EP0194115A2 — Portable laser diode scanning head

Claim 1

Independent Claim 463 words

In a laser scanning system for reading symbols by aiming at each symbol a hand-held laser scanning head of the type including: (A) means mounted in the head for generating an incident laser beam; (B) optic means mounted in the head for optically forming and directing said incident laser beam along a first optical path toward a reference plane located exteriorly of the head, and to a symbol located in a working distance range in the vicinity of the reference plane, thereby reflecting off the symbol reflected laser light, at least a returning portion of which travels along a second optical path away from the symbol back toward the head; (C) scanning means mounted in the head . for scanning the symbol in a scan across the symbol, said returning portion of said reflected laser light having a variable intensity over the scan; (D) sensor means mounted in the head for detecting the variable intensity of said returning portion of said reflected laser light over a field of view, and for generating an electrical analog signal indicative of the detected variable light intensity; (E) said scanning means being operative for scanning at least one of said incident laser beam and said field of view; (F) signal processing means mounted in the head for processing the analog electrical signal, and for generating a processed signal indicative of the symbol; and (G) manually-actuatable trigger means on the head operatively connected to, and operative for actuating, the incident laser beam generating means, the scanning means, the sensor means,and the signal processing means to initiate a reading of the symbol upon manual actuation of the trigger means by the user, said trigger means being actuatable for each symbol to be read, each symbol in its respective turn; and an aiming light arrangement for visually locating, and for aiming the head at, each symbol to be read when said incident laser beam and said reflected laser light are not readily visible to the user, said aiming light arrangement comprising: (a) means including an actuatable aiming light source mounted in the head and operatively connected to the trigger means, and operative, when actuated by the trigger means, for generating an aiming light beam whose light is readily visible to the user; and (b) aiming means mounted in the head for directing said aiming light beam along an aiming light path from the aiming light source toward the reference plane and to each symbol to visibly illuminate at least a part of the respective symbol and locate the latter, said aiming light path lying within at least one of said optical paths in the portion of the latter which lies exteriorly of the head to assist the user in correctly aiming the head at the respective symbol to be read.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 463 words

In a laser scanning system for reading symbols by aiming at each symbol a hand-held laser scanning head of the type including: (A) means mounted in the head for generating an incident laser beam; (B) optic means mounted in the head for optically forming and directing said incident laser beam along a first optical path toward a reference plane located exteriorly of the head, and to a symbol located in a working distance range in the vicinity of the reference plane, thereby reflecting off the symbol reflected laser light, at least a returning portion of which travels along a second optical path away from the symbol back toward the head; (C) scanning means mounted in the head . for scanning the symbol in a scan across the symbol, said returning portion of said reflected laser light having a variable intensity over the scan; (D) sensor means mounted in the head for detecting the variable intensity of said returning portion of said reflected laser light over a field of view, and for generating an electrical analog signal indicative of the detected variable light intensity; (E) said scanning means being operative for scanning at least one of said incident laser beam and said field of view; (F) signal processing means mounted in the head for processing the analog electrical signal, and for generating a processed signal indicative of the symbol; and (G) manually-actuatable trigger means on the head operatively connected to, and operative for actuating, the incident laser beam generating means, the scanning means, the sensor means,and the signal processing means to initiate a reading of the symbol upon manual actuation of the trigger means by the user, said trigger means being actuatable for each symbol to be read, each symbol in its respective turn; and an aiming light arrangement for visually locating, and for aiming the head at, each symbol to be read when said incident laser beam and said reflected laser light are not readily visible to the user, said aiming light arrangement comprising: (a) means including an actuatable aiming light source mounted in the head and operatively connected to the trigger means, and operative, when actuated by the trigger means, for generating an aiming light beam whose light is readily visible to the user; and (b) aiming means mounted in the head for directing said aiming light beam along an aiming light path from the aiming light source toward the reference plane and to each symbol to visibly illuminate at least a part of the respective symbol and locate the latter, said aiming light path lying within at least one of said optical paths in the portion of the latter which lies exteriorly of the head to assist the user in correctly aiming the head at the respective symbol to be read.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 85 words

The aiming light arrangement as recited in claim 1, characterised in that the aiming means includes a stationary , directing element in the aiming light path within the head and operative for directing said aiming light beam to the respective symbol to visibly illuminate thereon a spot region within the field of view, said spot region being illuminated both prior to the scan to locate the respective symbol before the reading thereof, and during the scan to locate the respective symbol during the reading thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 168 words

The aiming light arrangement as recited in claim 1, characterised in that the aiming light beam generating means includes another actuatable aiming light source mounted in the head and operative, when actuated by the trigger means, for generating another light beam whose light is readily visible to the user; and wherein the aiming means directs said other light beam along another aiming light path from said other aiming light source toward the reference plane and to each symbol to visibly illuminate another part thereof; and wherein the aiming means includes at least one stationary directing element in each of the aiming light paths within the head, and operative for directing both aiming light beams to the same respective symbol to visibly illuminate thereon a pair of spot regions that are within, and spaced apart of each other along, the field of view, said spot regions being illuminated both prior to and during the scan to locate and track the respective symbol both before and during the reading thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 78 words

The aiming light arrangement as recited in claim 1, characterised in that the aiming means includes a reciprocally oscillatable directing element in the aiming light path within the head and operative, when actuated by the trigger means, for dynamically sweeping said aiming light beam across the respective symbol to visibly illuminate thereon a line region extending along the field of view, said line region being illuminated during the scan to track the respective symbol during the reading thereof.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 184 words

The aiming light arrangement as recited in any preceding claim, characterised in that the aiming means includes a reciprocally oscillatable directing element in the aiming light path within the head; and wherein the trigger means is actuatable from an off state, to a first operational state in which the trigger means actuates the aiming light source and in which the aiming means directs said aiming light beam to the directing element for direction therefrom to the respective symbol to visibly illuminate thereon a spot region within the field of view prior to the scan to locate the respective symbol before the reading thereof, and to a second operational state in which the trigger means actuates the laser beam generating means, the scanning means, the sensor means, and the signal processing means and also moves the directing element and in which the moving directing element dynamically sweeps said aiming light beam across the respective symbol to visibly illuminate thereon a line region extending along the field of view, said line region being illuminated during the scan to track the respective symbol during the reading thereof.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 42 words

The aiming light arrangement as defined in any preceding claim, characterised in that said aiming light path lies, at least in part, within at least one of said optical paths within the head to provide a compact, efficient, folded, integrated optical assembly.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 59 words

The aiming light arrangement as recited in any proceding , claim, characterised in that the laser beam generating means is a semiconductor gallium arsenide-based laser diode operative for emitting said non-readily-visible incident laser beam with a wavelength on the order of 7800 Angstrom units, and with a non-radially symmetrical beam cross-section which diverges downstream along said first optical path.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 58 words

The aiming light arrangement as recited in any preceding claim, characterised in that the trigger means is actuatable from an off state to a first operational state in which the trigger means at least'actuates the aiming light source, and thereupon to a second operational state in which the trigger means at least actuates the laser beam generating means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 93 words

The aiming light arrangement as recited in claim 8, characterised in that the aiming means directs said aiming light beam to the symbol in the first operational state of the trigger means to visibly illuminate a spot region within the field of view on the symbol to locate the symbol and aim the head thereat prior to the scan, and in the subsequent second operational state of the trigger means to visibly illuminate a line region extending along the field of view on the symbol to dynamically track the symbol during the scan.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 67 words

. The aiming light arrangement as recited in any preceding claim, wherein the trigger means comprises switching means having sequential contacts, and a manually-depressible trigger operative, when depressed to an initial extent, to close one of the contacts to define the first operational state and, when depressed to a further extent, to sequentially close the other of the contacts to define the subsequent second operational state. ,

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

The aiming light arrangement as recited in any preceding claim, characterised in that the aiming light source is a light emitting diode.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 149 words

An optical system for distinguishing different light-reflective indicia portions from each other, comprising: (a) means including a laser light source for generating a wide-angle laser beam; and (b) optic means for optically forming and directing the laser beam along an optical path to different light-reflective indicia portions for reflection therefrom, said optic means including focusing means and an aperture stop located in the optical path for focusing the laser beam to have a beam cross-section of a predetermined size within a working distance range, said aperture stop having a cross-section which is smaller than the beam cross-section at the aperture stop to permit a part of the beam to pass through the aperture stop en route to the indicia portions, said aperture stop being bounded by a blocking wall for obstructing the remaining part of the beam from passing through the aperture stop en route to the indicia portions.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 149 words

An optical system for distinguishing different light-reflective indicia portions from each other, comprising: (a) means including a laser light source for generating a wide-angle laser beam; and (b) optic means for optically forming and directing the laser beam along an optical path to different light-reflective indicia portions for reflection therefrom, said optic means including focusing means and an aperture stop located in the optical path for focusing the laser beam to have a beam cross-section of a predetermined size within a working distance range, said aperture stop having a cross-section which is smaller than the beam cross-section at the aperture stop to permit a part of the beam to pass through the aperture stop en route to the indicia portions, said aperture stop being bounded by a blocking wall for obstructing the remaining part of the beam from passing through the aperture stop en route to the indicia portions.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 46 words

The optical system as recited in claim 12, characterised in that the laser beam has a non-radially symmetrical cross-section, and wherein the aperture stop has a radially symmetrical cross-section and modifies the non-radially symmetrical beam cross-section to one which is radially symmetrical at the reference plane.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 50 words

The optical systems as recited in claim 12, characterised in that the laser beam has a non-radially symmetrical cross-section, and wherein the aperture stop has a non-radially symmetrical cross- , section and modifies the non-radially symmetrical beam cross-section Vo one which is of a predetermined non-symmetricity at the reference plane.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 38 words

The optical system as recited in any one of claims 12 to 14, characterised in that the focusing means includes a single focusing lens, said aperture stop being located downstream and in the immediate vicinity of the lens.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 56 words

The optical system as recited in claim 15, characterised in that the laser light source is a solid-state diode, and the optic means further includes means for adjustably and jointly positioning the lens and the aperture stop at a predetermined spacing from the diode, and locating the lens at the aperture stop at said spacing. --.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 343 words

In a laser scanning system for reading symbols, a laser scanning head comprising: (a) means including an actuatable laser light source mounted in the head and operative, when actuated, for generating an incident laser beam; (b) optic means mounted in the head for optically forming and directing said incident laser beam along a first optical path to a substantially planar scanning mirror for reflection therefrom toward a reference plane located exteriorly of the head, and to a symbol located in a working distance range in the vicinity of the reference plane, thereby reflecting off the symbol reflected laser light, at least a returning portion of which travels along a second optical path away from the symbol back toward the head; (c) scanning means mounted in the head for moving the scanning mirror and for sweeping said incident laser beam in a scan across the, symbol, said returning portion of said reflected laser light having a,variable intensity over the scan; (d) sensor means mounted in the head for detecting the variable intensity of said returning portion of said reflected laser light over a field of view, and for generating an electrical analog signal indicative of the detected variable light intensity; (e) a reciprocally oscillatable spherical mirror mounted to the scanning mirror for joint movement therewith and operative, when moved by the scanning means, for collecting said returning portion of said reflected laser light over the field of view, and for directing said collected returning portion to the sensor means; (f) signal processing means mounted in the head for processing the analog electrical signal, and for generating a processed signal indicative of the symbol; and (g) manually-actuatable trigger means on the head and operatively connected to, and operative for actuating, the scanning and spherical mirrors, the laser beam generating means, the scanning means, the sensor means and the signal processing means, to initiate a reading of the symbol upon manual actuation of the trigger means by the user, said trigger means being actuatable for each symbol to be read, each symbol in its respective turn.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 343 words

In a laser scanning system for reading symbols, a laser scanning head comprising: (a) means including an actuatable laser light source mounted in the head and operative, when actuated, for generating an incident laser beam; (b) optic means mounted in the head for optically forming and directing said incident laser beam along a first optical path to a substantially planar scanning mirror for reflection therefrom toward a reference plane located exteriorly of the head, and to a symbol located in a working distance range in the vicinity of the reference plane, thereby reflecting off the symbol reflected laser light, at least a returning portion of which travels along a second optical path away from the symbol back toward the head; (c) scanning means mounted in the head for moving the scanning mirror and for sweeping said incident laser beam in a scan across the, symbol, said returning portion of said reflected laser light having a,variable intensity over the scan; (d) sensor means mounted in the head for detecting the variable intensity of said returning portion of said reflected laser light over a field of view, and for generating an electrical analog signal indicative of the detected variable light intensity; (e) a reciprocally oscillatable spherical mirror mounted to the scanning mirror for joint movement therewith and operative, when moved by the scanning means, for collecting said returning portion of said reflected laser light over the field of view, and for directing said collected returning portion to the sensor means; (f) signal processing means mounted in the head for processing the analog electrical signal, and for generating a processed signal indicative of the symbol; and (g) manually-actuatable trigger means on the head and operatively connected to, and operative for actuating, the scanning and spherical mirrors, the laser beam generating means, the scanning means, the sensor means and the signal processing means, to initiate a reading of the symbol upon manual actuation of the trigger means by the user, said trigger means being actuatable for each symbol to be read, each symbol in its respective turn.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 71 words

The head as recited in claim 17, characterised in that the substantially planar scanning mirror and the spherical mirror are of one-piece construction, and include a plano-convex lens constituted of a light-transmissive material and having a first outer substantially planar surface and a second outer generally concave surface, a first light-reflecting layer applied over a part . of the first surface, and a second light-reflecting layer applied qver the second surface.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 154 words

The head as recited in claim 17 or claim 18, characterised in that the incident laser beam is non-readily visible to a user; and further comprises means including an actuatable aiming light source mounted in the head and operative, when actuated, for generating an aiming light beam whose light is readily visible to the user; and aiming means mounted in the head for directing said aiming light beam along an aiming light path from the aiming light source toward the reference plane and to the symbol to visibly illuminate at least a part of the symbol, said aiming light path lying within at least one of said optical paths in the portion of the latter which lies exteriorly of the head; and further characterised in that the spherical mirror is also operative for focusing the aiming light beam and, when moved by the scanning means, for sweeping the aiming light beam over the symbol.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 386 words

In a laser scanning system for reading symbols, a laser scanning head comprising: (a) a generally gun-shaped housing including a hollow barrel portion, and means for detachably and interchangeably mounting one of a set of hollow handle portions to the barrel portion; (b) means including an actuatable laser light source mounted in the barrel portion and operative, when actuated, for generating an incident laser beam; (c) optic means mounted in the barrel portion for optically forming and directing said incident laser beam toward a reference plane located exteriorly of the housing, and to a symbol located in , a working distance range in the vicinity of the reference plane, thereby reflecting off the symbol reflected laser light, at least a returning portion of which travels away from the symbol back toward the head; (d) scanning means mounted in the barrel portion for scanning the symbol in a scan across the symbol, said returning portion of said reflected laser light having a variable intensity over the scan; (e) sensor means mounted in the barrel portion for detecting the variable intensity of said returning portion of said reflected laser light over a field of view, and for generating an electrical analog signal indicative of the detected variable light intensity; (f) said scanning means being operative for scanning at least one of said incident laser beam and said field of view; (g) signal processing means mounted in the barrel portion for processing the analog electrical signal, and for generating a digitized signal indicative of the symbol; (h) decode means mounted in said one handle portion and operative for decoding the digitized signal to data descriptive of the symbol being read; (i) manually-actuatable trigger means on the housing and operatively connected to, and operative for actuating, the laser beam generating means, optic means, scanning means, sensor means and decode means to initiate a reading of the symbol upon manual actuation of the trigger means by the user, said trigger means being actuatable for each symbol to be read, each symbol in its respective turn; and (j) an electrical interlock between the barrel portion and said one handle portion and operative for electrically connecting the decode means in said one handle portion to the signal processing means in the barrel portion when said one handle portion is mounted on the latter.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 386 words

In a laser scanning system for reading symbols, a laser scanning head comprising: (a) a generally gun-shaped housing including a hollow barrel portion, and means for detachably and interchangeably mounting one of a set of hollow handle portions to the barrel portion; (b) means including an actuatable laser light source mounted in the barrel portion and operative, when actuated, for generating an incident laser beam; (c) optic means mounted in the barrel portion for optically forming and directing said incident laser beam toward a reference plane located exteriorly of the housing, and to a symbol located in , a working distance range in the vicinity of the reference plane, thereby reflecting off the symbol reflected laser light, at least a returning portion of which travels away from the symbol back toward the head; (d) scanning means mounted in the barrel portion for scanning the symbol in a scan across the symbol, said returning portion of said reflected laser light having a variable intensity over the scan; (e) sensor means mounted in the barrel portion for detecting the variable intensity of said returning portion of said reflected laser light over a field of view, and for generating an electrical analog signal indicative of the detected variable light intensity; (f) said scanning means being operative for scanning at least one of said incident laser beam and said field of view; (g) signal processing means mounted in the barrel portion for processing the analog electrical signal, and for generating a digitized signal indicative of the symbol; (h) decode means mounted in said one handle portion and operative for decoding the digitized signal to data descriptive of the symbol being read; (i) manually-actuatable trigger means on the housing and operatively connected to, and operative for actuating, the laser beam generating means, optic means, scanning means, sensor means and decode means to initiate a reading of the symbol upon manual actuation of the trigger means by the user, said trigger means being actuatable for each symbol to be read, each symbol in its respective turn; and (j) an electrical interlock between the barrel portion and said one handle portion and operative for electrically connecting the decode means in said one handle portion to the signal processing means in the barrel portion when said one handle portion is mounted on the latter.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 76 words

The head as recited in claim 20, characterised by a second decode means identical to said first-identified decode means, and a local data storage means operatively connected to the second decode means and operative for storing multiple data from the symbols which have been read, said second decode means and said local data storage means being mounted in another of the set of handle portions, said other handle portion being interchangeably mounted on the barrel portion.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 106 words

A support structure for use in a scanning head of the type having a light source means for generating a light beam, optic means for directing the light beam toward an object to be scanned, and scanning means for scanning the object, said support structure comprising: a light-weight support for positionably supporting the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means at predetermined optically-precise locations relative to one another in an operative optically-aligned assembly, said support being operative for re- positionably supporting the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means at said optically-precise locations and in said optically-aligned assembly for field-replacement.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 106 words

A support structure for use in a scanning head of the type having a light source means for generating a light beam, optic means for directing the light beam toward an object to be scanned, and scanning means for scanning the object, said support structure comprising: a light-weight support for positionably supporting the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means at predetermined optically-precise locations relative to one another in an operative optically-aligned assembly, said support being operative for re- positionably supporting the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means at said optically-precise locations and in said optically-aligned assembly for field-replacement.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

The support structure as defined in claim 22, wherein the light source means includes a gas laser tube for emitting a laser, light beam.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

The support structure as defined in claim 22, wherein the light source means includes a semiconductor laser diode for emitting a laser light beam.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 34 words

The support structure as defined in claim 22; and further comprising shock mounts on the support for shock mounting the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means within the head. ―.

Portable laser diode scanning head

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag