← Back to Patent Explorer
USRE32984E Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical pattern generation technique

Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
•
Filing: 1987-11-23
•
Granted: 1989-07-11
•
Expires: 2007-11-23
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A rotatable drum is arranged around a surface lying generally parallel to the axis of rotation, a plurality of bar code patterns, the individual bars making up each pattern extending normal to the rotational axis. A light beam in a plane is projected onto the surface, the plane lying generally parallel to the rotational axis such that light strikes the surface. A light beam also in a plane is reflected from the surface, the beam having relatively light and relatively dark regions corresponding to the particular bar code patterns upon which the projected beam is imaged. The reflected beam is passed through a cylindrical lens which fans the reflected beam into a wedge shaped beam projecting onto an object in the path of the beam successive bar patterns as the drum rotates.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jerome P. Rosenfeld

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 22:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K1/00; G06K1/12; G06K1/126

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 160 words
A system for imaging, on an object, a plurality of different bar code patterns in succession, comprising in combination: a rotatable drum having an axis of rotation and having a face generally parallel to said axis of rotation, said face including a plurality of bar code patterns arranged around said face, each pattern comprising relatively reflective portions alternating with relatively nonreflecting portions, the successive reflective and nonreflective portions lying along a line generally parallel to said axis; means for projecting, onto said face, a light beam in a plane, the plane being parallel to the axis; and means receptive of the light pattern in the form of a plane reflected from the drum corresponding to the pattern of bars for fanning out the beam into a wedge shaped image of bars corresponding to the bars on said face whereby as said drum rotates successive bar code patterns are imaged on an object in the path of said wedge shaped image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 160 words
A system for imaging, on an object, a plurality of different bar code patterns in succession, comprising in combination: a rotatable drum having an axis of rotation and having a face generally parallel to said axis of rotation, said face including a plurality of bar code patterns arranged around said face, each pattern comprising relatively reflective portions alternating with relatively nonreflecting portions, the successive reflective and nonreflective portions lying along a line generally parallel to said axis; means for projecting, onto said face, a light beam in a plane, the plane being parallel to the axis; and means receptive of the light pattern in the form of a plane reflected from the drum corresponding to the pattern of bars for fanning out the beam into a wedge shaped image of bars corresponding to the bars on said face whereby as said drum rotates successive bar code patterns are imaged on an object in the path of said wedge shaped image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 45 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means projecting a light beam comprises a source of collimated light and a cylindrical lens, said source directing said .[.said.]. light to said cylindrical lens, the light output of said lens lying in said plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means receptive of said light patterns comprises a cylindrical lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means receptive of light patterns comprises a second cylindrical lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 further including means for receiving images of said bar code patterns reflected from said object as said drum rotates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means receiving images of said bar code patterns .[.comprising.]. .Iadd.comprises .Iaddend.a television camera.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 68 words
The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said rotatable drum further includes a motor for rotating said drum and wherein said system further includes means correlating the speed of said motor with the frame rate of said television camera such that when the transition from one bar code pattern to the next is imaged on said object, said television camera is in its blanking interval. .Iadd.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 156 words
A system for imaging, on an object, a plurality of different bar code patterns in succession, comprising in combination: pattern means including a plurality of bar code patterns arranged thereon, each pattern comprising first portions having a first optical characteristic alternating with second portions having a contrasting optical characteristic, said pattern means being movably mounted for passing said plurality of patterns in succession through a plane when said pattern means is moved, each said pattern being arranged so that its mutually contrasting portions pass simultaneously through said plane; means for projecting a two-dimensional light beam in said plane toward said pattern means for creating a two-dimensional light beam upon which is superimposed said pattern; and means for receiving, from said pattern means, said two-dimensional light beam with said superimposed pattern for forming said two-dimensional light beam with its superimposed pattern into a three-dimensional wedge-shaped beam and for projecting said wedge-shaped beam onto said object. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 156 words
A system for imaging, on an object, a plurality of different bar code patterns in succession, comprising in combination: pattern means including a plurality of bar code patterns arranged thereon, each pattern comprising first portions having a first optical characteristic alternating with second portions having a contrasting optical characteristic, said pattern means being movably mounted for passing said plurality of patterns in succession through a plane when said pattern means is moved, each said pattern being arranged so that its mutually contrasting portions pass simultaneously through said plane; means for projecting a two-dimensional light beam in said plane toward said pattern means for creating a two-dimensional light beam upon which is superimposed said pattern; and means for receiving, from said pattern means, said two-dimensional light beam with said superimposed pattern for forming said two-dimensional light beam with its superimposed pattern into a three-dimensional wedge-shaped beam and for projecting said wedge-shaped beam onto said object. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 278 words
A system for imaging, on an object, a plurality of different bar code patterns in succession, comprising in combination; pattern means including a plurality of bar code patterns arranged thereon, each pattern comprising relatively light portions alternating with relatively dark portions, said pattern means being rotatably mounted for passing said plurality of patterns in succession through a plane when said pattern means is rotated, each said pattern being arranged so that its relatively light and relatively dark portions pass simultaneously through said plane; means for projecting a light beam in said plane to said pattern means; and means receptive of the light pattern in the form of a plane from said pattern means corresponding to the pattern of bars for fanning out the beam into a wedge shaped image of bars corresponding to the bar code patterns on said pattern means, whereby as said pattern means rotates, successive bar code patterns are imaged on an object in the path of said wedge shaped image. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said pattern means includes a drum having a face on which are located said patterns. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means projecting a light beam comprises a source of collimated light and a cylindrical lens, said source directing said light to said cylindrical lens, the light output of said lens lying in said plane. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means receptive of said light patterns comprises a cylindrical lens. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means receptive of light patterns comprises a second
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 127 words
cylindrical lens. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The combination as set forth in claim 9 further including means for receiving images of said bar code patterns reflected from said object as said pattern means rotates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein said means receiving images of said bar code patterns comprises a television camera. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein said pattern means further includes a motor for rotating said pattern means and wherein said system further includes means correlating the speed of said motor with the frame rate of said television camera such that when the transition from one bar code pattern to the next is imaged on said object, said television camera is in its blanking interval. .Iaddend.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3488102A Cited
US3818444A Cited
US4480919A Cited
US4488172A Cited
US4499492A Cited
US4573073A Cited
US4593967A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-07-10 1993-01-09 1993-07-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-07-10 1997-01-09 1997-07-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-07-10 2001-01-09 2001-07-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag