Two-dimensional optical code scanner with scanning pattern having region of greater apparent brightness for assisting alignment of scanning pattern
First Claim
1. An optical scanner for reading an optical code having a two-dimensional pattern of different light reflectivity, comprising:
- light source for producing a light beam; and
a raster scanning assembly for receiving the light beam and producing an outgoing light beam having a two-dimensional scanning pattern, the raster scanning assembly comprising optical elements shaped and positioned so that the two-dimensional scanning pattern produces at least one region of apparent greater brightness on the indicia, wherein the region of apparent greater brightness has a shape and orientation suitable for assisting in alignment of two-dimensional scanning pattern of the outgoing light beam with the two-dimensional pattern of the optical code.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An alignment indication is provided in an optical scanner for reading a two-dimensional optical code by varying the scanning beam to provide a region of apparent greater brightness. In the case of a PDF417 bar code symbol, an elongated brighter region may be oriented so that it is parallel with rows of the PDF417 symbol. The apparent greater brightness may result because of the persistence of the scanning pattern in the user'"'"'s vision. The region of apparent greater brightness may be achieved by providing a greater density of scan lines in the region. Because of the persistence in the user'"'"'s vision, multiple scan lines appear simultaneously, and thus a region with a greater density of scan lines appears as a brighter region. The region of apparent greater brightness may also be achieved by providing a differently shaped scanning spot in the region (e.g., a larger, or more elongated spot). Greater scan line density and differently shaped scanning spot may be combined to produce the region of apparent greater brightness.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An optical scanner for reading an optical code having a two-dimensional pattern of different light reflectivity, comprising:
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light source for producing a light beam; and
a raster scanning assembly for receiving the light beam and producing an outgoing light beam having a two-dimensional scanning pattern, the raster scanning assembly comprising optical elements shaped and positioned so that the two-dimensional scanning pattern produces at least one region of apparent greater brightness on the indicia, wherein the region of apparent greater brightness has a shape and orientation suitable for assisting in alignment of two-dimensional scanning pattern of the outgoing light beam with the two-dimensional pattern of the optical code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An optical scanner for reading an optical code having a two-dimensional pattern of different light reflectivity, comprising:
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light source for producing a light beam; and
a raster scanning assembly for receiving the light beam and producing an outgoing light beam having a two-dimensional scanning pattern, the raster scanning assembly comprising optical elements shaped and positioned to produce a two-dimensional scanning pattern having at least one region of apparent greater brightness generally centralized within the scanning pattern when projected onto an indicia, wherein the region of apparent greater brightness has a shape and orientation suitable for assisting in alignment of two-dimensional scanning pattern of the outgoing light beam with the two-dimensional pattern of the optical code.
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24. An optical scanner for reading an optical code having a two-dimensional pattern of different light reflectivity, comprising:
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light source for producing a light beam; and
a raster scanning assembly for receiving the light beam and producing an outgoing light beam having a two-dimensional scanning pattern, the raster scanning assembly comprising optical elements shaped and positioned so that the two-dimensional scanning pattern produces at least one region of apparent greater brightness on the indicia wherein the region of apparent greater brightness is a region in which the scanning spot of the outgoing light beam is shaped differently from the shape in other regions, wherein the region of apparent greater brightness has a shape and orientation suitable for assisting in alignment of two-dimensional scanning pattern of the outgoing light beam with the two-dimensional pattern of the optical code. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification