Extended range bar code reader
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A portable instrument for electro-optically reading coded indicia over an extended range of working distances, comprising:
- a) a housing having a size and a shape configured to be held in a user'"'"'s hand during reading;
b) a plurality of electrical and optical components supported by the housing, for directing a light beam toward the indicia for reflection therefrom and for detecting light reflected from the indicia over a field of view, one of the components being movable between first and second positions in which said one of the components is operative for optically modifying at least one of the light beam and the reflected light at first and second optical areas, respectively; and
c) a manual actuator mounted on the housing for actuation by the user, and being operative for manually moving said one of the components between the first and second positions to selectively optically modify said at least one of the light beam and the reflected light at the first and second optical areas, respectively.
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Abstract
A focusing lens is manually moved to extend a range of working distances in which a bar code symbol can be electro-optically read. The lens movement enables reading of close-in and far-out symbols. The lens movement can also be used to change operation between a reading mode and a pointing mode in which a visual display is created on a target.
62 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A portable instrument for electro-optically reading coded indicia over an extended range of working distances, comprising:
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a) a housing having a size and a shape configured to be held in a user'"'"'s hand during reading;
b) a plurality of electrical and optical components supported by the housing, for directing a light beam toward the indicia for reflection therefrom and for detecting light reflected from the indicia over a field of view, one of the components being movable between first and second positions in which said one of the components is operative for optically modifying at least one of the light beam and the reflected light at first and second optical areas, respectively; and
c) a manual actuator mounted on the housing for actuation by the user, and being operative for manually moving said one of the components between the first and second positions to selectively optically modify said at least one of the light beam and the reflected light at the first and second optical areas, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A portable instrument for electro-optically reading coded indicia over an extended range of working distances, comprising:
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a) a housing having a size and shape configured to be held in a user'"'"'s hand during reading;
b) a plurality of electrical and optical components supported by the housing, for directing a light beam toward the indicia, one of the components being movable between a first position in which said one of the components is operative for focusing the light beam at a first focus located in the range, and a second position in which said one of the components is operative for focusing the light beam at a second focus located in the range, the first and second foci being located at different working distances relative to the housing; and
c) a manual actuator mounted for actuation by the user on the housing, and being operative for manually moving said one of the components between the first and second positions to selectively focus the light beam at the first and second foci, respectively, during reading.
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Specification