Integrated scanner on a common substrate

• US 6,843,416 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Stern, Miklos, Katz, Joseph, Li, Yajun, Swartz, Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/660,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20040050935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.36, 235/462.43, 235/462.45, 235/472.01, 235/462.37
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10653 using flexible or piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10683 Arrangement of fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation

Abstract

An integrated scanner for scanning a barcode is formed on a common substrate. The scanner may include a micro-machined mirror, a laser diode, and a detector, mounted on a single substrate or several connected substrates. Lenses can be used to focus a laser beam from the laser diode as well as expand a laser beam deflected by the micro-machined mirror. The scanner may also scan a barcode without using a micro-machined mirror by rotating the laser diode.

Claims

1. A scan module for scanning indicia to be electro-optically read, the module comprising:

a) a generally planar substrate;

b) a raised support mounted on the substrate;

c) a scan element mounted on the substrate, for reflecting light incident on the scan element;

d) a light source mounted on the raised support at an elevation above the scan element, for emitting a light beam in a direction parallel to the substrate; and

e) optics mounted on the substrate between the light source and the scan element, for focusing and deflecting the light beam to the scan element for reflection therefrom away from the substrate as a focused scanning beam across the indicia.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the substrate is constituted of a semiconductor material.

3. The module of claim 1, wherein the raised support is integrated with the substrate.

4. The module of claim 1, wherein the scan element includes an oscillatable scan mirror.

5. The module of claim 4, wherein the scan element includes torsion hinges for supporting the scan mirror for oscillating movement.

6. The module of claim 1, wherein the light source is a semiconductor laser diode for emitting the light beam as a laser beam.

7. The module of claim 1, wherein the optics includes a focusing lens having an optical axis, and wherein the light source impinges on the focusing lens at a location elevated above the optical axis.

8. The module of claim 1, wherein the optics includes a focusing lens and a prism.