Instant portable bar code reader

• US 5,081,343 A
• Filed: 05/18/1990
• Issued: 01/14/1992
• 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:
  US07/526,058
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472, 235/462, 235/455, 235/467, 250/566
• 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 a handle portion and a reader head portion which may be held 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, and an optical system focuses bar code patterns in the sensing region onto an image photosensor in the reader unit with a resolution so as to read e.g. bar code formats with a minimum bar or space width of about 0.0075 inch, or even less. Preferably the light source is of an electronically triggerable instant response type and is located substantially within the reader head portion. The bar code image is converged through a generally rectangular optical aperture and is reflected in a folded return path to a photodetector. The reflected bar code image is decoded by a battery powered programmed decoder located substantially within the handle portion.

Claims

1. An improved bar code reader system of the type having:

(a) a hand-held bar code reader unit including a reader head portion with a frontally directed window means providing optical coupling of said reader unit with a bar code having a complete line of bar code information, said reader head portion having a top side which is upwardly directed during reading of a bar code with vertically disposed bars, and a handle portion extending from said reader head portion providing for hand-held support of said reader unit;

(b) said hand-held bar code reader unit having a trigger manually actuatable by the hand gripping said handle portion to initiate a bar code reading operation;

(c) said hand-held bar code reader unit being of configuration such that during said bar code reading operation an operator manually grasping said handle portion moves said reader unit by means of said handle portion to place said reader unit in reading relationship with said bar code and to direct said window means towards said bar code information such that said bar code is located in front of said reader unit and said bar code can be viewed over said top side of said reader head portion;

(d) said reader head portion having a battery powered automatic bar code reader system therein including a light source energizable for producing light energy to be directed outwardly through said window means, and being operable to effectively illuminate said bar code over a substantial range of distances;

(e) said battery powered automatic bar code reader system being operable in an automatic bar code reading operation while said reader unit is stationary as a whole, to receive reflected light energy through said window means from said bar code after said light energy has been directed outwardly through said window means to generate from said reflected light energy a useful bar code signal corresponding to a complete line of bar code information;

(f) said battery powered automatic bar code reader system comprising a photodetector operable to supply an effective output in response to said reflected light energy from said bar code at any of said substantial range of distances in front of the reader unit; and

(g) signal processing circuit means connected with said photodetector means amplifying and digitizing the output therefrom so as to provide a useful bar code signal corresponding to a complete line of bar code information of a bar code located frontally of the reader unit at any of said substantial range of distances therefrom;

wherein the improvement comprises;

(A) said battery powered automatic barcode reader system having a reflecting mirror in a reflected light path for said reflected light energy, said reflecting mirror changing the direction of said reflected light path from a direction into the reader head portion and away from the window means to a folded path direction from the reflecting mirror toward a frontal region located near the frontal part of said reader head portion, such that said reflected light path between said window means and said photodetector has a relatively compact folded configuration;

(B) an optical system mounting arrangement disposed within said reader head portion and having a printed circuit board with said photodetector and said signal processing circuit means thereon; and

(C) said optical system mounting arrangement mounting said battery powered automatic bar code reader system including said reflecting mirror such that said reflected light path extending from said reflecting mirror is maintained in optical alignment with said photodetector.

2. An improved bar code reader system of the type having:

(a) a hand-held bar code reader unit including a reader head portion with a frontally directed window means providing optical coupling of said reader unit with a bar code having a complete line of bar code information, said reader head portion having a top side which is upwardly directed during reading of a bar code with vertically disposed bars, and a handle portion extending from said reader head portion providing for hand-held support of said reader unit;

(b) said hand-held bar code reader unit having a trigger manually actuatable by the hand gripping said handle portion to initiate a bar code reading operation;

(c) said hand-held bar code reader unit being of configuration such that during said bar code reading operation an operator manually grasping said handle portion moves said reader unit by means of said handle portion to place said reader unit in reading relationship with said bar code and to direct said window means towards said bar code information such that said bar code is located in front of said reader unit and said bar code can be viewed over said top side of said reader head portion;

(d) said reader head portion having a battery powered automatic bar code reader system therein including a light source energizable for producing light energy to be directed outwardly through said window means, and being operable to effectively illuminate said bar code over a substantial range of distances;

(e) said battery powered automatic bar code reader system being operable in an automatic bar code reading operation while said reader unit is stationary as a whole, to receive reflected light energy through said window means from said bar code after said light energy has been directed outwardly through said window means to generate from said reflected light energy a useful bar code signal corresponding to a complete line of bar code information;

(f) said battery powered automatic bar code reader system comprising a photodetector operable to supply an effective output in response to said reflected light energy from said bar code at any of said substantial range of distances in front of the reader unit; and

(g) signal processing circuit means connected with said photodetector means amplifying and digitizing the output therefrom so as to provide a useful bar code signal corresponding to a complete line of bar code information of a bar code located frontally of the reader unit at any of said substantial range of distances therefrom;

wherein the improvement comprises;

(A) said battery powered automatic barcode reader system having a reflecting mirror in a reflected light path for said reflected light energy, said reflecting mirror changing the direction of said reflected light path from a direction into the reader head portion and away from the window means to a folded path direction from the reflecting mirror toward a frontal region located near the frontal part of said reader head portion, such that said reflected light path between said window means and said photodetector has a relatively compact folded configuration; and

(B) said optical system having a mounting arrangement mounting said battery powered automatic bar code reader system including said reflecting mirror such that said reflected light path extending from said reflecting mirror is maintained in optical alignment with said photodetector.

3. An improved bar code reading system according to claim 2 wherein the improvement further comprises an optical system mounting arrangement disposed within said reader head portion and having a printed circuit board with said photodetector and said signal processing circuit means thereon.