Method and apparatus for automatically reading bar code symbols

• US 6,412,700 B1
• Filed: 03/22/1999
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Blake, Robert, Rockstein, George B., Wilz, David M., Knowles, Carl H.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/273,825
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/472, 235/434, 235/454, 235/455, 235/375
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• 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 provisions 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 : Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

The invention is a method and apparatus for automatically reading bar code symbols. One aspect of the present invention concerns a method of reading bar code symbols using an automatic hand-holdable bar code symbol reading device. In general, the automatic bar code symbol reading device comprises a hand-holdable housing containing operative elements which provide an object detection field and a scan field each defined external to the housing. The method involves automatically detecting the presence of an object within the object detection field by sensing object sensing energy reflected off the object. In a preferred embodiment, the object sensing energy is IR radiation produced from an object sensing energy source disposed within the housing. In automatic response to the detection of the object within the object detection field, the hand-holdable device detects the presence of a bar code within the scan field using a laser beam produced within the housing. Then, in automatic response to the detection of a bar code in the scan field, the automatic hand-holdable bar code symbol reading device reads the detected bar code in the scan field by producing scan data signals from the detected bar code and thereafter collecting and analyzing the same. Another aspect of the present invention concerns a hand-holdable data collection device adapted for use with the automatic bar bode symbol reading device to form a portable symbol reading system characterized by versatility and simplicity of use.

Claims

1. A bar code symbol reading system, comprising:

a housing having a light transmission aperture through which light an exit from and enter into the housing;

a laser beam generator in the housing for generating a laser beam;

a laser beam scanning mechanism in the housing for projecting the laser beam through the light transmission aperture and scanning the laser beam across a code symbol on an object located within at least a portion of a scan field defined external to the housing;

an object detector in the housing for detecting the object located in an object detection field defined external to the housing, for generating an activation signal in response to the detection of the object in the object detection field, and for automatically activating the laser beam generator and the laser beam scanning mechanism;

a laser light detector disposed in the housing for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off the code symbol as the laser beam is scanned across the scan field and the code symbol, and automatically producing scan data indicative of the detected intensity;

a scan data processor for processing the scan data produced by the laser light detector so as to decode the scanned code symbol, and to automatically produce symbol character data representative of the decoded code symbol;

a controlling mechanism for automatically controlling the operation of the bar code symbol reading system, including an activation mechanism for activating the laser beam generator and the laser beam scanning mechanism for up to a predetermined period of time in response to the generation of the activation signal upon the detection of the object in the object detection field,

a range mode selection mechanism for selectively producing;

a short range mode activation signal to induce the bar code symbol reading system into a short-range mode of operation; and

a long range mode activation signal to induce the bar code symbol reading system into a long-range mode of operation;

a range mode controller for automatically controlling the operation of the scan data processor when the bar code symbol reading system is induced into the short-range mode of operation or the long-range mode of operation; and

a support stand for supporting the housing;

wherein the range mode selection mechanism comprises a support stand position detector disposed in the housing for detecting the placement of the housing on the support stand.

2. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein the support stand position detector induces the system into either the short-range mode of operation or the long-range mode of operation in response to the placement or removal of the housing from the support stand.

3. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the stand position detector comprises a detector for detecting a magnetic field produced in the vicinity of the support stand.

4. A bar code symbol reading system, comprising:

a housing having a light transmission aperture through which light can exit from and enter into the housing;

a laser beam generator in the housing for generating a laser beam;

a laser beam scanning mechanism in the housing for projecting the laser beam through the light transmission aperture and scanning the laser beam across a code symbol on an object located within at least a portion of a scan field defined external to the housing;

an object detector in the housing for detecting the object located in an object detection field defined external to the housing, for generating an activation signal in response to the detection of the object in the object detection field, and for automatically activating the laser beam generator and the laser beam scanning mechanism;

a laser light detector disposed in the housing for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off the code symbol as the laser beam is scanned across the scan field and the code symbol, and automatically producing scan data indicative of the detected intensity;

a scan data processor for processing the scan data produced by the laser light detector so as to decode the scanned code symbol, and to automatically produce symbol character data representative of the decoded code symbol;

a controlling mechanism for automatically controlling the operation of the bar code symbol reading system, including an activation mechanism for activating the laser beam generator and the laser beam scanning mechanism for up to a predetermined period of time in response to the generation of the activation signal upon the detection of the object in the object detection field,

a range mode selection mechanism for selectively producing;

a short range mode activation signal to induce the bar code symbol reading system into a short-range mode of operation; and

a long range mode activation signal to induce the bar code symbol reading system into a long-range mode of operation;

a range mode controller for automatically controlling the operation of the scan data processor when the bar code symbol reading system is induced into the short-range mode of operation or the long-range mode of operation;

wherein the range mode selection mechanism is a manually actuable switch on the housing which, when actuated, induces the bar code symbol reading system into either the short-range mode of operation or the long-range mode of operation.