Rotating Reflecting Optical Element for Illuminator Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for automatically acquiring optically encoded information face challenges in generating a thin and concentrated light stripe for high-speed image acquisition, leading to misalignment issues between the illuminator and sensor, which reduces efficiency and increases exposure time.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a rotating reflecting optical element with a second focus, allowing for optimal alignment between the light beam and sensor, and is divided into multiple sections with independent rotation, ensuring uniform illumination and minimizing misalignment effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a thin and concentrated light stripe is generated to maximize signal intensity and reduce exposure time, then the reading speed is improved, but the alignment between illuminator and sensor becomes extremely difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces adjustable optical elements (deflecting mirrors or prisms) that can be dynamically positioned to align the light stripe with the sensor. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to maintain optimal alignment even when using thin, concentrated light stripes for high-speed reading, resolving the contradiction between reading speed and alignment ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs optical tracking systems that continuously monitor the position of the light stripe and sensor, providing feedback for automatic alignment adjustment. This feedback mechanism ensures that the thin light stripe remains precisely aligned with the sensor field of view, enabling high-speed reading without sacrificing alignment stability.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the light stripe is made thinner to freeze the moving support image, then the exposure time is reduced, but the field of view of the sensor falls outside the peak intensity of the light stripe, reducing system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses adjustable optical elements that can dynamically reposition the light stripe to match the sensor's field of view. This ensures that even with thin light stripes used for short exposure times, the peak intensity remains centered on the sensor, preventing energy loss while maintaining the ability to freeze moving supports.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs optical elements that can change the spatial parameters (position, angle, focus) of the light stripe to optimize its overlap with the sensor field of view. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system maintains maximum light intensity delivery to the sensor while using thin stripes for short exposure times to freeze motion.
3Area of stationary object
If deflecting mirrors are added to optimize space requirements and direct the field of view, then the system becomes more complex, but the alignment precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates optical tracking systems that provide continuous feedback on the position and orientation of deflecting mirrors and the sensor. This feedback enables automatic adjustment of the mirrors to maintain precise alignment, reducing the manufacturing precision requirements while still achieving compact space utilization through the deflecting mirror arrangement.
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 maximizes light intensity and uniformity along the sensor's field of view, enhancing reading depth and reducing system complexity and alignment costs.
Implementation Method 1
at least one reflecting optical element associated with said at least one linear light source and suitable for reflecting a light beam emitted by said at least one light source
Implementation Method 2
said reflecting optical element having at least one first focus, said linear light source being arranged within an area surrounding said first focus
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An illuminating device for a system for automatically acquiring optically encoded information, comprising at least one illuminating element (1), said at least one illuminating element (1) comprising at least one linear light source (2) extending along a first direction, at least one reflecting optical element (3) associated with, said at least one linear light source (2) and suitable for reflecting a light beam (L) emitted by said at least one light source (2), said optical element having at least one first focus (P), said linear light source (2) being arranged within an area surrounding said first focus (P), the illuminating device further comprises rotating means (6; I1 8; 9, 10) suitable for rotating said at least one reflecting optical element (3) with respect to said at least one first focus (F), with a rotation centre arranged within a further area surrounding said at least one first focus (F).