Mirrorless scanners with movable lase, optical and sensor components

Claim 2

A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including: (A) a light source component for emitting a light beam, (B) an optical component for optically modi­fying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a ref­erence plane exteriorly of the system, and (C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indi­cia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, said arrangement comprising: (a) means for mounting at least one of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement relative to another of the components; and (b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocat­ingly moving the mounting means and said at least one component to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view.

Claim 3

The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the drive means includes a motor having an elongated shaft, and operative for reciprocatingly turning the shaft about an axis which extends along the elongation of the shaft in alternate circumferen­tial directions over arc lengths less than 360°, and wherein said at least one component is mounted on the shaft for joining turning movement therewith about the axis.

Claim 4

The arrangement as recited in claim 2, wherein the light source component is a semiconductor laser diode; and wherein the optical component includes a focusing lens and an aperture stop; and wherein the diode, the lens and the aperture stop are mounted on the shaft for joint turning movement therewith about the axis.

Claim 5

The arrangement as recited in claim 3, wherein the mounting means includes a support for hold­ing the diode, the lens and the aperture stop at a spacing from a power supply, and tensile wires span­ning said spacing between the power supply and the diode.

Claim 6

The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the photodetector component is stationary, and wherein the mounting means mounts only the light source, component and the optical component for said reciprocat­ing movement relative to said stationary photodetector component.

Claim 7

The arrangement as recited in claim 3, wherein the photodetector is stationary and has an elongated input; and further comprising a collection lens mounted on the shaft, and operative for collecting and directing the reflected light portion to and along the input of the photodetector.

Claim 8

The arrangement as recited in claim 4, wherein the tensile wires are connected to joints which are positioned in the immediate vicinity of the axis of the shaft.

Claim 9

A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including: (A) a light source component for emitting a light beam, (B) an optical component for optically modi­fying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and (C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indi­cia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, said arrangement comprising: (a) means for mounting at least one of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement; and (b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocat­ingly moving the mounting means and said at least one component to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view in a plane which is perpendicular to the optical path.

Claim 10

A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including: (A) a light source component for emitting a light beam, (B) an optical component for optically modi­fying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and (C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indi­cia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, said arrangement comprising: (a) means for mounting at least one of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement; and (b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocat­ingly moving the mounting means and said at least one component to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view in a plane which is perpendicular to the optical path.

Claim 11

The arrangement as recited in claim 8, wherein the light source component is a semiconductor laser diode; and wherein the optical component includes a focusing lens and an aperture stop; and wherein at least one of said diode, lens and aperture stop is movable in said plane.

Claim 12

The arrangement as recited in claim 9, wherein the mounting means includes a holder for hold­ing the lens and the aperture stop, and wherein the diode is stationary, and wherein the drive means moves the lens and the aperture stop relative to the station­ary diode.

Claim 13

The arrangement as recited in claim 10, wherein the holder includes a leaf spring on which the lens and the aperture stop are mounted.

Claim 14

The arrangement as recited in claim 11, wherein the drive means is an electromagnetic drive including a permanent magnet mounted on the holder and a drive coil.

Claim 15

The arrangement as recited in claim 9, wherein the mounting means includes a holder for hold­ing the lens, and wherein the diode and the aperture stop are stationary, and wherein the drive means moves the lens relative to the stationary diode and the stationary aperture stop.

Claim 16

The arrangement as recited in claim 8, wherein the arrangement generates a single scan line for each movement of said at least one component; and further comprising means for generating a scan pattern comprised of multiple scan lines over the indicia.

Claim 17

The arrangement as recited in claim 9, wherein the mounting means includes wall means bounding the aperture stop, and wherein the diode and the lens are stationary, and wherein the drive means moves the aperture stop relative to the stationary diode and the stationary lens.

Claim 18

The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the mounting means, said at least one component and the drive means constitute a compact module for mounting in a housing of the system.

Claim 19

The arrangement as recited in claim 8, wherein the mounting means, said at least one component and the drive means constitute a compact module for mounting in a housing of the system.

Claim 20

The arrangement as recited in claim 16, wherein the housing is a hand-held head having manu­ally actuatable trigger means operative for initiating reading of the indicia.

Claim 21

The arrangement as recited in claim 16, wherein the housing is a desk-top workstation having an overhead head, a base, and a semi-rigid, bendable conduit between the head and the base, and orientable to position the head in a desired orientation relative to the base.

Claim 22

The arrangement as recited in claim 16, wherein the compact module includes an electrical con­nector for detachably interconnecting the module to other system components.

Claim 23

The arrangement as recited in claim 16, wherein the housing is a hand-held head having an exit port through which at least one of said lightbeam and said field of view passes, and means for positioning the exit port to a desired side of the head.

Claim 24

The arrangement as recited in claim 21, wherein said positioning means includes a top wall on the housing and a superstructure on the top wall, said superstructure having a window, and wherein the window is positionable to face the desired side of the head.

Claim 25

The arrangement as recited in claim 22, wherein said top wall is swivelable about an axis to a swiveled position, and wherein said positioning means includes means for locking the top wall in said swiveled position.

Claim 26

A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including: (A) a light source component for emitting a light beam, (B) an optical component for optically modi­fying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and (C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indi­cia along a return path, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, said arrangement comprising: (a) means for mounting all of said components on a common boresight along which the optical and return paths are co-linear for repetitive, reciprocating move­ment; and (b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocat­ingly moving the mounting means and said components to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view.

Claim 27

A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including: (A) a light source component for emitting a light beam, (B) an optical component for optically modi­fying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and (C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indi­cia along a return path, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, said arrangement comprising: (a) means for mounting all of said components on a common boresight along which the optical and return paths are co-linear for repetitive, reciprocating move­ment; and (b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocat­ingly moving the mounting means and said components to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view.

Claim 28

The arrangement as recited in claim 24, wherein the drive means includes a motor having an elon­gated shaft, and operative for reciprocatingly turning the shaft about an axis which extends along the elonga­tion of the shaft in alternate circumferential direc­tions over arc lengths less than 360°, and wherein all of said components are mounted on the shaft for joint turning movement about the axis.

Claim 29

The arrangement as recited in claim 25; and further comprising a collection lens mounted on the shaft, and operative for collecting and directing the reflected light portion to an input of the photo­detector component.

Claim 30

The arrangement as recited in claim 26; and comprising tensile wires connected between the photodetector component and additional electrical circuitry.

Claim 31

A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading bar code symbols, said system being of the type including: (A) a laser diode for emitting a laser beam, (B) a focusing lens and an aperture stop for optically modifying and directing the laser beam along an optical path toward the symbol located in the vicin­ity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and (C) a photodetector having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of laser light of variable intensity reflected off the symbol, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected laser light intensity, said arrangement comprising: (a) means for mounting the laser diode, the focusing lens and the aperture stop for repetitive, reciprocating movement; and (b) drive means for repetitively, recipro­catingly moving the diode, lens and aperture stop to­gether as a unit to scan at least one of said laser beam and said field of view.

Claim 32

A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading bar code symbols, said system being of the type including: (A) a laser diode for emitting a laser beam, (B) a focusing lens and an aperture stop for optically modifying and directing the laser beam along an optical path toward the symbol located in the vicin­ity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and (C) a photodetector having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of laser light of variable intensity reflected off the symbol, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected laser light intensity, said arrangement comprising: (a) means for mounting the laser diode, the focusing lens and the aperture stop for repetitive, reciprocating movement; and (b) drive means for repetitively, recipro­catingly moving the diode, lens and aperture stop to­gether as a unit to scan at least one of said laser beam and said field of view.

Claim 33

The arrangement as recited in claim 28, wherein the photodetector is also mounted for joint movement with the diode, lens and aperture stop.

Claim 34

The arrangement as recited in claim 28, wherein the drive means turns the diode, lens and aperture stop in alternate circumferential directions about an axis.

Claim 35

The arrangement as recited in claim 28, wherein the drive means moves the diode, lens and aperture stop in a plane which is substantially per­pendicular to an optical axis which extends along the optical path.

Claim 36

A scanner arrangement for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising: (A) a movable light source for emitting a light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane lying generally normal to the optical path; (B) stationary photodetector means having a field of view and being stationarily mounted in the arrangement, said photodetector means being operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity; and (C) drive means, including an output shaft on which the light source is mounted, for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the light source relative to the photodetector means about an axis along which the shaft extends to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view.

Claim 37

A scanner arrangement for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising: (A) a movable light source for emitting a light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane lying generally normal to the optical path; (B) stationary photodetector means having a field of view and being stationarily mounted in the arrangement, said photodetector means being operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity; and (C) drive means, including an output shaft on which the light source is mounted, for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the light source relative to the photodetector means about an axis along which the shaft extends to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view.

Claim 38

A scanner arrangement for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising: (A) a subassembly including (a) a light source for emitting a light beam along an outgoing path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane lying generally normal to the optical path, and (b) a photodetector having a field of view, and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia along a return path, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity; (B) means mounting the light source and the photodetector on the subassembly such that the outgoing and return paths are co-linear along a common boresight axis; and (C) drive means connected to the subassembly, for cyclically moving the subassembly so that said light source and said photodetector scan across said reference plane.

Claim 39

A scanner arrangement for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising: (A) a subassembly including (a) a light source for emitting a light beam along an outgoing path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane lying generally normal to the optical path, and (b) a photodetector having a field of view, and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia along a return path, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity; (B) means mounting the light source and the photodetector on the subassembly such that the outgoing and return paths are co-linear along a common boresight axis; and (C) drive means connected to the subassembly, for cyclically moving the subassembly so that said light source and said photodetector scan across said reference plane.

Claim 40

A scanner arrangement for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising: (A) a light source for emitting a light beam along an optical path; (B) an optical component disposed in the op­tical path of said beam, for optically modifying and directing the light beam toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane lying generally normal to the optical path; (C) actuator means for moving said optical component along a displacement path relative to said light source so that said light beam is deflected as said optical component is moved to form a scanning beam; and (D) photodetector means having a field of view, and operative for detecting at least a portion of said scanning beam reflected from the indicia, and for gen­erating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity.

Claim 41

A scanner arrangement for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising: (A) a light source for emitting a light beam along an optical path; (B) an optical component disposed in the op­tical path of said beam, for optically modifying and directing the light beam toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane lying generally normal to the optical path; (C) actuator means for moving said optical component along a displacement path relative to said light source so that said light beam is deflected as said optical component is moved to form a scanning beam; and (D) photodetector means having a field of view, and operative for detecting at least a portion of said scanning beam reflected from the indicia, and for gen­erating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity.

Claim 42

A scanner arrangement for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising: (A) a light source for emitting a light beam along an optical path; (B) a stationary first optical component dis­posed in the optical path of said beam, for optically modifying the light beam to produce a modified beam; (C) a movable second optical component disposed in the optical path of said modified beam; (D) activating means for moving said second component along a track relative to said first component so that as said second component is moved, said modified light beam is deflected and directed toward the indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane lying gen­erally normal to the optical path; and (E) photodetector means having a field of view, and operative for detecting at least a portion of the light reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity.

Claim 43

A scanner arrangement for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising: (A) a light source for emitting a light beam along an optical path; (B) a stationary first optical component dis­posed in the optical path of said beam, for optically modifying the light beam to produce a modified beam; (C) a movable second optical component disposed in the optical path of said modified beam; (D) activating means for moving said second component along a track relative to said first component so that as said second component is moved, said modified light beam is deflected and directed toward the indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane lying gen­erally normal to the optical path; and (E) photodetector means having a field of view, and operative for detecting at least a portion of the light reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity.

Claim 44

A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including: (A) a light source component for emitting a light beam, (B) an optical component for optically modi­fying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and (C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indi­cia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, said arrangement comprising: (a) means for mounting only one of the compon­ents for repetitive, reciprocating movement relative to the other two components; and (b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocat­ingly moving the mounting means and said only one com­ponent to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view.

Claim 45

A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including: (A) a light source component for emitting a light beam, (B) an optical component for optically modi­fying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and (C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indi­cia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, said arrangement comprising: (a) means for mounting only one of the compon­ents for repetitive, reciprocating movement relative to the other two components; and (b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocat­ingly moving the mounting means and said only one com­ponent to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view.

Claim 46

A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including: (A) a light source component for emitting a light beam, (B) an optical component for optically modi­fying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and (C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indi­cia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, said arrangement comprising: (a) means for mounting only two of the compon­ents for repetitive, reciprocating movement relative to the other component; and (b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocat­ingly moving the mounting means and said only two com­ponents to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view.

Claim 47

A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including: (A) a light source component for emitting a light beam, (B) an optical component for optically modi­fying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and (C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indi­cia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, said arrangement comprising: (a) means for mounting only two of the compon­ents for repetitive, reciprocating movement relative to the other component; and (b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocat­ingly moving the mounting means and said only two com­ponents to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view.

Claim 48

A replaceable module for use in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of dif­ferent light reflectivity, said module comprising: (A) a light source component for emitting a light beam, (B) an optical component for optically modify­ing and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, (C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, (D) means for mounting said light source, opti­cal and photodetector components on a common support, and (E) detachable connector means for electrically and detachably interconnecting said commonly supported light source, optical and photodetector components to other components of the light scanning system.

Claim 49

A replaceable module for use in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of dif­ferent light reflectivity, said module comprising: (A) a light source component for emitting a light beam, (B) an optical component for optically modify­ing and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, (C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, (D) means for mounting said light source, opti­cal and photodetector components on a common support, and (E) detachable connector means for electrically and detachably interconnecting said commonly supported light source, optical and photodetector components to other components of the light scanning system.

Claim 50

A scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including: (A) a housing having an interior and an exit port, (B) a light source component in the interior of the housing, and operative for emitting a light beam, (C) an optical component in the interior of the housing, and operative for modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path through the exit port toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane located exteriorly of the housing, (D) a photodetector component having a field of view and mounted in the interior of the housing, and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating a photodetector signal indicative of the detected light intensity, and (E) a scanning component in the interior of the housing, and operative for scanning at least one of said light beam and said field of view, said arrangement comprising: (a) a semi-rigid, bendable, elongated conduit having one end connected to the housing, and an opposite end, (b) said conduit being manually movable to orient the housing in a desired orientation and to con­comitantly position the exit port relative to the indicia being read, (c) said housing maintaining its desired orien­tation after being moved to said desired orientation, (d) said conduit having an internal space in which electrical wiring is routed lengthwise of the con­duit, for conveying and returning electrical signals to and from the housing.

Claim 51

A scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including: (A) a housing having an interior and an exit port, (B) a light source component in the interior of the housing, and operative for emitting a light beam, (C) an optical component in the interior of the housing, and operative for modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path through the exit port toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane located exteriorly of the housing, (D) a photodetector component having a field of view and mounted in the interior of the housing, and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating a photodetector signal indicative of the detected light intensity, and (E) a scanning component in the interior of the housing, and operative for scanning at least one of said light beam and said field of view, said arrangement comprising: (a) a semi-rigid, bendable, elongated conduit having one end connected to the housing, and an opposite end, (b) said conduit being manually movable to orient the housing in a desired orientation and to con­comitantly position the exit port relative to the indicia being read, (c) said housing maintaining its desired orien­tation after being moved to said desired orientation, (d) said conduit having an internal space in which electrical wiring is routed lengthwise of the con­duit, for conveying and returning electrical signals to and from the housing.

Claim 52

The arrangement as recited in claim 39; and further comprising a base connected to said opposite end of the conduit, said housing being moved relative to said base.

Claim 53

A scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including: (A) a housing having an interior and an exit port, (B) a light source component in the interior of the housing, and operative for emitting a light beam, (C) an optical component in the interior of the housing, and operative for modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path through the exit port toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane located exteriorly of the housing, (D) a photodetector component having a field of view and mounted in the interior of the housing, and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating a photodetector signal indicative of the detected light intensity, and (E) a scanning component in the interior of the housing, and operative for scanning at least one of said light beam and said field of view, said arrangement comprising: (a) means for positioning the exit port to a desired location on the housing, said positioning means including means connected to the exit port and mounted on the housing for movement relative to the housing.

Claim 54

A scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including: (A) a housing having an interior and an exit port, (B) a light source component in the interior of the housing, and operative for emitting a light beam, (C) an optical component in the interior of the housing, and operative for modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path through the exit port toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane located exteriorly of the housing, (D) a photodetector component having a field of view and mounted in the interior of the housing, and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating a photodetector signal indicative of the detected light intensity, and (E) a scanning component in the interior of the housing, and operative for scanning at least one of said light beam and said field of view, said arrangement comprising: (a) means for positioning the exit port to a desired location on the housing, said positioning means including means connected to the exit port and mounted on the housing for movement relative to the housing.

Claim 55

The arrangement is recited in claim 41, wherein said positioning means includes a movable wall on the housing, said wall being rotatable about an axis between two end-limiting positions.