Optical reader controlling operation between different scanning modes

• US 6,216,953 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1996
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Frontech Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Katoh, Hiroaki, Takashima, Yuichirou, Ishii, Mitsuharu, Aoki, Toshitaka, Kumagai, Toshimitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US08/677,187
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/472, 235/462.14, 235/462.43, 235/462.44, 235/462.45, 235/472.01
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10594 Beam path
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10831 Arrangement of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms optical elements per se G02B
• 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 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1096 the scanner having more than one scanning window, e.g. two substantially orthogonally placed scanning windows for integration into a check-out counter of a super-market

Abstract

An optical read is capable of reading a bar code in a mounted state when an article carrying the bar code passes and of reading bar codes set in an array format on a menu sheet in a hand-held state. The optical reader comprises a light source, a scanner that is driven by a drive and scans light emanating from the light source, a plurality of reflection mirrors that reflect scanning light scanned by the scanner and create a scanning pattern composed of a plurality of scan trajectories, a read window through which scanning light reflected from the reflection mirrors is emitted, and a light receiver for receiving light reflected from a mark. The optical reader further comprises a mode changer (or control unit) for changing a plurality of operation modes among which one or ones of the plurality of scan trajectories to be validated for reading are different. The operation modes include a specific scanning ray mode in which reading the mark by tracing only a single scan trajectory constituting the scanning pattern is validated but reading the mark by tracing the multiple scan trajectories is invalidated. For reading any of bar codes set in an array format on a menu sheet, the single scan trajectory constituting the scanning pattern will be drawn on a bar code to be read. Since reading by tracing the multiple scan trajectories is invalid, only the bar code intended to be read is read.

Claims

1. An optical reader for scanning a mark carried by an article using scanning light, detecting light reflected from said mark, and thus reading information represented by said mark comprising:

a light source;

a scanning means that is driven by a driving means and scans light emanating from said light source;

a plurality of reflection mirrors for reflecting scanning light scanned by said scanning means in different scan trajectories for reading said mark;

a read window having a first read window and a second read window independent from said first read window, through which said scanning light reflected from said reflection mirrors is emitted;

a light receiving means for receiving light reflected from said mark; and

a control unit to control a change from a multi-scanning mode to a single-scanning mode,

wherein a plurality of scan trajectories in different directions is validated in said multi-scanning mode,

wherein a scan trajectory in a single direction is validated in said single-scanning mode with invalidation of said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode,

wherein scanning rays of said scanning light tracing said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode are output through said first read window,

wherein a scanning ray of said scanning light tracing said scan trajectory of said single-scanning mode is output through said second read window,

wherein the emission direction of said scanning ray tracing said scan trajectory of said single-scanning mode is obliquely angled up relative to said scanning rays tracing said plurality of scan trajectories, and

wherein said second read window is located above said first read window, and the face of said second read window is located obliquely angled up relative to the face of said first read window.

2. An optical reader for scanning a mark carried by an article using scanning light, detecting light reflected from said mark, and thus reading information represented by said mark comprising:

a light source;

a scanning means that is driven by a driving means and scans light emanating from said light source;

a plurality of reflection mirrors for reflecting scanning light scanned by said scanning means in different scan trajectories for reading said mark;

a read window having a first read window and a second read window independent from said first read window, through which said scanning light reflected from said reflection mirrors is emitted;

a light receiving means for receiving light reflected from said mark; and

a control unit to control a change from a multi-scanning mode to a single-scanning mode,

wherein a plurality of scan trajectories in different directions is validated in said multi-scanning mode,

wherein a scan trajectory in a single direction is validated in said single-scanning mode with invalidation of said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode,

wherein scanning rays of said scanning light tracing said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode are output through said first read window,

wherein a scanning ray of said scanning light tracing said scan trajectory of said single-scanning mode is output through said second read window, and

wherein said second read window is located at a position receded from said first read window.

3. An optical reader according to claim 2, further comprising a transparent cover attached to the face of said second read window, wherein said focal position of said scanning ray that is emitted through said second read window and traces said scan trajectory lies at the tip of said transparent cover.

4. An optical reader for scanning a mark carried by an article using scanning light, detecting light reflected from said mark, and thus reading information represented by said mark comprising:

a light source;

a scanning means that is driven by a driving means and scans light emanating from said light source;

a plurality of reflection mirrors for reflecting scanning light scanned by said scanning means in different scan trajectories for reading said mark;

a read window having a first read window and a second read window independent from said first read window, through which said scanning light reflected from said reflection mirrors is emitted;

a light receiving means for receiving light reflected from said mark;

a control unit to control a change from a multi-scanning mode to a single-scanning mode,

wherein a plurality of scan trajectories in different directions is validated in said multi-scanning mode, and wherein a scan trajectory in a single direction is validated in said single-scanning mode with invalidation of said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode; and

a mode selection means for instructing which of said scanning modes should be selected, wherein said control unit selects the scanning mode instructed by said mode selection instructing means, and wherein said mode selection instructing means includes a detecting means located on at least one of the lateral sides of said optical reader, and any of said plurality of operation modes is selected according to a mounted state of said optical reader which is detected on the basis of an output of said detecting means.

5. An optical reader for scanning a mark carried by an article using scanning light, detecting light reflected from said mark, and thus reading information represented by said mark comprising:

a light source;

a scanning means that is driven by a driving means and scans light emanating from said light source;

a plurality of reflection mirrors for reflecting scanning light scanned by said scanning means in different scan trajectories for reading said mark;

a read window having a first read window and a second read window independent from said first read window, through which said scanning light reflected from said reflection mirrors is emitted;

a light receiving means for receiving light reflected from said mark;

a control unit to control a change from a multi-scanning mode to a single-scanning mode, wherein a plurality of scan trajectories in different directions is validated in said multi-scanning mode, and wherein a scan trajectory in a single direction is validated in said single-scanning mode with invalidation of said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode; and

a set detecting means for detecting whether or not said optical reader is mounted in a specific holding member, and when said set detecting means detects that said optical reader is mounted in said specific holding member, said set detecting means instructs said control unit to select said multi-scanning mode.

6. An optical reader according to claim 5, wherein said set detecting means is a switch to be pushed by a jut formed on said specific holding member when said optical reader is mounted in said specific holding member.

7. An optical reader according to claim 5, wherein said set detecting means is a specific mark detecting means that when said optical reader is mounted on said specific holding member, detects if scanning light emitted through one of said areas of said optical reader has detected said mark.

8. An optical reader for scanning a mark carried by an article using scanning light, detecting light reflected from said mark, and thus reading information represented by said mark comprising:

a light source;

a scanning means that is driven by a driving means and scans light emanating from said light source;

a plurality of reflection mirrors for reflecting scanning light scanned by said scanning means in different scan trajectories for reading said mark;

a read window having a first read window and a second read window independent from said first read window, through which said scanning light reflected from said reflection mirrors is emitted;

a light receiving means for receiving light reflected from said mark;

a control unit to control a change from a multi-scanning mode to a single-scanning mode, wherein a plurality of scan trajectories in different directions is validated in said multi-scanning mode,

wherein a scan trajectory in a single direction is validated in said single-scanning mode with invalidation of said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode,

wherein said control unit controls said light receiving means to be validated only for a period during which a scanning ray of said scanning light tracing said scan trajectory of said single-scanning mode is being output, and

wherein said control unit controls said light receiving means to be invalidated for a period during which scanning rays of said scanning light tracing said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode is being output.

9. An optical reader according to claim 8, wherein invalidating said light receiving means is invalidation of decoding of said read mark.

10. An optical reader for scanning a mark carried by an article using scanning light, detecting light reflected from said mark, and thus reading information represented by said mark comprising:

a light source;

a scanning means that is driven by a driving means and scans light emanating from said light source;

a plurality of reflection mirrors for reflecting scanning light scanned by said scanning means in different scan trajectories for reading said mark;

a read window having a first read window and a second read window independent from said first read window, through which said scanning light reflected from said reflection mirrors is emitted;

a light receiving means for receiving light reflected from said mark; and

a control unit to control a change from a multi-scanning mode to a single-scanning mode,

wherein a plurality of scan trajectories in different directions is validated in said multi-scanning mode,

wherein a scan trajectory in a single direction is validated in said single-scanning mode with invalidation of said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode,

wherein scanning rays of said scanning light tracing said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode are output through said first read window,

wherein a scanning ray of said scanning light tracing said scan trajectory of said single-scanning mode is output through said second read window,

wherein said light source, scanning means, plurality of reflection mirrors, read window, and light receiving means are stowed in a head, further comprising a grip that communicates with said head and enables user to grasp said optical reader, and

wherein the back side of said head is molded obliquely.

12. An optical reader according to claim 10, wherein the back side of said head has a concave dent formed so that scanning light emitted through said second area can be discerned.

11. An optical reader for scanning a mark carried by an article using scanning light, detecting light reflected from said mark, and thus reading information represented by said mark comprising:

a light source;

a scanning means that is driven by a driving means and scans light emanating from said light source;

a plurality of reflection mirrors for reflecting scanning light scanned by said scanning means in different scan trajectories for reading said mark;

a read window having a first read window and a second read window independent from said first read window, through which said scanning light reflected from said reflection mirrors is emitted;

a light receiving means for receiving light reflected from said mark; and

a control unit to control a change from a multi-scanning mode to a single-scanning mode,

wherein a plurality of scan trajectories in different directions is validated in said multi-scanning mode,

wherein a scan trajectory in a single direction is validated in said single-scanning mode with invalidation of said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode,

wherein scanning rays of said scanning light tracing said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode are output through said first read window,

wherein a scanning ray of said scanning light tracing said scan trajectory of said single-scanning mode is output through said second read window,

wherein said light source, scanning means, plurality of reflection mirrors, read window, and light receiving means are stowed in a head, further comprising a grip that communicates with said head and enables user to grasp said optical reader, and

wherein the back side of said head is molded to be angled in the emission direction of the scanning light emitted through said second read window.

13. An optical reader for scanning a mark carried by an article using scanning light, detecting light reflected from said mark, and thus reading information represented by said mark comprising:

a light source;

a scanning means that is driven by a driving means and scans light emanating from said light source;

a plurality of reflection mirrors for reflecting scanning light scanned by said scanning means in different scan trajectories for reading said mark;

a read window having a first read window and a second read window independent from said first read window, through which said scanning light reflected from said reflection mirrors is emitted;

a light receiving means for receiving light reflected from said mark;

a control unit to control a change from a multi-scanning mode to a single-scanning mode, wherein a plurality of scan trajectories in different directions is validated in said multi-scanning mode, and wherein a scan trajectory in a single direction is validated in said single-scanning mode with invalidation of said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode; and

a switch manipulated by a user for instructing which of said scanning modes should be selected, wherein said control unit selects the scanning mode instructed by said switch, said switch comprising;

a switch body incorporated in an apparatus; and

a switch plate that is attached to the top of said switch body and that depresses said switch body when manipulated, wherein said switch plate is supported at two or more supporting points, and when said switch plate is manipulated, said switch plate is pivoted in a manipulated direction with said supporting points as fulcrums and said switch body is pressed.

14. An optical reader according to claim 13, wherein said supporting points are three supporting points arranged in the form of a triangle, and said switch plate is held on said apparatus at said three supporting points.

15. An optical reader for scanning a mark carried by an article using scanning light, detecting light reflected from said mark, and thus reading information represented by said mark comprising:

a laser light source;

a rotary scanning means that has a plurality of reflection surfaces for reflecting laser light reflected from said plane mirror, that is driven to rotate by means of a driving means, and that thus scans laser light emanating from said laser light source;

a plurality of reflection mirrors for reflecting scanning light scanned by said scanning means in different scan trajectories for reading said mark;

a read window having a first read window and a second read window independent from said first read window, through which said scanning light reflected from said reflection mirrors is emitted;

a light receiving means for receiving light reflected from said mark; and

a control unit to control a change from a multi-scanning mode to a single-scanning mode,

wherein a plurality of scan trajectories in different directions is validated in said multi-scanning mode,

wherein a scan trajectory in a single direction is validated in said single-scanning mode with invalidation of said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode, and

wherein said condenser mirror has both edges thereof supported by said frame, one edge of said condenser mirror is supported so that it can move back and forth, and the other edge of said condenser mirror is supported so that it can pivot with an axis of pivoting extending in a longitudinal direction of said condenser mirror as a center.

16. An optical reader for scanning a mark carried by an article using scanning light, detecting light reflected from said mark, and thus reading information represented by said mark comprising:

a light source;

a scanning means that is driven by a driving means and scans light emanating from said light source;

a plurality of reflection mirrors for reflecting scanning light scanned by said scanning means in different scan trajectories for reading said mark;

a read window having a first read window and a second read window independent from said first read window, through which said scanning light reflected from said reflection mirrors is emitted;

a light receiving means for receiving light reflected from said mark, wherein said light source, scanning means, plurality of reflection mirrors, read window, and light receiving means are stowed in a head, further comprising a grip that communicates with said head and enables user to grasp said optical reader;

a control unit to control a change from a multi-scanning mode to a single-scanning mode, wherein a plurality of scan trajectories in different directions is validated in said multi-scanning mode and scanning rays of said scanning light tracing said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode are output through said first read window, and wherein a scan trajectory in a single direction is validated in said single-scanning mode with invalidation of said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode and a scanning ray of said scanning light tracing said scan trajectory of said single-scanning mode is output through said second read window; and

a stand on which said optical reader is mounted, said stand comprising;

a holder section in which said grip is mounted so that said grip can be dismounted freely; and

a base for supporting said holder section so that said holder section can pivot, said holder section having a slit, through which a cable coupled with said optical reader can pass, on the same side thereof as the side of said optical reader having said read window, wherein a concave dent is formed from a position on said base coincident with a lower end of said grip of said optical reader mounted toward the forward side of said stand.

17. An optical reader for scanning a mark carried by an article using scanning light, detecting light reflected from said mark, and thus reading information represented by said mark comprising:

a light source;

a scanning means that is driven by a driving means and scans light emanating from said light source;

a plurality of reflection mirrors for reflecting scanning light scanned by said scanning means in different scan trajectories for reading said mark;

a read window having a first read window and a second read window independent from said first read window, through which said scanning light reflected from said reflection mirrors is emitted;

a light receiving means for receiving light reflected from said mark, wherein said light source, scanning means, plurality of reflection mirrors, read window, and light receiving means are stowed in a head, further comprising a grip that communicates with said head and enables user to grasp said optical reader;

a control unit to control a change from a multi-scanning mode to a single-scanning mode, wherein a plurality of scan trajectories in different directions is validated in said multi-scanning mode and scanning rays of said scanning light tracing said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode are output through said first read window, and wherein a scan trajectory in a single direction is validated in said single-scanning mode with invalidation of said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode and a scanning ray of said scanning light tracing said scan trajectory of said single-scanning mode is output through said second read window; and

a stand on which said optical reader is mounted, said stand comprising;

a holder section in which said grip is mounted so that said grip can be dismounted freely; and

a base for supporting said holder section so that said holder section can pivot, said holder section having a slit, through which a cable coupled with said optical reader can pass, on the same side thereof as the side of said optical reader having said read window, wherein said holder section has a member to be actuated with an instruction sent from said optical reader so that a state in which said optical reader is mounted on said stand can be reported to said optical reader.

18. An optical reader according to claim 17, wherein said member is shaped like a jut, and when said optical reader is mounted on said stand, said member pushes said instructing means.

19. An optical reader according to claim 17, wherein said member is a mark readable by said optical reader, and said mark is located at a position enabling scanning light emanating from said optical reader mounted on said stand to scan said mark.

20. An optical reader for scanning a mark carried by an article using scanning light, detecting light reflected from said mark, and thus reading information represented by said mark comprising:

a light source;

a scanning means that is driven by a driving means and scans light emanating from said light source;

a plurality of reflection mirrors for reflecting scanning light scanned by said scanning means in different scan trajectories for reading said mark;

a read window having a first read window and a second read window independent from said first read window, through which said scanning light reflected from said reflection mirrors is emitted;

a light receiving means for receiving light reflected from said mark, wherein said light source, scanning means, plurality of reflection mirrors, read window, and light receiving means are stowed in a head, further comprising a grip that communicates with said head and enables user to grasp said optical reader;

a control unit to control a change from a multi-scanning mode to a single-scanning mode, wherein a plurality of scan trajectories in different directions is validated in said multi-scanning mode and scanning rays of said scanning light tracing said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode are output through said first read window, and wherein a scan trajectory in a single direction is validated in said single-scanning mode with invalidation of said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode and a scanning ray of said scanning light tracing said scan trajectory of said single-scanning mode is output through said second read window;

a stand on which said optical reader is mounted, in such a manner that said grip of said optical reader will face laterally;

a holder section in which said grip is mounted so that said grip can be dismounted freely; and

a base for supporting said holder section so that said holder section can pivot, said stand having a tongue, which is inserted into said holder section so that said tongue can be removed freely, on a bottom thereof.

21. An optical reader for scanning a mark carried by an article using scanning light, detecting light reflected from said mark, and thus reading information represented by said mark comprising:

a light source;

a scanning means that is driven by a driving means and scans light emanating from said light source;

a plurality of reflection mirrors for reflecting scanning light scanned by said scanning means in different scan trajectories for reading said mark;

a read window having a first read window and a second read window independent from said first read window, through which said scanning light reflected from said reflection mirrors is emitted;

a light receiving means for receiving light reflected from said mark, wherein said light source, scanning means, plurality of reflection mirrors, read window, and light receiving means are stowed in a head, further comprising a grip that communicates with said head and enables user to grasp said optical reader;

a control unit to control a change from a multi-scanning mode to a single-scanning mode, wherein a plurality of scan trajectories in different directions is validated in said multi-scanning mode and scanning rays of said scanning light tracing said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode are output through said first read window, and wherein a scan trajectory in a single direction is validated in said single-scanning mode with invalidation of said plurality of scan trajectories of said multi-scanning mode and a scanning ray of said scanning light tracing said scan trajectory of said single-scanning mode is output through said second read window;

a stand on which said optical reader is mounted, in such a manner that said grip of said optical reader will face laterally, wherein when said optical reader is mounted in said stand, said optical reader is held at an angle at which at least one scanning pattern, which is composed of a group of scanning rays, of scanning patterns created by scanning rays emitted through said read window of said optical reader, becomes horizontal.

22. An optical scanning device comprising:

a scanner emitting a first scan pattern in a first mode and a second scan pattern in a second mode, the first scan pattern having a plurality of scan lines in different directions, the second scan pattern having a scan line in a single direction;

a switch;

a controller to control the scanner to change from the first mode to the second mode in response to an operation of the switch; and

first and second read windows, said second read window being located above said first read window and being obliquely angled up relative to said first read window, said scanner emitting said first scan pattern through said first read window and emitting said second scan pattern through said second read window.

23. An optical scanning device comprising:

a scanner emitting a first scan pattern in a first mode and a second scan pattern in a second mode, the first scan pattern having a plurality of scan lines in different directions, the second scan pattern having a scan line in a single direction;

a switch;

a controller to control the scanner to change from the first mode to the second mode in response to an operation of the switch;

first and second read windows, said scanner emitting said first scan pattern through said first read window and emitting said second scan pattern through said second read window; and

a hand-held device having a head and a grip, said switch being located on the back of said head or on said grip, said head having a first portion at which said first read window is located and a second portion at which said second window is located, said second portion of said head being angled relative to said first portion of said head.

24. An optical scanning device comprising:

a scanner emitting a first scan pattern in a first mode and a second scan pattern in a second mode, the first scan pattern having a plurality of scan lines in different directions, the second scan pattern having a scan line in a single direction;

a stand into which the scanner is mounted;

a detecting means, located on at least one of the lateral sides of the scanner, for detecting the scanner being mounted in said stand; and

a controller to control the scanner to change from the second mode to the first mode in response to said detecting means detecting the scanner being mounted in said stand.

25. An optical scanning device comprising:

a scanner emitting a first scan pattern in a first mode and a second scan pattern in a second mode, the first scan pattern having a plurality of scan lines in different directions, the second scan pattern having a scan line in a single direction;

a stand into which the scanner is mounted, said stand having a member actuated with an instruction to indicate a mounted condition of said scanner within said stand;

a controller sending the instruction to said member of said stand and controlling the scanner to change from the second mode to the first mode in response to said member of said stand indicating the mounted condition of said scanner in said stand.

26. An optical scanning device comprising:

a scanner emitting a first scan pattern in a first mode and a second scan pattern in a second mode, the first scan pattern having a plurality of scan lines in different directions, the second scan pattern having a scan line in a single direction;

a controller to control the scanner to change from the first mode to the second mode;

a hand-held device having a head and a grip, said scanner being located within said head; and

a stand into which the scanner is mounted, said stand having a holder into which said grip is removably mounted, and a base supporting said holder and having a concave dent located across a lower end of said grip, said concave dent triggering said controller to control the scanner to change from the second mode to the first mode when the grip is mounted into said stand.

27. An optical scanning device comprising:

a scanner emitting a first scan pattern in a first mode and a second scan pattern in a second mode, the first scan pattern having a plurality of scan lines in different directions, the second scan pattern having a scan line in a single direction;

a controller to control the scanner to change from the first mode to the second mode;

a hand-held device having a head and a grip, said scanner being located within said head; and

a stand into which the scanner is mounted, said stand having a holder into which said grip is removably mounted, and a base supporting said holder for pivotal movement, said holder having a tongue on a bottom thereof that is removably mounted into said base.