Instant portable bar code reader

• US 5,021,642 A
• Filed: 05/11/1990
• Issued: 06/04/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Norand Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Laser, Vadim, Chadima, George E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US07/523,291
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 235/440, 235/462, 235/464, 235/483, 235/472
• US Class Current: 235/462.45
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10594 Beam path
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10772 Moved readers, e.g. pen, wand
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, a hand-held bar code reader has an elongated hand grip portion and a reader head portion which may be substantially spaced from a bar code data carrier during a reading operation. Light energy is directed outwardly through a window so as to illuminate a bar code sensing region in front of the window having a depth dimension of at least about ten millimeters. An optical system may focus bar code patterns in the sensing region onto an image photodetector in the reader unit with a resolution so as to read e.g. a bar code format with minimum bar or space width of about 0.0075 inch, or even less. Preferably the lens system provides a depth of focus for such bar code patterns of at least ten millimeters, so that a bar code pattern of marked curvature can be read in its entirety by means of an instant reading operation. Preferably the light source is of an electronically triggered essentially instant response type. A total bar code reader system including an operatively associated data terminal component may be conveniently carried by the user during bar code reading operations.

Claims

1. The method of reading complete lines of bar code information with the use of a portable hand-held reader unit, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) manually positioning the reader unit in a reading relation to respective bar code data carriers having complete lines of bar code information thereon so as to effect bar code reading operations with respect thereto;

(b) manually generating a start signal for each reading operation to be effected;

(c) triggering the supply of intense-light-energy-generating power in response to the start signal, and generating therefrom light energy to effect a reading operation;

(d) directing the generated light energy so as to effect illumination of a complete line of bar code information without requiring movement of the reader unit as a whole, and so as to produce reflected light energy indicative of the complete line of bar code information;

(e) concentrating the reflected light energy so as to produce concentrated reflected light energy of concentrated intensity;

(f) sensing the concentrated reflected light energy of concentrated intensity so as to produce a bar code signal in accordance with the complete line of bar code information; and

(g) automatically insuring the termination of the supply of the intense-light-energy-generating power at the completion of each reading operation without requiring any corresponding manual action by the operator, whereby such intense-light-energy generating power is conserved without requiring operator attention thereto.

2. The method of reading a complete bar code pattern without requiring movement of the reader unit during the bar code reading operation as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

converting said bar code signal to a digitized form within said reader unit for subsequent entry into a data storage device.

3. The method of reading complete lines of bar code information with the use of a portable hand-held reader unit, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) manually positioning the reader unit in a reading relation to respective bar code data carriers having complete lines of bar code information thereon so as to effect bar code reading operations with respect thereto;

(b) manually generating a start signal for each reading operation to be effected;

(c) triggering the supply of intense-light-energy-generating power in response to the start signal, and generating therefrom light energy to effect a reading operation;

(d) directing the generated light energy so as to effect illumination of a complete line of bar code information without requiring movement of the reader unit as a whole, and so as to produce reflected light energy indicative of the complete line of bar code information;

(e) sensing reflected light energy so as to produce a bar code signal in accordance with the complete line of bar code information; and

(f) automatically insuring the termination of the supply of the intense-light-energy-generating power at the completion of each reading operation without requiring any corresponding manual action by the operator, whereby such intense-light-energy generating power is conserved without requiring operator attention thereto.

4. The method of reading a complete bar code pattern without requiring movement of the reader unit during the bar code reading operation as set forth in claim 3 further comprising the step of:

converting said bar code signal to a digitized form within said reader unit for subsequent entry into a data storage device.