Portable laser scanning system and scanning methods
First Claim
1. A light-weight, high-speed, miniature scanning device for repetitively scanning light, comprising:
- (a) a scanning motor having a stator, a rotor, and an elongated shaft operatively connected to the rotor for joint movement about an axis which extends along the elongation of the shaft;
(b) light-reflecting means mounted on the shaft for joint movement;
(c) means for magnetically generating a centering force which acts on the rotor to urge the shaft and light-reflecting means to a center position, said magnetically-generating means including means for establishing at the stator and the rotor respective magnetic fields which interact to cause the magnetic field of the rotor to align itself with the magnetic field of the stator; and
(d) motor control means for repetitively driving the shaft and light-reflecting means thereon in alternate circumferential directions about said axis to respective scan positions angularly spaced from said center position, said motor control means including means for electromagnetically moving the rotor against the action of the centering force in one circumferential direction about said axis over an arc length less than 360°
, and thereupon for electromagnetically moving the rotor against the action of the centering force in the opposite circumferential direction about said axis over an arc length less than 360°
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0 Petitions
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. High-speed 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.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A light-weight, high-speed, miniature scanning device for repetitively scanning light, comprising:
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(a) a scanning motor having a stator, a rotor, and an elongated shaft operatively connected to the rotor for joint movement about an axis which extends along the elongation of the shaft; (b) light-reflecting means mounted on the shaft for joint movement; (c) means for magnetically generating a centering force which acts on the rotor to urge the shaft and light-reflecting means to a center position, said magnetically-generating means including means for establishing at the stator and the rotor respective magnetic fields which interact to cause the magnetic field of the rotor to align itself with the magnetic field of the stator; and (d) motor control means for repetitively driving the shaft and light-reflecting means thereon in alternate circumferential directions about said axis to respective scan positions angularly spaced from said center position, said motor control means including means for electromagnetically moving the rotor against the action of the centering force in one circumferential direction about said axis over an arc length less than 360°
, and thereupon for electromagnetically moving the rotor against the action of the centering force in the opposite circumferential direction about said axis over an arc length less than 360°
. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of repetitively scanning light, comprising the steps of:
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(a) mounting a light-reflecting means on an elongated shaft operatively connected to a rotor for joint movement relative to a stator about an axis which extends along the elongation of the shaft; (b) magnetically generating a centering force which acts on the rotor to urge the shaft and light-reflecting means to a center position by establishing at the stator and the rotor respective magnetic fields which interact to cause the magnetic field of the rotor to align itself with the magnetic field of the stator; (c) electromagnetically moving the rotor against the action of the centering force in one circumferential direction about said axis over an arc length less than 360°
;(d) electromagnetically moving the rotor against the action of the centering force in the opposite circumferential direction about said axis over an arc length less than 360°
; and(e) alternately repeating steps (c) and (d) in a repetitive, rapid manner to drive the shaft and light-reflecting means thereon in alternate circumferential directions about said axis to respective scan positions angularly spaced from said center position. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification