Articulated scan elements with elastomeric hinges, and methods for manufacture of same
First Claim
1. A flexible scan element for scanning a light beam, comprising:
- (A) a first leaf that is rigidly affixed to a substrate;
(B) a second leaf having a mirror affixed thereto; and
(C) a flexible hinge that couples the first leaf to the second leaf;
wherein the second leaf is moveable and pivots about an axis of the flexible hinge; and
wherein the first leaf has a thickness along a length of the first leaf, the first leaf includes a flange with a positive depth that is less than the thickness of the first leaf, and the flexible hinge is bonded to the flange on the first leaf.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible scan element for scanning a light beam, and methods for making and actuating the scan element. The scan element includes a first leaf that is rigidly affixed to a substrate, a second leaf having a mirror affixed thereto, and a flexible hinge that couples the first leaf to the second leaf. The second leaf is moveable and pivots about an axis of the flexible hinge. The first leaf is coupled to the second leaf solely by the flexible hinge, and the flexible hinge is formed solely from an elastomer material. The first and second leaves are preferably formed from flat rigid metal, and optionally include bonding flanges that couple the leaves to the elastomeric hinge forming material. The mirror is affixed on one side of the second leaf and a magnet is optionally affixed on the opposite side of the second leaf. The scan element optionally includes tabs for mounting the device to a flat substrate or circuit board, and, in one embodiment has a resonant frequency in the range of 20 Hz-100 Hz.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A flexible scan element for scanning a light beam, comprising:
-
(A) a first leaf that is rigidly affixed to a substrate;
(B) a second leaf having a mirror affixed thereto; and
(C) a flexible hinge that couples the first leaf to the second leaf;
wherein the second leaf is moveable and pivots about an axis of the flexible hinge; and
wherein the first leaf has a thickness along a length of the first leaf, the first leaf includes a flange with a positive depth that is less than the thickness of the first leaf, and the flexible hinge is bonded to the flange on the first leaf. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A flexible scan element for scanning a light beam, comprising:
-
(A) a first leaf that is rigidly affixed to a substrate;
(B) a second leaf having a mirror affixed thereto; and
(C) a flexible hinge that couples the first leaf to the second leaf;
wherein the second leaf is moveable and pivots about an axis of the flexible hinge; and
wherein the second leaf has a thickness along a length of the second leaf, the second leaf includes a flange with a positive depth that is less than the thickness of the second leaf, and the flexible hinge is bonded to the flange on the second leaf.
-
-
5. A flexible scan element for scanning a light beam, comprising:
-
(A) a first leaf that is rigidly affixed to a substrate, the first leaf having a generally planar upper surface;
(B) a second leaf having a mirror affixed thereto, the second leaf having a generally planar upper surface; and
(C) a flexible hinge that couples a first end of the first leaf to a first end of the second leaf, the first end of the first leaf being perpendicular to the upper surface of the first leaf, the first end of the second leaf being perpendicular to the upper surface of the second leaf, and the upper surface of the first leaf being parallel to the upper surface of the second leaf when the flexible hinge is at a neutral angle;
wherein the second leaf is moveable and pivots about an axis of the flexible hinge; and
wherein the flexible hinge has a first vertical sidewall that is perpendicular to the upper surface of the first leaf and abuts the first end of the first leaf, a second vertical sidewall that is perpendicular to the upper surface of the second leaf and abuts the first end of the second leaf, and a rounded upper surface that extends above the upper surface of the first leaf and the upper surface of the second leaf. - View Dependent Claims (6)
-
-
7. A chassis for use in forming a scan element for scanning a light beam, comprising:
-
(A) a first moveable leaf that is secured to a first fixed leaf by a first hinge;
(B) a second leaf fixed leaf that is adjacent to the first fixed leaf; and
(C) a third fixed leaf that is adjacent to the second fixed leaf, the second fixed leaf being positioned between the first and third fixed leaves;
wherein the first, second and third fixed leaves are formed from a single sheet of flat metal having first and second bending grooves, the first bending groove separating the first fixed leaf from the second fixed leaf, and the second bending groove separating the second fixed leaf from the third fixed leaf. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for actuating a scan system, comprising the steps of:
-
(A) providing a moveable fixture having with a mirror affixed thereto, wherein the moveable fixture pivots about an axis;
(B) providing a laser that directs a light beam at the mirror;
(C) providing a distortion force to the moveable fixture at a first time associated with actuation of the scan system by a user;
(D) turning the laser on for a predetermined period of time that expires after the first time; and
(E) turning the laser off at the expiration of the predetermined period of time;
wherein the laser remains on during the predetermined period of time and is turned off at the expiration of the predetermined period of time irrespective of whether a bar code symbol is successfully decoded during the predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A scan system for scanning a bar code symbol, wherein components of the scan system are actuated and deactuated independently of successful decoding of the bar code symbol by the system, comprising:
-
(A) a moveable fixture having with a mirror affixed thereto, wherein the moveable fixture pivots about an axis;
(B) a laser that directs a light beam at the mirror;
(C) circuitry that provides a distortion force to the moveable fixture at a first time associated with actuation of the scan system by a user; and
(D) circuitry that turns the laser on for a predetermined period of time that expires after the first time, and turns the laser off at the expiration of the predetermined period of time;
wherein the laser remains on during the predetermined period of time and is turned off at the expiration of the predetermined period of time irrespective of whether a bar code symbol is successfully decoded during the predetermined period of time.
-
-
24. A scan system for scanning a bar code symbol, wherein components of the scan system are actuated and deactuated independently of successful decoding of the bar code symbol by the system, comprising:
-
(A) a moveable fixture having with a mirror affixed thereto, wherein the moveable fixture pivots about an axis;
(B) a laser that directs a light beam at the mirror;
(C) a mechanical switch that provides a mechanical impact force to the moveable fixture at a first time associated with actuation of the scan system by a user; and
(D) circuitry that turns the laser on for a predetermined period of time that expires after the first time, and turns the laser off at the expiration of the predetermined period of time;
wherein the laser remains on during the predetermined period of time and is turned off at the expiration of the predetermined period of time irrespective of whether a bar code symbol is successfully decoded during the predetermined period of time.
-
Specification