Automatic laser projection scanner with improved activation controlling mechanism

• US 6,189,793 B1
• Filed: 08/04/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Rockstein, George B., Naylor, Charles A., Wilz, David M., Knowles, Carl H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/368,470
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/462.47, 235/462.2, 235/462.22, 235/472.01, 235/472.02
• US Class Current: 235/462.22
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/106 having diffraction gratings as scanning elements, e.g. holographic scanners holographic optical elements G02B5/32, holography G03H
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1012 Special detection of object
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1016 Motor control or optical moving unit control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1017 Programmable
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1018 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10564 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10594 Beam path
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10603 Basic scanning using moving elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10663 using hologram
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10673 Parallel lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10693 for omnidirectional scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10792 Special measures in relation to the object to be scanned
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10801 Multidistance reading
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10871 : randomly oriented data-fields, code-marks therefore, e.g. concentric circles-code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 : constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 : the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/109 : adaptations to make the hand-held scanner useable as a fixed scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 : using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 : locating of the code in an image

Abstract

Disclosed is a fully automatic bar code symbol reading system having an hand-supportable laser bar code reading device which can be used in either an automatic hands-on mode of operation, or in an automatic hands-free mode of operation. The system includes a scanner support frame for supporting the hand-supportable device in a user-selected mounting position, and permits complete gripping of its handle portion prior to its use in the hands-on mode of operation. In general, the hand-supportable bar code reading device has long-range and short-range modes of object detection, bar code presence detection and bar code symbol reading. In the illustrative embodiment, the long-range mode is automatically selected when the hand-supportable bar code reading device is placed within the scanner support stand during the automatic hands-free mode of operation. Whenever the hand-supportable bar code reading device is picked up from the support stand and used in its hands-on mode of operation, the short-range mode is automatically selected to provide CCD-like scanner emulation. When used in either mode of operation, the automatic bar code reading device is capable of reading, in a consecutive manner, one or more bar code symbols on an object, while preventing multiple reading of the same bar code symbol due to dwelling of the laser scanning beam upon the bar code symbol.

Claims

1. An automatic code symbol reading system comprising:

(A) a laser projection scanning device including

(1) a compact housing with a light-transmissive window through which visible light can exit from, and enter into, the housing,

(2) an activatable laser beam source in the compact housing which, when activated by a controlling mechanism, produces a laser beam projected through the light transmissive window and into a scan field extending outwardly from the compact housing,

(3) an activatable scanning mechanism in the compact housing which, when activated by the controlling mechanism, scans the laser beam across the scan field to form a laser scanning pattern characterized by at least one scanning plane of essentially planar extent,

(4) a light detector in the compact housing for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected from a code symbol as the visible laser beam is scanned across the scan field and the code symbol therein, and, in response to the detected intensity, generating scan data indicative of the scanned code symbol, and

(5) an object detector in the compact housing for detecting the presence of an object within an object detection field extending outwardly from the compact housing, and producing in response thereto an activation signal, the object detection field being characterized by a volumetric extent, the laser projection scanning device having an operative scanning range measured from a distance in front of the light transmissive window out towards a region within the scan field, and the object detection field spatially encompassing at least a portion of the scan field within the operative scanning range;

(6) a processor for processing produced scan data so as to decode the code symbol on the detected object, and upon decoding the code symbol on the detected object, automatically producing symbol character data representative of the decoded code symbol; and

(7) a controlling mechanism for providing at least one of

(A) timed activation of the laser beam source and/or the scanning mechanism, and

(B) selection of an operating range for the code symbol reading system.

2. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein the controlling mechanism includes a timed activation circuit for automatically activating the activatable laser beam source and the activatable scanning mechanism for up to a predetermined time period in response to the generation of the activation signal;

the timed activation circuit automatically deactivating the activatable laser beam source and the activatable scanning mechanism in response to the processor failing to decode the code symbol on the detected object within the predetermined time period.

3. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 2, wherein the object detector has a short-range mode of object detection and a long-range mode of object detection,

wherein, when the object detector is in the short-range mode of object detection, the object detector detects the presence of an object located within a short range as measured from a distance in front of the light transmissive window out towards a first region within the object detection field, and

wherein, when the object detector is in the long-range mode of object detection, the object detector capable of detects the presence of an object located within a long range as measured from a distance in front of the light transmissive window out towards a second region within the object detection field; the long range representing a greater distance than the short range.

4. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 3, wherein the controlling mechanism of the code symbol scanning device further comprises circuitry for operating the object detector in the short range mode of object detection in response to the absence of a long range mode activation signal, and for operating the object detector in the long range mode of object detection in response to the presence of the long range mode activation signal.

5. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 3, wherein the housing includes a head portion and a handle portion.

6. The code symbol reading system of claim 3, wherein the object detector comprises

a transmitter for transmitting an infra-red light signal into the object detection field, and

a receiver for receiving at least a portion of said transmitted infra-red light signal reflected off the object in the object detection field and producing the activation signal in response thereto.

7. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein the object detector comprises:

a transmitter for transmitting an infra-red light signal into the object detection field, and

a receiver for receiving at least a portion of the transmitted infra-red light signal reflected off the object in

the object detection field and for producing the activation signal in response thereto.

8. The automatic code symbol reading device of claim 1, wherein the processor and the controlling mechanism are situated within the housing.

9. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein the code symbol is a bar code symbol.

10. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein the object detector comprises a synchronous receiver/transmitter.

11. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein the housing has a b longitudinal dimension extending in a longitudinal direction, and wherein the scan field and the object detection field extend from about said light transmission window in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the housing.

12. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein the object detection filed spatially encompasses a central portion of the scan field within the operative scanning range.

13. An automatic code symbol reading system comprising:

(A) a laser projection scanning device including

(1) a compact housing having a light transmissive window by which light can exit from and enter into the housing,

(2) an activatable scan data gathering mechanism, in the compact housing, for gathering scan data from a code symbol, the scan data comprising graphical indicia of differing light relectivities;

the activatable scan data gathering mechanism including;

(2) (a) laser beam source for producing a laser beam projected through the light transmissive window and into a scan field defined external to the compact housing,

(2) (b) a scanning mechanism for scanning the laser beam across the scan field according to a laser scanning pattern characterized as having at least one scanning plane of essentially planar extend, and

(2) (c) a light detector for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off a code symbol as the laser beam is scanned across the scan field and the code symbol therein, and for automatically gathering scan data indicative of the detected intensity of the reflected laser light, and

(3) an object detector in the compact housing for detecting the presence of an object within an object detection field definable external to the compact housing, and producing in response thereto an activation signal, the object detection field being characterized as having volumetric extent;

the laser projection scanning device having an operative scanning range measured from a distance in front of the light transmissive window out towards a region within the scan field, and the object detection field spatially encompassing at least a portion of the scan field within the operative scanning range;

(B) a processor for processing gathered scan data so as to decode the code symbol on the detected object, and upon decoding the code symbol, automatically producing symbol character data representative of the decoded code symbol; and

(C) a controlling mechanism for controlling the operation of the automatic code symbol reading system by providing at least one of;

(a) timed activation of the laser beam source and/or the scanning mechanism; and

(b) selection of an operating range for the code symbol reading system.

14. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 13, wherein the controlling mechanism includes:

control circuitry for automatically activating the activatable scan data producing means for up to a predetermined time period in response to the generation of said activation signal;

the control circuitry automatically deactivating the activatable scan data gathering mechanism in response to the processor failing to decode the code symbol on the detected object within the predetermined time period.

15. The code symbol reading system of claim 14, wherein the object detector comprises

a transmitter for transmitting an infra-red light signal into the object detection field, and

a receiver for receiving at least a portion of the transmitted infra-red light signal reflected by the object in the object detection field and producing the activation signal in response thereto.

16. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 14, wherein the code symbol is a bar code symbol.

17. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 14, wherein the object detector comprises a synchronous receiver/transmitter.

18. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 14, wherein the compact housing has a longitudinal dimension which extends in a longitudinal direction, and wherein the scan field and the object detection field extend from about the light transmission window in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal extend of the housing.

19. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 18, wherein the housing comprises a head portion and a handle portion.

20. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 14, wherein the object detection field spatially encompasses a central portion of the scan field within the operative scanning range.

21. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 13, wherein the object detector has at least a short-range mode of object detection and a long-range mode of object detection,

wherein, when the object detector is in the short range mode of object detection, the object detector is adapted for detecting the presence of the object located within a short range as measured from a distance in front of said light transmissive window out towards a first regions within the object detection field, and

wherein, when the object detector is in the long-range mode of object detection, the object detector is adapted for detecting the presence of the object located within a long range as measured from a distance in front of the light transmissive window out towards a second region within the object detection field;

the long range representing a greater distance than the short range.

22. The code symbol reading system of claim 21, wherein the controlling mechanism places the object detector in the short range mode of object detection in response to the absence of a long range mode activation signal at the control circuitry, and places the object detector in the long range mode of object detection in response to the presence of the long range mode activation signal at the control circuitry.

23. An automatic code symbol reading system comprising:

(A) a laser projection scanning device including

(1) a housing having a light transmissive window through which light can exit from, and enter into, the housing,

(2) a scan data gathering mechanism disposed in the housing, for gathering scan data from a code symbol which includes graphical indicia of differing light relectivies, said scan data gathering mechanism including

(2) (a) laser beam source for producing a laser beam projected through the light transmissive window and into a scan field defined external to the compact housing,

(2) (b) a scanning mechanism for scanning the laser beam across the scan field according to a laser scanning pattern characterized as having at least one scanning plane of essentially planar extend, and

(2) (c) a light detector for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected by a code symbol as the laser beam is scanned across the scan field and the code symbol therein, and for automatically producing scan data indicative of the detected intensity of the reflected laser light, and

(3) an object detector in the compact housing for detecting the presence of an object within an object detection field definable external to the housing, and producing in response thereto an activation signal, the object detection field being characterized as having a volumetric extent, and the laser projection scanning device having an operative scanning range measured from a distance in front of the light transmissive window out towards a region within the scan field, and the object detection field spatially encompassing at least a portion of the scan field within said operative scanning range;

(B) a processor for processing produced scan data so as to decode the code symbol on the detected object, and upon decoding the code symbol on the detected object, automatically producing symbol character data representative of the decoded code symbol; and

(C) a controller for controlling the operation of at least one of;

the data gathering mechanism, the laser beam source, the scanning mechanism, and the light detector, in response to the object detector detecting the presence of an object.

24. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 23, wherein the controller comprises:

an activation mechanism for automatically activating the scan data gathering mechanism for up to a predetermined time period in response to the generation of the activation signal, and for automatically deactivating said scan data gathering mechanism in response to the processor failing to decode the code symbol on the detected object within the predetermined time period.

25. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 23, wherein the object detector has at least a short-rang mode of object detection and a long-range mode of object detection,

wherein, the object detector is in the short range made of object detection, the object detector is adapted to detect the presence of the object located within a short range measured from a distance in front of the light transmissive window out towards a first region within said object detection field, and

wherein, when the object detector is in the long-rage mode of object detection, the object detector is adapted to detect the presence of the object located within a long range measured from a distance in front of the light transmissive window out towards a second region within the object detection field.

26. The code symbol reading system of claim 25, wherein the controlling mechanism places the object detector in the short range mode of object detection in response to the absence of a long range mode activation signal, and places the object detector in the long range mode of object detection in response to the presence of the long range mode activation signal.

27. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 23, wherein the code symbol is a bar code symbol.

28. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 23, wherein the object detector comprises a synchronous receiver/transmitter.

29. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 23, wherein the compact housing comprises a hand-supportable housing having a longitudinal dimension which extends in a longitudinal direction, and wherein the scan field and the object detection field extend from a distance in front of the light transmission window in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal extend of the hand-supportable housing.

30. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 29, wherein the hand-supportable housing comprises a head portion and a handle portion.

31. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 23, wherein the object detection field spatially encompasses a central portion of the scan field within the operative scanning range.

32. The automatic code symbol reading system of claim 23, wherein the processor and the controller are disposed within the compact housing.