Bar code reader with an integrated scanning component module mountable on printed circuit board

• US 6,607,132 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2000
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Doran, Robert, Barile, John, Grosfeld, Henry, Cordes, Kevin, Korenshtein, Avi, Chernin, Ophir, Dvorkis, Paul, Maiman, Mitch, Barkan, Edward, Wallace, Patrick, Shepard, Howard, Giordano, Joseph, Gofman, Yuri
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US09/542,381
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472.01, 235/462.45, 235/462.44, 235/462.43, 235/454, 235/462.33, 235/462.36
• US Class Current: 235/462.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10633 by oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10653 using flexible or piezoelectric means
• 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 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction

Abstract

A bar code reader has an integrated scanning component module which is mountable on a printed circuit board. In one embodiment, the module may include the digitizer/decoder electronics, enabling the module to be used with a generic PCB. In some embodiments, the module includes a high speed optical scanning arrangement having an optical element which extends longitudinally of a flexible member, secured at one end. In other embodiments, the invention extends to a hand-held optical scanner having a scanning assembly, detector and data transmission coupling all mounted to a common printed circuit board, preferably located within a manually-graspable handle. In yet a further embodiment, an abuse-detector or accelerometer is provided for determining when the device is exposed to deceleration above a predetermined limit, and optionally for automatically shutting down applications programs and for providing a black-box-record of a short time frame before the device was exposed to an unexpected shock. Preferably, the reader is shock protected by a thermo-plastic elastomer housing section. An outgoing light beam is directed at a non-orthogonal angle relative to the PCB.

Claims

1. An optical scanning assembly in an electro-optical system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, the assembly comprising:

a) a printed circuit board carrying electrical circuitry and board connectors; and

b) a plug-in scan module including a source for directing a light beam at an indicium to be read, a detector having a field of view for detecting light reflected off the indicium and for generating a data signal corresponding to the indicium, and a scanner for scanning at least one of the light beam and the field of view, the source, the detector and the scanner being supported by the scan module for joint movement, the scan module including module connectors plugged into the board connectors during reading for conducting electrical signals between the electrical circuitry on the board and the scan module.

2. The optical scanning assembly according to claim 1, wherein the scan module has a base on which the source, the detector and the scanner are mounted.

3. The optical scanning assembly according to claim 2, wherein the base is generally planar, and wherein the board is generally planar, and wherein the base and the board engage each other in surface area contact.

4. The optical scanning assembly according to claim 2, wherein the module connectors are pins, and wherein the board connectors are sockets into which the pins are inserted.

5. The optical scanning assembly according to claim 1, wherein the source is a semiconductor laser.

6. The optical scanning assembly according to claim 1, wherein the scan module includes an optical train for focusing the light beam.

7. The optical scanning assembly according to claim 1, wherein the detector is a photodiode.

8. The optical scanning assembly according to claim 1, wherein the scanner includes an oscillatable scan mirror for reflecting the light beam from the source to the indicium, and an electro-magnetic drive for oscillating the scan mirror to sweep the light beam across the indicium.

9. The optical scanning assembly according to claim 8, wherein the scan mirror is cantilever mounted on a flexure, and wherein the drive includes a permanent magnet mounted to the scan mirror for joint movement therewith, and a coil for interacting with the magnet to flex the flexure and move the scan mirror.

10. The optical scanning assembly according to claim 9, wherein the flexure is a planar spring.

11. The optical scanning assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuitry on the board includes a power supply for supplying electrical power to the source, the detector and the scanner.

12. The optical scanning assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuitry on the board includes a signal processor for processing the data signal into data descriptive of the indicium.