Automatic hand-supportable laser scanner and method of reading bar code symbols using same
First Claim
1. A system for reading code symbols in either a long-range or short-range mode of preprogrammed operation, said system comprising:
- a housing of compact construction having a light transmission aperture through which visible light can exit and enter said housing;
scan data producing means, disposed in said housing, for producing scan data from an object in a scan field defined external to said housing, said scan data producing means including means for producing a light beam within said housing, scanning said light beam across said scan field and a code symbol on an object located in at least a portion of said scan field, detecting the intensity of light reflected off said code symbol as said light beam is scanned across said scan field and said code symbol on said object, and producing scan data indicative of said detected intensity;
scan data processing means for processing produced scan data in order to determine whether said scanned code symbol is located in a predetermined short-range portion of said scan field or in a predetermined long-range portion of said scan field, and to decode said scanned code symbol, anddata transmission means for transmitting said symbol character data to an external device;
wherein, when said system is in said short-range mode of preprogrammed operation, said symbol character data is transmitted from said data transmission means to said external device only when said decoded code symbol is located in said predetermined short-range portion of said scan field; and
wherein, when said system is induced in said long-range mode of preprogrammed operation, said symbol character data is transmitted from said data transmission means to said external device only when said decoded code symbol is located in said predetermined long-range portion of said scan field; and
control means for automatically controlling the operation of said system during said short-range and said long-range modes of preprogrammed operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for reading bar code symbols using a substrate hand-holdable bar code symbol reading device. In general, the automatic bar code symbol reading device comprises a hand-holdable housing containing operative elements which provide an object detection field and a scan field each defined external to the housing. The method involves automatically detecting the presence of an object within the object detection field by sensing object sensing energy reflected off the object. In a preferred embodiment, the object sensing energy is IR radiation produced from an object sensing energy source disposed within the housing. In automatic response to the detection of the object within the object detection field, the hand-holdable device detects the presence of a bar code within the scan field using a laser beam produced within the housing. Then, in automatic response to the detection of a bar code in the scan field, the automatic hand-holdable bar code symbol reading device reads the detected bar code in the scan field by producing scan data signals from the detected bar code and thereafter collecting and analyzing the same. Another aspect of the present invention concerns a hand-holdable data collection device adapted for use with the automatic bar code symbol reading device to form a portable symbol reading system characterized by versatility and simplicity of use.
56 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system for reading code symbols in either a long-range or short-range mode of preprogrammed operation, said system comprising:
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a housing of compact construction having a light transmission aperture through which visible light can exit and enter said housing; scan data producing means, disposed in said housing, for producing scan data from an object in a scan field defined external to said housing, said scan data producing means including means for producing a light beam within said housing, scanning said light beam across said scan field and a code symbol on an object located in at least a portion of said scan field, detecting the intensity of light reflected off said code symbol as said light beam is scanned across said scan field and said code symbol on said object, and producing scan data indicative of said detected intensity; scan data processing means for processing produced scan data in order to determine whether said scanned code symbol is located in a predetermined short-range portion of said scan field or in a predetermined long-range portion of said scan field, and to decode said scanned code symbol, and data transmission means for transmitting said symbol character data to an external device; wherein, when said system is in said short-range mode of preprogrammed operation, said symbol character data is transmitted from said data transmission means to said external device only when said decoded code symbol is located in said predetermined short-range portion of said scan field; and wherein, when said system is induced in said long-range mode of preprogrammed operation, said symbol character data is transmitted from said data transmission means to said external device only when said decoded code symbol is located in said predetermined long-range portion of said scan field; and control means for automatically controlling the operation of said system during said short-range and said long-range modes of preprogrammed operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for reading code symbols in either a first or second mode of preprogrammed operation, said system comprising:
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a housing of compact construction having a light transmission aperture through which visible light can exit and enter said housing; scan data producing means disposed to said housing, for producing scan data from an object in at least a portion of a scan field defined external to said housing, said scan data producing means including means for producing a light beam within said housing, projecting said light beam through said light transmission aperture and across said scan field and a code symbol on an object, detecting the intensity of light reflected off said code symbol as said light beam is projected across said scan field and said code symbol on said object, and producing scan data indicative of said detected intensity; scan data processing means for processing produced scan data in order to determine whether said scanned code symbol is located in a first spatially-defined portion of said scan field or in a second spatially-defined portion of said scan field, and to decode said scanned code symbol, data transmission means for transmitting said symbol character data to an external device; mode selection means for inducing said system into either said first mode of preprogrammed operation or said second mode of preprogrammed operation; wherein, when said system is induced in said first mode of preprogrammed operation, said symbol character data is transmitted from said data transmission means only when said decoded code symbol is located in said first spatially-defined portion of said scan field; and wherein, when said system is induced in said second mode of preprogrammed operation, said symbol character data is transmitted from said data transmission means only when said decoded code symbol is located in said second spatially-defined portion of said scan field; and control means for automatically controlling the operation of said code symbol reading system during said first and second modes of preprogrammed operation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification