Overhead Mirror Splitter for Point-of-Transaction Workstations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing point-of-transaction workstations with multiple mirror arrangements are costly, bulky, and prone to illumination light reflecting towards users, causing disturbance, due to their complex and large-scale mirror configurations.
Innovation Solution
A compact optical arrangement using fewer, symmetrically positioned mirrors to split the field of view into subfields, reducing the number of mirrors needed and minimizing illumination light reflection, while maintaining full coverage scan zones and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mirror arrangements are used to provide full coverage scan zones, then the scan coverage is improved, but the device complexity and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the scan zone into multiple subfields, with each subfield captured by a separate imager or imager portion. This segmentation allows the system to achieve full coverage scan zones while using fewer mirrors per subfield, reducing overall device complexity and volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetrical three-dimensional positioning of mirrors and imagers to create multiple subfields of view. By utilizing three-dimensional space more efficiently, the system achieves comprehensive scan coverage without requiring a proportional increase in the number of mirrors, thereby reducing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mirror arrangements are used to provide full coverage scan zones, then the scan coverage is improved, but the manufacturing and assembly cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the imaging system into multiple independent subfields with fewer mirrors each, the patent reduces the total number of mirrors required. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing and assembly processes, lowering costs while maintaining full scan zone coverage through the combined view of multiple subfields.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simpler, fewer mirror arrangements that are easier and less expensive to manufacture and assemble. While each individual subfield may have limited coverage, the combination of multiple subfields achieves the required full coverage scan zone at lower overall manufacturing cost.
3Illumination intensity
If bright pulsed illumination light is used to illuminate the target, then the target illumination is improved, but illumination light reflects off mirrors towards the user's eyes causing disturbance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes the harmful reflected illumination light from the user's field of view by carefully designing the asymmetrical mirror arrangements. The mirror positions and orientations are specifically configured to direct reflected light away from the user's eyes while maintaining bright illumination of the target, thereby eliminating the disturbance caused by reflected light.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetrical positioning and orientation of mirrors relative to the illumination sources and imagers. This asymmetry allows the system to separate the illumination path from the observation path, enabling bright target illumination while preventing reflected light from reaching the user's eyes, thus resolving the harmful reflection issue.
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 results in a more cost-effective, space-efficient, and user-friendly workstation that effectively captures return light without disturbing users with minimized illumination light reflection, maintaining the size and performance of the scan zones.
Implementation Method 1
multiple mirror arrangements to direct return illumination light from the products to one or more imagers along three or more, asymmetrical fields of view
Implementation Method 2
The known workstations utilize a plurality of illuminating assemblies to illuminate the target with bright, pulsed illumination light
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a pair of overhead mirror portions splits a field of view of an imager into first and second subfields of view. An illuminating assembly is energized to illuminate a target. A first part of the imager is exposed to capture return illumination light from the target passing through a horizontal window of a workstation over the first subfield of view, and a second part of the imager is exposed to capture return illumination light from the target passing through the horizontal window over the second subfield of view.