OPTICAL SCANNER HAVING MULTIPLE, SIMULTANEOUS SCAN LINES WITH DIFFERENT FOCAL LENGTHS

摘要

An optical scanner uses frequency modulation and detection techniques to produce and utilize multiple, simultaneous scan patterns in which corresponding scan lines have different focal lengths. Two or more solid state lasers are modulated at unique frequencies. The frequency modulated output beams pass through different combinations of focusing lenses and are deflected by a single beam deflecting apparatus. Light reflected from any scanned object is detected. The resulting multi-frequency signal is applied to a plurality of bandpass filters to separate the returned signal into a plurality of separately decodable signals.