Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Housings
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-19
2003-03-18
Pyo, Kevin (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Housings
C250S208100, C359S819000, C382S101000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06534763
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to line scan cameras, and more particularly to a new and improved line scan camera which comprises a sealed camera structure or entity wherein an optical assembly, which comprises or includes a lens and CCD subassembly, and an optical bench assembly, which comprises or includes the focal point or object plane, are integrated together such that once the optical assembly is calibrated and locked in position with respect to the optical bench assembly by means of highly skilled factory technicians, further calibration or recalibration of the optical assembly, or more particularly, the lens and CCD components, with respect to each other as well as with respect to the optical bench assembly, or more particularly, with respect to the object plane, is no longer required. In addition, dust and other contaminants are effectively substantially prevented from entering the sealed camera structure so as not to collect upon the optical components of the camera whereby substantial maintenance or cleaning of the optical components of the camera is not usually required. Should routine maintenance or cleaning of the optical components of the camera nevertheless be required, such routine maintenance or cleaning of the optical components of the camera, and reassembly of the entire sealed camera structure, can be rapidly performed, with minimal operational downtime of the camera, due to the fact that recalibration of the optical assembly, with respect to the optical bench assembly, is obviated despite the fact that the various optical components of the camera were operatively disassembled with respect to each other.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Line scan cameras are used in various industrial or commercial applications, such as, for example, in those instances or circumstances wherein the camera is maintained stationary while the objects to be photographed or scanned are moved with respect to the camera. One such exemplary industrial or commercial application comprises the use of line scan cameras in connection with the high-speed sorting or processing of mail. In accordance with such systems, for example, pieces of mail are conveyed past a point or object plane at which the line scan camera scans or photographs the same. In order to achieve the necessary high-speed scanning or photographing of the mail so as to, in turn, ensure the high-speed processing or sorting of the millions of pieces of mail which enter the mail or postal system on a daily basis, it can be readily appreciated that relatively simple, accurate, high-speed, and reliable line scan cameras, devices, or systems are required. Prior art or conventional line scan cameras, or similar devices or systems, are exemplified by the devices or systems which are disclosed, for example, within U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,253 which issued to Tabata on Nov. 16, 1999, U.S. Pat. 5,936,239 which issued to Tsai et al. on Aug. 10, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,386 which issued to Tsuyuki et al. on Mar. 16, 1999, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,297 which issued to Aleshire et al. on Aug. 26, 1997. While these prior art line scan cameras, or devices or systems, have ostensibly been satisfactory in connection with their operability and the performance of their desired objectives, it has been realized that none of such prior art cameras, or devices or systems, are capable of achieving, for example, the aforenoted objectives or operational characteristics of simplicity, accuracy, and reliability required in connection with line scan camera units which are to be utilized within high-speed scanning or processing systems, such as, for example, the sorting or processing of postal mail.
More particularly, in connection with a line scan camera which is to be used to perform, for example, high-speed processing or sorting of postal mail, it has been noted that the camera should be simple, accurate, and reliable. In order to achieve simplicity in connection with the camera structure, for example, it is desirable that the lens have in effect a fixed focal point with respect to the object plane such that the lens need not be refocused each time an object is to be scanned or photographed, or even periodically after repair operations have been completed. Similarly, it is desirable that the camera have its own self-contained illumination system such that exposure adjustments also need not be required each time an object is to be scanned or photographed. In a similar manner, in order to provide the camera with the requisite degree of accuracy, it is desirable to provide the same with a positional calibration system whereby once the lens structure or assembly is positionally calibrated with respect to the object plane so as to fix the focal point, as well as being positionally calibrated with respect to the CCD or charge-coupled device so as to fix the focusing length, positional recalibration of the lens structure or assembly would no longer be required. Such a structural system would therefore obviate currently required setup and calibration procedures by highly skilled technicians and significantly reduce implementation or operational times conventionally required when line scan cameras presently in use are to be used at their field locations.
Still further, it is also noted that line scan cameras which are used, for example, to sort or process postal mail are necessarily subjected to dust and other contaminants which, when collected upon the various optical components of the cameras, compromise or significantly reduce the optical performance of the cameras. In order to rectify this situation, the cameras need to be periodically cleaned or maintained. Such cleaning and maintenance operations or procedures, however, are quite time-consuming, they require skilled technicians to perform such operations or procedures, and in addition, result in significant additional operational downtime of the cameras since the cameras, in addition to the performance of the required cleaning and maintenance operations or procedures, also need to have the lens components positionally recalibrated when the various camera components, which were disassembled in order to perform the cleaning and maintenanced procedures, are to be reassembled with respect to each other.
A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved line scan camera which is simple in its structural make-up such that, for example, focusing adjustments of the lens assembly with respect to the object plane, as well as exposure adjustments with respect to the object being illuminated and photographed, need not be performed; wherein the positional adjustments for the lens assembly with respect to the object plane and the CCD or charge-coupled device are able to be fixed such that the positional adjustments of the lens assembly with respect to the object plane and the CCD or charge-coupled device need not be recalibrated; and wherein all of the optical components of the line scan camera are disposed within a sealed enclosure such that dust and contaminants attendant the operational usage of the camera are effectively prevented from collecting upon the optical components of the camera such that frequent cleaning, maintenance, and repair of the camera, with comcomitant downtime of the camera system, is effectively reduced or obviated.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved line scan camera which has particular utility in connection with the scanning or photographing of pieces of mail attendant the high-speed processing or sorting of postal mail.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved line scan camera which overcomes the various operational drawbacks and disadvantages characteristic of prior art line scan cameras or similar devices or systems.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved line scan camera wherein the optical components of the optical assembly of the camera are able to be positionally calibrated relative to the charge-coupled device (
Kehley Glenn L.
Krohn Robert M.
Pyo Kevin
Schwartz & Weinreib
Sohn Seung C.
LandOfFree
Low maintenance line scan camera does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Low maintenance line scan camera, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Low maintenance line scan camera will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3058862