Rohm Co., Ltd.

Omron Corporation

Motoshi Uehara

Yasuhiro Yoshikawa

Tsutomu Hasegawa

The present invention relates to a lens array unit fabrication process. A lens array forming step produces a first and a second lens arrays each having linearly-arranged first or second lenses. In a lens array connecting step, the first array is connected to the second array so that the first lenses are axially aligned with the second lenses. The connecting step includes providing of ultrasonic vibration by e.g. an ultrasonic horn. In the forming step, a resin casting is used in which lens array regions, each including linearly-arranged first or second lenses, are integrally formed in a direction perpendicular to the rows of lenses. In the forming step, a multiple-blade rotary cutter, provided with rotary blades disposed at a pitch corresponding to the transverse dimension of each lens array region, is used to simultaneously make cuts flanking the lens array regions.

Lens array unit and process for making lens array

A reader apparatus includes a card slot unit receiving a card on which a pattern code is attached; a LED array having a light emitting plane for emitting light of a light path width smaller than the diameter of the light emitting plane; a reflective mirror having a portion facing the card received through the card slot unit, the facing portion having a length smaller than the diameter of the light emitting plane of the LED array for reflecting light emitted from the LED array to direct the light to the pattern code of the card received through the card slot unit; and a reader device receiving light reflected from the pattern code of the card. Since the card slot depth can be made smaller than the conventional one so that the card can be inserted into the reader apparatus without hiding the information attached at the predetermined position, the user can view the information. The insert position of the card can be optimized.

Growing community of inventors

Kyoto, Japan

Motoshi Uehara