System for mounting a handheld barcode scanner

• US 7,546,953 B1
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Collins, Donald A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US11/288,922
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 23546201-46249
• US Class Current: 235/462.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10594 Beam path
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• 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

There is provided a system 1 for mounting a handheld barcode scanner 2. System 1 includes a cradle 3 for releasably mounting scanner 2 such that scanner 2 provides a first scanning beam 4 in a predetermined first scanning path 5. System 1 also includes an optical assembly 6 mountable to a bi-optic scanner 7. Assembly 6 is provided in path 5 for receiving beam 4. In response to receiving beam 4, assembly 6 provides a second scanning beam 9 in a second scanning path 10. Beam 9 supplements a third scanning beam, in the form of array 11, provided by bi-optic scanner 7.

Claims

1. A system for mounting a handheld barcode scanner, the system including:

a cradle for releasably mounting the handheld scanner such that the handheld scanner provides a first scanning beam in a predetermined first scanning path; and

an optical assembly mountable to a bi-optic scanner for receiving the first scanning beam and in response providing a second scanning beam in a second scanning path to supplement a third scanning beam provided by the bi-optic scanner independently of the handheld scanner.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the handheld scanner is responsive to scanning alignment of a barcode in the second scanning path for reading the barcode.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the first scanning beam is displayable on a planar surface as a line pattern.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the optical module includes a turning mirror for re-directing the first scanning beam.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the optical module includes a magnifier for magnifying the first scanning beam.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the optical assembly includes a rastering component.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein the rastering component translates a line pattern into a 2D barcode reading pattern.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein the cradle is fixedly mountable to the bi-optic scanner.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the optical assembly is substantially containable within the bi-optic scanner.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the cradle includes a terminal engageable with a complimentary socket on the handheld scanner for providing electrical power to the handheld scanner.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein the bi-optic scanner includes a scanning window and the second scanning beam is directed toward an inner surface of the scanning window.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein the second scanning beam is visible as a line pattern extending across a portion of the scanning window.

13. A system according to claim 11 wherein the second scanning beam is visible as a 2D barcode reading pattern on the scanning window.

14. A system according to claim 1 wherein the handheld scanner is responsive to scanning alignment of the second scanning beam and a barcode for providing a first data packet to a processing unit and the bi-optic scanner is responsive to scanning alignment of the third scanning beam with a barcode for providing a second data packet to the processing unit.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein the processing unit is responsive to receiving a like first and second data packet within a predetermined time period for performing an action.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein the action is disregarding one of the first and second data packets.

17. A system according to claim 15 wherein the action is providing a message to an operator of either or both of the scanners.

18. A system according to claim 1 wherein the bi-optic scanner includes a plurality of turning mirrors for producing the third scanning beam from a beam source, and the optical assembly includes one or more of these turning mirrors.

19. A mount for a handheld scanner, the mount including:

a cradle for releasably mounting the handheld scanner such that the handheld scanner provides a first scanning beam to an optical assembly mounted to a bi-optic scanner, the assembly being responsive to the first beam for providing a second scanning beam in a second scanning path to supplement a third scanning beam provided by the bi-optic scanner independently of the handheld scanner.

20. An optical assembly mountable to a bi-optic scanner, the assembly including:

an input for receiving a first scanning beam from a handheld scanner;

an optical module optically associated with the input and responsive to the first scanning beam for providing a second scanning beam; and

an output optically associated with the module for providing the second scanning beam in a second scanning path such that the second scanning beam supplements a third scanning beam provided by the bi-optic scanner independently of the handheld scanner.

21. A bi-optic scanner for providing a bi-optic scanning beam outwardly through at least one window, the scanner including:

a cradle for releasably retaining a handheld scanner that provides a handheld scanning beam independently of the bi-optic scanner, wherein the handheld scanning beam supplements the bi-optic scanning beam; and

an optical assembly for receiving the first scanning beam and in response providing a further scanning beam outwardly through one of the windows.

22. A bi-optic scanner according to claim 21 wherein the optical assembly is responsive to receiving the handheld scanning beam for providing a further scanning beam outwardly through more than one of the windows.