Hand-held compact ergonomic laser scanner with integrated scanner activation or data transmission switch in scanner housing

• US 7,624,924 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• 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: Russell, Garrett K., Byun, Sung Ho, Hudrick, Donald, Wilz, David M. Sr., Nahill, James A., Schmidt, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US10/928,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20050023358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.25, 235/462.38, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/462.48, 235/472.01, 235/472.03
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/046 Arrangement of recording means in or on check-out counters record carriers or readers per se G06K
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/047 for recording self-service articles without cashier or assistant
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/10 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/106 having diffraction gratings as scanning elements, e.g. holographic scanners holographic optical elements G02B5/32, holography G03H
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1012 Special detection of object
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1013 Multi-focal
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1016 Motor control or optical moving unit control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1017 Programmable
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1018 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10564 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10594 Beam path
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10603 Basic scanning using moving elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10663 using hologram
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10673 Parallel lines
• 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 7/10792 Special measures in relation to the object to be scanned
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10801 : Multidistance reading
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 : Focalisation
• 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 7/10861 : sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10871 : randomly oriented data-fields, code-marks therefore, e.g. concentric circles-code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 : constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 : the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 : Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 : with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

An ergonomic single-line compact laser bar code scanning system having a compact housing for hand-held disposition at a counter. The scanning system is automatically-activated and includes a bar code symbol reading mechanism contained within a hand-supportable housing having a manually-activatable data transmission switch formed integrally in the housing. During symbol reading operations, the bar code symbol reading mechanism automatically generates a visible laser scanning pattern 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 visually aligns the visible laser scanning pattern with a particular bar code symbol on an object (e.g., product, bar code menu, etc.) so that the bar code symbol is detected, scanned, and decoded. The user depresses the data transmission switch to produce a data transmission control activation signal and enabling a currently or subsequently produced symbol character data string to be automatically selected and transmitted to a host system.

Claims

1. A housing for a hand-held bar code symbol reader of a type comprising A scanning module for projecting a scanning pattern of light toward an object and for receiving reflected light therefrom, and a control module for producing scan data corresponding to the reflected light, said control module having a switch mounted thereon to cause said control module to transmit the scan data to a host system, the housing comprising:

a plastic head portion for housing the scanning module, said head portion having a light transmission aperture positioned at one end thereof and a scan window mounted in said transmission aperture for passing the scanning pattern from said scanning module reflected light therefrom, and a manual detent button integrally formed in the plastic of said head portion there atop, said detent button being in operative contact with the control module switch for actuation by a user to cause said control module to transmit the scan data to said host system;

a handle portion for housing the control module, said handle portion being integrally joined at one end to said head portion and extending therefrom at an angle.

2. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 1, wherein said head portion and handle portion are formed in two molded interlocking half-sections each including an upper half-head section and a lower half-handle section that join together to define said head portion and integral handle portion.

3. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 2, wherein the manual detent button further comprises a resilient section integrally molded into said half-head portion that may be manually depressed into engagement with the control module switch.

4. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 3, wherein the manual detent button and half-head portion are formed of a single piece of molded plastic.

5. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 4, wherein the motion of the manual detent button is limited by inherent flexibility of the plastic from which they are molded, thereby preventing damage resulting from excess pressure exerted by a user.

6. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 1, wherein said head portion further comprises an extended portion protruding over said light transmission aperture for preventing said scan window from contacting objects to be scanned, thereby preventing damage to said scan window.

7. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 1, wherein said handle portion further includes a pair of protrusions integrally formed at an opposite end from said head portion and operative in conjunction with said extended portion of the head portion to provide support to allow said hand-held housing to be rested on a flat surface.

8. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 7, wherein said pair of protrusions comprise a pair of spaced feet.

9. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 1, wherein said head portion further comprises and indicator window positioned adjacent a manual switch for directing an indicator light signal to a user holding the hand-held housing.

10. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 9, wherein said indicator window is mounted atop the head portion and faces rearwardly opposite said scan window for directing indicator light signals from within said housing backward toward the user'"'"'s line of sight.

11. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 10, wherein said indicator window directs indicator light signals from LED indicator lights mounted on said control module backward toward the user'"'"'s line of sight.

12. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 10, wherein said indicator window is crescent shaped, at least partially encircling and accentuating said detent button.

13. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 1, wherein said extended portion protruding over said light transmission aperture further comprises a rubber bumper attached to said head portion.

14. A hand-held housing for a bar code symbol reader comprising:

a plastic scanning head portion housing a scanning module, said head portion having a forward aperture for projecting a scanning pattern and receiving reflected light there through, and a scan window covering said aperture;

a handle portion integrally joined at an angle to said head portion and housing a control module that produces scan data from a bar code symbol on an object located in advance of said head portion, and for transmitting the scan data to a host system;

a manual detent integrally formed in the plastic of said head portion there atop, said detent being in operative contact with the control module for actuation by a user to cause said control module to transmit the scan data to said host system.

15. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 14, wherein the manual detent further comprises a resilient button integrally molded into said scanning head portion that may be manually depressed into engagement with the control module.

16. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 14, wherein said head portion and handle portion are formed in two molded interlocking half-sections each including an upper half-head section and a lower half-handle section that join together to define said head portion and integral handle portion.

17. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 16, wherein the manual detent further comprises a resilient area integrally molded in said scanning head portion that may be manually depressed into engagement with the control module.

18. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 17, wherein the manual detent resilient area and half-head portion are formed of a single piece of molded plastic.

19. The housing for a bar code symbol reader as recited in claim 18, wherein the motion of the resilient manual detent area is limited by inherent flexibility of the plastic from which it and the half-head portion are molded, thereby preventing damage resulting from excess pressure exerted by a user.

20. The hand-held housing for a bar code symbol reader according to claim 14, wherein said scanning head portion further comprises a bumper conforming to the scan window and projecting forwardly therefrom for protecting said scan window.

21. The hand-held housing for a bar code symbol reader according to claim 20, wherein said housing is hand supportable by gripping said handle portion, and said handle portion further comprises a pair of balancing feet protruding downwardly there from to provide a base in conjunction with said bumper to allow resting the housing on any flat surface.

22. The hand-held housing for a bar code symbol reader according to claim 14, wherein said head portion and handle portion are integrally formed from two interlocking half-sections including an upper section and a lower section that join together.

23. The hand-held housing for a bar code symbol reader according to 22, further comprising an indicator window mounted atop the head portion of said housing for directing indicator light signals from within said housing backward toward the user'"'"'s line of sight.

24. The hand-held housing for a bar code symbol reader according to claim 23, wherein said indicator window directs light from a plurality of LEDs inside said housing backward toward the user'"'"'s line of sight.

25. The hand-held housing for a bar code symbol reader according to claim 24, wherein said indicator window is crescent shaped, at least partially encircling and accentuating said manual detent area.

26. The hand-held housing for a bar code symbol reader according to claim 25, wherein said crescent indicator window partially encircles and accentuates the manual detent area for visible, accessible, and convenient single handed operation, feedback and control.