Body-nearable laser scanning system with programmed mode for consecutively reading bar code symbols without system reactivation
First Claim
1. A body-wearable laser scanning system having a programmed mode of automatic code symbol reading for consecutively reading code symbols without system reactivation, said body-wearable laser scanning system comprising:
- housing support means wearable on the arm of an operator;
a housing having a light transmission aperture through which visible light can exit and enter said housing, and being operably connected to said housing support means so that said light transmission aperture is orientable in a scanning direction;
system activation means in said housing, for generating an activation signal for use in activating one or more components of said body-wearable scanning system;
activatable scan data producing means in said housing for producing, when activated, scan data from an object located in at least a portion of a scan field definable external to said housing, said activatable scan data producing means includinga laser beam producing means for producing a laser beam within said housing and projecting said laser beam through said light transmission aperture, and scanning said laser beam across said scan field and a code symbol on said object, andlaser light detecting means for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off said code symbol and passing through said light transmission aperture, and automatically producing scan data indicative of said detected light intensity;
activatable scan data processing means for processing, when activated, produced scan data so as to detect and decode said scanned code symbol and automatically produce symbol character data representative of said decoded code symbol;
system control means for automatically activating said activatable scan data producing means and said activatable scan data processing means in response to the generation of said activation signal, and controlling the operation thereof during said programmed mode of automatic code symbol reading such that two or more code symbols on one or more objects in said scan field can be consecutively detected and decoded without reactivation of said activatable scan data processing means or said activatable scan data processing means; and
battery power supply means, supportable on the body of said operator, for supplying electrical power to said system activation means, said activatable scan data producing means, said activatable scan data processing means, and said system control means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable automatic code symbol reading system having a laser scanning engine mounted upon the hand of its operator to provide hands-free automatic laser scanning capabilities. The automatic code symbol reading system includes a battery power supply aboard its hand-mounted housing, and a power-conserving control subsystem for conserving the consumption of electrical power during automatic portable laser scanning operations. The control subsystem of the present invention has a plurality of control centers which control the operation of the system components in accordance with preselected system control operations. Each of the control centers is responsive to control activation signals generated by certain of the system components upon the occurrence of predefined conditions. Certain of the control centers are capable of overriding other control centers to provide diverse control capabilities. These control capabilities facilitate execution of intelligent functions and power consumption measures required during automatic, hands-free code symbol reading operations.
92 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A body-wearable laser scanning system having a programmed mode of automatic code symbol reading for consecutively reading code symbols without system reactivation, said body-wearable laser scanning system comprising:
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housing support means wearable on the arm of an operator; a housing having a light transmission aperture through which visible light can exit and enter said housing, and being operably connected to said housing support means so that said light transmission aperture is orientable in a scanning direction; system activation means in said housing, for generating an activation signal for use in activating one or more components of said body-wearable scanning system; activatable scan data producing means in said housing for producing, when activated, scan data from an object located in at least a portion of a scan field definable external to said housing, said activatable scan data producing means including a laser beam producing means for producing a laser beam within said housing and projecting said laser beam through said light transmission aperture, and scanning said laser beam across said scan field and a code symbol on said object, and laser light detecting means for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off said code symbol and passing through said light transmission aperture, and automatically producing scan data indicative of said detected light intensity; activatable scan data processing means for processing, when activated, produced scan data so as to detect and decode said scanned code symbol and automatically produce symbol character data representative of said decoded code symbol; system control means for automatically activating said activatable scan data producing means and said activatable scan data processing means in response to the generation of said activation signal, and controlling the operation thereof during said programmed mode of automatic code symbol reading such that two or more code symbols on one or more objects in said scan field can be consecutively detected and decoded without reactivation of said activatable scan data processing means or said activatable scan data processing means; and battery power supply means, supportable on the body of said operator, for supplying electrical power to said system activation means, said activatable scan data producing means, said activatable scan data processing means, and said system control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification