Modular omnidirectional bar code symbol scanning system with at least one service port for removable installation of scan module insert
First Claim
1. A laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols, said laser scanning system comprising:
- a system housing having two scanning windows and two corresponding service ports integral thereto; and
two scan module inserts, each scan module insert being removably disposed within the system housing through a corresponding service port;
wherein each scan module insert projects an omnidirectional laser scanning pattern through one of said scanning windows; and
wherein each said scan module contains components including;
at least one laser diode for producing laser light;
a rotating scanning element for redirecting laser light incident thereon to produce one or more scanning laser beams;
an electric motor for rotating the rotating scanning element;
at least one photodetector for detecting light incident thereon and producing an electrical signal whose amplitude is proportional to the intensity of such detected light; and
analog signal processing circuitry for conditioning the electrical signal produced by the photodetector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular omnidirectional laser-based bar code symbol scanning system having at least one scan module insert that is removably disposed (e.g., removably installed) within a system housing (or portion thereof) through a service port (e.g., opening) in the system housing (or portion thereof). The scan module insert is a self-contained unit including at least the following components (in addition to mechanical support structures for such components): at least one laser diode, a rotating scanning element, an electric motor that rotates the rotating scanning element, one or more photodetectors, and analog signal processing circuitry that conditions (e.g., amplifies and/or filters out unwanted noise in) the electrical signal produced by the one or more photodetectors. The scan module insert can optionally include additional components including one or more light collecting optical elements, one or more beam folding mirrors, circuitry for detecting and decoding bar code symbols scanned by the system, etc. The modular architecture of omnidirectional laser scanner of the present invention enables quick access to the scan module insert for efficient repair/reconfiguration/configuration of the optical components, electro-optical, electro-mechanical components and/or electrical components integral thereto.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols, said laser scanning system comprising:
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a system housing having two scanning windows and two corresponding service ports integral thereto; and
two scan module inserts, each scan module insert being removably disposed within the system housing through a corresponding service port;
wherein each scan module insert projects an omnidirectional laser scanning pattern through one of said scanning windows; and
wherein each said scan module contains components including;
at least one laser diode for producing laser light;
a rotating scanning element for redirecting laser light incident thereon to produce one or more scanning laser beams;
an electric motor for rotating the rotating scanning element;
at least one photodetector for detecting light incident thereon and producing an electrical signal whose amplitude is proportional to the intensity of such detected light; and
analog signal processing circuitry for conditioning the electrical signal produced by the photodetector.
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2. A laser scanning system comprising:
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a system housing having two scanning windows and two corresponding service ports integral thereto; and
two scan module inserts, each scan module insert being removably disposed within said system housing through a corresponding service port;
wherein each said scan module contains components including;
at least one laser diode for producing laser light;
a rotating scanning element for redirecting laser light incident thereon to produce one or more scanning laser beams;
an electric motor for rotating the rotating scanning element;
at least one photodetector for detecting light incident thereon and producing an electrical signal whose amplitude is proportional to the intensity of such detected light; and
analog signal processing circuitry for conditioning the electrical signal produced by the photodetector; and
wherein components of one of said two scan module inserts contributes to production of a first omnidirectional laser scanning beam projected through one of the two scanning windows, while components of the other of said two scan module inserts contributes to production of a second omnidirectional laser scanning beam projected through the other one of the two scanning windows.
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3. A method of reconfiguring or repairing a laser scanning system, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a system housing having at least one scanning window and at least one service port integral thereto, wherein at least one omnidirectional scanning beam is projected through said scanning window through operation of a first scan module insert, and wherein said first scan module insert is removably disposed within said system housing through said service port, and wherein said first scan module insert includes;
at least one laser diode for producing laser light;
a rotating scanning element for redirecting laser light incident thereon to produce one or more scanning laser beams;
an electric motor for rotating the rotating scanning element;
at least one photodetector for detecting light incident thereon and producing an electrical signal whose amplitude is proportional to the intensity of such detected light; and
analog signal processing circuitry that conditions the electrical signal produced by the photodetector;
(b) providing a second scan module insert, which includes;
at least one laser diode for producing laser light;
a rotating scanning element for redirecting laser light incident thereon to produce one or more scanning laser beams;
an electric motor for rotating the rotating scanning element;
at least one photodetector for detecting light incident thereon and produces an electrical signal whose amplitude is proportional to the intensity of such detected light; and
analog signal processing circuitry for conditioning the electrical signal produced by the photodetector;
(c) removing said first scan module insert from said system housing by passing said first scan module insert through said service port; and
(d) removably installing said second scan module into said system housing through said service port. - View Dependent Claims (4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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5. The method of 3, wherein said first and second scan module inserts each further include at least one component selected from the group consisting of:
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at least one light collecting optical element, corresponding to the at least one photodetector, that collects returning light (i.e., light from the scanning beam which has been reflected and/or scattered by a bar code label being read) and focuses such returning light onto the corresponding photodetector; and
at least one beam folding mirror that redirects the scanning laser beam produced by the rotating scanning element through said scanning window, and redirects returning light back toward the rotating scanning element from which it originated.
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19. The method of 18, wherein components of one of said two scan module inserts contributes to production of an omnidirectional laser scanning beam projected through one of the two scanning windows, while components of the other of said two scan module inserts contributes to production of an omnidirectional laser scanning beam projected through the other one of the two scanning windows.
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20. A bioptical laser scanning system comprising:
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a system housing having first and second scanning windows and first and second service ports integral to said system housing, and corresponding to said first and second scanning windows, respectively;
a first scan module insert removably disposed within said system housing through said first service port, and projecting a first omnidirectional laser scanning pattern through said first scanning window;
a second scan module insert removably disposed within said system housing through said second service port, and projecting a second omnidirectional laser scanning pattern through said second scanning window, wherein said first and second omnidirectional laser scanning patterns intersect within 3D scanning volume disposed between said first and second scanning windows, and produce a complex omnidirectonal laser scanning pattern for reading bar code symbols omnidirectionally when presented within said 3D scanning volume; and
wherein said first and second scan module inserts each contain components including;
at least one laser diode for producing laser light;
a rotating scanning element for redirecting laser light incident thereon to produce one or more scanning laser beams;
an electric motor for rotating the rotating scanning element;
at least one photodetector for detecting light incident thereon and producing an electrical signal whose amplitude is proportional to the intensity of such detected light; and
analog signal processing circuitry for conditioning the electrical signal produced by the photodetector. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32)
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29. The of bioptical laser scanning system 20, wherein a first electrical interconnect is integral to the system housing and is operably coupled to electric components integral thereto, and a second electrical interconnect is integral to each respective scan module insert and is operably coupled to electrical components integral thereto, wherein the first and second electrical interconnects are releasably coupled together to provide electric connection between the electrical components operably coupled thereto.
Specification