Instant portable bar code reader

• US 5,144,119 A
• Filed: 05/18/1990
• Issued: 09/01/1992
• 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:
  US07/525,754
• Time in Patent Office: 837 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 by reflected light gathering means in a folded return path to a photodetector. The reflected light gathering means and the photodetector are mounted on a single printed circuit board. 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) manually actuatable trigger means for initiating 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;

(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 elements simultaneously 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 elements simultaneously after said light energy has been 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 said 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 bar code reader system further comprising reflected light gathering means interposed in a reflected light path for said reflected light energy between said window means and said photodetector and operative with respect to bar codes at any of said substantial range of distances for concentrating reflected light energy from such bar codes at said photodetector for effective detection thereof; and

(B) a single printed circuit board having said signal processing circuit means thereon and having said photodetector fixedly secured therewith, said reflected light gathering means being mechanically connected with said single printed circuit board such that said photodetector is maintained in optical alignment with said reflected light gathering means along said reflected light path.

3. The improved bar code reader system according to claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises circuit means within said head portion fixedly mounted to said printed circuit board for processing the output of said photodetector to provide a squared digital signal indicative of said received optical signal.

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 couplin 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) manually actuatable trigger means for initiating a bar code reading operation;

(c) sai 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;

(d) said reader head portion having a battery powered automatic bar code reader system therein including;

i) 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 elements simultaneously over a substantial range of distances and to create a simultaneous reflected optical signal therefrom;

ii) reflecting means reflecting said optical signal to define a folded return path;

iii) a photodetector responsive to said reflected optical signal for developing an electrical output signal representing said received optical signal;

wherein the improvement comprises;

a single printed circuit board within said head portion for maintaining said photodetector and reflector means in spaced optical alignment.