TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to lens focusing assemblies for imaging apparatuses, such as barcode and/or other symbology scanners, and specifically to variable focus lens assemblies for use in small form factor imaging apparatuses and configured for discrete focusing using electromagnetism.

BACKGROUND

Lenses are often designed such that objects at a particular predetermined range appear in focus via the lens. In this regard, an imaging apparatus may utilize a sensor to capture an image data object representing a field of view via the lens. Stationary lenses are limited to the predetermined range being in focus. Variable focus lenses advantageously provide the ability to alter the predetermined range, conventional implementations for variable focusing remain bulky, slow, and/or vulnerable to one or more environmental impacts. In this regard, conventional variable focus lenses are often not suitable for use in small form factor mobile imaging apparatuses, and/or physically cannot fit within such apparatuses for use. Applicant has discovered problems with current implementations of variable focus lens assemblies and apparatuses. Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, Applicant has solved many of these identified problems by developing embodied in the present disclosure, which are described in detail below.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In general, embodiments of the present disclosure provided herein include discrete focusing lens assemblies and discrete focus imaging apparatuses including one or more such assemblies. Other implementations for one or more of the discrete focusing lens assemblies and/or discrete focusing imaging apparatuses will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional implementations be included within this description be within the scope of the disclosure, and be protected by the following claims.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a discrete focusing lens assembly is provided. The discrete focusing lens assembly is configured to position at least a lens barrel assembly to a predefined number of focal positions, and/or within a continuous set of focal positions, with reduced form factor such that the assembly may be fit within a small form factor apparatus chassis. In at least one example embodiment, an example discrete focusing lens assembly comprises a positioning coil board comprising at least a first positioning coil assembly and a second positioning coil assembly. The example discrete focusing lens further comprises a lens barrel assembly. The example discrete focusing lens further comprises a module base defining an inner module space designed to fit the lens barrel assembly, where the module base is designed to support the first positioning coil assembly at a first coil position and the second positioning coil assembly at a second coil position, the first coil position opposite the second coil position. The example discrete focusing lens further comprises at least one module alignment pin engaged with the module base, the positioning coil board, and the lens barrel assembly, where the first positioning coil assembly and the second positioning coil assembly, together with the lens barrel assembly, define a focus position for the lens barrel assembly.

Additionally or alternatively, in at least some embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the first positioning coil assembly comprises a first positioning coil, the first positioning coil is positioned around a first positioning pad, and the second positioning coil assembly comprises a second positioning coil, where the second positioning coil is positioned around a second positioning pad, and where the lens barrel assembly comprises a first positioning magnet located adjacent to the first positioning pad, a second positioning magnet located adjacent to the second positioning pad, and an imaging optical lens, where first positioning pad, the first positioning coil, and the first positioning magnet together with the second positioning pad, the second positioning coil, and the second positioning magnet define the focus position for the lens barrel assembly. Additionally or alternatively, in at least some such embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the first positioning pad is located in a first coil inner region defined by the first positioning coil and the second positioning pad is located in a second coil inner region defined by the second positioning coil. Additionally or alternatively, in at least some such embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the first positioning pad comprises a first iron positioning pad, and wherein the second positioning pad comprises a second iron positioning pad. Additionally or alternatively, in at least some such embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the focus position comprises a default focus position in a circumstance where the positioning coil board is in a non-powered state, and the first positioning pad is aligned with the first positioning magnet and the second positioning pad is aligned with the second positioning magnet at the default focus position. Additionally or alternatively, in at least some such embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the default focus position is based on a default focus range.

Additionally or alternatively, in at least some such embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the first positioning magnet and the second positioning magnet each comprise a non-glossy dark surface. Additionally or alternatively, in at least some such embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the non-glossy dark surface comprises a magnet surface epoxy.

Additionally or alternatively, in at least some embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the module base, the positioning coil board, and the lens barrel assembly each comprise at least one alignment pin opening, each alignment pin opening positioned to enable the at least one module alignment pin to engage each of the module base, the positioning coil board, and the lens barrel assembly through the at least one alignment pin opening.

Additionally or alternatively, in at least some embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the module base, the positioning coil board, and the lens barrel assembly each comprise a first alignment pin opening and a second alignment pin opening, each of the first alignment pin openings located opposite one of the second alignment pin openings, and the at least one module alignment pin comprises a first alignment pin and a second alignment pin, where the first alignment pin is engaged with the module base, the positioning coil board, and the lens barrel assembly via each of the first alignment pin openings, and where the second alignment pin is engaged with the module base, the positioning coil, and the lens barrel assembly via each of the second alignment pin openings.

Additionally or alternatively, in at least some embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the focus position comprises a continuous focus position based on a value of a powered state for the positioning coil board.

Additionally or alternatively, in at least some embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the discrete focusing lens assembly comprises an assembly height of less than 7 millimeters.

Additionally or alternatively, in at least some embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the focus position for the lens barrel assembly comprises a first focus position in a circumstance where the positioning coil board is in a first powered state, the focus position for the lens barrel assembly comprises a second focus position in a circumstance where the positioning coil board is in a second powered state, and the focus position for the lens barrel assembly comprises a default focus position in a circumstance where the positioning coil board is in a non-powered state.

Additionally or alternatively, in at least some embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the discrete focusing lens assembly further comprises coil powering circuitry connected to the positioning coil board, the first positioning coil assembly, the second positioning coil assembly, or a combination thereof, where the coil powering circuitry is configured to power the first positioning coil assembly, the second positioning coil assembly, or a combination thereof.

Additionally or alternatively, in at least some embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the module base comprises a first positioning area to receive the first positioning coil assembly and a second positioning area to receive the second positioning coil assembly.

Additionally or alternatively, in at least some embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the at least one module alignment pin comprises a friction-free pin.

Additionally or alternatively, in at least some embodiments of the discrete focusing lens assembly, the discrete focusing lens assembly further comprises a lens mount for mounting the discrete focusing lens assembly within an imaging apparatus, wherein the lens mount is attached to the module base.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a multi-sensor imaging apparatus is provided. The multi-sensor imaging apparatus is configured for discrete focusing as disclosed herein. The multi-sensor imaging apparatus comprises an apparatus chassis configured to house at least a discrete focusing lens assembly and at least one additional lens assembly. The discrete focusing lens assembly of the multi-sensor imaging apparatus comprises a first positioning coil assembly comprising a first positioning coil, where the first positioning coil is positioned around a first positioning pad. The discrete focusing lens assembly of the multi-sensor imaging apparatus further comprises a second positioning coil assembly comprising a second positioning coil, where the second positioning coil is positioned around a second positioning pad; The discrete focusing lens assembly of the multi-sensor imaging apparatus further comprises a lens barrel assembly comprising first positioning magnet located adjacent to the first positioning pad, a second positioning magnet located adjacent to the second positioning pad, and an imaging optical lens. The discrete focusing lens assembly of the multi-sensor imaging apparatus further comprises a module base defining an inner module space designed to fit the lens barrel assembly, and the module base is designed to support the first positioning coil assembly at a first coil position and the second positioning coil assembly at a second coil position, the first coil position opposite the second coil position. The discrete focusing lens assembly of the multi-sensor imaging apparatus further comprises at least one module alignment pin engaged with the module base, the positioning coil assembly, and the lens barrel assembly, where the first positioning pad, the first positioning coil, and the first positioning magnet together with the second positioning pad, the second positioning coil, and the second positioning magnet define a focus position for the lens barrel assembly.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of assembling a discrete focusing lens assembly. The method may be performed by any of a number of actors, including one or more human actors, computer-operated machines and/or robotic systems, and/or the like. In at least one example embodiment of the method, the method comprises assembling a lens barrel, a pair of positioning magnets, and an imaging lens to form a lens barrel assembly, where the lens barrel assembly comprises a first positioning magnet of the pair of positioning magnets mounted opposite a second positioning magnet of the pair of positioning magnets. The example method further comprises inserting the lens barrel assembly into a module space defined by a module base, the module base comprising at least one alignment pin opening. The example method further comprises engaging at least one module alignment pin with the lens barrel assembly through the at least one alignment pin opening of the module base. The example method further comprises assembling a first positioning coil assembly and a second positioning coil assembly. The example method further comprises attaching, on the module base, the first positioning coil assembly and the second positioning coil assembly, the first positioning coil assembly positioned opposite the second positioning coil assembly.

Additionally or alternatively, in at least some example embodiments of the method, the method further comprises inserting a first positioning pad into a first coil inner region defined by a first positioning coil to form a first coil-pad assembly; and attaching a flex connector to the first coil-pad assembly to form the first positioning coil assembly.

