Optical symbol (bar code) reading systems and devices
First Claim
1. A scanning accessory for a portable terminal for collecting and entering data which comprises:
- a first housing having a surface defining a receptacle and also defining a hollow body, said hollow body having a generally tubular surface, said generally tubular surface defining a manually seizable grip portion, said generally tubular surface also defining a window;
a miniature scan engine module having means for projecting a light beam outwardly from said module toward a data representing symbol, said scan engine being disposed in said grip portion with the beam projecting through said window toward said symbol;
an electro-optical receptor in said grip portion for collecting and concentrating therein light from said symbol in response to illumination by said beam and for providing electrical signals representing said symbol;
means in said grip portion for operating said scan engine; and
means in said receptacle for releasably holding a second housing containing said terminal which comprises a portable data entry terminal having a keyboard for manual data entry, said receptacle having means for holding said first housing and second housing and said terminal and accessory in assembled and signal communication relationship for communicating said signals to said terminal.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A miniature scan engine module for bar code reading and data collection systems utilizes a light source 44 and a light collector 42, which in one embodiment, are flexurally supported on a platform 62 which reciprocates 88 on pivots defined by flexures 46, 48 or 96. The optical collector faces the bar code and pivots with the scanning beam source (a laser diode). A diffraction grating or Fresnel lens on the surface of the optical collector which faces the code directs the incoming light so that it propagates internally in a substrate within the body of the collector, i.e. in the optic itself and without air paths which require additional volume in the module, to a photodetector. The scan engine can be configured so that it occupies a volume of less than 1 cubic inch. A data collection system, in the form of a portable terminal 10, has a housing which provides the handle 12 of a scanning accessory. The housing of the accessory has a receptacle for a terminal unit 14 which is separable from the accessory'"'"'s housing.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A scanning accessory for a portable terminal for collecting and entering data which comprises:
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a first housing having a surface defining a receptacle and also defining a hollow body, said hollow body having a generally tubular surface, said generally tubular surface defining a manually seizable grip portion, said generally tubular surface also defining a window; a miniature scan engine module having means for projecting a light beam outwardly from said module toward a data representing symbol, said scan engine being disposed in said grip portion with the beam projecting through said window toward said symbol; an electro-optical receptor in said grip portion for collecting and concentrating therein light from said symbol in response to illumination by said beam and for providing electrical signals representing said symbol; means in said grip portion for operating said scan engine; and means in said receptacle for releasably holding a second housing containing said terminal which comprises a portable data entry terminal having a keyboard for manual data entry, said receptacle having means for holding said first housing and second housing and said terminal and accessory in assembled and signal communication relationship for communicating said signals to said terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A scanning accessory comprising:
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a first housing having a hollow body, said hollow body having a generally tubular surface defining a manually seizable grip portion; a miniature scan engine to project a light beam outwardly from said scan engine toward a data representing symbol, said scan engine being disposed in said grip portion with the beam projecting through a window toward said data representing symbol; and a receptor for receiving light from said data representing symbol in response to illumination by said beam and for providing signals representing said symbol, said receptor being disposed in said grip portion. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51)
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Specification