Portable optical scanning and pointing systems

• US 5,793,032 A
• Filed: 02/01/1995
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Barkan, Edward, Stern, Miklos, Katz, Joseph, Dvorkis, Paul, Krichever, Mark, Bard, Simon, Swartz, Jerome, Metlitsky, Boris, Heiman, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRECH, KARL D
• Application Number:
  US08/381,515
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 235/384, 235/462, 235/470, 235/471, 235/472, 362/103, 362/104, 362/105
• US Class Current: 235/472.02
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/0016 with folding cover or folding bottom (hinge without spring)
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10534 Scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1016 Motor control or optical moving unit control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10564 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10653 using flexible or piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction

Abstract

An optical scanning system for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity has an optical scan module which is adapted to be mounted on a finger of a user. A first peripheral module, preferably in the form of a wrist watch, has a receiver which detects the reflected light. A second peripheral module, mounted on the other arm of the user, communicates with the first module by radio frequency transmission. According to other aspects of the invention, the light detector may be mounted in a housing which is separate and part from the optical scan module. According to another aspect, a laser pointer or scanner is mounted to a ring which is arranged to be worn on a single finger of the user.

Claims

1. An optical system for reading indicia of different light reflectivity comprising:

an optical module having a light emitter for generating and emitting a scanning light beam for illuminating an indicia to be read, wherein said optical module incorporates a ring-shaped portion which is adapted to be mounted on a finger of a user; and

a first peripheral module, housed separate and apart from said optical module, having a light detector for detecting the reflection of the scanning light beam from said indicia and producing electrical signals responsive to the light received.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first peripheral module is arranged to be worn on the same arm as said optical module.

3. An optical system for reading indicia of different light reflectivity comprising:

an optical module having a light emitter for generating and emitting a scanning light beam for illuminating an indicia to be read, wherein said optical module is adapted to be held by a hand of a user; and

a first peripheral module, housed separate and apart from said optical module, having a light detector for detecting the reflection of the scanning light beam from said indicia and producing electrical signals responsive to the light received.

4. An optical system according to claim 3 including a storage stand for the first peripheral module.

5. A system according to claim 4 in which the first peripheral module includes a rechargeable battery, and the storage stand incorporates a battery charger.

6. A system according to claim 4 in which the first peripheral module includes a data-storage element, the storage stand incorporating a data-readout contact through which the data stored in the data-storage element may be downloaded.

7. A system according to claim 4 in which the storage stand comprises a storage container.

8. An optical system for reading indicia of different light reflectivity comprising:

an optical module having a light emitter for generating and emitting a scanning light beam for illuminating an indicia to be read; and

a first peripheral module, housed separate and apart from said optical module, having a light detector for detecting the reflection of the scanning light beam from said indicia and producing electrical signals responsive to the light received, wherein said first peripheral module is attached to a garment worn by the user.

9. An optical system for reading indicia of different light reflectivity comprising:

an optical module having a light emitter for generating and emitting a scanning light beam for illuminating an indicia to be read; and

a first peripheral module, housed separate and apart from said optical module, having a light detector for detecting the reflection of the scanning light beam from said indicia and producing electrical signals responsive to the light received, wherein said first peripheral module is adapted to be held by the hand of a user.

10. An optical system for reading indicia of different light reflectivity comprising:

an optical module having a light emitter for generating and emitting a scanning light beam for illuminating an indicia to be read; and

a first peripheral module, housed separate and apart from said optical module, having a light detector for detecting the reflection of the scanning light beam from said indicia and producing electrical signals responsive to the light received, wherein said first peripheral module includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting detected information to a second peripheral module, housed separately and spaced apart from said first peripheral module.

11. A system as defined in claim 10, wherein said second peripheral module is adapted to be worn by the user.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said second peripheral module includes a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting said detected information to a base station, housed separately and spaced apart from said peripheral module.

13. A system as defined in claim 10, wherein said second peripheral module is mounted on a stationary support.

14. A system as defined in claim 10, wherein said second peripheral module is housed in a self-contained, portable unit.

15. A system according to claim 10, wherein said second peripheral module is adapted to be carried by a user and includes a keypad or touch screen for inputting data to said system.

16. A system according to claim 10, wherein said second peripheral module is battery powered.

17. A system according to claim 10, wherein said first peripheral module is positioned over a conveyor along which articles having indicia to be read are arranged to pass.

18. A system according to claim 10, wherein said first peripheral module forms part of a cash register unit.

19. An optical system for reading indicia of different light reflectivity comprising:

an optical module having a light emitter for generating and emitting a scanning light beam for illuminating an indicia to be read, wherein said optical module includes scanning means for automatically scanning said emitted light beam; and

a first peripheral module, housed separate and apart from said optical module, having a light detector for detecting the reflection of the scanning light beam from said indicia and producing electrical signals responsive to the light received.

20. An optical system for reading indicia of different light reflectivity comprising:

an optical module having a light emitter for generating and emitting a scanning light beam for illuminating an indicia to be read, wherein said optical module is arranged to emit said light beam in a fixed direction, the user manually moving said optical module to scan said light beam over said indicia; and

a first peripheral module, housed separate and apart from said optical module, having a light detector for detecting the reflection of the scanning light beam from said indicia and producing electrical signals responsive to the light received.

21. An optical system for reading indicia of different light reflectivity comprising:

an optical module having a light emitter for generating and emitting a scanning light beam for illuminating an indicia to be read; and

a first peripheral module, housed separate and apart from said optical module, having a light detector for detecting the reflection of the scanning light beam from said indicia and producing electrical signals responsive to the light received, wherein said first peripheral module takes the form of a wrist-worn module.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein said wrist-worn module incorporates a wrist watch.

23. A system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

a light emitter for generating a light beam which illuminates the indicia and for producing reflected light of variable intensity reflected from said indicia;

said light emitter having a housing adapted to be worn on a single finger of a user in a position such that the light beam is directed in a natural pointing direction of said finger; and

an optical detector for detecting said reflected light and producing an electrical signal indicative of the reflected light intensity;

said detector having a housing adapted to be worn by the user in a position spaced apart from the light emitter.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein said housing incorporates a ring portion.

25. A system according to claim 23, wherein said light emitter includes a scanner for automatically scanning said light beam.

26. A system according to claim 23, wherein said light emitter is arranged to emit said light beam in a fixed direction, the user manually moving said light emitter to scan said light beam over said indicia.

27. An optical system adapted to be worn on the body of a user, the system comprising:

a laser scanner having a laser emitter for generating and emitting a laser beam; and

a band secured to the module and adapted to be worn around a part of the user'"'"'s body, the band incorporating a battery for powering the module.

28. A system according to claim 27 in which the band is adapted to be worn around the user'"'"'s wrist.

29. A system according to claim 27 in which the band is adapted to be worn around the user'"'"'s arm.

30. A system according to claim 27 in which the band is adapted to be worn around the user'"'"'s finger.

33. A system according to claim 27 in which the battery is flexible.

34. A system according to claim 27 in which the battery comprises a lithium polymer battery.

35. A system according to claim 27 in which the band further includes a form-retaining spring.

31. An optical system adapted to be worn on the body of a user, the system comprising:

a bar code reader having a laser emitter for generating and emitting a laser beam; and

a band secured to the module and adapted to be worn around a part of the user'"'"'s body, the band incorporating a battery for powering the module.

32. An optical system adapted to be worn on the body of a user, the system comprising:

a laser pointer having a laser emitter for generating and emitting a laser beam; and

a band secured to the module and adapted to be worn around a part of the user'"'"'s body, the band incorporating a battery for powering the module.

36. An optical system adapted to be worn on the body of a user, the system comprising:

an optical module having a laser emitter for generating and emitting a laser beam; and

a band secured to the module and adapted to be worn around a part of the user'"'"'s body, the band incorporating a battery for powering the module, wherein the band further includes a form-retaining spring which forms a terminal of the battery.

37. An optical system adapted to be worn on the body of a user, the system comprising:

an optical module having a laser emitter for generating and emitting a laser beam; and

a band secured to the module and adapted to be worn around a part of the user'"'"'s body, the band incorporating a battery for powering the module, wherein the band further includes a form-retaining spring which is snap-fit into the optical module.

38. An optical scanner for reading bar code symbols on a target at a distance from the unit, comprising scanning means for generating a laser beam directed toward a target producing a pulsed relatively short image line on the target plane during a first time period and a substantially continuous wide angled laser beam that sweeps an entire symbol during a second time period for reading the symbol, and detection means for receiving reflected light from such symbol to produce electrical signals corresponding to data represented by such symbol.

39. A system according to claim 38 wherein said scanning means includes a semiconductor laser light source to produce said laser beam.

40. A system according to claim 38 wherein said scanning means activates said laser beam during the first period only during a portion of the scanning cycle so as to produce a pulsed narrow-angled beam, and in a second period operates continuously during the scanning cycle to produce a wide-angled beam when reading the symbol.

41. An optical system for reading indicia of different light reflectivity comprising:

an optical module having a light emitter for generating and emitting a scanning light beam for illuminating an indicia to be read; and

a first peripheral module, housed separate and apart from said optical module, having a light detector for detecting the reflection of the scanning light beam from said indicia and producing electrical signals responsive to the light received, wherein said first peripheral module includes a keypad or touch screen for inputting data to said system.