Bar code scanner actuated by detection of scanner motion

• US 5,268,564 A
• Filed: 04/19/1993
• Issued: 12/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Biuso, Tony, Goren, David, Barkan, Edward, Shepard, Howard, Swartz, Jerome, Metlitsky, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): Fields, Carolyn E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US08/047,340
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/467, 235/469, 235/472, 250/555, 250/566, 250/568, 318/446, 318/457, 318/489, 307/117, 307/119, 307/120, 307/121, 361/179, 361/180, 361/143, 361/147, 340/689, 340/429, 340/539, 340/568
• US Class Current: 235/462.48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1013 Multi-focal
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners

Abstract

A bar code scanner which is responsive to the movement of the scanner to activate its light source. The scanner includes a motor having a moving member which is set in motion when the scanner is displaced from a rest position. The moving member generates a voltage in a coil, which activates the operation of the bar code scanner.

Claims

1. A bar code scanner, comprising:

a) a hand-held unit having a scanner motor and a light source which are maintained in an off condition when the unit is in a quiescent state and the unit is at rest;

b) a detector responsive to movement of said unit when a user moves the unit toward a bar code reading position; and

c) a controller responsive to said detector for turning on said scanner motor and said light source.

2. A bar code scanner according to claim 1 wherein said detector detects movement of a moving portion or member of said scanner motor.

3. A bar code scanner according to claim 2 wherein said movement is detected by detecting voltage generated in a coil of said scanner motor.

4. A bar code scanner according to claim 3 wherein said motor is a rotary motor or a resonant motor.

5. A bar code scanner according to claim 1 wherein said unit includes a light source, and includes a curved mirror driven by said scanner motor for moving a light beam across a bar code symbol to be read.

6. A bar code scanner according to claim 5 wherein said light source is a light-emitting diode.

7. A bar code scanner according to claim 5 wherein said unit includes a light sensor responsive to reflected light from said symbol, via a curved mirror driven by said scanner motor.

8. A method of operating a hand-held bar code reader having a light source for generating a light beam, and a scanning actuator for directing the light beam in a scanning pattern, comprising the steps of:

maintaining said hand-held reader in a quiescent state when the reader is at rest with at least one of said light source and said scanning actuator not being activated in said quiescent state;

detecting movement of said reader when the reader is moved from a stationary position; and

in response to said step of detecting, turning on at least one of said scanning actuator and said light source so that both said actuator and said light source are activated.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said scanning actuator is a motor, and said step of detecting includes detecting movement of a moving member of said motor.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said movement is detected by detecting voltage generated in a coil of said motor.

11. A method according to claim 8 including the steps of generating a light beam by said light source and scanning said light beam across a symbol by said scanning actuator.

12. A method according to claim 11 including the steps of detecting light reflected from said symbol and generating an electrical signal responsive to the detected light.

13. A method according to claim 12 including the step of turning off said light source and scanning actuator after said electrical signal indicates a bar code has been scanned or after a predetermined time period.

14. A method according to claim 8 wherein said light source is a light emitting diode, and said scanning actuator drives a scan mirror to focus a light beam from said diode onto a scan plane, and drives a curved collecting mirror to focus reflected light onto a photodetector.

15. A method of operating a hand-held bar code reader having a quiescent state, and an active state in which the reader is capable of bar code reading, comprising the steps of:

detecting movement of said reader when the reader is moved from a stationary position; and

changing the state of a said bar code reader from said quiescent state to said active state in response to detecting movement of said reader.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said reader comprises a light source for generating a light beam, and a scanning actuator for directing the light beam in a scanning pattern, and in said quiescent state at least one of said light source and said actuator are deenergized, and in said active state both said light source and said actuator are energized.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said scanning actuator is a motor, and said step of detecting includes detecting movement of a moving member of said motor.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said movement is detected by detecting voltage generated in a coil of said motor.

19. A method according to claim 16 including the steps of generating a light beam by said light source and scanning said light beam across a symbol by said scanning actuator.

20. A method according to claim 19 including the steps of detecting light reflected from said symbol and generating an electrical signal responsive to said detected light.

21. A method according to claim 20 including the step of turning off said light source and scanning actuator either after said electrical signal indicates a bar code has been scanned or after a predetermined time period.

22. A method according to claim 16 wherein said light source is a light emitting diode, and said scanning actuator drives a scan mirror to focus a light beam from said diode onto a scan plane, and drives a curved collecting mirror to focus reflected light onto a photodetector.

23. A bar code reader, comprising:

a) a light source for generating a light beam;

b) scanner means for directing the light beam in a scan path across a bar code symbol, the scanner means including a scanning actuator;

c) a detector responsive to movement of said reader and producing an output when the reader is moved from a stationary position;

d) a controller responsive to said output for activating said reader so as to be able to read bar codes.

24. A bar code reader according to claim 23 wherein the scanning actuator is a motor and the detector is responsive to movement of an element of said motor.

25. A bar code reader according to claim 24 wherein said movement of said element produces a voltage output from a coil.

26. A bar code reader according to claim 24, wherein said controller activates said scanning actuator.

27. A bar code reader according to claim 23, wherein said controller activates said light source.

28. A bar code reader according to claim 23, wherein said light source is deenerigized and said scanner means is in a quiescent state when said reader is in a stationary position.

29. A bar code reader according to claim 23 wherein said light source is a light emitting diode, and said scanning actuator drives a scan mirror to focus a light beam from said diode onto a scan plane, and drives a curved collecting mirror to focus reflected light onto a photodetector.

30. A bar code reader according to claim 23, further comprising sensor means for detecting light reflected from said bar code symbol and for generating an electrical signal representing the detected light.

31. A bar code reader according to claim 30 further comprising means for turning off said light source and scanning actuator either after said electrical signal indicates a bar code has been scanned or after a predetermined time period has elapsed.

32. In a bar code reader energizable from an inactive state to an active state capable of bar code reading, the improvement comprising means for detecting motion of the bar code reader and means for energizing the reader, upon such detection, from said inactive state to said active state capable of bar code reading.