Tablet style indicia reader with system for handling multiple indicia

• US 6,003,773 A
• Filed: 10/11/1996
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Danielson, Arvin D., Durbin, Dennis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D
• Application Number:
  US08/728,743
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472, 235/462, 235/454, 235/462.45, 235/462.08, 235/462.09, 235/462.11, 235/462.24, 235/462.41, 235/462.42, 382/321, 382/313
• US Class Current: 235/462.45
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10801 Multidistance reading

Abstract

A portable hand-held optical reader having an optical reader for scanning a plurality of optical indicia on a generally horizontally oriented target surface. The reader has a tablet configuration with a display device on an upper side thereof and an optical window on the bottom side thereof for directing a scanning beam, laser or otherwise, downwardly, either vertically or obliquely. The reader may be configured to automatically utilize laser scanning for certain ranges between the reader and the target surface and to utilize non-laser scanning for other ranges between the reader and target surface. The reader is configured to read two-dimensional information, spaced either adjacently or separately, and to generate corresponding images of the two-dimensional information on the display device. The reader is configured to operatively correct for distortion caused by oblique scanning of the coded information. If certain of the images of the two-dimensional information are determined to be decodable by the reader, those certain images are so designated on the display, which has a touch sensitive screen. If desired, an operator of the unit may accept selected ones of the certain images for further processing by the unit by touching the corresponding screen areas with a stylus.

Claims

1. A portable indicia reader, comprising:

a) a tablet configuration;

b) a window at an underside of the indicia reader;

c) a reading system, including an area-type image sensor, the reader system directing a reading axis through said window; and

d) a display system displaying indicia registered by said image sensor and indicating which displayed indicia are decodable.

2. The portable indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein the indicia reader'"'"'s reading axis is disposed perpendicularly relative to the indicia reader'"'"'s underside.

3. The portable indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein the indicia reader'"'"'s reading axis is disposed obliquely relative to the indicia reader'"'"'s underside.

4. The portable indicia reader according to claim 3, further comprising a processor transforming indicia registered by said image sensor, as targeted indicia are disposed substantially parallel to said undersurface, to generated images effectively corresponding to images which would be obtained had targeted indicia been oriented substantially perpendicularly to the reading axis.

5. The portable indicia reader according to claim 4, wherein said processor is a decode processor decoding two-dimensional indicia for deviations of the reading axis from a normal line perpendicular to a plane containing targeted indicia by a maximum angle not greater than the angle of the obliquely directed reading axis relative to a normal line perpendicular to the underside of the indicia reader.

6. The portable indicia reader according to claim 5, wherein said maximum angle is approximately twenty degrees.

7. The portable indicia reader according to claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the indicia reader'"'"'s field of view is horizontally displaced relative to the indicia reader.

8. The portable indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein the reading axis is disposed at an angle of approximately twenty degrees relative to a normal line perpendicular to the underside of the indicia reader.

9. The portable indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein the reading axis is disposed at an angle of approximately thirty degrees relative to a normal line perpendicular to the underside of the indicia reader.

10. The portable indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein the reading axis is disposed at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees relative to a normal line perpendicular to the underside of the indicia reader.

11. The portable indicia reader according to claim 1, further comprising a marking system producing a converging ranging marker beam, the marking beam directed to cross the indicia reader'"'"'s reading axis and produce a mark on a surface containing targeted indicia at a distance from the indicia reader'"'"'s reading axis, wherein said distance is a function of range of the mark from the indicia reader.

12. The portable indicia reader according to claim 11, including a laser scanner adapted to produce said ranging marker beam, s and a reflected laser light sensor responsive thereto which is adapted to generate a linear bar code signal should said mark coincide with a linear bar code.

13. The portable indicia reader according to claim 12, wherein said laser scanner and said reflected laser light sensor are substantially responsive to a close-in range along said reading axis wherein said area-type image sensor is ineffective.

14. The portable indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein said display system includes a touch sensitive screen and wherein one displayed indicia is chosen for further processing by touching its image on said touch sensitive screen.

15. The portable indicia reader according to claim 14, including a stylus.

16. The portable indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein said image sensor is oriented substantially perpendicular to the indicia reader'"'"'s reading axis.

17. The portable indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein the indicia reader is of a size which obstructs a user'"'"'s direct view of targeted indicia and wherein aiming is accomplished by observation of images provided by said display system.

18. The portable indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein said display system indicates indicia that should not be further processed.

19. A method of reading indicia, including linear bar codes and compact area codes, comprising:

a) activating a laser system and generating and directing a laser beam capable of scanning linear bar codes and compact area codes at close-up distances;

b) positioning a reader unit containing said laser system so that a laser beam directed from said reader unit intersects codes to be read, said reader unit capable of generating and directing a field of view image on or about codes to be read;

c) utilizing said laser system to determine whether said reader unit is spaced close-up to codes to be read such that compact area codes to be read cannot be accurately read by said reader unit or said reader unit is spaced non-close-up to codes to be read such that compact area codes to be read can be accurately read by said reader unit; and

d) scanning codes to be read and storing a signal as a function of reflected light from said laser system as codes to be read are spaced close-up to said reader unit, and deactivating said laser system and registering said field of view on or about codes to be read as they are spaced non-close-up to said reader unit.

20. An apparatus for reading indicia, including linear bar codes and compact area codes, comprising:

a) a laser beam projector generating and directing a laser beam capable of scanning at least one linear bar code and compact area code at close-up distances; and

b) a reader unit containing said laser beam projector so that a laser beam, directed through a bottom wall of said reader unit, intersects codes to be read, said reader unit capable of generating and directing a field of view on or about codes to be read;

said reader unit, in conjunction with said laser beam projector, adapted to determine whether said reader unit is spaced close-up to codes to be read such that compact area codes cannot be accurately read by said reader unit, or whether said reader unit is spaced non-close-up to codes to be read such that compact area codes can be accurately read by said reader unit;

said reader unit adapted to store a signal as a function of reflected light from scanning codes to be read with said laser beam projector as they are spaced close-up to said reader unit and to deactivate said laser beam projector and register said field of view on or about codes to be read as they are spaced non-close-up to said reader unit.