Virtual Laser Barcode Scanner Using Fixed Refractive Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser barcode scanners are prone to damage due to a reciprocating and rotating mirror mechanism, have limited scanning speed, and suffer from uneven laser light distribution, leading to noise and inefficient decoding.
Innovation Solution
A virtual laser barcode scanner method using a fixed refractive lens to generate a linear laser beam as an indicating light source, which is switched off during reading, allowing a linear CCD or CMOS to capture environmental light reflections for decoding, significantly increasing scanning speed and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a reciprocating and rotating mirror is employed to reflect laser light for scanning, then barcode reading function is achieved, but the mechanism is too weak to sustain collision and is prone to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the reciprocating and rotating mirror mechanism from the system entirely. Instead of using a moving mirror to scan the laser beam, the invention employs a fixed linear laser beam that directly illuminates the barcode, eliminating the fragile moving parts while maintaining the barcode reading function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical mirror scanning system with an optical approach using a fixed linear laser beam combined with environmental light. The linear CCD or CMOS sensor captures the reflected light directly without mechanical scanning, substituting mechanical motion with a static optical configuration.
2Productivity
If a reciprocating and rotating mirror is used for scanning, then barcode reading is enabled, but the rotational speed is limited and scanning speed is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical mirror rotation system with a static optical configuration. The fixed linear laser beam combined with environmental light and a linear sensor array enables simultaneous capture of multiple barcode elements, eliminating the speed limitation imposed by mechanical rotation and achieving much faster scanning.
3Illumination intensity
If a linear laser beam generated by a refractive lens is employed as reading light source, then barcode illumination is achieved, but uneven distribution of brightness generates noise and causes unsmooth decoding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the laser beam illumination with environmental light to create a composite lighting system. The laser provides focused illumination while environmental light fills in the brightness distribution, combining their advantages to achieve both sufficient illumination intensity and uniform brightness distribution for accurate decoding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite light source consisting of laser light and environmental light. This composite illumination system combines the directed, intense laser beam with the diffuse environmental light to achieve uniform brightness distribution across the barcode, eliminating the noise caused by uneven laser brightness alone.
4Productivity
If a linear CCD or linear CMOS is used to receive reflected light directly, then scanning speed is increased, but the laser must be switched off during reading to avoid interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic switching of the laser module, turning it on for alignment and off for reading. This periodic action allows the system to alternate between laser illumination mode and environmental light reading mode, enabling fast direct capture by the linear sensor without laser interference while maintaining the ability to provide focused illumination when needed.
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 method allows for faster barcode scanning by utilizing environmental light, reducing actuation time and eliminating the need for a reciprocating mirror, while maintaining the appearance of a conventional laser scanner operation.
Implementation Method 1
a fixed type refractive lens to generate a linear laser beam
Implementation Method 2
the linear CCD or linear CMOS simultaneously picks up the environmental light reflected from each point of the one dimension barcode so as to finish the barcode reading
Implementation Method 3
the reading of barcode takes directly advantage of reflection on one-dimensional barcode by environmental light at site
Data Source
AI summary
An actuation method of virtual laser barcode scanner, in which a light spot emitted from a laser module is formed into a linear laser beam, after passing through a fixed type refractive lens, for user to align to an one dimension barcode position. When the barcode is been reading, the laser beam is switched off and a linear CCD or linear CMOS receives directly the environmental light reflected from the one dimension barcode so as to finish the barcode reading. If the reading is failed, the laser beam is switched on again. As the ON-OFF of the laser module is faster than the speed of visual persistence of human's eyes, the virtual laser barcode scanner is used as if a conventional laser barcode scanner were used.