Point-of-sale system including infinitely adjustable optical scanner

Claim 2

A point-of-sale system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising: (A) a movable electro-optical scanner including (i) means for propagating and directing a light beam toward indicia located in the vicinity of a work surface exteriorly of the scanner, (ii) means for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia over a field of view, and for generating an electrical sig­nal indicative of the detected light intensity, (iii) means for processing the electrical signal into data descriptive of tbe indicia being read, and (iv) means for scanning at least one of said light beam and said field of view; (B) a terminal including (i) means for storing the data, and (ii) means for displaying the data; and (C) means for infinitely adjustably positioning the scanner at least over a limited range relative to the work surface, and for at least temporarily maintaining the scanner in any selected one of an infinite number of ad­justed orientations in said range.

Claim 3

The point-of-sale system according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means includes a bendable, elon­gated arm connected to the scanner.

Claim 4

The point-of-sale system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is a stationary cash register and includes means for entering information relating to the indicia.

Claim 5

The point-of-sale system according to claim 1, wherein the scanner includes a head in which the directing means, detecting means, processing means and scanning means are contained; and wherein the scanner also includes a base unit mounted on the work surface; and wherein the terminal is a stationary cash register connected to the base unit; and further comprising means for entering information relating to the indicia on at least one of said head and said cash register.

Claim 6

The point-of-sale system according to claim 2, wherein the bendable arm is constituted of a semi-rigid material capable of being repeatedly bent.

Claim 7

The point-of-sale system according to claim 2, wherein the bendable arm is a hollow tube in which electrical wires interconnecting the scanner and the terminal are routed.

Claim 8

The point-of-sale system according to claim 1, wherein the scanning means generates an omni-directional pattern.

Claim 9

The point-of-sale system according to claim 1, wherein the scanner includes a head having a slot through which magnetically-encoded cards pass.

Claim 10

The point-of-sale system according to claim 2, wherein the arm has opposite end regions, one of which is connected to the scanner, and the other of which is connected to the terminal.

Claim 11

The point-of-sale system according to claim 1, wherein the scanner includes a head having a shroud of light-blocking material.

Claim 12

The point-of-sale system according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means includes rigid arms articulated to each other.

Claim 13

A point-of-sale system for reading indicia having portions of different light reflectiv­ity, comprising: (A) a workstation including (i) a head, (ii) light source means in the head, and operative for emitting a laser beam, (iii) optical means in the head, and operative for optically modifying and directing the laser beam along an optical path toward the indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the head, (iv) sensor means supported by the head, said sensor means having a field of view and being op­erative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical analog signal indicative of the detected light intensity, (v) scanning means for scanning at least one of said laser beam and said field of view in a scan across the indicia, (vi) processing means in the head, and operative for converting the analog signal to a digital signal indicative of the indicia being read, and (vii) conductor means operative for con­ducting the digital signal away from the head; (B) a terminal operatively connected to the head and including (i) display means for displaying data descriptive of the indicia being read, (ii) keyboard means for enabling an op­erator to enter information relating to the indicia being read, and (iii) data storage means for storing the data descriptive of the indicia being read; (C) decode means located in at least one of said workstation and said terminal, and operative for decoding the digital signal into the data descriptive of the indicia being read; (D) a rechargeable power supply located in at least one of said workstation and said terminal, and operative for supplying electrical power to the head; (E) read-control means located in at least one of said workstation and said terminal, and oper­ative for initiating reading of the indicia, and for terminating reading of the indicia upon a successful determination that the indicia has been successfully read; and (F) means for infinitely adjustably position­ing the head relative to and above a work surface in the workstation, and for at least temporarily maintain­ing the head in any selected one of an infinite number of adjusted orientations, including a bendable, elon­gated arm connected to the head.

Claim 14

A point-of-sale system for reading indicia having portions of different light reflectiv­ity, comprising: (A) a workstation including (i) a head, (ii) light source means in the head, and operative for emitting a laser beam, (iii) optical means in the head, and operative for optically modifying and directing the laser beam along an optical path toward the indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the head, (iv) sensor means supported by the head, said sensor means having a field of view and being op­erative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical analog signal indicative of the detected light intensity, (v) scanning means for scanning at least one of said laser beam and said field of view in a scan across the indicia, (vi) processing means in the head, and operative for converting the analog signal to a digital signal indicative of the indicia being read, and (vii) conductor means operative for con­ducting the digital signal away from the head; (B) a terminal operatively connected to the head and including (i) display means for displaying data descriptive of the indicia being read, (ii) keyboard means for enabling an op­erator to enter information relating to the indicia being read, and (iii) data storage means for storing the data descriptive of the indicia being read; (C) decode means located in at least one of said workstation and said terminal, and operative for decoding the digital signal into the data descriptive of the indicia being read; (D) a rechargeable power supply located in at least one of said workstation and said terminal, and operative for supplying electrical power to the head; (E) read-control means located in at least one of said workstation and said terminal, and oper­ative for initiating reading of the indicia, and for terminating reading of the indicia upon a successful determination that the indicia has been successfully read; and (F) means for infinitely adjustably position­ing the head relative to and above a work surface in the workstation, and for at least temporarily maintain­ing the head in any selected one of an infinite number of adjusted orientations, including a bendable, elon­gated arm connected to the head.

Claim 15

The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the workstation includes a base supported on a support surface, and wherein the arm is a hollow, elon­gated conduit having one end connected to the head, and an opposite end connected to the base, said bendable conduit having multiple freedoms of movement.

Claim 16

The system as recited in claim 13, where­in the conductor means includes a wire routed through the interior of the conduit.

Claim 17

The system as recited in claim 12, where­in the terminal is a cash register.

Claim 18

The system as recited in claim 12, where­in the arm is an elongated, hollow conduit having one end connected to the head and an opposite end connected to the terminal, said bendable conduit having multiple freedoms of movement.

Claim 19

The system as recited in claim 16, where­in the conductor means includes a wire routed through the interior of the conduit.

Claim 20

A point-of-sale system for reading in­dicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising: (A) a movable electro-optical scanner including (i) means for propagating and directing a light beam toward indicia located in the vicinity of a work surface exteriorly of the scanner, (ii) means for detecting at least a por­tion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia over a field of view, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, (iii) means for processing the electrical signal into data descriptive of the indicia being read, and (iv) means for scanning at least one of said light beam and said field of view; (B) a terminal including (i) means for storing the data, and (ii) means for displaying the data; and (C) means for shielding the detecting means from ambient light, said shielding means including a hood of light-blocking material, said hood being mounted on the scanner.

Claim 21

A point-of-sale system for reading in­dicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising: (A) a movable electro-optical scanner including (i) means for propagating and directing a light beam toward indicia located in the vicinity of a work surface exteriorly of the scanner, (ii) means for detecting at least a por­tion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia over a field of view, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, (iii) means for processing the electrical signal into data descriptive of the indicia being read, and (iv) means for scanning at least one of said light beam and said field of view; (B) a terminal including (i) means for storing the data, and (ii) means for displaying the data; and (C) means for shielding the detecting means from ambient light, said shielding means including a hood of light-blocking material, said hood being mounted on the scanner.