Combination hand-held and counter-top omni-directional scanner

• US 6,257,492 B1
• Filed: 06/01/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles A. Naylor, David M. Wilz, Garrett K. Russell, George Rockstein, Harry C. Knowles, Kevin Diplacido, Mark C. Schmidt, Patrick A. Giordano, Peter Bressler
• Original Assignee: Charles A. Naylor, David M. Wilz, Garrett K. Russell, George Rockstein, Harry C. Knowles, Kevin Diplacido, Mark C. Schmidt, Patrick A. Giordano, Peter Bressler
• Inventors: Wilz, David M. Sr., Giordano, Patrick A., Rockstein, George, DiPlacido, Kevin, Russell, Garrett K., Bressler, Peter, Naylor, Charles A., Schmidt, Mark C., Knowles, Harry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US09/323,292
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.43, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/462.47, 235/472.01, 235/472.02
• US Class Current: 235/462.43
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/046 Arrangement of recording means in or on check-out counters record carriers or readers per se G06K
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/047 for recording self-service articles without cashier or assistant
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 5/00 Tool, instrument or work supports or storage means used in association with vehicles; Workers' supports, e.g. mechanics' creepers collecting or removing exhaust gases in workshops B08B15/002; vehicle lifting devices, e.g. jacks, platforms or ramps B66F
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/28 Constructional details, e.g. end stops, pivoting supporting members, sliding runners adjustable to load dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/10 Scanning systems
• 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 2207/1013 Multi-focal
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 : Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 : with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

A bar code scanner for either fixed or hand-held disposition at a counter. The scanner includes a compact housing including a spherical head with a window and a downwardly protruding stem, and a sliding carriage attached to the base of the stem. The stem and sliding carriage cooperate with arcuate guide rails in the compact base for positioning the window via pivoting the head about a horizontal axis. An omni-directional scanning assembly is mounted in the head and this includes an object detection circuit for detecting and determining the presence of an object within an operative scanning field, a light source for generating a laser beam when an object is within the scanning field, a scanning mechanism for scanning the light beam across the object and its bar code, a photoreceiving circuit for receiving light reflected from the bar code, an A/D converter for generating a digital signal representing the light reflected from the bar code, and processing and control circuitry for decoding the bar coded-information and controlling overall system flow.

Claims

1. A compact scanner housing, comprising:

a base unit having an upwardly curved top opening therein and a pair of opposing guide members mounted within the base unit;

a scanning head for housing a scan platform and having an aperture for projecting a scanning pattern and receiving light therethrough, said scanning head having an exterior curvature conforming to the curved top opening of said base unit, and a downwardly protruding neck portion for insertion into said curved opening in said base unit and slidable cooperation with said pair of opposing guide members; and

a guide plate attached to the neck portion for slidably anchoring said neck portion to said opposing guide members.

2. The compact scanner housing according to claim 1, wherein said scanning head is pivotally supported above the curved top opening in said base unit with said neck portion slidably engaged by said pair of guide members to permit said head to pivot about a horizontal axis while supporting said head to minimize friction against said base unit.

3. The compact scanner housing according to claim 1, wherein said base unit is constructed so that it can perform scanning operations from both a hand-held and free-standing position.

4. The compact scanner housing according to claim 1, wherein said scanning head further includes an LED power indicator.

5. The compact scanner housing according to claim 4, wherein said scanning window of said head unit is mounted in a circular bumper in said aperture and is recessed therein, wherein said circular housing bumper encircles the periphery of said window for protection thereof.

6. The compact scanner housing according to claim 1, wherein said scanning head is formed in a generally spherical configuration with a front scanning window.

7. The compact scanner housing according to claim 1, wherein said base unit includes a removable bottom plate.

8. The compact scanner housing according to claim 1, wherein said base unit has a flat bottom configured for placement directly on a counter-top surface.

9. The compact scanner housing according to claim 1, wherein said base unit is rearwardly contoured to fit the palm of a hand.

10. The compact scanner housing according to claim 1, wherein said base unit is formed with lateral recesses on opposing sides to provide thumb and finger grips.

11. The compact scanner housing according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of said neck portion of said head unit is defined by opposing arcuate indentations.

12. A compact scanner, comprising:

a scanner housing including a base unit having an upwardly directed opening, and a pair of opposing arcuate guide rails mounted within the base unit beneath said opening, a scanning head for enclosing a scan platform capable of projecting a scanning pattern and receiving reflected light, said head having an exterior curvature conforming to said opening of said base unit for pivotal seating thereon, and said head also having a downwardly protruding neck extending into said opening and for slidable cooperation with said pair of opposing arcuate guide rails, said scanning head being rotatably supported within said opening of said base unit with the downwardly protruding neck slidably engaged by said pair of guide rails, said guide rails permitting said head to pivot about a horizontal axis while doubly supporting said head to minimize friction against said base unit;

a scanning platform mounted in said head including an object detection circuit for detecting and determining the presence of an object within an operative scanning range; and

a guide plate attached to the distal end of said neck for slidably anchoring said neck to said base unit.

13. The compact scanner according to claim 12, wherein said scanner housing permits an omnidirectional scan from a free-standing fixed position atop a counter or while handheld by a user.

14. The compact scanner housing according to claim 13, wherein said base unit has a flat bottom configured for placement directly on a counter-top surface.

15. The compact scanner housing according to claim 13, wherein the underside of said neck is defined by opposing arcuate indentations.

16. The compact scanner according to claim 12, wherein said scanning head further includes an LED power indicator.

17. The compact scanner housing according to claim 12, wherein said scanning head is formed in a generally spherical configuration with a front scanning window.

18. The compact scanner housing according to claim 17, wherein said scanning window is mounted in a circular bumper which is recessed in an aperture formed in head, whereby said bumper encircles the periphery of said window for protection thereof.

19. The compact scanner housing according to claim 12, wherein said base unit includes a removable bottom plate.

20. The compact scanner housing according to claim 12, wherein said base unit has contoured lateral recesses on opposing sides to fit the hand of a user.

21. The compact scanner housing according to claim 12, wherein said base unit is formed with lateral recesses on opposing sides to provide thumb and finger grips.

22. The compact scanner according to claim 13, wherein said scanner housing permits an omnidirectional scan from a free-standing fixed position atop a counter or while handheld by a user.

23. A compact omnidirectional scanner, comprising:

a scanner housing having

(a) a substantially spherical scanning head having a light transmission aperture and a downwardly protruding neck portion extending therefrom,

(b) a base unit having an upwardly curved opening, a pair of opposing guide members mounted in said base unit,

wherein said neck portion of said scanning head is inserted into said base unit and is slidingly supported by said guide members;

an omnidirectional laser scanning engine mounted in said scanning head having;

(a) an optical bench which extends along a central reference said optical bench having a pair of brackets formed thereon,

(b) a laser beam producing means for producing a laser beam,

(c) a laser beam sweeping means having at least first, second and third light reflective surfaces each being disposed at a different acute angle with respect to a rotational axis of said laser beam sweeping means for sequentially sweeping said laser beam about said rotational axis along a plurality of different paths,

(d) a stationary array of at least first second, third and fourth light reflective surfaces mounted to said optical bench,

(e) a laser light collection subsystem, including a light collection element for collecting return laser light, said light collection element having a pair of pivot arms which are snap mounted to said pair of brackets, said light collection subsystem further including a light receiving means for detecting the intensity said collected return laser light and producing an electrical signal indicative of said detected intensity,

(f) signal processing means for processing said electrical signal and producing scan data representative of a scanned code symbol, and

(g) control means for controlling the operation of said omnidirectional laser scanning engine.

24. The compact omnidirectional scanner of claim 23, wherein said pivot arms are integrally formed on said light collection element.

25. The compact omnidirectional scanner of claim 23, wherein a beam directing element is mounted to said light collection element for folding said laser beam in said scanner housing.

26. The compact omnidirectional scanner of claim 23 further comprising:

object detection means mounted in said scanner housing for detecting an object located in an object detection field defined external to said scanner housing and for generating a first activation signal for transmission to said control means, whereby said laser beam producing means, said laser beam sweeping means, said light receiving means and said signal processing means are automatically activated upon the detection of said object.