Hand-held optically readable information set reader focus with operation over a range of distances

• US 5,576,529 A
• Filed: 09/19/1994
• Issued: 11/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Norand Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Danielson, Arvin D., Hanson, George E., Miller, Phillip, Koenck, Steven E., Durbin, Dennis A., White, Jonathan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shepperd, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Thien Minh
• Application Number:
  US08/309,334
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472, 235/462, 235/467, 235/455, 235/470, 235/471, 235/, 250/555, 250/566, 250/568, 369/45
• US Class Current: 235/462.47
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious 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 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1013 Multi-focal
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1018 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10574 Multiple sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10613 by rotation, e.g. polygon
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10633 by oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• 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 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/109 adaptations to make the hand-held scanner useable as a fixed scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/062 for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/245 in the focal plane of a focussing device

Abstract

A hand-held optically readable information set reader having one or more photosensor arrays, at least one information set illuminator, and an information set image transfer system for projecting a readable image of an information set onto the one or more photosensor arrays.

Claims

1. In an optically readable information set reader system, a hand-held bar code reader positionable by hand at varying distances from an information set to be read and operable for reading information sets at distances from said reader within a certain operative range, said reader comprising:

(a) optically readable information set sensor means for generating an output signal in accordance with an information set image incident thereon;

(b) distance measurement means for automated reading of distances of an information set from the reader;

(c) reading distance adaptation means for automatically adapting the reader to the reading of an information set at varying distances therefrom; and

(d) control means to enable or inhibit readings by said sensor means and for adjustment of said reading distance adaptation means in response to said distance measurement means.

2. An optically readable information set reader system as recited in claim 1, wherein said distance adaptation means comprises an adjustable lens system responsive to said distance measurement means.

3. An optically readable information set reader system as recited in claim 1, further comprising marker means to facilitate aiming of said system.

4. An optically readable information set reader system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a flashable illuminator means for producing a reflected image of the information set for reading by said sensor means.

5. An optically readable information set reader system as recited in claim 4, further comprising a flash interrupter means.