Instant portable bar code reader

• US 5,095,197 A
• Filed: 10/20/1989
• Issued: 03/10/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US07/424,769
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472, 235/462, 235/454, 235/455, 250/555, 250/566, 250/568
• US Class Current: 235/462.31
• 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 triggerred 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, and the light source may be triggered non-manually upon detecting object proximity.

Claims

1. In a portable bar code reader system,

(a) a hand-held bar code reader unit having an elongated hand grip portion with a length and cross sectional configuration so as to be grasped with one hand,

(b) said hand-held bar code reader unit having window means providing optical transmission between the interior and exterior of the hand-held bar code reader unit, said window means having a bar code sensing region externally thereof for receiving a bar code data carrier having a complete line of bar code information thereon,

(c) said hand-held bar code reader unit having optical system means within said hand-held bar code reader unit for directing sufficient light energy toward said bar code sensing region so as to illuminate a complete line of bar code information on a data carrier which is spaced from the hand-held bar code reader unit, and to receive reflected light energy from such a complete line of bar code information and for generating a complete bar code signal in accordance with such complete line of bar code information without requiring any bodily movement of the hand-held bar code reader unit as a whole relative to the bar code data carrier,

(d) said hand-held bar code reader unit having actuating means comprising proximity detection means for initiating a bar code reading operation while the hand-held bar code reader unit is manually held spaced from a bar code data carrier in said bar code sensing region, and said hand-held bar code reader unit being supported essentially only by one hand in grasping relation to said elongated hand grip portion without any contact of the hand-held bar code reader unit with the bar code information and without any contact between the hand-held bar code reader unit and the bar code data carrier throughout a bar code reading operation,

(e) said optical system means comprising electronically triggerable substantially instant response visible light source means for supplying visible light to the bar code sensing region and said actuating means being non-manual means sensing object proximity,

(f) processor means, said actuating means when it remains operated causing said processor means to effect repeated reading operations until a valid complete bar code signal is generated by said optical system means.

2. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 1, said hand-held bar code reader unit including said electronically triggerable substantially instant response light source means and said optical system means having a weight not greater than about eight ounces.

3. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 1, said processor means comprising control processor means in the hand-held bar code reader unit controlling said bar code reading operation, said actuating means comprising a proximity sensor for transmitting a proximity signal to said processor means.

4. In a portable bar code reader system,

(a) a hand-held bar code reader unit having an elongated hand grip portion with a length and cross sectional configuration so as to be grasped with one hand,

(b) said hand-held bar code reader unit having window means providing optical transmission between the interior and exterior of the hand-held bar code reader unit, said window means having a bar code sensing region externally thereof for receiving a bar code data carrier having a complete line of bar code information thereon,

(c) said hand-held bar code reader unit having optical system means within said hand-held bar code reader unit for directing sufficient light energy toward said bar code sensing region so as to illuminate a complete line of bar code information on a data carrier which is spaced from the hand-held bar code reader unit, and to receive reflected light energy from such a complete line of bar code information and for generating a complete bar code signal in accordance with such complete line of bar code information without requiring any bodily movement of the hand-held bar code reader unit as a whole relative to the bar code data carrier,

(d) said hand-held bar code reader unit having actuating means comprising proximity detection means for initiating a bar code reading operation while the hand-held bar code reader unit is manually held spaced from a bar code data carrier in said bar code sensing region, and said hand-held bar code reader unit being supported essentially only by one hand in grasping relation to said elongated hand grip portion without any contact of the hand-held bar code reader unit with the bar code information and without any contact between the hand-held bar code reader unit and the bar code data carrier throughout a bar code reading operation,

(e) said optical system means comprising electronically triggerable substantially instant response visible light source means for supplying visible light to the bar code sensing region and said actuating means being non-manual means sensing object proximity,

(f) said actuating means when it remains operated causing repeated electronic triggering of the substantially instant response visible light source means until a valid complete bar code signal is generated by said optical system means.

5. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 4, said hand-held bar code reader unit including said electronically triggerable substantially instant response light source means and said optical system means having a weight not greater than about eight ounces.

6. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 4, processor means comprising control processor means in the hand-held bar code reader unit controlling said bar code reading operation, said actuating means comprising a proximity sensor for transmitting a proximity signal to said processor means.

7. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 4, processor means, said actuating means when it remains operated causing said processor means to effect repeated reading operations until a valid complete bar code signal is generated by said optical system means.

8. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 4, programmed processor means, said actuating means when it remains operated causing said programmed processor means to effect repeated electronic triggering of the substantially instant response visible light source means until a valid complete bar code signal is generated by said optical system means.

9. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 4, processor means, data communication means coupled with said processor means for transmitting decoded bar code data, and data terminal means in data communication with the processor means via said data communication means so as to receive decoded bar code data in accordance with a complete bar code signal, said data terminal means being conveniently carried by a user along with said bar code reader unit during bar code reading operation and displaying the decoded bar code data.

10. A portable instant bar code reader system for reading complete lines of bar code information, said reader comprising

(a) a hand-held bar code reader unit having window means providing a bar code sensing region in front of said window means, said window means being arranged for receiving reflections of light from a complete line of bar code information in the bar code sensing region,

(b) photodetector means positioned within said hand-held bar code reader unit for sensing light rays reflected through said window means, to generate a bar code image signal in accordance with a complete line of bar code information in said bar code sensing region,

(c) optical system means within said hand-held bar code reader unit comprising an electronically triggered essentially instant response light source means for illuminating a complete line of bar code information in said bar code sensing region so as to produce the reflected light rays sensed by said photodetector means,

(d) said optical system means providing a resolution and depth of focus such that a complete line of bar code information having a substantial curvature can be read by said hand-held bar code reader unit, and proximity detector means for signalling to effect triggering of the light source means,

(e) electronic means for effecting a reading operation with respect to a complete line of bar code information, received by said photodetector means, for assessing the validity of the bar code represented thereby, and for automatically repeating a reading operation of the hand-held bar code reader unit in the absence of a valid code reading.

11. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 10, said window means providing a bar code sensing region having a width of a least about fifty millimeters.

12. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 11, with said optical system means providing a depth of focus of at least ten millimeters in said bar code sensing region.

13. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 10, with said optical system means providing a depth of focus of about ten millimeters in said bar code sensing region.

14. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 10, with said optical system means providing a resolution such that a complete line of bar code information having a minimum bar/space width of about 0.0075 inch can be read by said hand-held bar code reader unit.

15. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 10, with said optical system means providing a depth of focus of at least about three millimeters in said bar code sensing region.

16. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 10, with said optical system means having a reading capability for a complete line of bar code information at a distance in front of said window means such that the hand-held bar code reader unit is operative entirely clear of contact with a bar code data carrier and with the bar code information carried thereby.

17. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 16, with said optical system means having a reading capability for a complete line of bar code information disposed at a distance in front of said window means of at least about twenty millimeters.

18. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 17, with said optical system means having an optimum focal plane at about six millimeters in front of said window means.

19. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 10, with microprocessor means coupled with said proximity detector means for controlling electronic triggering of said light source means.

20. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 10, with proximity detection means supplying a logical signal for causing electronic triggering of said light source means.

21. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 10, with portable data terminal means coupled with said hand-held bar code reader unit.

22. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 21, with said portable data terminal means having valid read signalling means coupled with said hand-held bar code reader unit.

23. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 10, with said optical system means having an optical axis extending through said window means and having effective marginal rays extending from said window means to the bar code sensing region and diverging at angles of at least about plus and minus fifteen degrees to the optical axis.

24. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 23, with portable auxiliary means comprising battery means supplying operating power to said hand-held bar code reader unit.

25. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 24, with said hand-held bar code reader unit having a weight exclusive of said auxiliary means not substantially greater than eight ounces.

26. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 10, with said electronically triggered essentially instant response light source means having a substantial light output in the visible light spectrum.

27. A portable bar code reader system comprising

(a) a hand-held reader unit having window means for transmitting light between the interior and exterior thereof, and having a bar code sensing region external to the window means,

(b) a triggerable instant response visible light illuminating means for directing visible light energy through the window means to the bar code sensing region, and for developing a reflected light signal in accordance with visible light energy from the illuminating means which is reflected from a bar code in said bar code sensing region, and

(c) system means comprising a proximity detector for triggering a reading of a complete line of bar code information in said bar code sensing region with the assistance of visible light energy from the illuminating means, and being operative to effect such reading of a complete line of bar code information without requiring any movement of the hand-held reader unit as a whole relative to a bar code data carrier carrying said complete line of bar code information, during a reading operation,

(d) said system means being operative for initiating a bar code reading operation, for assessing the validity of a bar code as read, and for automatically repeating the bar code reading operation in the absence of a valid bar code signal, but terminating the bar code reading operation in response to a valid bar code signal.

28. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 27, with said system means being capable of responding to visible light energy from the illuminating means for reading a bar code with a depth of field of at least about ten millimeters.

29. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 27, with said system means being capable of reading a complete line of bar code information with substantial curvature.

30. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 27, with said system means being capable of reading a complete line of bar code information with a curvature corresponding to a bar code carrier radius approaching 1.25 inches.

31. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 30, with said system means having an optical axis extending through the window means and having marginal rays diverging from the optical axis by at least about plus and minus fifteen degrees to define a relatively wide bar code sensing region in which complete lines of bar code information of substantial curvature can be read.

32. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 31, with said system means reading bar codes of substantial curvature with minimum bar/space width of about 0.0075 inch over a depth of field of at least about three millimeters.

33. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 27, with said system means reading bar codes with minimum bar/space width of about 0.0075 inch over a depth of field of at least about three millimeters.

34. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 27, with said system means being capable of responding to visible light energy from the illuminating means for reading a bar code with a depth of field of at least about three millimeters, and reading a complete line of bar code information having a length of at least about fifty millimeters over a depth of field of at least about three millimeters.

35. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 27, with said system means being capable of responding to visible light energy from the illuminating means for reading a bar code with a depth of field of at least about ten millimeters, and reading bar codes with minimum bar/space width of about 0.0075 inch over a depth of field of about ten millimeters.

36. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 27, with said hand-held reader unit having a reading capability for bar code information having a minimum bar or space size of about 0.0075 inch over a substantial range of distances of a bar code data carrier from the hand-held reader unit.

37. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 27, with said illuminating means supplying pulses of visible light energy to said bar code sensing region.

38. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 37, with said proximity detector signalling for the pulsing of the visible light illuminating means, and computer processor means for assessing the validity of a bar code signal in accordance with bar code information read by the system means and for automatically disabling pulsing of the illuminating means in the event of a valid reading.

39. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 27, with said system means having a reading capability for a complete line of bar code information spaced from the window means by a distance of at least about twenty-five millimeters.

40. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 27, with said illuminating means supplying light pulses containing substantial light energy within the visible spectrum for developing reflected light signals until a valid bar code reading is detected.

41. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 27, with means for filtering out a long wavelength non-visible region of the spectrum of light energy from the sensing region.

42. A portable bar code reader system comprising

(a) a hand-held reader unit having window means for transmitting light between the interior and exterior thereof, and having a bar code sensing region external to the window means,

(b) a triggerable instant response visible light illuminating means for directing visible light energy through the window means to the bar code sensing region, and for developing a reflected light signal in accordance with visible light energy from the illuminating means which is reflected from a bar code in said bar code sensing region, and

(c) system means comprising a proximity detector for triggering a reading of a complete line of bar code information in said bar code sensing region with the assistance of visible light energy from the illuminating means, and being operative to effect such reading of a complete line of bar code information without requiring any movement of the hand-held reader unit as a whole relative to a bar code data carrier carrying said complete line of bar code information, during a reading operation,

(d) said illuminating means supplying pulses of visible light energy to said bar code sensing region,

(e) said proximity detector signalling for the pulsing of the visible light illuminating means, and

(f) computer processor means for assessing the validity of a bar code signal in accordance with bar code information read by the system means and for automatically disabling pulsing of the illuminating means in the event of a valid reading.

43. In a portable bar code reader system,

(a) a hand-held bar code reader unit having a hand grip portion of configuration so as to be grasped with one hand,

(b) said hand-held bar code reader unit having window means providing optical transmission between the interior and exterior of the hand-held bar code reader unit, said window means having a bar code sensing region externally thereof for receiving a bar code data carrier having a complete line of bar code information thereon,

(c) said hand-held bar code reader unti having optical system means within said hand-held bar code reader unit for directing light energy toward said bar code sensing region to illuminate a complete line of bar code information on a data carrier, for receiving reflected light energy from such a complete line of bar code information and for generating a complete bar code signal in accordance with such complete line of bar code information without requiring any bodily scanning movement of the hand-held bar code reader unit relative to the bar code data carrier,

(d) said hand-held bar code reader unit having actuating means comprising proximity detection means for initiating a bar code reading operation while the hand-held bar code reader unit is manually held in operative relation to a bar code data carrier in said bar code sensing region,

(e) said optical system means comprising triggerable current pulse driven visible light source means essentially instantaneously responsive to an abrupt current pulse for supplying visible light to the bar code sensing region and being constructed such that light from the light source means impinging on a complete line of bar code information in the bar code sensing region during a bar code reading operation is reflected to the eye of the user manually holding the bar code reader unit in spaced relation to the bar code data carrier, and such that the illumination of the complete line of bar code information by the triggerable current pulse driven visible light source means is directly observable by the user during a bar code reading operation.

(f) said actuating means when it remains operated causing repeated triggering of the current pulse driven visible light source means until a valid complete bar code signal is generated by said optical system means.

44. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 43, said hand-held bar code reader unit having a weight not greater than about eight ounces.

45. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 43, said proximity detection means supplying a logical proximity signal for initiating bar code reading operation.

46. In a portable reader system,

(a) a hand-held reader unit having an elongated hand grip portion with a length and cross sectional configuration so as to be grasped with one hand,

(b) said hand-held reader unit having window means providing optical transmission between the interior and exterior of the hand-held reader unit, said window means having a sensing region externally thereof for receiving a data carrier having a complete line of information thereon,

(c) said hand-held reader unit having optical system means within said hand-held reader unit for directing sufficient light energy toward said sensing region so as to illuminate a complete line of information on a data carrier which is spaced from the hand-held reader unit, and to receive reflected light energy from such a complete line of information and for generating a complete information signal in accordance with such complete line of information without requiring any bodily movement of the hand-held reader unit as a whole relative to the data carrier,

(d) said hand-held reader unit having actuating means for initiating a reading operation while the hand-held reader unit is manually held spaced from a data carrier in said sensing region, and said hand-held reader unit being supported essentially only by one hand in grasping relation to said elongated hand grip portion without any contact of the hand-held reader unit with the information and without any contact between the hand-held reader unit and the data carrier throughout a reading operation,

(e) said optical system means comprising electronically energized substantially instant response visible light source means for supplying visible light to the sensing region,

(f) processor means, said actuating means when it remains operated causing said processor means to effect repeated reading operations until a valid complete information signal is generated by said optical system means, and

(g) said visible light source means being deenergized between said repeated reading operations so that the visible light source means is energized substantially only as needed to effect successive actual readings of the complete line of information.

47. In a portable reader system according to claim 46, said hand-held reader unit including said electronically triggerable substantially instant response light source means and said optical system means having a weight not greater than about eight ounces.

48. In a portable reader system according to claim 47, said processor means comprising control processor means in the hand-held reader unit controlling successive triggering of the light source means in successive reading operations as needed for reading a given complete line of information.

49. In a portable reader system,

(a) a hand-held reader unit having an elongated hand grip portion with a length and cross sectional configuration so as to be grasped with one hand,

(b) said hand-held reader unit having window means providing optical transmission between the interior and exterior of the hand-held reader unit, said window means having a sensing region externally thereof for receiving a data carrier having a complete line of information thereon,

(c) said hand-held reader unit having optical system means within said hand-held reader unit for directing light energy toward said sensing region and for illuminating a complete line of information on a data carrier which is spaced from the hand-held reader unit, and to receive reflected light energy from such a complete line of information and for generating a complete information signal in accordance with such complete line of information without requiring any bodily movement of the hand-held reader unit as a whole relative to the data carrier,

(d) said hand-held reader unit having actuating means for initiating a reading operation while the hand-held reader unit is manually held spaced from a data carrier in said sensing region, and said hand-held reader unit being supported essentially only by one hand in grasping relation to said elongated hand grip portion without any contact of the hand-held reader unit with the information and without any contact between the hand-held reader unit and the data carrier throughout a reading operation,

(e) said optical system means comprising electronically energized substantially instant response visible light source means for supplying visible light to the sensing region,

(f) said actuating means when it remains operated causing repeated electronic energization of the substantially instant response visible light source means until a valid complete information signal is generated by said optical system means.

50. In a portable reader system according to claim 49, said hand-held reader unit including said electronically triggerable substantially instant response light source means and said optical system means having a weight not greater than about eight ounces.

51. In a portable reader system according to claim 49, processor means comprising control microprocessor means in the hand-held reader unit effecting successive triggering of said visible light source means in successive reading operations as needed for reading a given complete line of information.

52. In a portable reader system according to claim 49, processor means, said actuating means when it remains operated causing said processor means to effect repeated reading operations until a valid complete signal is generated by said optical system means.

53. In a portable reader system according to claim 49, processor means, data communication means coupled with said processor means for transmitting decoded data, and data terminal means in data communication with the processor means via said data communication means so as to receive decoded data in accordance with a complete signal, said data terminal means being conveniently carried by a user along with said reader unit during reading operation and displaying the decoded data.

60. A portable reader system according to claim 50, with said optical system means having a reading capability for a complete line of information at a distance in front of said window means such that the hand-held reader unit is operative entirely clear of contact with a data carrier and with the information carried thereby.

61. A portable reader system according to claim 60, with said optical system means having a reading capability for a complete line of information disposed at a distance in front of said window means of at least about twenty millimeters.

62. A portable reader system according to claim 61, with said optical system means having an optimum focal plane at about six millimeters in front of said window means.

54. A portable reader system for reading complete lines of information, said reader comprising

(a) a hand-held reader unit having window means providing a sensing region in front of said window means, said window means being arranged for receiving reflections of light from a complete line of information in the sensing region,

(b) photodetector means positioned within said hand-held reader unit for sensing light rays reflected through said window means, to generate an image signal in accordance with a complete line of information in said sensing region,

(c) optical system means within said hand-held reader unit comprising an electronically energized essentially instant response light source means for illuminating a complete line of information in said sensing region so as to produce the reflected light rays sensed by said photodetector means,

(d) said optical system means providing a resolution and depth of focus such that a complete line of information having a substantial curvature can be read by said hand-held reader unit, and actuating means for signalling to effect energization of the light source means,

(e) electronic means for effecting a reading operation with respect to a complete line of information, received by said photodetector means, for assessing the validity of the information as received, and for automatically effecting repeated reading cycles of the hand-held reader unit in the absence of a valid reading,

(f) said hand-held reader unit being operated from portable battery power, said repeated reading cycles each comprising an active reading interval when an actual reading is being effected and a non-reading interval when no actual reading is taking place, and said light source means being in a relatively low power consuming condition during the non-reading intervals in comparison to a relatively high power consuming condition of the light source means during the repeated active reading intervals.

55. A portable reader system according to claim 54, said window means providing a sensing region having a width of a least about fifty millimeters.

56. A portable reader system according to claim 55, with said optical system means providing a depth of focus of at least ten millimeters in said sensing region.

57. A portable reader system according to claim 54, with said optical system means providing a depth of focus of about ten millimeters in said sensing region.

58. A portable reader system according to claim 54, with said optical system means providing a resolution such that a complete line of information having a minimum bar/space width of about 0.0075 inch can be read by said hand-held reader unit.

59. A portable reader system according to claim 54, with said optical system means providing a depth of focus of at least about three millimeters in said sensing region.

63. A portable reader system according to claim 54, with microprocessor means coupled with said actuating means for controlling electronic triggering of said light source means.

64. A portable reader system according to claim 54, with said actuating means supplying a logical signal for causing electronic triggering of said light source means.

65. A portable reader system according to claim 54, with portable data terminal means coupled with said hand-held reader unit.

66. A portable reader system according to claim 65, with said portable data terminal means having valid read signalling means coupled with said hand-held reader unit.

67. A portable reader system according to claim 54, with said optical system means having an optical axis extending through said window means and having effective marginal rays extending from said window means to the sensing region and diverging at angles of at least about plus and minus fifteen degrees to the optical axis.

68. A portable reader system according to claim 67, with portable auxiliary means comprising battery means supplying operating battery power to said hand-held reader unit.

69. A portable reader system according to claim 68, with said hand-held reader unit having a weight exclusive of said auxiliary means not substantially greater than eight ounces.

70. A portable reader system according to claim 54, with said electronically triggered essentially instant response light source means having a substantial light output in the visible light spectrum.

71. A portable reader system comprising

(a) a hand-held reader unit having window means for transmitting light between the interior and exterior thereof, and having a sensing region external to the window means,

(b) an instant response visible light illuminating means for directing visible light energy through the window means to the sensing region, and for developing a reflected light signal in accordance with visible light energy from the illuminating means which is reflected from information in said sensing region, and

(c) system means for triggering a reading of a complete line of information in said sensing region with the assistance of visible light energy from the illuminating means, and being operative to effect such reading of a complete line of information without requiring any movement of the hand-held reader unit as a whole relative to a data carrier carrying said complete line of information, during a reading operation,

(d) said system means being operative for initiating a reading operation, for assessing the validity of information as read, and for automatically effecting repeated reading operations in the absence of a valid information signal, but terminating the reading operation in response to a valid information signal, and

(e) said visible light source means being deenergized between said repeated reading operations so that the visible light source means is energized substantially only as needed to effect successive actual readings of the complete line of information.

72. A portable reader system according to claim 71, with said system means being capable of responding to visible light energy from the illuminating means for reading with a depth of field of at least about ten millimeters.

73. A portable reader system according to claim 71, with said system means being capable of reading a complete line of information with substantial curvature.

74. A portable reader system according to claim 71, with said system means being capable of reading a complete line of information with a curvature corresponding to a carrier radius approaching 1.25 inches.

75. A portable reader system according to claim 74, with said system means having an optical axis extending through the window means and having marginal rays diverging from the optical axis by at least about plus and minus fifteen degrees to define a relatively wide sensing region in which complete lines of information of substantial curvature can be read.

76. A portable reader system according to claim 75, with said system means reading bar code information of substantial curvature with minimum bar/space width of about 0.0075 inch over a depth of field of at least about three millimeters.

77. A portable reader system according to claim 71, with said system means reading bar code information with minimum bar/space width of about 0.0075 inch over a depth of field of at least about three millimeters.

78. A portable reader system according to claim 71, with said system means reading a complete line of bar code information having a length of at least about fifty millimeters over a depth of field of at least about three millimeters.

79. A portable reader system according to claim 71, with said system means reading bar code information with minimum bar/space width of about 0.0075 inch over a depth of field of about ten millimeters.

80. A portable reader system according to claim 71, with said hand-held reader unit having a reading capability for bar code information having a minimum bar or space size of about 0.0075 inch over a substantial range of distances of a bar code data carrier from the hand-held reader unit.

81. A portable reader system according to claim 71, with said illuminating means supplying pulses of visible light energy to said bar code sensing region.

82. A portable reader system according to claim 81, with said system means signalling for the pulsing of the visible light illuminating means, and computer processor means for assessing the validity of an information signal in accordance with information read by the system means and for automatically disabling pulsing of the illuminating means in the event of a valid reading.

83. A portable reader system according to claim 71, with said system means having a reading capability for a complete line of information spaced from the window means by a distance of at least about twenty-five millimeters.

84. A portable reader system according to claim 71, with said illuminating means supplying light pulses containing substantial light energy within the visible spectrum for developing reflected light signals until a valid reading is detected.

85. A portable reader system according to claim 71, with means for filtering out a long wavelength non-visible region of the spectrum of light energy from the sensing region.

86. A portable reader system comprising

(a) a hand-held reader unit having window means for transmitting light between the interior and exterior thereof, and having a sensing region external to the window means,

(b) an instant response visible light illuminating means for directing visible light energy through the window means to the sensing region, and for developing a reflected light signal in accordance with visible light energy from the illuminating means which is reflected from information in said sensing region, and

(c) system means for triggering a reading of a complete line of information in said sensing region with the assistance of visible light energy from the illuminating means, and being operative to effect such reading of a complete line of information without requiring any movement of the hand-held reader unit as a whole relative to a data carrier carrying said complete line of information, during a reading operation,

(d) said illuminating means supplying pulses of visible light energy to said sending region,

(e) said system means signalling for the pulsing of the visible light illuminating means, and

(f) computer processor means for assessing the validity of an information signal in accordance with information read by the system means and for automatically disabling pulsing of the illuminating means in the event of a valid reading.

87. In a portable reader system,

(a) a hand-held reader unit having an hand grip portion configuration so as to be grasped with one hand,

(b) said hand-held reader unit having window means providing optical transmission between the interior and exterior of the hand-held reader unit, said window means having a sensing region externally thereof for receiving a data carrier having a complete line of information thereon,

(c) said hand-held reader unit having optical system means within said hand-held reader unit for directing sufficient light energy toward said sensing region and for illuminating a complete line of information on a data carrier, for recieving reflected light energy from such a complete line of information and for generating a complete information signal in accordance with such complete line of information without requiring any bodily scanning movement of the hand-held reader unit relative to the data carrier,

(d) said hand-held reader unit having actuating means for initiating a reading operation while the hand-held reader unit is manually held in operative relation to a data carrier in said sensing region,

(e) said optical system means comprising current pulse driven visible light source means essentially instantaneously responsive to an abrupt current pulse for supplying visible light to the sensing region and being constructed such that light from the light source means impinging on a complete line of information in the sensing region during a reading operation is reflected to the eye of the user manually holding the reader unit in spaced relation to the data carrier, and such that the illumination of the complete line of information by the current pulse driven visible light source means is directly observable by the user during a reading operation,

(f) said actuating means when it remains operated causing repeated energization of the current pulse driven visible light source means until a valid complete information signal is generated by said optical system means,

(g) said hand-held reader unit being operated from portable battery power, said repeated energization of the current pulse driven light source means providing respective active reading intervals in which an actual reading is being effected, and said light source means being in a deenergized state during non-reading intervals between the active reading intervals.

88. In a portable reader system according to claim 87, said hand-held reader unit having a weight not greater than about eight ounces.

89. In a portable reader system according to claim 87, said actuating means supplying a logical signal for initiating reading operating.