US3870394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical scanner mechanism
Assignee: Zellweger Uster AG
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Filing: 1973-07-20
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1993-07-20
Abstract
Abstract An optical scanner mechanism, especially for optically discernible characters associated with or applied to articles, for scanning each article by means of a bundle of scanning light rays which in accordance with the rotational- or oscillating movement of a part of a beam deflection mechanism for further transmitting the bundle of light rays scans a surface or plane determined by guide means. A bundle of light rays emanating from a light source is directed by optical means against a reflecting surface of the beam deflecting mechanism. The bundle of scanning light rays reflected by this reflecting surface is transmitted towards a concave mirror or reflector by means of a torus-shaped meniscus lens arranged intermediate the beam deflecting mechanism and the concave mirror. The bundle of scanning light rays or beam reflected by the concave mirror is focused by the latter in a plane determined by the guide means.
Inventors
- 👤 Johann Ploeckl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; G06K7/10871; F; F02; F02D; F02D35/00; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10; G02B26/12; G02B26/125; G02B26/126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
An optical scanner mechanism, especially for optically discernible characters associated with or applied to articles, comprising a light source for generating a scanning light beam, guide means for determining a scanning region, a beam deflection mechanism including a movable component having a central axis and serving for transmitting the scanning light beam to said scanning region determined by said guide means, said movable component of said beam deflection mechanism incorporating reflecting surface means, optical means for directing the bundle of light rays emanating from the light source against the reflecting surface means of said beam deflection mechanism, a concave mirror, a substantially torus-shaped meniscus lens arranged between said beam deflection mechanism and said concave mirror for reducing the effects of possible non-parallelism of said reflecting surface means of the movable component with respect to its central axis, the scanning light beam which is reflected by the reflecting surface means of said beam deflection mechanism being directed by said torus-shaped meniscus lens member against the concave mirror, said concave mirror focusing said scanning light beam reflected by the concave mirror at said scanning region determined by the guide means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
An optical scanner mechanism, especially for optically discernible characters associated with or applied to articles, comprising a light source for generating a scanning light beam, guide means for determining a scanning region, a beam deflection mechanism including a movable component having a central axis and serving for transmitting the scanning light beam to said scanning region determined by said guide means, said movable component of said beam deflection mechanism incorporating reflecting surface means, optical means for directing the bundle of light rays emanating from the light source against the reflecting surface means of said beam deflection mechanism, a concave mirror, a substantially torus-shaped meniscus lens arranged between said beam deflection mechanism and said concave mirror for reducing the effects of possible non-parallelism of said reflecting surface means of the movable component with respect to its central axis, the scanning light beam which is reflected by the reflecting surface means of said beam deflection mechanism being directed by said torus-shaped meniscus lens member against the concave mirror, said concave mirror focusing said scanning light beam reflected by the concave mirror at said scanning region determined by the guide means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
188 words
An optical scanner mechanism, especially for optically discernible characters associated with or applied to articles, comprising a light source for generating a scanning light beam, guide means for determining a scanning region, a beam deflection mechanism including a movable component having a central axis and serving for transmitting the scanning light beam to said scanning region determined by said guide means, said movable component of said beam deflection mechanism incorporating reflecting surface means, optical means for directing the bundle of light rays emanating from the light source against the reflecting surface means of said beam deflection mechanism, a concave mirror, a substantially torus-shaped meniscus lens arranged between said beam deflection mechanism and said concave mirror for reducing the effects of possible non-parallelism of said reflecting surface means of the movable component with respect to its central axis, the scanning light beam which is reflected by the reflecting surface means of said beam deflection mechanism being directed by said torus-shaped meniscus lens member against the concave mirror, said concave mirror focusing said scanning light beam reflected by the concave mirror at said scanning region determined by the guide means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
188 words
An optical scanner mechanism, especially for optically discernible characters associated with or applied to articles, comprising a light source for generating a scanning light beam, guide means for determining a scanning region, a beam deflection mechanism including a movable component having a central axis and serving for transmitting the scanning light beam to said scanning region determined by said guide means, said movable component of said beam deflection mechanism incorporating reflecting surface means, optical means for directing the bundle of light rays emanating from the light source against the reflecting surface means of said beam deflection mechanism, a concave mirror, a substantially torus-shaped meniscus lens arranged between said beam deflection mechanism and said concave mirror for reducing the effects of possible non-parallelism of said reflecting surface means of the movable component with respect to its central axis, the scanning light beam which is reflected by the reflecting surface means of said beam deflection mechanism being directed by said torus-shaped meniscus lens member against the concave mirror, said concave mirror focusing said scanning light beam reflected by the concave mirror at said scanning region determined by the guide means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical scanner mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the scanning region determined by the guide means comprises a scanning plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical scanner mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the scanning region determined by the guide means defines a scanning surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The optical scanner as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical means embodies first optical means by means of which the bundle of light rays emanating from the light source is deflected against the movable reflecting surface means, said first optical means incorporating a prism provided with a substantially spherical inlet surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optical scanner mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacing of the torus-shaped meniscus lens from the beam deflection mechanism is smaller than the spacing of such meniscus lens from the concave mirror.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The optical scanner mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the torus-shaped meniscus lens is constructed and arranged such that the bundle of light rays impinging therefrom upon the reflecting surface impinges such surface means at a first location which is spatially offset with respect to a second location of such reflecting surface means at which there impinges a received bundle of light rays at the reflecting surface means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The optical scanner mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the torus-shaped meniscus lens images the scanning light beam at a first location of the concave miRror, said first location being positionally offset with respect to a second location of the concave mirror at which there is reflected a received bundle of light rays.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The optical scanner mechanism as defined in claim 1, further including a second torus-shaped meniscus lens, and wherein a received bundle of light rays emanating from a scanning spot derived from the scanning light beam is imaged via the concave mirror and the second torus-shaped meniscus lens at said reflecting surface means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The optical scanner mechanism as defined in claim 1, including further optical means and a photoelectric receiver, and wherein a bundle of received light rays after its reflection at the reflecting surface means is imaged by said further optical means at said photoelectric receiver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical scanner mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the focal point of the concave mirror is located at least approximately at the axis of the beam deflecting mechanism.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical scanner mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the focal length of the torus-shaped meniscus lens is smaller than the focal length of the concave mirror.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3520586A
Cited
US3508068A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |