Arrangement for and method of reducing vertical parallax between an aiming pattern and an imaging field of view in a linear imaging reader

Vertical parallax between an imaging linear field of view (FOV) and an aiming light pattern is reduced in a reader for electro-optically reading symbols to be read by image capture by an arrangement that includes an imaging assembly having a solid-state imager with a linear array of image sensors, and an imaging lens for capturing return light over the imaging linear FOV from a symbol and for projecting the captured return light onto the linear array, an aiming light assembly spaced vertically away from the imaging assembly for generating the aiming light pattern on the symbol prior to reading, and an optical assembly for intercepting the aiming light pattern and for vertically aligning the aiming light pattern with the imaging linear FOV to reduce the vertical parallax.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Solid-state imaging systems or imaging readers have been used, in both handheld and/or hands-free modes of operation, to electro-optically read one-dimensional bar code symbols, particularly of the Universal Product Code (UPC) symbology having a row of bars and spaces spaced apart along a linear scan direction. The handheld imaging reader includes a housing held by an operator, and an imaging module supported by the housing and aimed by the operator at each symbol prior to reading. The imaging module includes an imaging assembly having a solid-state imager with a sensor array of photocells or light sensors, and an imaging lens system for capturing return light scattered and/or reflected from a symbol being imaged over an imaging field of view, and for projecting the return light onto the sensor array to initiate capture of an image of the symbol.

Such an imager may include a one-dimensional charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device and associated circuits for producing and processing electrical signals corresponding to a one-dimensional array of pixel data over the imaging field of view. The imager captures the return light under the control of a controller or programmed microprocessor that is operative for processing the electrical signals from the imager and for decoding the electrical signals into decoded information indicative of the symbol being imaged and read.

In order to increase the amount of the return light captured by the sensor array, especially in dimly lit environments and/or at far range reading, the imaging module generally also includes an illuminating light assembly for illuminating the symbol with illumination light for reflection and scattering therefrom. When the sensor array is one-dimensional, i.e., linear, the illumination light preferably is distributed along a short height, distributed illumination pattern, also termed an illuminating line, that extends lengthwise along the symbol. The distributed illumination pattern is typically generated by using a pair of spaced-apart light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a pair of cylindrical lenses. The illuminating LEDs are typically mounted at opposite sides of the sensor array on the same printed circuit board (PCB).

Since the operator of the imaging reader cannot see exactly whether a symbol is located entirely within the imaging field of view of the sensor array, or know whether the symbol is optimally centrally located within the imaging field of view, the imaging module also typically includes an aiming light assembly for projecting a visible aiming light pattern, for example, a generally circular spot, or a cross-hairs, for placement at or near the center of the symbol, or an aiming line, or a series of generally circular spots linearly spaced apart, for placement lengthwise along the symbol, to assist the operator in visually locating the symbol within the imaging field of view and, thus, advise the operator in which direction the reader is to be moved in order to accurately position the aiming light pattern on the symbol prior to reading. The aiming light assembly includes at least one aiming light source, such as a laser or an LED, an aiming lens, and, optionally, a pattern shaping optical element, such as a diffractive optical element (DOE), or a refractive optical element (ROE). The focused light passing through a respective DOE forms multiple diverging beamlets, which project continuous lines or rows of spots arrayed in the aiming light pattern on the target to indicate the imaging field of view.

As advantageous as such known imaging readers have been, they have proven to be less than satisfactory in certain situations. For example, the aiming light assembly is typically mounted on the same PCB as the imager and the illuminating LEDs, and is also elevated above the imager at a distance of a few millimeters away from the imager, because the available space at the sides of the imager is already occupied by the illuminating LEDs. In such event, the aiming light pattern is vertically offset from the imaging field of view by a few millimeters. This offset problem is particularly acute when a one-dimensional imager that is, for example, only one pixel tall is employed, because an offset of a few millimeters cannot be tolerated for efficient reading performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a reader for electro-optically reading symbols to be read by image capture and, more particularly, to an imaging reader that includes an imaging assembly having a solid-state imager with a linear array of image sensors, such as a CCD or a CMOS, and an imaging lens system, such as one or more imaging lenses, advantageously a doublet or a Cooke triplet, operative for capturing return light over an imaging linear field of view (FOV) from a symbol and for projecting the captured return light onto the linear array, as well as an aiming light assembly spaced vertically away from the imaging assembly and operative for generating an aiming light pattern on the symbol prior to reading. The aiming light assembly preferably includes an aiming light source, such as a laser, for emitting an aiming light beam, and an aiming lens for optically modifying the aiming light beam to project the aiming pattern on the symbol. The aiming pattern can be a generally circular aiming spot, or a cross-hairs, or a plurality of generally circular aiming spots, or an aiming line. The imaging assembly is preferably mounted at a lower elevation on a printed circuit board (PCB), and the aiming light assembly is mounted at a higher elevation on the same PCB.

One aspect of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in an arrangement for reducing vertical parallax between the imaging linear FOV and the aiming light pattern. The arrangement includes an optical assembly for intercepting the aiming light pattern and for vertically aligning the aiming light pattern with the imaging linear FOV to reduce the vertical parallax. The optical assembly includes an upper fold mirror located at the higher elevation, and a lower fold mirror at the lower elevation. The upper fold mirror redirects the intercepted aiming light pattern to the lower fold mirror. The lower fold mirror reflects the aiming light pattern incident thereon outwardly toward the symbol at the same lower elevation as the imaging assembly.

Advantageously, the assemblies are mounted at least in part on the same PCB that, in turn, is mounted in a handheld housing. The PCB is advantageously tilted at an acute angle of inclination relative to the vertical. In the preferred embodiment, the tilted PCB is mounted within a tilted handle of the housing. An illumination light assembly is also advantageously mounted at least in part on the same tilted PCB, and is operative for illuminating the symbol. The illumination light assembly includes a pair of illumination light emitting diodes (LEDs) spaced apart from each other, and a pair of illumination lenses, one for each illumination LED. The illumination LEDs are located at opposite sides of the imager on the same tilted PCB. The housing has a window through which the return light, the aiming light and the illumination light pass. The window may be tilted relative to the horizontal to avoid reflections of the emitted illumination light from reaching the imaging lens system.

Another feature of the present invention resides in a method of reducing vertical parallax between an imaging linear field of view (FOV) and an aiming light pattern in a reader for electro-optically reading symbols to be read by image capture. The method is performed by capturing return light over the imaging linear FOV from a symbol, projecting the captured return light onto a linear array of image sensors of a solid-state imager, generating the aiming light pattern on the symbol prior to reading with an aiming light assembly spaced vertically away from the imager, intercepting the aiming light pattern, and vertically aligning the aiming light pattern with the imaging linear FOV to reduce the vertical parallax.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference numeral30inFIG. 1generally identifies an ergonomic imaging reader configured as a gun-shaped housing having an upper barrel or body32and a lower handle28tilted rearwardly away from the body32at an angle of inclination, for example, fifteen degrees, relative to the vertical. A window26is located adjacent the front or nose of the body32and is preferably also tilted at an angle of inclination, for example, fifteen degrees, relative to the vertical. The imaging reader30is held in an operator's hand and used in a handheld mode in which a trigger34is manually depressed to initiate imaging of target indicia, especially one-dimensional symbols, to be read in a range of working distances relative to the window26. Housings of other configurations can also be employed.

As schematically shown inFIG. 2, an imaging assembly includes an imager24mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB)22in the reader30. The PCB22is mounted within the tilted handle28and is also tilted, as shown inFIG. 3, at an angle of inclination, for example, fifteen degrees, relative to the vertical. The imager24is a solid-state device, for example, a CCD or a CMOS imager having a one-dimensional array of addressable image sensors or pixels arranged in a single, linear row, and operative for detecting return light captured by an imaging lens assembly or system20along an imaging axis46through the window26over a linear imaging field of view (FOV). The return light is scattered and/or reflected from a target or symbol38over the imaging FOV that is generally perpendicular to the imaging axis46.

The imaging lens assembly20is operative for focusing the return light onto the array of image sensors to enable the symbol38to be read. The symbol38may be located anywhere in a working range of distances between a close-in working distance (WD1) and a far-out working distance (WD2). In a preferred embodiment, WD1is about one-half inch from the window26, and WD2is about thirty inches from the window26. The imaging lens assembly20is located remotely from the window26, for example, over forty millimeters away.

An illuminating light assembly is also mounted in the imaging reader and includes an illumination light source, e.g., at least one light emitting diode (LED), and preferably a plurality of LEDs, such as a pair of illumination LEDs10,12mounted on the PCB22, and a pair of illumination lenses16,18configured to generate a substantially uniform distributed illumination pattern of light on and along the symbol38to be read by image capture. At least part of the scattered and/or reflected return light is derived from the illumination pattern of light on and along the symbol38. The window26is tilted to avoid reflections of the illumination light from the LEDs10,12from reaching the imaging lens assembly20.

Although in some applications, the illuminating light assembly itself can serve as an aiming aid, it is preferred to provide a separate aiming light assembly to increase the range at which aiming light patterns can be seen on symbols and also to help counter the effect of sunlight washing out the aiming light patterns. The separate aiming light assembly is also mounted in the imaging reader, and includes an aiming light source40, e.g., a laser or at least one light emitting diode (LED), also mounted on the PCB22and operative for emitting an aiming beam, and an aiming lens42for shaping the aiming beam emitted by the aiming light source40to project an aiming light pattern on the symbol38prior to reading. The aiming pattern can be a generally circular aiming spot, or a cross-hairs, or a plurality of generally circular aiming spots, or an aiming line. The aiming light assembly is preferably located in a close confronting relationship with the window26, for example, no more than a few millimeters away. A laser is preferred for the aiming light source40since it can generate light of greater intensity than an LED.

As diagrammatically shown inFIG. 2, the imager24, the illumination LEDs10,12and the aiming light source40are operatively connected to a controller or programmed microprocessor36operative for controlling the operation of these components. A memory14is connected and accessible to the controller36. Preferably, the microprocessor36is also used for processing the electrical signals from the imager24and for processing and decoding the captured target images. The controller36and the memory14are advantageously mounted on the PCB22.

In operation, the microprocessor36sends command signals to initially energize the aiming light source40to project an aiming light pattern on the target symbol38, and then, to energize the illumination LEDs10,12for a short exposure time period, say 500 microseconds or less, and to energize and expose the imager24to collect the return light, e.g., illumination light and/or ambient light, from the target symbol38only during said exposure time period. A typical array needs about 18-33 milliseconds to acquire the entire target image and operates at a frame rate of about 30-60 frames per second.

Turning now toFIGS. 3-5, the imaging assembly20,24is preferably mounted at a lower elevation on the PCB22, and the aiming light assembly40,42is mounted at a higher elevation on the same PCB22. The illumination LEDs10,12are located at opposite sides of the imager24on the same PCB22, and the aiming light assembly40,42is above the imager24. As described above, this physical arrangement causes the aiming light pattern to be vertically offset from the imaging FOV by a few millimeters. This offset problem is particularly acute when the imager24is one-dimensional and is, for example, only one pixel tall, because an offset of a few millimeters cannot be tolerated for efficient reading performance.

One aspect of the present invention resides in an arrangement for, and a method of, reducing such a vertical offset or parallax between the imaging linear FOV and the aiming light pattern. The arrangement includes an optical assembly for intercepting the aiming light pattern and for vertically aligning the aiming light pattern with the imaging linear FOV to reduce the vertical parallax. The optical assembly includes an upper fold mirror50located at the higher elevation, and a lower fold mirror52located at the lower elevation. The upper fold mirror50redirects the intercepted aiming light pattern to the lower fold mirror52. The lower fold mirror52reflects the aiming light pattern incident thereon outwardly through the window26toward the symbol38at the same lower elevation as the imaging assembly20,24.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. For example, the optical assembly could be replaced by other light folding components, such as optical wedges or prisms. In addition, rather than a pair of fold mirrors, a single fold mirror could be employed if the aiming light assembly40,42were mounted overhead and emitted its aiming beam vertically downwardly.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as an arrangement for, and a method of, reducing vertical parallax between an imaging linear FOV and an aiming light pattern in an imaging reader, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.