Bar code symbol reading system employing EAS-enabling faceplate bezel

• US 9,081,995 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Franz, Dwight L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US13/775,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20130153659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 235/435, 235/439, 235/454, 235/462.01, 235/462.1, 235/462.13, 23546243-46245, 235/472.01, 3405721-5729
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2411 Tag deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/246 Check out systems combined with EAS, e.g. price information stored on EAS tag anti-theft systems in point of sale systems G07G3/003
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2474 Antenna or antenna activator geometry, arrangement or layout loop antennae H01Q1/22

Abstract

An apparatus includes the primary components of an EAS system and a hand-supportable and countertop-supportable bar code symbol reading system having a housing with a light transmission window covered by an optically transparent faceplate having outer dimensions closely matched to the light transmission window. About the optically transparent faceplate, a faceplate bezel is mounted embodying a coil of electrically conductive wire having terminals connected to an electrical interface circuit, which is connected to a flexible EAS cable extending from the electrical interface circuit. The flexible EAS cable extends towards electrical drive circuitry associated with the EAS subsystem, for powering the coil during EAS tag deactivation operations controlled by the host computer system.

Claims

1. A symbol reading system, comprising:

an optically transparent faceplate;

a symbol reading subsystem for reading symbols passed in front of the optically transparent faceplate;

an electrical interface circuit;

a first wire coil having two ends connected to the electrical interface circuit; and

a faceplate bezel having a front surface, a rear surface, and an aperture having dimensions similar to the optically transparent faceplate'"'"'s outer dimensions, wherein the faceplate bezel'"'"'s rear surface forms a groove extending around the faceplate bezel'"'"'s aperture at a depth sufficient to recess the first wire coil.

2. The symbol reading system of claim 1, comprising a second wire coil having two ends connected to the electrical interface circuit, wherein the groove extending around the faceplate bezel'"'"'s aperture has a depth sufficient to recess the first wire coil and the second wire coil.

3. The symbol reading system of claim 1, comprising a power circuit for generating an electrical signal to the first wire coil.

4. The symbol reading system of claim 1, comprising an electronic article surveillance cable connected to the electrical interface circuit.

5. The symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein:

the faceplate bezel comprises a base portion having a recessed cavity; and

the electrical interface circuit is mounted within the recessed cavity.

6. The symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein the symbol reading subsystem comprises a laser scanning symbol reader.

7. The symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein the symbol reading subsystem comprises a digital-imaging symbol reader.

8. The symbol reading system of claim 1, comprising a housing, wherein:

the optically transparent faceplate and symbol reading system are disposed within the housing; and

the faceplate bezel is mounted on the housing.

9. A symbol reading system, comprising:

an optically transparent faceplate;

a symbol reading subsystem for reading symbols passed in front of the optically transparent faceplate;

a faceplate bezel formed of a flexible substrate having a front surface, a rear surface, and an aperture having dimensions similar to the optically transparent faceplate'"'"'s outer dimensions;

an electrical interface circuit;

a first wire coil on the faceplate bezel'"'"'s rear surface and having two ends connected to the electrical interface circuit; and

wherein the faceplate bezel'"'"'s rear surface forms a groove extending around the faceplate bezel'"'"'s aperture at a depth sufficient to recess the first wire coil.

10. The symbol reading system of claim 9, comprising a second wire coil on the faceplate bezel'"'"'s rear surface and having two ends connected to the electrical interface circuit.

11. The symbol reading system of claim 9, comprising a power circuit for generating an electrical signal to the first wire coil.

12. The symbol reading system of claim 9, comprising an electronic article surveillance cable connected to the electrical interface circuit.

13. The symbol reading system of claim 9, wherein:

the faceplate bezel comprises a base portion having a rear surface; and

the electrical interface circuit is mounted on the base portion'"'"'s rear surface.

14. The symbol reading system of claim 9, wherein the symbol reading subsystem comprises a laser scanning symbol reader.

15. The symbol reading system of claim 9, wherein the symbol reading subsystem comprises a digital-imaging symbol reader.

16. The symbol reading system of claim 9, comprising a housing, wherein:

the optically transparent faceplate and symbol reading system are disposed within the housing; and

the faceplate bezel is mounted on the housing.

17. A faceplate bezel for mounting on a symbol reading system, comprising:

an electrical interface circuit;

a front surface and a rear surface forming an aperture; and

a first wire coil on the faceplate bezel'"'"'s rear surface and having two ends connected to the electrical interface circuit;

wherein the faceplate bezel is formed of a flexible substrate; and

wherein the faceplate bezel'"'"'s rear surface forms a groove extending around the faceplate bezel'"'"'s aperture at a depth sufficient to recess the first wire coil.

18. The faceplate bezel of claim 17, wherein:

the faceplate bezel comprises a base portion having a rear surface; and

the electrical interface circuit is mounted on the base portion'"'"'s rear surface.

19. A symbol reading system comprising the faceplate bezel of claim 17 and a power circuit for generating an electrical signal to the first wire coil.

20. A symbol reading system comprising the faceplate bezel of claim 17 and an electronic article surveillance cable connected to the electrical interface circuit.