visibility constitutes a prominent visual indicator of a center zone of the field of view.