Optical lens for using in illumination system of imaging scanner

1. An apparatus comprising:

an illumination light source;

an illumination lens comprising a first Fresnel surface facing the illumination light source and a second surface having a microlens array thereon, the first Fresnel surface configured to direct light received from the illumination light source towards the second surface to generate illumination light towards a target object through the microlens array on the second surface, the illumination light having a predetermined illumination field of view;

an imaging lens arrangement;

an imaging sensor having photosensitive elements configured to detect light from the target object within an imaging field of view through the imaging lens arrangement at least during a time period when the target object is illuminated by the illumination light, wherein the imaging sensor is configured to output image data from the photosensitive elements;

a controller configured for processing the image data to decode an image of a barcode on the target object; and

wherein the first Fresnel surface is configured to collimate light from the illumination light source towards the microlens array on the second surface of the illumination lens with the microlens array configured to broadening an apparent light source to create uniform chip image.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the illumination light source is located at a focus position of the first Fresnel surface to collimate light from the illumination light source towards the second surface of the illumination lens.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first Fresnel surface having a focus length at least 5 mm.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microlens array is arranged in a matrix of M rows and N columns, with the integer M being at least 5 and the integer N being at least 5.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microlens array includes at least 25 micro lenses each having a focus length at least 0.5 mm.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least 25 rectangular micro lenses arranged in a rectangular pattern.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least 25 hexagonal micro lenses arranged in a hexagonal pattern.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microlens array includes at least 25 micro lenses each projecting light received from the first Fresnel surface into a corresponding field of view that is rectangular in shape.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined illumination field of view is rectangular in shape.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined illumination field of view is hexagonal in shape.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microlens array includes at least 25 micro lenses wherein multiple micro lenses each project light received from the first Fresnel surface into a corresponding field of view that overlaps with the predetermined illumination field of view by at least 90%.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microlens array includes at least 25 micro lenses wherein multiple micro lenses each project light received from the first Fresnel surface into a corresponding field of view that is substantially within with the predetermined illumination field of view.

13. A method comprising:

projecting light from an illumination light source onto a first Fresnel surface of an illumination lens;

directing the light received from the illumination light source by the first Fresnel surface towards a second surface of the illumination lens to generate illumination light towards a target object through a microlens array on the second surface, the illumination light having a predetermined illumination field of view;

detecting light from the target object within an imaging field of view through an imaging lens arrangement with an imaging sensor having photosensitive elements at least during a time period when the target object is illuminated by the illumination light, wherein the imaging sensor is configured to output image data from the photosensitive elements; and

processing and decoding the image data sampling an image of a barcode of the target object projected on the imaging sensor; and

collimating the light from the illumination light source towards the microlens array on the second surface of the illumination lens to generate the illumination light with the microlens array configured to broadening an apparent light source to create uniform chip image.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined illumination field of view is rectangular in shape.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the microlens array includes at least 25 micro lenses, the method further comprising:

projecting light received from the first Fresnel surface with each of the at least 25 micro lenses into a corresponding field of view that overlaps with the predetermined illumination field of view by at least 90%.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the microlens array includes at least 25 micro lenses, the method further comprising:

projecting light received from the first Fresnel surface with each of the at least 25 micro lenses into a corresponding field of view that is substantially within the predetermined illumination field of view.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the microlens array includes at least 25 micro lenses, the method further comprising:

projecting light received from the first Fresnel surface with each of the at least 25 micro lenses into a corresponding field of view that overlaps with the predetermined illumination field of view by at least 90%, wherein the predetermined illumination field of view is rectangular in shape.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the microlens array includes at least 25 micro lenses, the method further comprising:

projecting light received from the first Fresnel surface with each of the at least 25 micro lenses into a corresponding field of view that is substantially within with the predetermined illumination field of view, wherein the predetermined illumination field of view is rectangular in shape.