초록 ▼

A miniature imager for reading target images. The optical and electrical systems of the miniature imager are optimized to reduce one or more dimensions or the volume of the imager. In accordance with one embodiment the pixel pitch and focal length are decreased for that of a larger imager to maintai

A miniature imager for reading target images. The optical and electrical systems of the miniature imager are optimized to reduce one or more dimensions or the volume of the imager. In accordance with one embodiment the pixel pitch and focal length are decreased for that of a larger imager to maintain a comparable field of view for each pixel. The decreased pixel pitch allows the area of the aperture and the instantaneous field of view of the pixel to remain constant while decreasing the overall size of the imager. In other embodiments apparatus and techniques reduce and/or eliminate the need for illumination of a target by the imager thereby reducing the overall power consumed by the imager and/or its overall size. The imager has an increased working range.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An imaging system, comprising:a) a module;b) a solid state image sensor in the module for imaging a target over a field of view;c) a focusing lens in the module for focusing an image of the target on the image sensor;d) the image sensor including an array of pixels arranged in mutually orthogonal

1. An imaging system, comprising:a) a module;b) a solid state image sensor in the module for imaging a target over a field of view;c) a focusing lens in the module for focusing an image of the target on the image sensor;d) the image sensor including an array of pixels arranged in mutually orthogonal rows and columns;e) the pixels in each row being spaced apart by a pitch spacing;f) the pixels in successive rows being offset from one another by one-half of said pitch spacing; andg) an aperture in the module and sized to allow the target to be imaged without being illuminated by light sources on the module. 2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the focusing lens has an optical axis, and wherein the array lies in an imaging plane that lies at an angle other than a right angle with respect to the optical axis. 3. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the array has 512 pixels. 4. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the pitch spacing is 4 micrometers. 5. The imaging system of claim 1, and a dark room in the module for enclosing the image sensor. 6. An imaging system, comprising:a) a module;b) a solid state image sensor in the module for imaging a target over a field of view;c) a focusing lens in the module for focusing an image of the target on the image sensor;d) the image sensor including an array of pixels arranged in mutually orthogonal rows and columns;e) the array lying in an imaging plane that lies at an angle other than a right angle with respect to an optical axis of the focusing lens; andf) an aperture in the module and sized to allow the target to be imaged without being illuminate by light sources on the module. 7. The imaging system of claim 6, wherein the pixels in each row are spaced apart by a pitch spacing, and wherein the pixels in successive rows are offset from one another by one-half of said pitch spacings. 8. The imaging system of claim 7, wherein the pitch spacing is 4 micrometers. 9. The imaging system of claim 6, wherein the array has 512 pixels. 10. The imaging system of claim 6, and a dark room in the module for enclosing the image sensor.