US3612644A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical scanner for retroreflective labels
Assignee: GTE Sylvania Inc
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Filing: 1970-07-06
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1990-07-06
Abstract
Abstract An optical scanning apparatus for scanning a retroreflective label affixed to an object such as a vehicle. An elongated cylindrical rod having a diagonally cut elliptical end region and a small elliptical mirror secured to the diagonally cut end region is positioned intermediate a high-intensity light source and a rotating wheel having a plurality of reflective mirror surfaces around its periphery. An incident light beam produced by the light source surrounds the cylindrical rod, the crosssectional area of which is significantly less than the crosssectional area of the incident light beam, and strikes the reflective mirror surfaces of the rotating wheel in succession. The reflective mirror surfaces reflect the incident beam onto the retroreflective label which, in turn, retroreflects the incident beam back onto the reflective mirror surfaces. The reflective mirror surfaces then reflect the retroreflected beam toward the small elliptical mirror and a portion of the beam, constituting the most intense and desirable portion of the beam, is reflected by the small elliptical mirror to an electrooptical processing arrangement for further processing.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis H Stites
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:14
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L25/00; B61L25/02; B61L25/04; B61L25/041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
In a system for reading a retroreflective label, optical scanning apparatus comprising: rotatable means supporting a plurality of mirror elements on the periphery thereof for reflecting an incident beam of light directed thereon onto a retroreflective label and for receiving and reflecting a beam of light reflected from the retroreflective label in response to the incident beam of light; a source of light arranged to produce and direct an incident beam of light onto said mirror elements in succession whereby the incident beam of light is reflected from the mirror elements onto said retroreflective label; an elongated member disposed intermediate the source of light and the rotatable means along the optical axis of the source of light and in the path of the incident beam of light produced by the source of light, said elongated member having a crosssectional area small compared to the cross-sectional area of the incident beam of light produced by the source of light said cross-sectional area of the elongated member having a value permitting passage of a major portion of the incident beam of light produced by the source of light to the mirror elements on the rotatable means, and said elongated member having an end region remote from the source of light facing the rotatable means, and cut diagonally at a predetermined angle; and a mirror receiving element disposed on the diagonally cut end region of the elongated member whereby said mirror receiving element receives light at the center of the beam of light reflected by the retroreflective label after being reflected by the mirror elements on the rotatable means, said mirror receiving element reflecting said light to a light processing arrangement for process processing by said light processing arrangement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
286 words
In a system for reading a retroreflective label, optical scanning apparatus comprising: rotatable means supporting a plurality of mirror elements on the periphery thereof for reflecting an incident beam of light directed thereon onto a retroreflective label and for receiving and reflecting a beam of light reflected from the retroreflective label in response to the incident beam of light; a source of light arranged to produce and direct an incident beam of light onto said mirror elements in succession whereby the incident beam of light is reflected from the mirror elements onto said retroreflective label; an elongated member disposed intermediate the source of light and the rotatable means along the optical axis of the source of light and in the path of the incident beam of light produced by the source of light, said elongated member having a crosssectional area small compared to the cross-sectional area of the incident beam of light produced by the source of light said cross-sectional area of the elongated member having a value permitting passage of a major portion of the incident beam of light produced by the source of light to the mirror elements on the rotatable means, and said elongated member having an end region remote from the source of light facing the rotatable means, and cut diagonally at a predetermined angle; and a mirror receiving element disposed on the diagonally cut end region of the elongated member whereby said mirror receiving element receives light at the center of the beam of light reflected by the retroreflective label after being reflected by the mirror elements on the rotatable means, said mirror receiving element reflecting said light to a light processing arrangement for process processing by said light processing arrangement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
Optical scanning apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the elongated member has a cylindrical configuration and the diagonally cut end region has an elliptical configuration; and the mirror receiving element has an elliptical configuration and is of the same size as the elliptical diagonally cut end region of the elongated member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Optical scanning apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the source of light includes a high-intensity, short-arc, xenon illuminator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
Optical scanning apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein the elongated member is coated with a nonreflecting paint.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Optical scanning apparatus in accordance with claim 4 further comprising a light trap located proximate to the mirror receiving element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3456997A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |