Retro-reflective scan module for electro-optical readers
First Claim
1. A scanning element for scanning a beam of light over an indicium having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:
- a) a support;
b) a generally planar, elongated flexure having one end region connected to the support, and an opposite end region;
c) an elongated actuation arm connected to the opposite end region of the flexure and having opposite end portions, the actuation arm being attached to the flexure at a region between the opposite end portions of the actuation arm;
d) a reflector for reflecting the light beam and being connected to one end portion of the actuation arm;
e) a magnet attached to the other end portion of the actuation arm; and
f) a drive for exerting a force upon the magnet and for moving the magnet, the actuation arm and the reflector to scan the light beam across the indicium.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A miniaturized electro-optical, retro-reflective scanning module. The module has a base, a first circuit board, and a second circuit board mounted substantially orthogonal to the first circuit board. The base supports a light emitter for producing a scanning beam and optical elements for directing and collecting light energy. The emitted beam reflects off a fold mirror onto a reflector mounted on a drive for oscillation. The oscillating reflector, in turn, redirects the beam onto an indicia being read. The reflected light is reflected off the oscillating reflector and directed to the collection mirror before reaching a detector. The detector included in the module senses light reflected from an indicia scanned by the beam. The reflector is driven by an electro-magnetiz driven system, including a flexure and an actuation arm.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A scanning element for scanning a beam of light over an indicium having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:
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a) a support;
b) a generally planar, elongated flexure having one end region connected to the support, and an opposite end region;
c) an elongated actuation arm connected to the opposite end region of the flexure and having opposite end portions, the actuation arm being attached to the flexure at a region between the opposite end portions of the actuation arm;
d) a reflector for reflecting the light beam and being connected to one end portion of the actuation arm;
e) a magnet attached to the other end portion of the actuation arm; and
f) a drive for exerting a force upon the magnet and for moving the magnet, the actuation arm and the reflector to scan the light beam across the indicium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A scanning module for electro-optically reading bar code symbols by scanning each symbol with a beam of light, and by collecting light returning from the respective symbol, the scanning module comprising:
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a) a base;
b) a light source on the base for generating the beam of light;
c) a scanning element on the base for scanning the respective symbol with the beam of light in an oscillatory movement, the scanning element including i) a support attached to the base;
ii) a generally planar, elongated flexure having one end region connected to the support, and an opposite end region;
iii) an elongated actuation arm connected to the opposite end region of the flexure and having opposite end portions, the actuation arm being attached to the flexure at a region between the opposite end portions of the actuation arm;
iv) a scan mirror for reflecting the light beam and being connected to one end portion of the actuation arm;
v) a magnet attached to the other end portion of the actuation arm; and
vi) a drive for exerting an oscillatory force upon the magnet and for oscillating the magnet, the actuation arm and the scan mirror to scan the light beam across the respective symbol;
d) a collection optics for collecting the light returning from the respective symbol;
e) a detector for detecting and converting the collected light into an electrical signal; and
f) a processing circuit for processing the electrical signal into data corresponding to the respective symbol. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A scanning module for electro-optically reading bar code symbols by scanning each symbol with a laser beam, and by collecting light returning from the respective symbol, the scanning module comprising:
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a) a metal base;
b) a collection mirror for collecting the light returning from the respective symbol, the collection mirror having a hole therethrough;
c) a laser light source for generating the laser beam;
d) a fold mirror for folding the laser beam generated by the laser light source and for projecting a folded laser beam through the hole in the collection mirror;
e) a scanning element for receiving the folded laser beam projected through the hole in the collection mirror, and for scanning the respective symbol with the laser beam in an oscillatory movement, the scanning element including i) a support structure attached to the metal base;
ii) a generally planar, elongated flexure having one end region connected to the support structure, and an opposite end region;
iii) an elongated actuation arm connected to the opposite end region of the flexure and having opposite end portions, the actuation arm being attached to the flexure at a region between the opposite end portions of the actuation arm;
iv) a scan mirror having a width and connected to one end portion of the actuation arm, for accepting the folded laser beam projected through the hole in the collection mirror, and for directing the accepted laser beam onto the respective symbol;
v) a magnet attached to the other end portion of the actuation arm; and
vi) an electromagnetic coil for exerting an oscillatory force upon the magnet, and for moving the magnet, the actuation arm and the scan mirror in opposite circumferential directions about an axis to scan the laser beam across the respective symbol;
f) a detector for detecting and converting the collected reflected light into an electrical signal;
g) a first circuit board for making electrical connections with the laser source, the detector and the coil; and
h) a second circuit board including a processing circuit for processing the electrical signal into data corresponding to the respective symbol. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification