Omron Corporation

Hiroshi Goto

Koichi Imanaka

Yoshinori Ito

Shiro Ogata

Atsushi Irie

Hiroshi Sekii

Masaaki Ikeda

Hiromi Totani

Kenji Takemura

Kourou Kitajima

Hidenobu Umeda

Norimasa Yamanaka

Kiyotoshi Ookura

Masahiro Yoneda

An optical scanner is disclosed which, in one embodiment, uses a reflection surface on a vibrating element having at least two modes of vibration in at least two respective planes to produce an image scanning beam. Each of the modes has an associated resonant frequency and the two resonant frequencies of the vibrating element are not integer multiples of one another. In another embodiment, a reflective element is used to bounce a light beam from the reflection surface back to the reflection surface to increase the angle of scanning of a light beam. The reflective element may be semitransparent which allows the scanning beam to be detected through the range of scanning to ensure proper scanning. The optical scanner is particularly useful as a hand-held bar code scanner.

Optical scanner and bar code reader employing same

An optical scanner and an optical scanning device, an optical sensor unit, a coded data reader, and a POS system employing an optical scanner. The optical comprises an elastically deformable element, a vibrational input segment disposed at a first end of the elastically deformable element, a driven segment disposed at a second end of the elastically deformable element, a vibration source for inducing vibration in the vibrational input segment, whereby the vibration induced in the vibrational input segment produces elastic deformation of the elastically deformable element and consequent movement of the driven segment, and a stop for limiting a range of the movement of the driven segment.

Optical scanner and optical scanning device, optical sensor, coded data

A multi-focus optical sensing device for use in bar code scanners, photoelectric sensors and the like is disclosed. To extend the range of detection along the optical axis, without increasing the detection time, the focal point of the light beam is caused to move along the optical axis. A control and modulation circuit varies a current I.sub.f which drives an optical semiconductor serving as a light source. This changes the focal distance of a refraction lattice and so causes the focal position of the light beam emitted by light source to scan along the optical axis. This scan is repeated each time a polygonal mirror scans the light beam over the narrowest width 1/n (where n is an integer) of the bar code lines. A processing unit samples and processes the signal from a photodetector unit while the light beam is being scanned along the optical axis.

Multi-focus optical device

An optical scanner and beam printer using the optical scanner are disclosed in which the optical scanner includes a scanning element supporting a mirror surface, a support element for freely supporting at one end the scanning element and at another end a vibrating element, and a drive source for inducing vibrations in the vibrating element. The support element may be a shaft having two modes of elastic deformation upon vibration or a torsional spring which undergoes deformation upon vibration. Vibrations received by the vibrating element are applied to the scanning element by the support element to cause optical scanning movement by the scanning element.

Optical scanner

A weight measuring device includes two piezoelectric elements. The first piezoelectric element induces vibration in an object to be measured, and the second one detects the reaction force of the object generated by the vibration. This force is detected by a voltage monitor circuit as an output voltage from the second piezoelectric element. From the voltage which has been detected, the weight of object is determined. The device further includes an absorbing element to absorb unnecessary piezoelectric strain in reaction force generated when the object vibrates. The invention provides a compact weight sensor which can be produced at low cost, and which can measure weight with high accuracy.

Weight sensor device

A light emitting semiconductor device including a light emitting element, an optical element for condensing, collimating or diverging a ray emitted from the light emitting element which is packaged as a single unit with the light emitting element, and a cap molded by a fiber reinforced resin for supporting the light emitting element, the cap having an opening for a light emitting window which is provided with the optical element.

Light emitting semiconductor device having an optical element

In a reflective photosensor in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are disposed in a mold resin, a planar optical element (micro Fresnel lens) including a first lens section for projecting a light emitted from the light emitting element toward a sense object in an external space and a second lens section for introducing a reflection light reflected from the sense object to the light receiving element is arranged in the mold resin. Favorably, the light emitting element is a light emitting diode of an edge emitting type and is set in a posture in which the element lies on its side. A reflection mirror is disposed in the model resin to introduce a light emitted from the light emitting diode to the first lens section.

Reflective photosensor and semiconductor light emitting apparatus each

An electrostatic drive device includes at least one fixed electrode plate provided on a fixed portion, and at least one movable electrode plate provided on a movable portion resiliently supported on the fixed portion so as to move freely. The fixed electrode plate and movable electrode plate are disposed as to oppose each other in parallel relation, and the movable portion is driven by an electrostatic force produced by applying a voltage across the fixed electrode plate and the movable electrode plate.

Electrostatic drive device and circuit for controlling same

The invention provides a beam scanner comprising a light-emitting element, a lens disposed forwardly of the light-emitting element in such a manner that its optical axis is parallel to the optical axis of the light-emitting element, and a rocking reflective mirror which is rotated by Coulomb force acting between static electrodes. There also is provided a beam scanner comprising a light-emitting element, a lens disposed forwardly of the light-emitting element in such a manner that its optical axis is parallel to the optical axis of the light-emitting element, and a displacement mechanism for reciprocal displacement of either the light-emitting element or the lens in a direction generally perpendicular to the optical axis thereof. The beam scanner of the invention is compact and permits reciprocal scanning.

Growing community of inventors

Yamatokoriyama, Japan

Hiroshi Goto