IP Library Granted Patent US 7,262,888
Granted Patent B2
US 7,262,888 · App. 10/135,760 · Granted Aug 28, 2007

Optical scanner apparatus with pinhole imaging device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,262,888
App. No.
10/135,760
Granted
Aug 28, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pinhole-imaging device is used as an imaging device for an optical scanner apparatus. The pinhole-imaging device replaces the conventional lens-imaging device and is placed in front of the optical sensor to receive the imaged light from the scanning object and the optical image is focused on the optical sensor. When the radius of the aperture of pinhole-imaging device is smaller or equal to the pixel of the optical sensor, the imaged light transmitted through the aperture of the pinhole-imaging device is focused on the optical sensor to form an image such that the resolution of the optical imaging can be obtained and the light dispersion effect issue can be improved.

Claims (56)

1. An optical scanner apparatus, comprising:

a light source capable of illuminating a scanning object; and

an optical sensor capable of receiving imaged light from the scanning object through a pinhole-imaging device comprising an aperture having a radius no greater than a pixel size of the optical sensor.

2. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the radius of said aperture is smaller than a pixel of said optical sensor.

3. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the radius of said aperture is equal to a pixel size of said optical sensor.

4. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said imaged light comprises light reflected from the scanning object.

5. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said imaged light comprises light transmitted through the scanning object.

6. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said optical sensor comprises a charge coupled device.

7. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an analog-digital converter capable of receiving imaging data communicated from said optical sensor and further capable of converting said imaging data into a digital signal.

8. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an application specific integrated circuit capable of receiving said digital signal and further capable of processing said digital signal.

9. An optical scanner apparatus, comprising:

a light source capable of illuminating a scanning object to form an imaged light;

a pinhole-imaging device comprising an aperture having a radius no greater than a pixel size of an optical sensor, the pinhole-imaging device capable of receiving said imaged light and further capable of focusing an optical imaging on the optical sensor;

an analog-digital converter capable of receiving imaging data communicated from said optical sensor and further capable of converting said imaging data into a digital signal; and

an application specific integrated circuit capable of receiving said digital signal and further capable of processing said digital signal.

10. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the radius of said aperture is smaller than a pixel of said optical sensor.

11. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the radius of said aperture is equal to a pixel size of said optical sensor.

12. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said imaged light comprises light reflected from the scanning object.

13. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said imaged light comprises a light transmitted through the scanning object.

14. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said optical sensor comprises a charge coupled device.

15. An optical scanner apparatus comprising:

a light source capable of illuminating a scanning object to form an imaged light, wherein said scanning object is positioned on a platen of said optical scanner apparatus;

a pinhole-imaging device comprising an aperture having a radius no greater than a pixel size of a charge coupled device, said pinhole-imaging device capable of receiving said imaged light and further capable of focusing imaged light on the charge coupled device;

an analog-digital converter capable of receiving imaging data communicated from said charge coupled device and further capable of converting said imaging data into a digital signal; and

an application specific integrated circuit capable of receiving said digital signal and further capable of processing said digital signal.

16. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein said radius of said aperture is smaller than said pixel size of said charge coupled device.

17. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein said imaged light comprises light reflected from the scanning object.

18. The optical scanner apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein said imaged light comprises light transmitted through the scanning object.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a light source capable of reflecting light off of a scanning object; and

an optical sensor capable of receiving the reflected light through an imaging component comprising an aperture having a radius approximately no greater than a pixel size of the optical sensor, wherein the imaging component is capable of focusing the reflected light onto the optical sensor.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the aperture has a radius approximately equal to the pixel size of the optical sensor.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the aperture has a radius less than the pixel size of said optical sensor.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the optical sensor comprises a charge-coupled device.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

a light source capable of transmitting light through a scanning object; and

an optical sensor capable of receiving the transmitted light through an imaging component comprising an aperture having a radius no greater than a pixel size of the optical sensor, wherein the imaging component is capable of focusing the reflected light onto the optical sensor.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the aperture has a radius approximately equal to the pixel size of the optical sensor.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the aperture has a radius less than the pixel size of the optical sensor.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the optical sensor comprises a charge-coupled device.

27. An method, comprising:

illuminating a scanning object;

passing light reflected by the scanning object through an aperture having a radius approximately no greater than a pixel size of an optical sensor; and

receiving the light passed through the aperture at the optical sensor.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein passing light reflected by the scanning object through the aperture comprises focusing the light reflected by the scanning object onto the optical sensor.

29. The method of claim 27 , wherein receiving the light passed through the aperture comprises receiving the light at a charge-coupled device.

30. The method of claim 27 , wherein passing light reflected by the scanning object through an aperture having a radius approximately no greater than a pixel size of an optical sensor comprises passing the light through an aperture having a radius approximately equal to the pixel size of the optical sensor.

31. The method of claim 27 , wherein passing light reflected by the scanning object through an aperture having a radius approximately no greater than a pixel size of an optical sensor comprises passing the light through an aperture having a radius less than the pixel size of the the optical sensor.

32. An apparatus, comprising:

means for illuminating a scanning object;

means for passing light reflected by the scanning object through an aperture having a radius approximately no greater than a pixel size of an optical sensor; and

means for receiving the light passed through the aperture.

33. The aperture of claim 32 , wherein the means for passing light reflected by the scanning object through the aperture comprises means for focusing the light selected by the scanning object onto the optical sensor.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the means for receiving the light passed through the aperture comprises means for receiving the light at a charge-coupled device.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the means for passing light reflected by the scanning object through an aperture having a radius approximately no greater than a pixel size of an optical sensor comprises means for passing the light through an aperture having a radius approximately equal to the pixel size of the optical sensor.

36. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the means for passing light reflected by the scanning object through an aperture having a radius approximately no greater than a pixel size of an optical sensor comprises means for passing the light through an aperture having a radius less than the pixel size of the optical sensor.

Assignments (6)
MERGER Recorded Jun 18, 2013
From: TITUSVILLE CANAVERAL LLC
To: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES I LLC
Reel/Frame 030639/0330 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 17, 2013
From: TRANSPACIFIC SYSTEMS, LLC
To: TITUSVILLE CANAVERAL LLC
Reel/Frame 030628/0681 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2009
From: TRANSPACIFIC IP LTD.
To: TRANSPACIFIC SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 023107/0267 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2006
From: VEUTRON CORPORATION
To: TRANSPACIFIC IP, LTD.
Reel/Frame 017564/0747 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 14, 2005
From: UMAX DATA SYSTEMS INC.
To: VEUTRON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 016800/0203 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2002
From: KUO, SHIH-ZHENG
To: UMAX DATA SYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 012855/0003 →