Optical assembly having lens offset from optical axis

摘要

An improved optical assembly for acquiring an image of an object (300) is disclosed. The optical assembly (200) comprises an illuminator (260) used to illuminate the object (300) and an imaging device (280) used to generate an image of the object (300). The illuminator (260) has a light source (240) associated with an illuminating lens (262) wherein the illuminating lens (262) has an optical axis (278). A light beam (201) is generated by the light source (240) and passes through the illuminating lens (262) to illuminate the object (300). The imaging device (280) has a photosensor (284) associated with an imaging lens (282) wherein the imaging lens (282) has an optical axis (296). An image beam (288, 291) of light reflects from the object (300) and is focused by the imaging lens (282) onto the photosensor (284). The light beams associated with the illuminator (260) and the imaging device (280) are steered to intersect at a common point on the object (300). Steering the light beam (201) is accomplished by spacing the light source (240) a distance (232) from the optical axis (278) of the illuminating lens (262). Steering the image beam (288, 291) is accomplished by spacing the photosensor (284) a distance (234) from the optical axis (296) of the imaging lens (282). <IMAGE>