Instant portable bar code reader

• US 5,258,606 A
• Filed: 05/13/1991
• Issued: 11/02/1993
• 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:
  US07/700,364
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 235/455, 235/462, 235/472
• US Class Current: 235/462.45
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10594 Beam path
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10772 Moved readers, e.g. pen, wand
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, a hand held bar code reader has 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. Preferably, the light source is of an electronically triggered instant response type. 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. A total bar code reader system may be conveniently carried by the user during bar code reading operations.

Claims

1. In a portable bar code reader system for reading complete lines of bar code information comprising a plurality of alternating more-reflective and less-reflective elements carried by a bar code data carrier, said reader system comprising:

(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 spaced from said reader unit in front of said window means, said sensing region for receiving a bar code data carrier having a complete line of bar code information comprising a plurality of alternating more-reflective and less-reflective elements thereon;

(c) said hand-held bar code reader unit having an optical system within said hand-held bar code reader unit for directing a sheet of light energy toward said bar code sensing region to simultaneously illuminate the complete line of bar code information on the data carrier which is spaced from the hand-held bar code reader unit, and for simultaneously receiving reflected light energy from the complete line of bar code information and for generating a complete bar code signal in accordance with the reflected light energy 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 for initiating a bar code reading operation while the hand-held bar code reader unit is manually held spaced from the 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 comprising visible light source for supplying a sheet of visible light to the bar code sensing region such that light from the light source as it impinges on the complete line of bar code information in the bar code sensing region during a bar code reading operation is reflected to the eye of a user manually holding the bar code reader unit and such that the simultaneous illumination of the complete line of bar code information by the visible light source is directly observable by the user during a bar code reading operation; and

(f) microprocessor means coupled with said actuating means and controlling activating of said visible light source.

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

3. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 1, said actuating means being manually operated by the hand which holds said elongated hand grip portion.

4. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 1, and further including data terminal means in data communication with the optical system so as to receive bar code data in accordance with the complete bar code signal, said data terminal means being carried by the user along with said bar code reader unit during bar code reading operation.

5. A portable instant bar code reader system for reading complete lines of bar code information comprising a plurality of alternating more-reflective and less-reflective elements carried by a bar code data carrier, 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 comprising a plurality of alternating more-reflective and less-reflective elements disposed in the bar code sensing region, said reader unit being supported without any contact between the reader unit and the bar code data carrier;

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

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

(d) microprocessor means for decoding said bar code image signal, said microprocessor means including activating means for activating said light source in response to an actuating signal; and

(e) said optical system providing a resolution and depth of focus such that a complete line of bar code information having a curvature can be read by said hand-held bar code reader unit.

6. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 5, said window means providing a bar code sensing region having a width of a least about fifty millimeters.

7. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 6, with said optical system providing a depth of focus of at least ten millimeters in said bar code sensing region.

8. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 5, with said optical system providing a depth of focus of about ten millimeters in said bar code sensing region.

9. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 5, with said optical system providing a resolution such that a complete line of bar code information having a minimum more-reflective element/less-reflective element width of about 0.0075 inch can be read by said hand-held bar code reader unit.

10. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 5, with said optical system providing a depth of focus of at least about three millimeters in said bar code sensing region.

11. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 5, with said optical system 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.

12. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 11, with said optical system having an optimum focal plane at about six millimeters in front of said window means.

13. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 5, with manual trigger for controlling electronic triggering of said light source means.

14. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 5, with proximity detection for causing electronic triggering of said light source means.

15. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 5, with portable data terminal means electrically coupled with said hand-held bar code reader unit.

16. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 5, with said optical system having an optical axis extending through said window means and having effective marginal rays extending from said window means to the code sensing region and diverging at angles of at least about plus and minus fifteen degrees to the optical axis.

17. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 16, with portable auxiliary means comprising battery means supplying operating power to said hand-held bar code reader unit.

18. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 17, with said hand-held bar code reader unit having a weight exclusive of said auxiliary means not substantially greater than eight ounces.

19. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 5, with said light source having a substantial light output in the visible light spectrum.

20. A portable instant bar code reader system for reading complete lines of bar code information comprising a plurality of alternating more-reflective and less-reflective elements carried by a bar code data carrier, said reader system comprising:

(a) a portable reader unit comprising an optoelectronic system for simultaneously reading a complete line of bar code information comprising a plurality of alternating more-reflective and less-reflective elements carried by a bar code data carrier without relative movement between the portable reader unit as a whole and the bar code information, said reader unit being supported without any contact between the reader unit and the bar code data carrier;

(b) said optoelectronic system comprising an illuminator;

(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 the complete line of bar code information such that said optoelectronic system causes the bar code information to be simultaneously illuminated by a sheet of light from said illuminator when triggered, and responds to light simultaneously reflected from the complete line of bar code information to generate a complete bar code signal; and

(e) microprocessor means for decoding said complete bar code signal, said microprocessor means including activating means for activating said illuminator in response to said means for triggering.

21. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 20, with said optoelectronic system having an optical axis for intersecting a central region of a line of bar code information during illumination of such bar code information by the illuminator, and said optoelectronic system having effective marginal rays from the illuminator directed at angles of about plus and minus fifteen degrees to the optical axis.

22. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 20, with said optoelectronic system reading a complete line of bar code information having a length of at least about fifty millimeters.

23. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 20, with said optoelectronic system providing a resolution such that a complete line of bar code information having a minimum more-reflective element/less reflective element width of about 0.0075 inch can be read by said portable reader unit.

24. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 20, with said optoelectronic system reading bar code information with a depth of field of at least about ten millimeters external to the portable reader unit.

25. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 20, with said optoelectronic system having a reading capability for a complete line of bar code information on a bar code data carrier which is spaced from the portable reader unit by a distance of about ten millimeters.

26. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 20 with said optoelectronic system having a reading capability for a complete line of bar code information on a bar code data carrier which is spaced from the portable reader unit by a distance of about twenty millimeters.

27. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 20, with said illuminator supplying substantial light energy within the visible spectrum when triggered.

28. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 20, with said portable reader unit being of size to be hand held.

29. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 28, with said portable reader unit having a weight of not more than about eight ounces.

30. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 29, with said portable reader unit including a computer processor for decoding a complete bar code signal, and for transmitting the same to a host computer.

31. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 20, with said portable reader unit including a computer processor for decoding a complete bar code signal, and for transmitting the same to a host computer.

32. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 20, with said triggering means being operable to trigger the illuminator to effect illumination of bar code information, and to effect a reading operation while the portable reader unit is substantially spaced from a bar code data carrier carrying the bar code information.

33. A portable bar code reader system for reading complete lines of bar code information comprising a plurality of alternating more-reflective and less-reflective elements carried by a bar code data carrier, said 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 visible light illuminator which directs a sheet of visible light energy through the window means to the bar code sensing region, and which develops a reflected light signal in accordance with the visible light energy from the illuminator which is reflected from a complete line of bar code information comprising a plurality of alternating more-reflective and less-reflective elements carried by a bar code data carrier in said bar code sensing region, said reader unit being supported without any contact between the reader unit and the bar code data carrier;

(c) an optoelectronic system for effecting a simultaneous reading of the complete line of bar code information in said bar code sensing region in the assistance of visible light energy from the illuminator, and without requiring any movement of the hand-held reader unit as a whole relative to a bar code carrier carrying said complete line of bar code information, during a reading operation; and

(d) microprocessor means for decoding the reflected light signal, said microprocessor means including activating means for triggering said illuminator in response to a manually generated signal.

34. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 33, with said optoelectronic system being capable of responding to visible light energy from the illuminator for reading a bar code with a depth of field of at least about ten millimeters.

35. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 33, with said optoelectronic system being capable of reading a complete line of bar code information with curvature.

36. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 33, with said optoelectronic system 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.

37. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 36, with said optoelectronic system 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 curvature can be read.

38. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 37, with said optoelectronic system reading bar codes of curvature with minimum more-reflective element/less-reflective element width of about 0.0075 inch over a depth of field of at least about three millimeters.

39. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 33, with said optoelectronic system reading bar codes with minimum more-reflective element/less-reflective element width of about 0.0075 inch over a depth of field of at least about three millimeters.

40. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 34, with said optoelectronic system 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.

41. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 34, with said optoelectronic system reading bar codes with minimum more-reflective element/less-reflective element width of about 0.0075 inch over a depth of field of about ten millimeters.

42. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 33, with said hand-held reader unit having a reading capability for bar code information having a more-reflective element/less-reflective element size of about 0.0075 inch over a substantial range of distances of a bar code data carrier from the hand-held reader unit.

43. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 33, with said illuminator supplying pulses of visible light energy to said bar code sensing region.

44. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 33, with said optoelectronic system having a reading capability for a complete line of bar code information spaced from the window means by a distance of about twenty-five millimeters.

45. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 33, with means for filtering out a long wavelength region of the spectrum of light energy from the sensing region.

46. In a portable bar code reader system for reading lines of bar code information comprising a plurality of alternating more-reflective and less-reflective elements carried by a bar code carrier, said reader system comprising:

(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 spaced from said reader unit in front of said window means, said sensing region simultaneously receiving at least one more-reflective element and at least one less-reflective element, said window means for simultaneously receiving reflections from the more-reflective and less-reflective elements in the bar code sensing region;

(c) said hand-held bar code reader unit having an optical system within said hand-held bar code reader for directing a sheet of light energy toward said bar code sensing region to simultaneously illuminate the more-reflective and less-reflective elements in the bar code sensing region, for simultaneously receiving reflected light energy from the more-reflective and less-reflective elements in the bar code sensing region and for generating a bar code signal in accordance with the received reflected light energy 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 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 comprising a visible light source for supplying a sheet of visible light to the bar code sensing region such that light from the light source as it impinges on the more-reflective and less-reflective 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 and such that the illumination of the more-reflective and less-reflective elements by the visible light source is directly observable by the user during a bar code reading operation; and

(f) microprocessor means coupled with said actuating means and controlling activating of said visible light source.

47. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 46, wherein said hand-held bar code reader unit includes said visible light source and wherein said optical system has a weight not greater than about eight ounces.

48. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 46, wherein said actuating means is manually operated by the same hand which holds said elongated hand grip portion.

49. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 46, and further including data terminal means in data communication with said optical system so as to receive 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.

50. A portable instant bar code reader system for reading lines of bar code information comprising a plurality of alternating more-reflective and less-reflective elements, said reader system comprising:

(a) a hand-held bar code reader unit having window means providing a bar code sensing region spaced from said reader unit in front of said window means, said window means being arranged for receiving reflections of light from at least one more-reflective element and at least one less-reflective element disposed 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 the bar code information in said bar code sensing region;

(c) an optical system within said hand-held bar code reader unit comprising a light source providing a sheet of light for simultaneously illuminating the bar code information in said bar code sensing region so as to produce the reflected light rays sensed by said photodetector means;

(d) microprocessor means for decoding said bar code image signal, said microprocessor means including activating means for activating said light source in response to an actuating signal;

(e) said optical system providing a resolution and depth of focus such that bar code information having a curvature can be read by said hand-held bar code reader unit; and

(f) said optical system having a reading capability at a distance in front of said window means such that the hand-held bar code reader unit is clear of contact with a bar code data carrier and with the bar code information carried thereby.

51. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 50, wherein said window means provides a bar code sensing region having a width of a least about fifty millimeters.

52. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 51, with said optical system providing a depth of focus of at least ten millimeters in said bar code sensing region.

53. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 50, with said optical system providing a depth of focus of about ten millimeters in said bar code sensing region.

54. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 50, with said optical system providing a depth of focus of at least about three millimeters in said bar code sensing region.

55. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 50, with said optical system having an optimum focal plane at about six millimeters in front of said window means.

56. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 50, and further including manual trigger means for controlling electronic triggering of said light source.

57. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 50, and further including proximity detection means for causing electronic triggering of said light source means.

58. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 50, and further including portable data terminal means electrically coupled with said hand-held bar code reader unit.

59. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 50, with said optical system 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.

60. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 59, and further including portable auxiliary means comprising battery means supplying operating power to said hand-held bar code reader unit.

61. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 60, wherein said hand-held bar code reader unit has a weight exclusive of said auxiliary means not substantially greater than eight ounces.

62. A portable instant bar code reader system according to claim 50, with said light source having a substantial light output in the visible light spectrum.

63. A portable non-contact bar code reader system capable of reading bar code information comprising a plurality of alternating more-reflective and less-reflective elements carried by a bar code data carrier, said system comprising:

(a) a non-contact 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 visible light illuminator simultaneously directing a sheet of 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 illuminator which is reflected from at least one more-reflective element and at least one less-reflective element of bar code information disposed in said bar code sensing region;

(c) an optoelectronic system for effecting a reading of a complete line of bar code information in said bar code sensing region without contact with the assistance of the sheet of visible light energy from the illuminator, and without requiring any movement of the hand-held reader unit as a whole relative to a bar code carrier carrying said bar code information, during a reading operation; and

(d) microprocessor means for decoding the reflected light signal, said microprocessor means including activating means for triggering said visible light illuminator in reponse to a manually generated signal.

64. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 63, with said optoelectronic system being capable of reading bar code information with curvature.

65. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 63, with said optoelectronic system 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 bar code information having curvature can be read.

66. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 65, with said optoelectronic system reading bar code information having curvature with minimum more-reflective element/less-reflective element width of about 0.0075 inch over a depth of field of at least about three millimeters.

67. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 63, with said optoelectronic system reading bar code information with minimum more-reflective element/less-reflective element width of about 0.0075 inch over a depth of field of at least about three millimeters.

68. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 63, with said hand-held reader unit having a reading capability for bar code information having a minimum more-reflective element or less-reflective element size of about 0.0075 inch over a substantial range of distances of a bar code data carrier from the hand-held reader unit.

69. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 63, with said visible light illuminator supplying pulses of visible light energy to said bar code sensing region.

70. A portable bar code reader system according to claim 63, with means for filtering out a long wavelength region of the spectrum of light energy from the sensing region.

71. In portable bar code reader system for reading lines of bar code information comprising a plurality of alternating more-reflective and less-reflective elements carried by a bar code carrier, said reader system comprising:

(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 simultaneously receiving at least one more-reflective element and at least one less-reflective element of bar code information on a bar code data carrier;

(c) said hand-held bar code reader unit having an optical system within said hand-held bar code reader unit for directing a sheet of light energy toward said bar code sensing region to simultaneously illuminate the bar code information in the bar code sensing region, for simultaneously receiving reflected light energy from the bar code information in the sensing region and for generating a bar code signal in accordance therewith without requiring any bodily scanning movement of the hand-held bar code reader unit relative to the bar code data carrier or without requiring contact of the reader unit with the data carrier;

(d) said hand-held bar code reader unit having actuating means for initiating a bar code reading operation while the hand-held bar code reader unit is manually held free from contact with and in operative relation to the bar code data carrier in said bar code sensing region;

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

(f) microprocessor means coupled with said actuating means for receiving an actuating signal initiated by said actuating means and for activating said visible light source.

72. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 71, said hand-held bar code reader unit having a weight not greater than about eight ounces.

73. In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 71, said actuating means being manually operated by the hand which holds said hand grip portion.

74. A portable bar code reader as defined in claim 71, where said hand-held bar code reader unit is arranged for battery operation of said optical system to provide a portable reader, and wherein said optical system includes instant response light source means arranged for battery energization through operation of said actuating means only when needed so as to minimize battery drain.