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US5327171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Camera system optics
Assignee: United Parcel Service of America Inc
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Filing: 1992-05-26
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Granted: 1994-07-05
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Expires: 2012-05-26
Abstract
Abstract The camera system of the present invention simultaneously searches for a number of differing optical acquisition targets. This system may decode, for example, both bar codes and concentric rings. The scan signal is constantly adjusted according to both a dark reference for correcting offset and a white reference for correcting gain. The gain is also corrected according to the scanning rate as well as the amount of illumination present. A measure of this illumination may be applied directly to the optical scanning device by way of a fiber optic cable which transmits light from the illumination source. Optical calibration is eliminated by fixed optics wherein all optical elements are rigidly mounted at very close tolerances. The illumination source is disposed on one focus of an ellipse wherein the other focus is disposed at the maximum scanning distance and the reflector is formed to define the illumination ellipse to maximize the light applied to the object. The various heat producing elements are disposed in sealed compartments which are cooled by forced air which is circulated through a heat exchanger. A real time focusing system is provided wherein the distance from the scanning device to an opposing surface is constantly monitored and the system is constantly focused according to the distance.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven L. Smith
- 👤 Joseph P. Mulligan
- 👤 Gregory P. Skinger
- 👤 Robert H. Esslinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/1092; G06K7/10851; G06K7/14; G06K7/1404; G06K7/1439; G06K7/1443; G06K2007/10485; G06K2207/00; G06K2207/1013
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
An optical object scanning system having an optical scanning device for providing a scan output signal including a scan output information portion representative of a scanned region of said object, said scan output information portion having a varying information amplitude, comprising: illumination source means for illuminating said scanned region of said object; detection means for receiving light reflected from said scanned region of said object; white reference means for providing a white reference signal, said white reference means including at least one dedicated pixel for receiving light transmitted from said illumination source means, said at least one dedicated pixel being unavailable for receiving said reflected light from said scanned region of said object; and adjusting means for adjusting said varying information amplitude of said scan output information portion in accordance with said white reference signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
An optical object scanning system having an optical scanning device for providing a scan output signal including a scan output information portion representative of a scanned region of said object, said scan output information portion having a varying information amplitude, comprising: illumination source means for illuminating said scanned region of said object; detection means for receiving light reflected from said scanned region of said object; white reference means for providing a white reference signal, said white reference means including at least one dedicated pixel for receiving light transmitted from said illumination source means, said at least one dedicated pixel being unavailable for receiving said reflected light from said scanned region of said object; and adjusting means for adjusting said varying information amplitude of said scan output information portion in accordance with said white reference signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical scanning system of claim 1, further comprising means for providing a plurality of said white reference signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optical scanning system of claim 2, wherein said optical scanning device has scan cycles further comprising means for providing at least one of said plurality of white reference signals for each of said scan cycles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical scanning system of claim 2, wherein said adjusting means comprises means for adjusting said information amplitude in accordance with said plurality of white reference signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The optical scanning system of claim 4, wherein said optical scanning device has scan cycles and wherein said adjusting means comprises means for adjusting said information amplitude for each of said scan cycles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical scanning system of claim 2, wherein said adjusting means comprises integration means for providing an integration signal in accordance with said plurality of white reference signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical scanning system of claim 6, wherein said adjusting means further comprises white reference feedback means for adjusting said information amplitude in accordance with said integration signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The optical scanning device of claim 7, further comprising means for updating said integration signal and adjusting said information amplitude every scan cycle of said optical scanning device in accordance with said integration signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The optical scanning system of claim 1, wherein said object moves at varying object speeds further comprising means for providing said white reference signal in accordance with said varying object speeds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optical scanning system of claim 9, wherein said amplitude adjusting means comprises integrator means for providing an integration signal representative of said varying object speeds.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The optical scanning system of claim 1, further comprising: light transmitting means for transmitting light from said illumination source means; and, said white reference means including means for receiving said transmitted light and providing said white reference signal in accordance with said transmitted light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical scanning system of claim 11, wherein said light transmitting means comprises means for transmitting light to said optical scanning device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The optical scanning system of claim 11, including a plurality of illumination sources each having corresponding light transmitting means, further comprising respective illumination adjusting means for adjusting each illumination source in accordance with its corresponding transmitted light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
143 words
An optical scanning method in a system including an optical scanning device having scan cycles with an optical scanning rate for providing a scan output signal including a scan output information component having a varying information amplitude representative of light received by said optical scanning device, comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating a region of an object with illumination source means; (b) receiving light reflected from said region of said object with detection means; (c) providing a varying white reference signal with white reference means, said white reference means including at least one dedicated pixel for receiving light transmitted from said illumination source means, said at least one dedicated pixel being unavailable for receiving said reflected light from said region of said object; and, (d) adjusting said varying information amplitude of said scan output information component in accordance with said white reference signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
143 words
An optical scanning method in a system including an optical scanning device having scan cycles with an optical scanning rate for providing a scan output signal including a scan output information component having a varying information amplitude representative of light received by said optical scanning device, comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating a region of an object with illumination source means; (b) receiving light reflected from said region of said object with detection means; (c) providing a varying white reference signal with white reference means, said white reference means including at least one dedicated pixel for receiving light transmitted from said illumination source means, said at least one dedicated pixel being unavailable for receiving said reflected light from said region of said object; and, (d) adjusting said varying information amplitude of said scan output information component in accordance with said white reference signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The optical scanning method of claim 14, comprising the further step of providing a plurality of said white reference signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The optical scanning method of claim 15, further comprising the step of providing at least one of said plurality of white reference signals for each scan cycle of said optical scanning device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical scanning method of claim 15, wherein step (d) comprises the step of adjusting said information amplitude in accordance with said plurality of said white reference signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical scanning method of claim 17, further comprising the step of adjusting said information amplitude each scan cycle of said optical scanning device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The optical scanning method of claim 16, wherein step (d) further comprises integrating by integrator means for providing an integration signal in accordance with said plurality of white reference signals and adjusting said information amplitude in accordance with said integration signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optical scanning method of claim 19, further comprising the step of updating said integration signal and adjusting said information amplitude in accordance with said updated integration signal every scan cycle of said optical scanning device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
The optical scanning method of claim 14, comprising the further steps of: (e) moving said object past said optical scanning device at varying object speeds; (f) providing a velocity signal representative of said varying object speeds; and, (g) providing said varying white reference signal in accordance with said varying object speeds.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical scanning method of claim 21, wherein step (d) comprises adjusting means in accordance with integrator means for providing an integration output signal representative of said varying object speeds.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-07-04 | 1998-01-03 | 1998-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-04 | 2002-01-03 | 2002-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-04 | 2006-01-03 | 2006-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |