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Hand-held optical code reader

  • US 5,703,348 A
  • Filed: 12/19/1995
  • Issued: 12/30/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An optical code reader comprising:

  • a reading window;

    a guide light source for guiding a two-dimensional code into a reading range outside said read window;

    an illumination light source for illuminating the two-dimensional code guided into the reading range;

    an optical system for focusing light reflected from the two-dimensional code illuminated by said illumination light source to form an image;

    a reading unit for sensing the image formed by said optical system and which reads the two-dimensional code on the basis of the sensed image; and

    a hand-held frame member, having an opening which serves as said read window, for holding said guide light source, said illumination light source, said optical system, and said reading unit;

    wherein;

    said optical system has a focal distance by which the image of the two-dimensional code is most clearly formed in a state where the two-dimensional code is located at a target point which is a specific distance away from said read window;

    said guide light source has a group of light-emitting elements for projecting spotlight beams which intersect at the target point;

    said reading unit includes sensing means for sensing an image formed by said optical system; and

    processing means for processing the image sensed by said sensing means;

    said processing means includes instructing means for generating a read instruction when the location of said two-dimension code coincides with the target point;

    driving means for driving said guide light source before generation of the read instruction, and for driving said illumination light source after generation of said read instruction; and

    decoding means for decoding the image of the two-dimensional code illuminated by said illumination light source;

    said instructing means includes detecting means for detecting a single spot formed by said spot light beams in the image sensed by said sensing means; and

    said detecting means includes registering means for registering each portion having predetermined features in the image sensed by said sensing means as a spot.

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