EP0263696A2 — Laser beam scanner

Claim 1

Independent Claim 61 words

A laser beam scanner comprising a scanning window through which scanning beams are emitted, a plurality of hologram layers constituting the scanning window, and an optical system for impinging a laser beam on the hologram layers in a manner such that a trace of the laser beam scanning each hologram layer intersects that of other hologram layers on the scanning window.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 61 words

A laser beam scanner comprising a scanning window through which scanning beams are emitted, a plurality of hologram layers constituting the scanning window, and an optical system for impinging a laser beam on the hologram layers in a manner such that a trace of the laser beam scanning each hologram layer intersects that of other hologram layers on the scanning window.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

A laser beam scanner according to claim 1, wherein the scanning window comprises three hologram layers, each comprising two parallel hologram strips, the hologram layers being arranged in a manner such that the hologram strips of one layer intersect the hologram strips of the other layers.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 60 words

A laser beam scanner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a laser beam impinged on and diffracted by one of the hologram layers impinges on the other hologram layers with an incidence angle outside the Bragg angle with respect to the hologram strips of the other layers so as to penetrate therethrough without being diffracted by the other layers.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 204 words

A laser beam scanner comprising a scanning window constructed by a hologram window (3) which comprises first and second holograms (31, 32), wherein laser scanning beams (33, 34) are diffracted by one of the holograms (31, 32) and propagated from the scanner through the hologram window (3) to impinge on an object to be read, and wherein scattered signal light reflected from the object is propagated back into the scanner through the holograms (31, 32) of the hologram window (3) and detected by an optical detector installed within the scanner. 5. A laser beam scanner according to claim 4, wherein each hologram is formed in a strip shape. 6. A laser beam scanner according to claim 5, wherein the path of the scanning beams (33, 34) is arranged in a manner such that the scanning beam (34) diffracted by the first hologram strip (31) impinges on the second hologram strip (32) with an incidence angle outside the Bragg angle with respect to the second hologram strip (32), and the scanning beam (33) to be diffracted by the second hologram strip (32) impinges on the first hologram strip (31) with an incidence angle outside the Bragg angle with respect to the first hologram strip (31).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

A laser beam scanner according to claim 5, wherein the first and second hologram strips (31, 32) are formed on individual transparent substrates, respectively, which substrates are superposed and adhered together in a manner such that the first and second hologram strips (31, 32) intersect each other.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 43 words

A laser beam scanner according to claim 5, wherein the first and second hologram strips (31, 32) are formed on upper and lower surfaces of a transparent substrate, individually, in a manner such that the first and second hologram strips intersect each other.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 57 words

A laser beam scanner according to claim 5, wherein a third hologram strip (35) is further provided in addition to the first and second hologram strips (31, 32), and wherein the path of the scanning beams (33, 34, and 36) is arranged in a manner such that the scanning beam (36) diffracted by the third hologram strip

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 71 words

(35) impinges on the first and second hologram strips (31, 32) with an incidence angle outside the Bragg angle with respect to the first and second hologram strips (31, 32), and the scanning beams (33, 34) to be reflected by the first and second hologram strips (31, 32) impinge on the third hologram strip (35) with an incidence angle outside the Bragg angle with respect to the third hologram strip (35).

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 71 words

(35) impinges on the first and second hologram strips (31, 32) with an incidence angle outside the Bragg angle with respect to the first and second hologram strips (31, 32), and the scanning beams (33, 34) to be reflected by the first and second hologram strips (31, 32) impinge on the third hologram strip (35) with an incidence angle outside the Bragg angle with respect to the third hologram strip (35).

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 61 words

A laser beam scanner according to claim 9, wherein the first, second, and third hologram strips (31, 32, 35) of the hologram window (3) are formed on individual transparent substrates, respectively, which substrates are superposed and adhered together in a manner such that the first, second, and third hologram strips (31, 32, 35) intersect together without being aligned with each other.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 109 words

A laser beam scanner according to claim 5, wherein within the scanner are disposed a laser beam source, a rotational polygon mirror for swinging the laser beam from the laser beam source in a plane approximately parallel to the hologram window (3) to propagate the laser beam as a scanning beam, a first side mirror disposed facing to the mirror surface of the polygon mirror for reflecting the beam from the polygon mirror toward a floor side of the scanner, and deviation means including a floor mirror approximately in parallel to the hologram window (3) for reflecting the beam from the first side mirror toward the hologram window (3).

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 175 words

A laser beam scanner according to claim 11, wherein the deviation means comprises a concave mirror having an aperture and disposed near the first side mirror, and a second tiny side mirror disposed behind the concave mirror and facing the aperture, wherein the laser beam from the laser beam source passes through the aperture of the concave mirror and impinges on the second tiny side mirror behind the concave mirror and is reflected by the second tiny side mirror, the beam reflected by the second tiny side mirror is propagated back through the aperture to the hologram window (3) by being reflected by the polygon mirror, the first side mirror and the floor mirror and is emitted from the hologram window as a scanning beam, and wherein the scattered signal light reflected from the object is propagated back through the hologram window (3), the floor mirror, the first side mirror, and the polygon mirror to the inner mirror surface of the concave mirror where the signal light is reflected and converged toward the optical detector.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 61 words

A laser beam scanner according to claim 5, wherein the hologram window (3) is disposed in the upper side of a rectangular box-shaped case having a height of less than 85 mm and a lateral and longitudinal dimension of less than 250 mm x 310 mm, the case housing a means for emitting the scanning laser beam and the optical detector.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 104 words

A laser beam scanner comprising a hologram window (3) which comprises at least two hologram strips (31, 32) intersecting each other, wherein the scanning beam passage is arranged in a manner such that a scanning beam (34) diffracted by the first hologram strip (31) impinges on the second hologram strip (32) with an incidence angle outside the Bragg angle with respect to the second hologram strip (32), and a scanning beam (33) to be diffracted by the second hologram strip (32) impinges on the first hologram strip (31) with an incidence angle outside the Bragg angle with respect to the first hologram strip (31).

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 104 words

A laser beam scanner comprising a hologram window (3) which comprises at least two hologram strips (31, 32) intersecting each other, wherein the scanning beam passage is arranged in a manner such that a scanning beam (34) diffracted by the first hologram strip (31) impinges on the second hologram strip (32) with an incidence angle outside the Bragg angle with respect to the second hologram strip (32), and a scanning beam (33) to be diffracted by the second hologram strip (32) impinges on the first hologram strip (31) with an incidence angle outside the Bragg angle with respect to the first hologram strip (31).

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 63 words

A laser beam scanner comprising a case having a scanning window through which scanning beams are emitted, the case housing a laser beam source and an optical scanning system for arranging the scanning beams from the laser beam from the laser beam source and emitting the scanning beams out of the scanner, wherein the height of the case is less than 85 mm.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 63 words

A laser beam scanner comprising a case having a scanning window through which scanning beams are emitted, the case housing a laser beam source and an optical scanning system for arranging the scanning beams from the laser beam from the laser beam source and emitting the scanning beams out of the scanner, wherein the height of the case is less than 85 mm.

Laser beam scanner

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