EP0101939A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for optically reading information
Assignee: Denso Corp
•
Filing: 1983-07-27
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2003-07-27
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for optically reading printed information by radiating light onto printed information to be reflected thereby, receiving the reflected light through an optical system and converting the image of the reflected light into a corresponding electric signal. The light source employs red light emitting diodes which radiate highly bright red light having a wavelength peak at about 660 nm so that the image sensor can receive a highly contrasting reflected light from the information printed in black on a white base. The light source further or alternatively employs infrared light emitting diodes for radiating the light having a peak wavelength at about 925 nm so that the image sensor can also received a highly contrasting reflected light from information printed in black on a blue or green base.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiro Hara
- 👤 Atutoshi Okamoto
- 👤 Toshiyasu Sakai
- 👤 Tadao Oshima
- 👤 Hiroshi Yamamoto
- 👤 Hiromitsu Takai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10881; G06K7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
Apparatus for optically reading printed information comprising: a light source including means for radiating only red light, to said printed information to be reflected thereby; image forming means for forming, at a predetermined position, a reflection image of said printed information in the reflected light; and sensor means arranged at said predetermined position for converting said reflection image of said printed information into a.corresponding electric signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus for optically reading printed information comprising: a light source including means for radiating only red light, to said printed information to be reflected thereby; image forming means for forming, at a predetermined position, a reflection image of said printed information in the reflected light; and sensor means arranged at said predetermined position for converting said reflection image of said printed information into a.corresponding electric signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said radiating means includes at least one light emitting diode which radiates bright red light at a wavelength of around 660 nanometers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said radiating means includes: first light emitting diode means for radiating red light with a given brightness; and second light emitting diode means for which radiating red light with a brightness lower than said given brightness for making more uniform the total radiation of red light across said printed j information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein each of said light emitting diode means includes a pair of red light emitting diodes, the second pair being disposed in between the diodes of the first pair.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the red light radiated from each of said diodes has a peak wavelength of around 660 nanometers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further comprising: light diffuser means positioned in front of said first and second light emitting diodes for diffusing said red light and equalizing the brightness of the same.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: another light radiating means for radiating, to said printed information to be reflected thereby, infrared light having a wavelength at about 925 nanometers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further comprising: circuit means for energizing either one of said two light radiating means so that either one of said red light or said infrared light is selectively radiated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 further comprising: condensing lens means for converging light from the selected one of said radiating means and equalizing the brightness of the same.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said two light radiating means include light remitting diodes which respectively radiate said red light and said infrared light with high brightness.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for optically reading printed information comprising: a housing provided with an opening; a light source arranged in said case for radiating only red light with a predetermined prightness to said printed information through said opening of said housing, said light source having a light radiation spectrum peak at about 660 nanometers; image forming means arranged in said case for forming, at a predetermined position, a teflection image of said printed information in the Light reflected by said printed information; and sensor means arranged at said predetermined position in said case for converting said reflection image of said printed information into a corresponding electric signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for optically reading printed information comprising: a housing provided with an opening; a light source arranged in said case for radiating only red light with a predetermined prightness to said printed information through said opening of said housing, said light source having a light radiation spectrum peak at about 660 nanometers; image forming means arranged in said case for forming, at a predetermined position, a teflection image of said printed information in the Light reflected by said printed information; and sensor means arranged at said predetermined position in said case for converting said reflection image of said printed information into a corresponding electric signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 further comprising: - another light source arranged adjacent said light source in said case for radiating another red light with another predetermined brightness lower than said predetermined brightness to said printed information through said opening of said housing, said another light source having a light radiation spectrum peak at about 660 nanometers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said two light sources include respective light emitting diodes for radiating said red light.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 further comprising: a light diffuser arranged between said two light sources and said opening in said housing for diffusing said red lights and equalizing the brightness of the same.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for optically reading printed information comprising: a housing provided with an open head; a plurality of light sources arranged in said case for radiating light to said printed information through said open head of said housing, said light sources having respective light radiation spectrum peaks at different light wavelengths; image forming means arranged in said case for forming, data predetermined position, a reflection image of said printed information in the light reflected by said printed information; and sensor means arranged at said predetermined position in said housing for converting said reflection image to said printed information into a corresponding electric signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for optically reading printed information comprising: a housing provided with an open head; a plurality of light sources arranged in said case for radiating light to said printed information through said open head of said housing, said light sources having respective light radiation spectrum peaks at different light wavelengths; image forming means arranged in said case for forming, data predetermined position, a reflection image of said printed information in the light reflected by said printed information; and sensor means arranged at said predetermined position in said housing for converting said reflection image to said printed information into a corresponding electric signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said light sources include: at least one first light emitting diode for radiating red light having a wavelength around 660 nanometers; and at least one second light emitting diode for radiating infrared light having a wavelength around 925 nanometers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 further comprising: a condensing lens arranged between said first and second light emitting diodes and said open head in said housing for condensing the radiated light and equalizing the brightness of the same.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 further comprising: a switching circuit connected to said first and second light emitting diodes for selectively energizing said diodes to provide only said red light or only said infrared light.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for optically reading,printed information, comprising: at least one radiation emitting diode having a radiation spectrum distribution characteristic with a maximum bandwidth of about 120 nanometers in the range of from around 500 nanometers to around 1000 nanometers for radiating its radiation toward said printed information to be reflected therefrom, image forming means for transmitting radiation refected from said printed information to a predetermined position and forming thereat an image of said printed information, and sensor means disposed at said predetermined position for converting said printed information image into an electric signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for optically reading,printed information, comprising: at least one radiation emitting diode having a radiation spectrum distribution characteristic with a maximum bandwidth of about 120 nanometers in the range of from around 500 nanometers to around 1000 nanometers for radiating its radiation toward said printed information to be reflected therefrom, image forming means for transmitting radiation refected from said printed information to a predetermined position and forming thereat an image of said printed information, and sensor means disposed at said predetermined position for converting said printed information image into an electric signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said maximum bandwidth is about 60 nanometers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said diode emits green light having a peak intensity of about 550 nanometers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said diode emits orange light having a peak intensity of abut 600 nanometers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said diode emits red light having a peak intensity of about 660 nanometers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said 3iode emits substantially only infrared light.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as in claim 24 wherein said infrared light has a peak intensity of about 925 nanometers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for optically reading printed information, comprising: at least one light emitting diode for emitting light having a bandwidth narrowly centered around a peak intensity wavelength toward said printed information to be reflected therefrom, image forming means for transmitting light reflected from said printed information to a predetermined position and forming thereat an image of said printed information, and sensor means disposed at said predetermined position for converting said printed information image into an electric signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for optically reading printed information, comprising: at least one light emitting diode for emitting light having a bandwidth narrowly centered around a peak intensity wavelength toward said printed information to be reflected therefrom, image forming means for transmitting light reflected from said printed information to a predetermined position and forming thereat an image of said printed information, and sensor means disposed at said predetermined position for converting said printed information image into an electric signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 26 wherein said diode emits green light having a peak intensity of about 550 nanometers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 26 wherein said diode emits orange light having a peak intensity of about 600 nanometers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 26 wherein said diode emits red light having a peak intensity of about 660 nanometers.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as in claim 26 wherein said diode emits infrared light.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as in claim 30 wherein said infrared light has a peak intensity of about 925 nanometers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.