Bioptics bar code reader

• US 20010042789A1
• Filed: 01/08/2001
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Patel, Mehul, Krichever, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 6,899,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10693 for omnidirectional scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1096 the scanner having more than one scanning window, e.g. two substantially orthogonally placed scanning windows for integration into a check-out counter of a super-market

Abstract

A bioptics bar code reader has first and second windows disposed at an angle to each other, a first imager for the first window and a second imager for the second window and first and second optics for directing light from a bar code in a reading area between the windows to the first and second imagers. The two imagers each obtain an image of the bar code in the reading area.

Claims

1. A bioptics bar code reader comprising:

first and second windows disposed at an angle to each other;

a first imager for the first window and a second imager for the second window; and

first and second optics for directing light from a bar code in a reading area between the windows to the first and second imagers;

whereby the two imagers each obtain an image of the bar code in the reading area.

2. The reader according to

claim 1

, further comprising first and second light sources behind the first and second windows and wherein the first and second imagers have numerical apertures configured for a maximum depth of focus.

3. The reader according to

claim 1

, further comprising first and second light sources behind the first and second windows and wherein the first and second optics comprise a first light dividing mirror for permitting light from the first light source to pass therethrough and through the first window onto the bar code in a reading area and for reflecting light from the bar code to the first imager and a second light dividing mirror for permitting light from the second light source to pass therethrough and through the first window onto the bar code in the reading area and for reflecting light from the bar code to the second imager.

4. The reader according to

claim 3

, further comprising a first light condenser between the first light source and the first mirror and a second light condenser between the second light source and the second mirror.

5. The reader according to

claim 1

, wherein the first and second imagers comprise charge coupled diode arrays.

6. The reader according to

claim 1

, further comprising at least one display receptive of images from the imagers for displaying the images seen by the imagers to an operator.

7. The reader according to

claim 3

, wherein the mirrors are stationary.

8. The scanner according to

claim 1

, further comprising at least one decoder receptive of the images from the first and second imagers for decoding the bar code imaged thereby.

9. The scanner according to

claim 8

, wherein the decoder decodes the bar code from the imagers sequentially.

10. The scanner according to

claim 8

, comprising two decoders for decoding the bar codes from the two imagers in parallel.

11. A bioptics bar code reader comprising:

first and second windows at an angle to each other;

a first folding mirror behind the first window and a second folding mirror behind the second window;

an imager; and

a movable mirror for reflecting light from a bar code in a reading area between the windows alternatively from the first window and first mirror and the second mirror and second window

wherein the imager has first and second interlaced fields and wherein the imager images the image from the first window in the first field and the image from the second window in the second field.

12. The reader according to

claim 11

, wherein the imager comprises a charge coupled detector array or a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager.

13. The reader according to

claim 11

, further comprising a decoder for decoding the bar code imaged by the imager.

14. The reader according to

claim 13

, wherein the decoder decodes the image from the first window and then the image from the second window.