System for reading barcode symbols

• US 6,307,208 B1
• Filed: 11/10/1998
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Cocuzza, Paul, Gangemi, Anthony M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/189,533
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 235/492, 235/381, 235/379, 235/491, 235/493, 235/472.01
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner

Abstract

An apparatus for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity includes a keyboard for inputting data, a monitor for housing a display, and a reader for reading said indicia, wherein said reader is integrated into either said keyboard or monitor. The apparatus has a particular application in reading barcode symbols in instances where there is a need to save space or where there is a need to avoid the cost of purchasing a separate reader component.

Claims

1. An apparatus for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

a keyboard for inputting data; and

a reader for reading the indicia presented exteriorly to said keyboard, wherein said reader is integrated into said keyboard.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reader comprises a laser scanner.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reader comprises an imaging device for imaging said indicia.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reader comprises a CCD imaging device for imaging said indicia.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reader comprises a light emitting means for two-directionally scanning said indicia.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reader comprises a light emitting means for omni-directionally scanning said indicia.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reader is integrated into a right top portion of said keyboard.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reader is integrated into a left top portion of said keyboard.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reader is integrated into a right side portion of said keyboard.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reader is integrated into a left side portion of said keyboard.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reader comprises a light emitting means for emitting light directed at a variable angle from a planar surface of said keyboard.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard obtains power and transmits data through a cable connected to a data processing unit, said reader is integrated into said keyboard, and said reader obtains power and transmits data through said cable.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reader transmits data by sending radio frequency signals.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reader can be adjustably oriented at different angles from a planar surface of said keyboard.

54. An apparatus of claim 2, wherein said laser scanner is a retroreflective laser scanner.

15. An apparatus for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

a monitor for housing a display; and

a reader for reading the indicia presented exteriorly to said monitor, wherein said reader is integrated into said monitor.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said reader comprises a laser scanner.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said reader comprises an imaging device for imaging said indicia.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said reader comprises a light emitting means for emitting light directed at a variable angle from a planar surface of said monitor.

19. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said reader can be adjustably oriented at different angles from a planar surface of said monitor.

55. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein said laser scanner is a retroreflective laser scanner.

20. An apparatus for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

a keyboard for inputting data; and

a reader for reading said indicia presented exteriorly to said keyboard, wherein said reader is integrated into said keyboard, said reader comprising;

a light emitter for emitting light through a surface of said keyboard;

an optical scanning means for automatically causing the light from the emitter to scan across said indicia;

a photodetector for sensing light reflected from said indicia and producing an electrical signal representative of said indicia; and

a signal processing means for analyzing said indicia represented by said electrical signal and providing a decoded information representative of said indicia.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said reader comprises a light emitting means for two-directionally scanning said indicia.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said reader comprises a light emitting means for omni-directionally scanning said indicia.

23. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said reader is integrated into a right top portion of said keyboard.

24. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said reader is integrated into a left top portion of said keyboard.

25. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said reader is integrated into a right side portion of said keyboard.

26. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said reader is integrated into a left side portion of said keyboard.

27. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said reader comprises a light emitting means for emitting light directed at a variable angle from a planar surface of said keyboard.

28. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said keyboard obtains power and transmits data through a cable connected to a data processing unit, said reader is integrated into said keyboard, and said reader obtains power and transmits data through said cable.

29. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said reader transmits data by sending radio frequency signals.

30. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said reader can be adjustably oriented at different angles from a planar surface of said keyboard.

56. An apparatus of claim 20, wherein said reader is a retroreflective laser scanner.

31. An apparatus for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

a monitor for housing a display; and

a reader for reading said indicia presented exteriorly to said monitor, wherein said reader is integrated into said monitor, said reader comprising;

a light emitter for emitting light through a surface of said monitor;

an optical scanning means for automatically causing the light from the emitter to scan across said indicia;

a photodetector for sensing light reflected from said indicia and producing an electrical signal representative of said indicia; and

a signal processing means for analyzing said indicia represented by said electrical signal and providing a decoded information representative of said indicia.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said reader comprises a light emitting means for emitting light directed at a variable angle from a planar surface of said monitor.

33. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said reader can be adjustably oriented at different angles from a planar surface of said monitor.

57. An apparatus of claim 31, wherein said reader is a retroreflective laser scanner.

34. An apparatus for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

a keyboard; and

a reading means for reading said indicia presented exteriorly to said keyboard, wherein said reading means is integrated into said keyboard, said reading means comprising;

a light emitter for emitting light to illuminate sequential portions of said indicia through a surface of said keyboard;

an array of solid state imaging devices for detecting light reflected from portions of said indicia by scanning a field of view and for generating an electrical signal representative of said portions of said indicia; and

a signal processor for analyzing said indicia represented by said electrical signal and providing a decoded information representative of said indicia.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said reader comprises a CCD imaging device for imaging said indicia.

36. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said reader comprises a light emitting means for two-directionally scanning said indicia.

37. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said reader comprises a light emitting means for omni-directionally scanning said indicia.

38. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said reader is integrated into a right top portion of said keyboard.

39. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said reader is integrated into a left top portion of said keyboard.

40. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said reader is integrated into a right side portion of said keyboard.

41. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said reader is integrated into a left side portion of said keyboard.

42. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said reader comprises a light emitting means for emitting light directed at a variable angle from a planar surface of said keyboard.

43. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said keyboard obtains power and transmits data through a cable connected to a data processing unit, said reader is integrated into said keyboard, and said reader obtains power and transmits data through said cable.

44. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said reader transmits data by sending radio frequency signals.

45. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said reader can be adjustably oriented at different angles from a planar surface of said keyboard.

46. An apparatus for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

a monitor for housing a display; and

a reader for reading said indicia presented exteriorly to said monitor, wherein said reader is integrated into said monitor, said reader comprising;

a light emitter for emitting light to illuminate sequential portions of said indicia through a surface of said monitor;

an array of solid state imaging devices for detecting light reflected from portions of said indicia by scanning a field of view and for generating an electrical signal representative of said portions of said indicia; and

a signal processor for analyzing said indicia represented by said electrical signal and providing a decoded information representative of said indicia.

47. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said reader comprises a light emitting means for emitting light directed at a variable angle from a planar surface of said monitor.

48. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said reader can be adjustably oriented at different angles from a planar surface of said monitor.

49. An apparatus for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

a point-of-sale unit; and

a reader for reading the indicia presented exteriorly to said point-of-sale unit, wherein said reader is integrated into said point-of-sale unit.

50. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said reader comprises a laser scanner.

51. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said reader comprises an imaging device for imaging said indicia.

52. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said reader comprises a light emitting means for emitting light directed at a variable angle from a planar surface of said point-of-sale unit.

53. An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said reader can be adjustably oriented at different angles from a planar surface of said point-of-sale unit.

58. An apparatus of claim 50, wherein said laser scanner is a retroreflective laser scanner.