Optical Reader Bright Dark Field Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional information optical readers face difficulties in reliably reading information codes directly marked on objects, especially those with glossy or metallic surfaces, due to mirror reflections and varying material and color conditions, which affect the accuracy of bright field illumination and require manual adjustments of illumination sources and angles.
Innovation Solution
An information optical reader is designed with both bright field and dark field illuminators that can be controlled to illuminate the code at different angles, allowing for the selection of the most effective illumination method to minimize mirror reflections and ensure accurate reading, regardless of the marking process, material, or color.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If bright field illumination is used to read information codes, then the reading process is simple, but mirror reflections occur on glossy or metallic surfaces causing reading failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between bright field and dark field illumination modes based on the detected surface characteristics. The control section automatically selects the appropriate illumination type to avoid mirror reflections on glossy or metallic surfaces while maintaining reading simplicity for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination parameters are changed by switching between bright field and dark field modes. Dark field illumination is specifically used for glossy or metallic surfaces to eliminate mirror reflection issues, while bright field is used for other surfaces.
2Reliability
If manual adjustment of illumination sources and angles is performed to avoid mirror reflections, then reading accuracy improves, but device complexity and operation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically selecting between bright field and dark field illumination based on the surface characteristics of the object being scanned. The control section handles the complexity of illumination selection without requiring user intervention, maintaining high reading accuracy while keeping the operation simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination system is designed with multi-functionality, incorporating both bright field and dark field illuminators to handle various surface types. This universal approach allows the same device to effectively read codes on both glossy/metallic surfaces and other surfaces without requiring separate devices or complex manual adjustments.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple illumination sources are provided to handle various surface conditions, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between bright field and dark field illumination modes based on the detected surface characteristics. The control section automatically determines the appropriate illumination type, providing adaptability to various surface conditions while managing device complexity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination parameters are changed by switching between bright field and dark field modes depending on the surface type. This parameter change approach allows the system to adapt to glossy, metallic, and other surfaces without requiring complex multi-source illumination systems.
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 reader can reliably read information codes on diverse surfaces by adjusting the illumination to avoid mirror reflections and optimize contrast, ensuring accurate decoding regardless of the object's material or code color, thus improving reading accuracy and simplifying the process.
Implementation Method 1
a bright field illuminator that can be lighted to illuminate the information code with a first light at a first luminous angle to the information code and to regularly reflect the first light on the information code
Implementation Method 2
a dark field illuminator that can be lighted to illuminate the information code with a second light at a second luminous angle to the information code and to irregularly reflect the second light on the information code
Data Source
AI summary
An information reader has blocks of bright field illuminating units illuminating an information code directly marked on an object with first lights to regularly reflect the lights on the code, blocks of dark field illuminating units illuminating the code with second lights to irregularly reflect the lights on the code, an optical system, and a control section lighting the blocks of bright and dark field illuminating units by turns or simultaneously. The optical system forms an image of the code from each of the first and second lights or a combination of the first and second lights reflected on the code and reads the code from the images. The first lights are transmitted along an optical axis of the optical system. The second lights are transmitted toward the optical axis while slightly shifted toward the code.