Instant portable bar code reader

• US 5,218,191 A
• Filed: 02/24/1992
• Issued: 06/08/1993
• 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:
  US07/840,126
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 235/455, 235/462, 235/472
• US Class Current: 235/462.16
• 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 less. The bar code image is converged through a generally rectangular optical aperture and is reflected onto the image photosensor by a reflecting mirror positioned relative to the image photosensor by virtue of their common association with a printed circuit board.

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

(c) said hand-held bar code reader unit having an optical system 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 elements in it entirely on a bar code data carrier which is spaced from and free of contact with the hand-held bar code reader unit, and for receiving reflected light energy from such a complete line of bar code elements in its entirety simultaneously and for generating a complete bar code signal in accordance with such complete line of bar code elements without requiring any bodily movement of the hand-held bar code reader unit as a whole relative to the bar code data carrier, said optical system providing non-contact bar code reading over a depth range of at least ten millimeters,

(d) said hand-held bar code reader unit having actuating means operable for initiating a bar code reading operation while the hand-held bar code reader unit is manually held spaced from and clear of contact with 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 elements 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 comprising a visible light source arrangement actuable for supplying a sheet of visible light to the entire bar code sensing region for illuminating simultaneously a complete line of bar code elements such that as the light from the light source arrangement impinges on a complete line of bar code elements in the bar code sensing region during a bar code reading operation the light is reflected to the eye of the user manually holding the bar code reader unit and such that the illumination of the complete line of the bar code elements by the visible light source arrangement is directly observable by the user during a bar code reading operation,

(f) said optical system further comprising image sensor means for receiving an entire image of reflected light energy at once from the complete line of bar code elements, said image sensor means storing an entire according to said reflected light energy for generating said complete bar code signal therefrom, and

(g) said actuating means remainable in a state of actuation for controlling said visible light source arrangement to permit repeated reading of a bar code until a valid complete bar code signal is generated by said optical system.

2. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 1, wherein said visible light source arrangement is triggerable.

3. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 2, wherein said actuating means is manually operable for causing triggering of said visible light source arrangement.

4. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 3, wherein said actuating means is manually operated by the hand which holds said elongated hand grip portion, and further including control means responsive to said actuating means when it remains actuated to cause the visible light source arrangement to effect repeated readings of a bar code until a valid complete bar code signal is generated by said optical system, said control means insuring that the visible light source arrangement maintains a low power consuming condition once a valid complete bar code signal is generated.

5. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 1 and wherein said hand held bar code reader unit further includes electronic means for effecting a reading operation with respect to the image of bar code elements received by said image sensor means, for assessing the validity of the bar code signal and for automatically repeating a reading operation in the absence of a valid code reading.

6. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 1, wherein said visible light source arrangement comprises an electrically energized light source assembly, and control means responsive to said actuating means to initiate reading of a bar code and responsive to reading of a valid complete bar code signal to automatically insure that said light source assembly is maintained electrically deenergized until the actuating means is operated to initiate a further bar code reading operation.

7. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 6, wherein said control means comprises a programmable computer on board said hand-held bar code reader unit and forming part of a battery powered portable bar code reader system.

8. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 1, and further including electronic means for generating bar code data in accordance with a complete bar code signal, and further including data terminal means in data communication with said electronic means for receiving bar code data in accordance with a complete bar code signal, said data terminal means being carried by a user along with said bar code reader unit during bar code reading operation.

9. A portable bar code reader as defined in claim 1, wherein said hand-held bar code reader unit is arranged for battery operation of said optical system to provide a portable reader, and wherein said light source arrangement is arranged for battery energization through operation of said actuating means only when needed to as to minimize battery drain.

10. A portable bar code reader as defined in claim 9, wherein said actuating means includes means for effecting repeated electronic triggering of said light source arrangement for only short-duration time intervals and only until a bar code reading operation is completed, so as to further minimize battery drain.

17. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 7, and further including means for defining a portable data terminal electrically coupled with said hand-held bar code reader unit.

18. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 17, wherein said portable data terminal means has valid read signalling means electrically coupled with said hand-held bar code reader unit for signalling a valid read.

11. A hand-held portable bar code reader comprising:

(a) a housing having window means for transmitting light between the interior and exterior thereof, and having a bar code sensing region external to said window means,

(b) a visible light illuminator for directing visible light energy through said window means to the bar code sensing region for causing a complete line of bar code elements in said sensing region to be simultaneously illuminated, and for developing a reflected light signal in accordance with visible light energy from the illuminator which is reflected from a complete line of bar code elements in said bar code sensing region,

(c) an optoelectronic system for effecting a reading of a complete line of bar code elements in said bar code sensing region with the assistance of visible light energy from said illuminator, and 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 elements during reading and without requiring any contact of the unit with a bar code carrier carrying the bar code elements, said optoelectronic system providing non-contact bar code reading over depth range of at least ten millimeters,

(d) said optoelectronic system comprising an image sensor for receiving said reflected light signal from a complete line of bar code elements in its entirety, simultaneously to generate a complete bar code signal;

(e) processing means disposed within said housing and connected in circuit with said image sensor for decoding a complete bar code signal; and

(f) manually operated trigger means for actuation of said visible light illuminator, and wherein said processing means assesses the validity of a bar code signal in accordance with bar code elements read by the optoelectronic system and automatically disables light energy from said illuminator in the event of a valid reading when the manually operated trigger means remains manually operated.

12. A portable instant bar code reader system for reading complete lines of bar code elements, 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 elements in the bar code sensing region,

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

(c) an optical system within said hand-held bar code reader unit including a light source arrangement which comprises a light source assembly for generating a sheet of light energy for illuminating a complete line of bar code elements in its entirety in said bar code sensing region so as to produce the reflected light rays representing an entire optical bar code image to be sensed simultaneously by said image photodetector means,

(d) said optical system providing a resolution and depth of focus such that a complete line of entire bar code elements having a substantial curvature can be received simultaneously for reading by said hand-held bar code reader unit, said optical system providing non-contact bar code reading over a depth range of at least ten millimeters; and

(e) electronic means for effecting a reading operation with respect to a complete line of bar code elements received by said image 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.

13. An optical reader system capable of reading complete lines of bar code elements, said reader system comprising:

(a) a portable reader unit comprising an optoelectronic system for reading a complete line of bar code elements without relative movement between the portable reader unit as a whole and the bar code elements during reading, and for reading while the portable reader unit is spaced from and clear of contact with a bar code data carrier carrying the bar code elements, said optoelectronic system providing non-contact bar code reading over a depth range of at least ten millimeters,

(b) said optoelectronic system comprising a triggerable illuminator for generating a sheet of visible light energy,

(c) means for triggering the illuminator at the start of each reading operation,

(d) said portable reader unit being positionable in a reading relation to a bar code data carrier having a complete line of bar code elements such that said optoelectronic system causes a complete line of bar code elements to be simultaneously illuminated by light from said illuminator when triggered, and said reader unit responds to light reflected from a complete line of bar code elements in its entirety,

(e) said optoelectronic system comprising image sensor means for receiving the light reflected from the complete line of bar code elements in its entirety, said image sensor means retaining an image of the entirety of the reflected light received from the complete line of bar code elements to generate a complete bar code signal; and

(f) said optoelectronic system effecting a reading operation with respect to a complete line of bar code elements illuminated by said illuminator, assessing the validity of the bar code represented thereby, and automatically repeating a reading operation of the portable reader unit in the absence of a valid code reading.

14. A portable bar code reader comprising,

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

(b) window means providing optical transmission between the interior and exterior of said housing, 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 elements thereon,

(c) optical system means within said hand-held bar code reader housing for directing light energy toward said bar code sensing region to illuminate a complete line of entire bar code elements on a data carrier, for receiving reflected light energy from such a complete line of entire bar code elements simultaneously and for generating a complete bar code signal in accordance with such complete line of entire bar code elements without requiring any bodily scanning movement of the hand-held bar code reader unit relative to the bar code data carrier, said optical system means providing non-contact bar code reading over a depth range of at least ten millimeters,

(d) actuating 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 entire bar code elements 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 entire bar code elements by the triggerable current pulse driven visible light source means is directly observable by the user during a bar code reading operation,

(f) said optical system means further comprising image sensor means for receiving reflected light energy at once from the complete line of bar code information, said image sensor means retaining an image according to the entirety of the received reflected light energy for generating said complete bar code signal;

and

(g) 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.

15. A portable bar code reader comprising,

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

(b) window means providing optical transmission between the interior and exterior of said housing, 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 elements thereon,

(c) optical system means within said hand-held bar code reader housing for directing light energy toward said bar code sensing region to illuminate a complete line of entire bar code elements on a data carrier, for receiving reflected light energy from such a complete line of entire bar code elements simultaneously and for generating a complete bar code signal in accordance with such complete line of entire bar code elements without requiring any bodily scanning movement of the hand-held bar code reader unit relative to the bar code data carrier, said optical system means providing non-contact bar code reading over a depth range of at least ten millimeters,

(d) actuating 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 entire bar code elements 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 entire bar code elements by the triggerable current pulse driven visible light source means is directly observable by the user during a bar code reading operation,

(f) said optical system means further comprising image sensor means for receiving reflected light energy at once from the complete line of bar code information, said image sensor means retaining an image according to the entirety of the received reflected light energy for generating said complete bar code signal, and

(g) wherein said hand-held bar code reader is arranged for battery operation, said electronically triggerable instant response visible light source means supplying visible light to the bar code sensing region in bar code reading cycles which continue until terminated by a condition comprising a valid complete bar code reading, whereupon the visible light source means remains deenergized until a further operation of said actuating means to initiate a further bar code reading operation, so as to conserve battery power.

16. A portable bar code reader comprising,

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

(b) window means providing optical transmission between the interior and exterior of said housing, said window means having a bar code sensing region externally thereof for receiving a bar code data carrier having a complete line or bar code elements thereon,

(c) optical system means within said hand-held bar code reader housing for directing light energy toward said bar code sensing region to illuminate a complete line of entire bar code elements on a data carrier, for receiving reflected light energy from such a complete line of entire bar code elements simultaneously and for generating a complete bar code signal in accordance with such complete line of entire bar code elements without requiring any bodily scanning movement of the hand-held bar code reader unit relative to the bar code data carrier, said optical system means providing non-contact bar code reading over a depth range of at least ten millimeters,

(d) actuating 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 entire bar code elements 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 entire bar code elements by the triggerable current pulse driven visible light source means is directly observable by the user during a bar code reading operation,

(f) said optical system means further comprising image sensor means for receiving reflected light energy at once from the complete line of bar code information, said image sensor means retaining an image according to the entirety of the received reflected light energy for generating said complete bar code signal, and

(g) further including battery powered control means controlling energization and de-energization of said optical system means, and comprising battery power microprocessor means controlling energization of said triggerable current pulse driven visible light source means, said control means being responsive to operation of said actuating means to supply battery power to said microprocessor means, and said microprocessor means being deenergized by said control means in response to a condition comprising a valid complete bar code reading, so as to conserve battery power.

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

(c) said hand-held bar code reader unit having an optical system 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 elements in its entirety on a bar code data carrier which is spaced from and free of contact with the hand-held bar code reader unit, and for receiving reflected light energy from such a complete line of bar code elements in its entirety simultaneously and for generating a complete bar code signal in accordance with such complete line of bar code elements without requiring any bodily movement of the hand-held bar code reader unit as a whole relative to the bar code data carrier, said optical system providing non-contact bar code reading of a bar code data carrier in a focal plane spaced in front of the unit,

(d) said hand-held bar code reader unit having actuating means operable for initiating a bar code reading operation while the hand-held bar code reader unit is manually held spaced from and clear of contact with 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 elements 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 comprising a visible light source arrangement actuable for supplying a sheet of visible light to the entire bar code sensing region for illuminating simultaneously a complete line of bar code elements such that as the light from the light source arrangement impinges on a complete line of bar code elements in the bar code sensing region during a bar code reading operation the light is reflected to the eye of the user manually holding the bar code reader unit and such that the illumination of the complete line of bar code elements by the visible light source arrangement is directly observable by the user during a bar code reading operation,

(f) said optical system further comprising image sensor means for receiving an entire image of reflected light energy at once from the complete line of bar code elements, said image sensor means storing an entire image according to said reflected light energy for generating said complete bar code signal therefrom, and

(g) said actuating means remainable in a state of actuation for controlling said visible light source arrangement to permit repeated reading of a bar code until a valid complete bar code signal is generated by said optical system.

20. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 19, wherein said visible light source arrangement is triggerable.

21. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 20, wherein said actuating means is manually operable for causing triggering of said visible light source arrangement.

22. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 21, wherein said actuating means is manually operated by the hand which holds said elongated hand grip portion, and further including control means responsive to said actuating means when it remains actuated to cause the visible light source arrangement to effect repeated readings of a bar code until a valid complete bar code signal is generated by said optical system, said control means insuring that the visible light source arrangement maintains a low power consuming condition once a valid complete bar code signal is generated.

23. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 19 and wherein said hand held bar code reader unit further includes electronic means for effecting a reading operation with respect to the image of bar code elements received by said image sensor means, for assessing the validity of the bar code signal and for automatically repeating a reading operation in the absence of a valid code reading.

24. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 19, wherein said visible light source arrangement comprises an electrically energized light source assembly, and control means responsive to said actuating means to initiate reading of a bar code and responsive to reading of a valid complete bar code signal to automatically insure that said light source assembly is maintained electrically deenergized until the actuating means is operated to initiate a further bar code reading operation.

25. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 24, wherein said control means comprises a programmable computer on board said hand-held bar code reader unit and forming part of a battery powered portable bar code reader system.

26. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 19, and further including electronic means for generating bar code data in accordance with a complete bar code signal, and further including data terminal means in data communication with said electronic means for receiving bar code data in accordance with a complete bar code signal, said data terminal means being carried by a user along with said bar code reader unit during bar code reading operation.

27. A portable bar code reader as defined in claim 19, wherein said hand-held bar code reader unit is arranged for battery operation of said optical system to provide a portable reader, and wherein said light source arrangement is arranged for battery energization through operation of said actuating means only when needed to as to minimize battery drain.

28. A portable bar code reader as defined in claim 19, wherein said actuating means includes means for effecting repeated electronic triggering of said light source arrangement for only short-duration time intervals and only until a bar code reading operation is completed, so as to further minimize battery drain.

35. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 25, and further including means for defining a portable data terminal electrically coupled with said hand-held bar code reader unit.

36. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 35, wherein said portable data terminal means has valid read signallying means electrically coupled with said hand-held bar code reader unit for signalling a valid read.

29. A hand-held portable bar code reader comprising:

(a) a housing having window means for transmitting light between the interior and exterior thereof, and having a bar code sensing region external to said window means,

(b) a visible light illuminator for directing visible light energy through said window means to the bar code sensing region for causing a complete line of bar code elements in said sensing region to be simultaneously illuminated, and for developing a reflected light signal in accordance with visible light energy from the illuminator which is reflected from a complete line of bar code elements in said bar code sensing region,

(c) an optoelectronic system for effecting a reading of a complete line of bar code elements in said bar code sensing region with the assistance of visible light energy from said illuminator, and 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 elements during reading and without requiring any contact of the unit with a bar code carrier carrying the bar code elements, said optoelectronic system providing non-contact reading of a bar code data carrier in a focal plane spaced in front of the reader,

(d) said optoelectronic system comprising an image sensor for receiving said reflected light signal from a complete line of bar code elements in its entirety, simultaneously to generate a complete bar code signal;

(e) processing means disposed within said housing and connected in circuit with said image sensor for decoding a complete bar code signal; and

(f) manually operated triggers means for actuation of said visible light illuminator, and wherein said processing means assesses the validity of a bar code signal in accordance with bar code elements read by the optoelectronic system and automatically disables light energy from said illuminator in the event of a valid reading when the manually operated trigger means remains manually operated.

30. A portable instant bar code reader system for reading complete lines of bar code elements, 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 elements in the bar code sensing region,

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

(c) an optical system within said hand-held bar code reader unit including a light source arrangement which comprises a light source assembly for generating a sheet of light energy for illuminating a complete line of bar code elements in its entirety in said bar code sensing region so as to produce the reflected light rays representing an entire optical bar code image to be sensed simultaneously by said image photodetector means,

(d) said optical system providing a resolution and depth of focus such that a complete line of entire bar code elements having a substantial curvature can be received simultaneously for reading by said hand-held bar code reader unit, said optical system providing non-contact bar code reading of a bar code data carrier in a focal plane spaced in front of the unit; and

(e) electronic means for effecting a reading operation with respect to a complete line of bar code elements received by said image 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.

31. An optical reader system capable of reading complete lines of bar code elements, said reader system comprising:

(a) a portable reader unit comprising an optoelectronic system for reading a complete line of bar code elements without relative movement between the portable reader unit as a whole and the bar code elements during reading, and for reading while the portable reader unit is spaced from and clear of contact with a bar code data carrier carrying the bar code elements, said optoelectronic system providing non-contact bar code reading of a bar code data carrier in a focal plane spaced in front of the unit,

(b) said optoelectronic system comprising a triggerable illuminator for generating a sheet of visible light energy,

(c) means for triggering the illuminator at the start of each reading operation,

(d) said portable reader unit being positionable in a reading relation to a bar code data carrier having a complete line or bar code elements such that said optoelectronic system causes a complete line of bar code elements to be simultaneously illuminated by light from said illuminator when triggered, and said reader unit responds to light reflected from a complete line of bar code elements in its entirety,

(e) said optoelectronic system comprising image sensor means for receiving the light reflected from the complete line of bar code elements in its entirety, said image sensor means retaining an image of the entirety of the reflected light received from the complete line of bar code elements to generate a complete bar code signal; and

(f) said optoelectronic system effecting a reading operation with respect to a complete line of bar code elements illuminated by said illuminator, assessing the validity of the bar code represented thereby, and automatically repeating a reading operation of the portable reader unit in the absence of a valid code reading.

32. A portable bar code reader comprising,

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

(b) window means providing optical transmission between the interior and exterior of said housing, 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 elements thereon,

(c) optical system means within said hand-held bar code reader housing for directing light energy toward said bar code sensing region to illuminate a complete line of entire bar code elements on a data carrier, for receiving reflected light energy from such a complete line of entire bar code elements simultaneously and for generating a complete bar code signal in accordance with such complete line of entire bar code elements without requiring any bodily scanning movement of the hand-held bar code reader unit relative to the bar code data carrier, said optical system means providing non-contact bar code reading of a bar code data carrier in a focal plane spaced in front of the reader,

(d) actuating 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 entire bar code elements 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 entire bar code elements by the triggerable current pulse driven visible light source means is directly observable by the user during a bar code reading operation,

(f) said optical system means further comprising image sensor means for receiving reflected light energy at once from the complete line of bar code information, said image sensor means retaining an image according to the entirety of the received reflected light energy for generating said complete bar code signal;

and

(g) 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.

33. A portable bar code reader comprising,

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

(b) window means providing optical transmission between the interior and exterior of said housing, 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 elements thereon,

(c) optical system means within said hand-held bar code reader housing for directing light energy toward said bar code sensing region to illuminate a complete line of entire bar code elements on a data carrier, for receiving reflected light energy from such a complete line of entire bar code elements simultaneously and for generating a complete bar code signal in accordance with such complete line of entire bar code elements without requiring any bodily scanning movement of the hand-held bar code reader unit relative to the bar code data carrier, said optical system means providing non-contact bar code reading of a bar code data carrier in a focal plane spaced in front of the reader,

(d) actuating 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 entire bar code elements 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 entire bar code elements by the triggerable current pulse driven visible light source means is directly observable by the user during a bar code reading operation,

(f) said optical system means further comprising image sensor means for receiving reflected light energy at once from the complete line of bar code information, said image sensor means retaining an image according to the entirety of the received reflected light energy for generating said complete bar code signal, and

(g) wherein said hand-held bar code reader is arranged for battery operation, said electronically triggerable instant response visible light source means supplying visible light to the bar code sensing region in bar code reading cycles which continue until terminated by a condition comprising a valid complete bar code reading, whereupon the visible light source means remains de-energized until a further operation of said actuating means to initiate a further bar code reading operation, so as to conserve battery power.

34. A portable bar code reader comprising,

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

(b) window means providing optical transmission between the interior and exterior of said housing, 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 elements thereon,

(c) optical system means within said hand-held bar code reader housing for directing light energy toward said bar code sensing region to illuminate a complete line of entire bar code elements on a date carrier, for receiving reflected light energy for such a complete line of entire bar code elements simultaneously and for generating a complete bar code signal in accordance with such complete line of entire bar code elements without requiring any bodily scanning movement of the hand-held bar code reader unit relative to the bar code data carrier, said optical system means providing non-contact bar code reading of a bar code data carrier in a focal plane spaced in front of the reader,

(d) actuating 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 entire bar code elements 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 entire bar code elements by the triggerable current pulse driven visible light source means is directly observable by the user during a bar code reading operation,

(f) said optical system means further comprising image sensor means for receiving reflected light energy at once from the complete line of bar code information, said image sensor means retaining an image according to the entirety of the received reflected light energy for generating said complete bar code signal, and

(g) further including battery powered control means controlling energization and de-energization of said optical system means, and comprising battery power microprocessor means controlling energization of said triggerable current pulse driven visible light source means, said control means being responsive to operation of said actuating means to supply battery power to said microprocessor means, and said microprocessor means being de-energized by said control means in response to a condition comprising a valid complete bar code reading, so as to conserve battery power.