Portable instrument for electro-optically reading indicia and for projecting a bit-mapped image
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A portable instrument for projecting bit-mapped two-dimensional images in display modes of operation, and for selectively electro-optically reading indicia in reading modes of operation, comprising:
- a) a housing;
b) an electro-optical assembly supported by the housing, for reading an indicium during a reading mode, and for projecting a bit-mapped two-dimensional image related to the indicium on a viewing surface during a display mode, the images being different for different indicia, and c) a mode selector for selecting one of the modes;
wherein the assembly includes a light source for generating a light beam, and a scanner for sweeping the light beam in a raster pattern of scanning lines that cover an area of the viewing surface, and wherein the assembly includes a controller for pulsing the light source on and off while the light beam is swept over each of the scanning lines; and
wherein the scanner includes a first scan mirror for sweeping the light beam along a first direction, and a second scan mirror for sweeping the light beam along a second direction generally orthogonal to the first direction.
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Abstract
A portable instrument incorporates an electro-optical assembly for reading indicia during for projecting a bit-mapped image during a display mode. A manually operable switch on the instrument is disposed for selecting one of the modes. The image is formed by pulsing a laser at selected times on selected scan lines.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A portable instrument for projecting bit-mapped two-dimensional images in display modes of operation, and for selectively electro-optically reading indicia in reading modes of operation, comprising:
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a) a housing;
b) an electro-optical assembly supported by the housing, for reading an indicium during a reading mode, and for projecting a bit-mapped two-dimensional image related to the indicium on a viewing surface during a display mode, the images being different for different indicia, and c) a mode selector for selecting one of the modes;
wherein the assembly includes a light source for generating a light beam, and a scanner for sweeping the light beam in a raster pattern of scanning lines that cover an area of the viewing surface, and wherein the assembly includes a controller for pulsing the light source on and off while the light beam is swept over each of the scanning lines; and
wherein the scanner includes a first scan mirror for sweeping the light beam along a first direction, and a second scan mirror for sweeping the light beam along a second direction generally orthogonal to the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of projecting bit-mapped two-dimensional images in display modes of operation, and of selectively electro-optically reading indicia in reading modes of operation, comprising the steps of:
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a) manually selecting a reading mode on a portable instrument for reading an indicium; and
b) manually selecting a display mode on the portable instrument for projecting a bit-mapped two-dimensional image related to the indicium on a viewing surface, the images being different for different indicia;
wherein the reading mode includes generating a light beam by a light source, sweeping the light beam in a raster pattern of scanning lines that cover an area of the viewing surface by a scanner, and pulsing the light source on and off while the light beam is swept over each of the scanning lines;
wherein the sweeping the light beam in a raster pattern of scanning lines includes sweeping the light beam along a first direction by a first scan mirror and sweeping the light beam along a second direction generally orthogonal to the first direction by a second scan mirror.
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Specification