Portable laser scanning system and scanning methods
First Claim
1. In a laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols, a light-weight easy-to-manipulate laser scanning head normally supportable only by a user throughout the reading of the symbols, comprising:
- (a) a housing having wall portions bounding an outlet port and bounding an interior space whose volume measures less than a value which is on the order of 100 cubic inches;
(b) a light source mounted in the interior space of the housing for generating a laser light beam;
(c) miniature optic means mounted in the interior space of the housing for directing the laser light beam along a light path through the outlet port and towards a bar code symbol which is located exteriorly of the housing by a distance sufficient to permit the user to conveniently register the laser light beam on the symbol by sighting the symbol along a direct line of sight which does not pass through the housing;
(d) miniature scanning means mounted in the light path and in the interior space of the housing for cyclically sweeping the laser light beam across the bar code symbol for reflection therefrom;
(e) miniature sensor means mounted in the interior space of the housing for detecting the intensity of light reflected from the bar code symbol, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected intensity of the reflected light;
(f) miniature signal processing means mounted in the interior space of the housing for processing the electrical signal to generate therefrom data descriptive of the bar code symbol;
(g) all of said light source, optic means, sensor means and signal processing means together with said housing comprising the light-weight laser scanning head whose total weight measures less than a value which is on the order of two pounds;
(h) handle means for normally supporting the light-weight laser scanning head in non-contacting relationship with the symbol during reading thereof; and
(i) manually actuatable trigger means on the housing for initiating reading of the symbol each time the trigger means is manually actuated by the user.
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Reexaminations
Accused Products
Abstract
An entirely field-portable laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols includes a light-weight and small-sized laser scanning head. The laser source, power supply component, optics, scanning elements, sensor circuit, and signal processing circuitry are specially designed for minimal size and weight and volume such that they can all be mounted in the head. The head can be bracket-mounted or hand-held. The housing for the head can be provided with a handle grip, or can be gun-shaped. Highspeed oscillating scanning motors and/or penta-bimorph scanners are used as scanning elements. A trigger initiates repetitive scanning of each object bearing a symbol, and an indicator indicates when the scanning of that particular object has been terminated. A body harness supports the remaining scanner system circuitry. A non-bulky, freely-movable cable interconnects the head to the body harness. Methods of scanning the symbol and of operating the system are also disclosed.
498 Citations
46 Claims
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1. In a laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols, a light-weight easy-to-manipulate laser scanning head normally supportable only by a user throughout the reading of the symbols, comprising:
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(a) a housing having wall portions bounding an outlet port and bounding an interior space whose volume measures less than a value which is on the order of 100 cubic inches; (b) a light source mounted in the interior space of the housing for generating a laser light beam; (c) miniature optic means mounted in the interior space of the housing for directing the laser light beam along a light path through the outlet port and towards a bar code symbol which is located exteriorly of the housing by a distance sufficient to permit the user to conveniently register the laser light beam on the symbol by sighting the symbol along a direct line of sight which does not pass through the housing; (d) miniature scanning means mounted in the light path and in the interior space of the housing for cyclically sweeping the laser light beam across the bar code symbol for reflection therefrom; (e) miniature sensor means mounted in the interior space of the housing for detecting the intensity of light reflected from the bar code symbol, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected intensity of the reflected light; (f) miniature signal processing means mounted in the interior space of the housing for processing the electrical signal to generate therefrom data descriptive of the bar code symbol; (g) all of said light source, optic means, sensor means and signal processing means together with said housing comprising the light-weight laser scanning head whose total weight measures less than a value which is on the order of two pounds; (h) handle means for normally supporting the light-weight laser scanning head in non-contacting relationship with the symbol during reading thereof; and (i) manually actuatable trigger means on the housing for initiating reading of the symbol each time the trigger means is manually actuated by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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- 20. The laser scanning head as defined in claim, wherein the light source includes a semiconductor laser diode for generating the laser light beam.
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43. An entirely field-portable laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols, comprising:
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(a) a light-weight, held-held, portable laser scanning head, said head having a housing of a size dimensioned to be gripped by the hand of a user, and formed with an outlet port, said housing bounding an interior space whose volume measures less than a value which is on the order of 100 cubic inches; (b) a light source mounted in the interior space of the housing for generating a laser light beam; (c) miniature optic means mounted in the interior space of the housing for directing the laser light beam along a light path through the outlet port and towards a bar code symbol which is located in the vicinity of a reference plane that is located exteriorly of the housing; (d) miniature scanning means mounted in the light path and in the interior space of the housing for cyclically sweeping the laser light beam across the bar code symbol for reflection therefrom; (e) miniature sensor means mounted in the interior space of the housing for detecting the intensity of light reflected from the bar code symbol, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected intensity of the reflected light; (f) miniature signal processing means mounted in the interior space of the housing for processing the electrical signal to generate therefrom data descriptive of the bar code symbol; (g) all of said light source, optic means, scanning means, sensor means and signal processing means together with said housing comprising the light-weight laser scanning head whose total weight measures less than a value which is on the order of two and one-half pounds, to thereby constitute a laser scanning head which is convenient to manually hold and use; (h) a harness supported by the body of the user; (i) miniature data decoder means mounted on the harness for decoding the data generated by the signal processing means; (j) miniature storage means mounted on the harness for storing the decoded data; (k) rechargeable battery means mounted on the harness for supplying power; and (l) a non-bulky electrical cable having one end mounted on the head and its other end mounted on the harness, said cable accommodating itself to span the distance between the harness and the head as the latter is moved from one symbol to another without requiring excessive strength by the user. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. In a laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols, a light-weight easy-to-manipulate laser scanning head normally supportable only by a user throughout the reading of the symbols, comprising:
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(a) a housing having wall portions bounding an outlet port and bounding an interior space whose volume measures less than a value which is on the order of 100 cubic inches; (b) a light source mounted in the interior space of the housing for generating a laser light beam; (c) miniature optic means mounted in the interior space of the housing for directing the laser light beam along a light path through the outlet port and towards a bar code symbol which is located exteriorly of the housing by a distance sufficient to permit the user to conveniently register the laser light beam on the symbol by sighting the symbol along a direct line of sight which does not pass through the housing; (d) miniature scanning means mounted in the light path and in the interior space of the housing for cyclically sweeping the laser light beam across the bar code symbol for reflection therefrom; (e) miniature sensor means mounted in the interior space of the housing for detecting the intensity of light reflected from the bar code symbol, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected intensity of the reflected light; (f) miniature signal processing means mounted in the interior space of the housing for processing the electrical signal to generate therefrom data descriptive of the bar code symbol; (g) power supply means operatively connected to, and supplying power for, the light source, scanning means, sensor means and signal processing means, said power supply means including a direct current power supply component mounted in the interior space of the housing and energizable by a low voltage direct current signal, and a non-bulky cable connecting the head to the system, said non-bulky cable including a thin conductor for carrying the low voltage direct current signal for energizing the power supply component, and being readily flexible to permit user manipulation of the head with multiple freedoms of movement from one symbol to the next; and (h) all of said light source, optic means, scanning means, sensor means, signal processing means and power supply component together with said housing comprising the lightweight laser scanning head whose total weight measures less than a value which is on the order of two pounds for permitting the head to be normally supported in non-contacting relationship with the symbol during reading thereof.
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46. In a laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols, a light-weight, easy-to-manipulate laser scanning head normally supportable only by a user throughout the reading of the symbols, comprising:
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(a) a housing having wall portions bounding an outlet port and bounding an interior space whose volume measures less than a value which is on the order of 100 cubic inches; (b) a light source mounted in the interior space of the housing for generating a laser light beam; (c) miniature optic means mounted in the interior space of the housing for directing the laser light beam along a light path through the outlet port and towards a bar code symbol which is located exteriorly of the housing by a distance sufficient to permit the user to conveniently register the laser light beam on the symbol by sighting the symbol along a direct line of sight which does not pass through the housing; (d) miniature scanning means mounted in the light path and in the interior space of the housing for cyclically sweeping the laser light beam across the bar code symbol for reflection therefrom; (e) miniature sensor means mounted in the interior space of the housing for detecting the intensity of light reflected from the bar code symbol, and for generating an analog electrical signal indicative of the detected intensity of the reflected light; (f) miniature signal processing means mounted in the interior space of the housing for processing the analog electrical signal to a digitized electrical signal to generate therefrom data descriptive of the bar code symbol; (g) power supply means operatively connected to, and supplying power for, the light source, scanning means, sensor means and signal processing means, said power supply means including a non-bulky cable connecting the head to the system, said non-bulky cable including a non-radio-frequency-shielded conductor for conducting the digitized signal to the system, and being readily flexible to permit user manipulation of the head with multiple freedoms of movement from one symbol to the next; and (h) all of said light source, optic means, scanning means, sensor means and signal processing means together with said housing comprising the light-weight laser scanning head whose total weight measures less than a value which is on the order of two pounds for permitting the head to be normally supported in non-contacting relationship with the symbol during reading thereof.
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Specification