The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 27, 1996
Filed:
Sep. 21, 1992
Shiro Ogata, Kyoto, JP;
Hiroshi Goto, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Yoshinori Ito, Takatsuki, JP;
Koichi Imanaka, Kyoto, JP;
Omron Corporation, Kyoto, JP;
Abstract
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.