Modular omnidirectional bar code symbol scanning system with at least one service port for removable installation of a scan module insert
First Claim
4-1. The laser scanning system of claim 1, wherein said at least one scan module insert further includes at least one light collecting optical element, corresponding to the at least one photodetector, that collects returning light (i.e., light from the scanning beam which has been reflected and/or scattered by a bar code label being read) and focuses such returning light onto the corresponding photodetector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular omnidirectional laser-based bar code symbol scanning system having at least one scan module insert that is removably disposed (e.g., removably installed) within a system housing (or portion thereof) through a service port (e.g., opening) in the system housing (or portion thereof). The scan module insert is a self-contained unit including at least the following components (in addition to mechanical support structures for such components): at least one laser diode, a rotating scanning element, an electric motor that rotates the rotating scanning element, one or more photodetectors, and analog signal processing circuitry that conditions (e.g., amplifies and/or filters out unwanted noise in) the electrical signal produced by the one or more photodetectors. The scan module insert can optionally include additional components including one or more light collecting optical elements, one or more beam folding mirrors, circuitry for detecting and decoding bar code symbols scanned by the system, etc. The modular architecture of omnidirectional laser scanner of the present invention enables quick access to the scan module insert for efficient repair/reconfiguration/configuration of the optical components, electro-optical, electro-mechanical components and/or electrical components integral thereto.
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Citations
35 Claims
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4-1. The laser scanning system of claim 1, wherein said at least one scan module insert further includes at least one light collecting optical element, corresponding to the at least one photodetector, that collects returning light (i.e., light from the scanning beam which has been reflected and/or scattered by a bar code label being read) and focuses such returning light onto the corresponding photodetector.
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13. The laser scanner of claim 13, wherein said first electrical interconnect and second electrical interconnect are fixably mounted to the system housing and scan module insert, respectively, in a manner that provides for spatial registration and electrical connection between the two interconnects when the scan module insert is mated to system housing.
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18. A method of reconfiguring or repairing a laser scanning system, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a system housing having at least one scanning window and at least one service port integral thereto, wherein at least one omnidirectional scanning beam is projected through said scanning window through operation of a first scan module insert, wherein said first scan module insert is removably disposed within the system housing through said service port, and wherein said first scan module insert includes;
at least one laser diode that produces laser light;
a rotating scanning element that redirects laser light incident thereon to produce one or more scanning laser beams;
an electric motor that rotates the rotating scanning element;
at least one photodetector that detects light incident thereon and produces an electrical signal whose amplitude is proportional to the intensity of such detected light; and
analog signal processing circuitry that conditions the electrical signal produced by the photodetector. providing a second scan module insert, wherein said second scan module insert includes;
at least one laser diode that produces laser light;
a rotating scanning element that redirects laser light incident thereon to produce one or more scanning laser beams;
an electric motor that rotates the rotating scanning element;
at least one photodetector that detects light incident thereon and produces an electrical signal whose amplitude is proportional to the intensity of such detected light; and
analog signal processing circuitry that conditions the electrical signal produced by the photodetector. removing said first scan module insert from said system housing by passing said first scan module insert through said service port; and
removably installing said second scan module into the system housing through said service port. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. The method of 34, wherein components of one of said two scan module inserts contributes to production of an omnidirectional laser scanning beam projected through one of the two scanning windows, while components of the other of said two scan module inserts contributes to production of an omnidirectional laser scanning beam projected through the other one of the two scanning windows.
Specification