초록 ▼

A symbol reader employs an optical element having first and second optical axes positioned to image a same portion of a color coded symbol onto two different portions of an image sensor. The reader includes one or more filters to remove different color portions of the light reflected from the symbol

A symbol reader employs an optical element having first and second optical axes positioned to image a same portion of a color coded symbol onto two different portions of an image sensor. The reader includes one or more filters to remove different color portions of the light reflected from the symbol to create color separations at the image sensor. Thus, the image sensor detects different intensities of light, corresponding to different color states. A comparator, such as a microprocessor, programmed general purposed computer, or digital logic circuit, can determine the position and color of the various symbol elements based on image data produced by the image sensors, and decode the color coded symbol.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A symbol reader to read machine-readable symbols having more than two different colors, the symbol reader comprising:a first optical lens having a first optical axis, the first optical lens positionable to image at least a first portion of a symbol at a first time; a second optical lens having a

1. A symbol reader to read machine-readable symbols having more than two different colors, the symbol reader comprising:a first optical lens having a first optical axis, the first optical lens positionable to image at least a first portion of a symbol at a first time; a second optical lens having a second optical axis, different from the first optical axis, the second optical lens positionable to image at least the first portion of the symbol at the first time; an image sensor having at least a first portion aligned with the first optical axis and a second portion aligned with the second optical axis; a first color filter positioned along the first optical axis before the image sensor to substantially remove a respective color component from light reflected from the at least first portion of the symbol before the light reaches the image sensor; and a second color filter positioned along the second optical axis before the image sensor to substantially remove a respective color component from light reflected from the at least first portion of the symbol before the light reaches the image sensor.