Automatically-activated hand-supportable omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system with data transmission activation switch

• US 6,637,659 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Knowles, C. Harry, Schmidt, Mark, Wilz, David M. Sr., Blake, Robert E., Russell, Garrett, Rockstein, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US09/924,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20020109010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.45, 235/462.14, 235/462.17, 235/462.18, 235/462.2, 235/462.25, 235/462.32, 235/462.48, 235/462.43, 235/462.44, 235/462.46, 235/462.23, 235/462.31, 235/462.01, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/454, 250/255
• US Class Current: 235/462.45
• 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 7/10801 Multidistance reading
• 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 7/109 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

Abstract

Disclosed is an automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system comprising a bar code symbol reading mechanism contained within a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture and manually-actuatable data transmission switch. During symbol reading operations, the bar code symbol reading mechanism automatically projects a visible omni-directional laser scanning pattern through the light transmission aperture for repeatedly reading one or more bar code symbols on an object during a bar code symbol reading cycle, and automatically generating a new symbol character data string in response to each bar code symbol read thereby. During system operation, the user presents a bar code symbol on an object (e.g. product, bar code menu, etc.) within the omni-directional laser scanning pattern so that the bar code symbol is automatically scanned, detected and decoded in a cyclical manner. Each time the scanned bar code symbol is successfully read during a bar code symbol reading cycle, a new bar code symbol character string is produced, while an indicator light on the hand-supportable housing is actively driven. During the bar code symbol reading cycle, the user actuates the data transmission switch producing a data transmission control activation signal and enabling a symbol character data string produced at substantially the same time when the data transmission control activation signal is generated to be transmitted to the host system. By virtue of the present invention, automatically-activated hand-supportable omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol readers are now able to accurately read, in an unprecedented manner, bar code symbols on bar code menus, consumer products positioned in crowded point-of-sale environments, and other objects requiring automatic identification and/or information access.

Claims

1. An automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system for operable connection to a host system, comprising:

a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture;

a laser scanning bar code symbol reading mechanism, disposed in said hand-supportable housing, for automatically projecting a visible omni-directional laser scanning pattern through said light transmission aperture and repeatedly reading a bar code symbol on an object within a predetermined time period using said visible omni-directional laser scanning pattern, and each instant said bar code symbol is read within said predetermined time period, automatically producing a symbol character data string representative of said read bar code symbol;

a data transmission circuit, disposed in said hand-supportable housing, for transmitting, when activated, a selected one of said produced symbol character data strings to said host system;

a manually-activatable data transmission switch, integrated with said hand-supportable housing, for generating a data transmission control activation signal in response to the activation of said manually-activatable data transmission switch within said predetermined time period; and

a system controller for controlling said data transmission circuit so that the symbol character data string, produced at substantially the same time when said data transmission control activation signal is generated, is transmitted to said host system.

2. The automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, which further comprises an indicator, integrated with said hand-supportable housing, for indicating each instance of when a bar code symbol is read by said laser scanning bar code symbol reading mechanism and a symbol character data string representative thereof is produced.

3. The automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, which further comprises

a hand-held mode of automatic operation and a countertop-supported mode of automatic operation; and

a mode selection mechanism integrated with said hand-supportable housing, for generating said data transmission control activation signal when said hand-supportable housing is being placed in a scanner stand.

4. The automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, which further comprises an objection detection subsystem disposed within said hand-supportable housing and including infrared (IR) signal transmission/receiving circuitry for automatically detecting said object within an object detection field definable relative to said hand-supportable housing.

5. The automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, which further comprises an objection detection subsystem disposed within said hand-supportable housing, and including a low-power non-visible laser beam signaling mechanism for automatically detecting said object within an object detection field definable relative to said hand-supportable housing.

6. An automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system for operable connection to a host system comprising:

a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture;

a laser scanning bar code symbol reading mechanism, disposed in said hand-supportable housing, for automatically projecting a visible omni-directional laser scanning pattern through said light transmission aperture, and repeatedly reading a bar code symbol on an object using said omni-directional laser scanning pattern, and automatically generating a symbol character data string each instant said bar code symbol is read;

a manually-activatable data transmission switch integrated with said hand-supportable housing, for producing a data transmission activation signal; and

a data transmission mechanism programmably controlled to transmit to said host system, the symbol character data string produced at substantially the same time when said data transmission activation signal is generated.

7. The automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system of claim 6, which further comprises an objection detection subsystem disposed within said hand-supportable housing, and including infrared (IR) signal transmission/receiving circuitry, for automatically detecting said object within an object detection field definable relative to said hand-supportable housing.

8. The automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system of claim 6, which further comprises an objection detection subsystem disposed within said hand-supportable housing, and including a low-power non-visible laser beam signaling mechanism for automatically detecting said object within an object detection field definable relative to said hand-supportable housing.

9. The automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system of claim 6, which further comprises a base unit remotely situated from said hand-supportable housing and operably connected to said host system, and wherein said data transmission mechanism employs a wireless data packet transmission scheme to transmit said symbol character data string to said host system, via said base unit.

10. An automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system for operable connection to a host system, and having an automatic hands-on mode of operation, an automatic hands-free mode of operation, a bar code symbol reading state and a data transmission state, said automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system comprising:

a laser scanning bar code symbol reading device having a hand-supportable housing with a light transmission aperture, and a laser scanning bar code symbol reading mechanism disposed within said hand-supportable housing, for automatically projecting a visible omni-directional laser scanning pattern through said light transmission aperture and repeatedly reading a bar code symbol on an object, and automatically producing a symbol character data string each instance said bar code symbol is read during said bar code symbol reading state of operation;

a data transmission mechanism, disposed within said hand-supportable housing, for selectively transmitting a produced symbol character data string to said host system during said data transmission state;

a manually-activatable data transmission switch, integrated with said hand-supportable housing, for activating said data transmission state during said hands-on mode of operation;

a mode selection sensor, integrated with said hand-supportable housing, for activating said data transmission state during said hands-free mode of operation; and

a system controller for controlling said data transmission mechanism so that the symbol character data string, produced at substantially the same time when said data transmission state is activated, is transmitted to said host system.

11. The automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system of claim 10, which further comprises a base unit for supporting said hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device during said automatic hands-free mode of operation.

12. The automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system of claim 10, wherein said data transmission mechanism comprises a data packet transmission circuit for carrying out wireless transmission of said symbol character data string during said data transmission state.

13. The automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system of claim 12, wherein said data packet transmission circuit is activated in response to the manual-activation of said manually-activatable data transmission switch.

14. The automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system of claim 10, wherein the hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device can be used as a portable hand-supported laser scanner in said automatic hands-on mode of operation, and as a stationary laser projection scanner in said automatic hands-free mode of operation.

15. The automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system of claim 10, wherein said hands-free mode of operation is automatically selected by placing said hand-supportable housing within a support stand, and said hands-on mode of operation is selected by removing said hand-supportable housing from said support stand.

16. The automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system of claim 10, wherein said hands-free mode of operation is automatically selected by placing said hand-supportable housing on a counter surface, and said hands-on mode of operation is selected by removing said hand-supportable housing off said counter surface.

17. A method of reading a bar code symbol on an object using an automatic omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading device being operably connected to a host system, and having a hand-supportable housing with a light transmission aperture and a data transmission control switch integrated with said hand-supportable housing, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) supporting said hand-supportable housing in proximity with an object bearing a bar code symbol;

(b) automatically projecting a visible omni-directional laser scanning pattern through said light transmission aperture and repeatedly reading said bar code symbol within a predetermined time period using said visible omni-directional laser scanning pattern, and each instant said bar code symbol is read within said predetermined time period, automatically producing within said hand-supportable housing a symbol character data string representative of said read bar code symbol; and

(b) manually-activating said data transmission control switch so as to generate a data transmission activation control signal within said predetermined time period; and

(c) transmitting from said hand-supportable housing to said host system, the symbol character data string produced at substantially the same time when said data transmission control activation signal is generated.

18. The method of claim 17, which further comprises producing a visual indication each instant said bar code symbol is read and a symbol character data string representative thereof is produced.

19. The method of claim 17, which further comprises the steps:

automatically generating said data transmission control activation signal when said hand-supportable housing is placed in a scanner stand.

20. The method of claim 17, which further comprises the steps:

generating said data transmission control activation signal in response to said hand-supportable housing being placed upon a counter-top surface.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein step (b) further comprises generating an object detection field relative to said hand-supportable housing, within which said object is automatically detected using infrared (IR) signal transmission/receiving circuitry disposed within said hand-supportable housing.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein step (b) further comprises generating an object detection field relative to said hand-supportable housing, within which said object is automatically detected using a low-power non-visible laser beam signaling mechanism disposed within said hand-supportable housing.