Countertop bar code symbol reading system having automatic hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device and stand for supporting projected scan field thereof
First Claim
1. An automatic bar code symbol reading system having hand-held and stand-supported modes of automatic operation, comprising:
- a) a hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device including(1) a hand-supportable housing supportable in the hand of a user, and having a light transmission aperture through which visible light can exit and enter said hand-supportable housing;
(2) bar code symbol detection means in said hand-supportable housing for processing produced scan data so as to detect the presence of a bar code symbol on an object located within at least a portion of a scan field external to said hand-supportable housing and to automatically generate a control activation signal in response to the detection of said bar code symbol in said object;
(3) scan data producing means in said hand-supportable housing for producing scan data from said object, said scan data producing means including(i) a laser beam producing means disposed in said hand-supportable housing for producing and projecting a laser beam through said light transmission aperture,(ii) scanning means for scanning said laser beam across said scan field and said bar code symbol on said object, and(iii) laser light detecting means for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off said bar code symbol and passed through said light transmission aperture and for automatically producing scan data indicative of said detected light intensity;
(4) decode processing means in said hand-supportable housing for processing produced scan data so as to detect and decode said bar code symbol on said object and for automatically producing symbol character data representative of said detected and decoded bar code symbol; and
(5) system control circuitry for automatically controlling the operation of said automatic bar code symbol reading system in response to the generation of said control activation signal,wherein during said hand-held mode of automatic operation said control activation signal is automatically generated when a bar code symbol on an object is detected by said bar code symbol detection means while said hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device is supported within the hand of said user; and
(b) a scanner stand including(1) housing support means for receiving and supporting at least a portion of said hand-supportable housing, and(2) a base portion mountable relative to a countertop surface so that when said hand-supportable housing is supported within said housing support means during said stand-supported mode of automatic operation said scan field is projected away from said scanner support stand and said hand-supportable housing and extends above said countertop surface permitting the automatic reading of bar code symbols on objects passed by said scanner support stand,wherein, during said scanner-supported mode of automatic operation said control activation signal is automatically generated when a bar code symbol on an object is detected by said bar code symbol detection means while said hand-supportable housing is supported within said housing support means.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Bar code symbol reading system with automatic modes of hand-held (i.e., hands-on) and stand-supported (i.e., hands-free) operation. In the hand-held mode of automatic operation, the user initiates laser scanning by simply bringing the object within at least a portion of the scan field of the automatic bar code symbol reading device. In the stand-supported mode of automatic operation, a scanner support stand is used to support the automatic bar code symbol reading device relative to a countertop surface so that the scan field is projected away from the scanner support stand and the hand-supportable housing, and extends above the countertop surface permitting the automatic reading bar code symbols on goods passed thereby. This way, during the scanner-supported mode of automatic operation, a bar code symbol on an object of virtually any size can be automatically read when the object is automatically detected in the outwardly projected scan field while the hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device is supported within the scanner support stand.
52 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An automatic bar code symbol reading system having hand-held and stand-supported modes of automatic operation, comprising:
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a) a hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device including (1) a hand-supportable housing supportable in the hand of a user, and having a light transmission aperture through which visible light can exit and enter said hand-supportable housing; (2) bar code symbol detection means in said hand-supportable housing for processing produced scan data so as to detect the presence of a bar code symbol on an object located within at least a portion of a scan field external to said hand-supportable housing and to automatically generate a control activation signal in response to the detection of said bar code symbol in said object; (3) scan data producing means in said hand-supportable housing for producing scan data from said object, said scan data producing means including (i) a laser beam producing means disposed in said hand-supportable housing for producing and projecting a laser beam through said light transmission aperture, (ii) scanning means for scanning said laser beam across said scan field and said bar code symbol on said object, and (iii) laser light detecting means for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off said bar code symbol and passed through said light transmission aperture and for automatically producing scan data indicative of said detected light intensity; (4) decode processing means in said hand-supportable housing for processing produced scan data so as to detect and decode said bar code symbol on said object and for automatically producing symbol character data representative of said detected and decoded bar code symbol; and (5) system control circuitry for automatically controlling the operation of said automatic bar code symbol reading system in response to the generation of said control activation signal, wherein during said hand-held mode of automatic operation said control activation signal is automatically generated when a bar code symbol on an object is detected by said bar code symbol detection means while said hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device is supported within the hand of said user; and (b) a scanner stand including (1) housing support means for receiving and supporting at least a portion of said hand-supportable housing, and (2) a base portion mountable relative to a countertop surface so that when said hand-supportable housing is supported within said housing support means during said stand-supported mode of automatic operation said scan field is projected away from said scanner support stand and said hand-supportable housing and extends above said countertop surface permitting the automatic reading of bar code symbols on objects passed by said scanner support stand, wherein, during said scanner-supported mode of automatic operation said control activation signal is automatically generated when a bar code symbol on an object is detected by said bar code symbol detection means while said hand-supportable housing is supported within said housing support means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification