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EP0513530A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Mirrorless scanners with movable laser, optical and sensor components

Assignee: Symbol Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1992-04-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-04-10
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Abstract

Abstract In bar code symbol scanning systems employing laser, optical and sensor components, a mirrorless scanner arrangement mounts one or more of these components on a drive for repetitively reciprocating movement either about an axis or in a plane to effect scanning. All of the components are mounted together in a common assembly to constitute a compact, lightweight scan module which is mounted in an interchangeable, modular manner in housings of different configurations.

Inventors

  • 👤 Boris Metlitsky
  • 👤 Marks Krichever
  • 👤 Jerome Swartz
  • 👤 Edward Barkan
  • 👤 Howard Shepard
  • 👤 Joseph Sandor

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 16:30
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10554; G06K7/10564; G06K7/10584; G06K7/10594; G06K7/10603; G06K7/10633; G06K7/10643; G06K7/10653; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; G06K7/10871; G06K7/10881; G06K7/10891; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/343; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036; G07G1/0045; G06F; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/033; G06F2203/0331; G06K2007/10524; G06K2007/10534; G06K2207/00; G06K2207/1016

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 166 words
A scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, 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) a scanning component for scanning at least one of the light beam and the field of view; (E) an electrical connecting component for conducting the electrical signal away from the photodetector component; (F) all of said components being mounted together in a common assembly to constitute a compact, lightweight scan module; and (G) means for mounting the scan module in an interchangeable, modular manner in housings of different configurations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 23 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the mounting means includes means for supporting one of the housings on a user's wrist.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 49 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the housings is mounted at an end of a bendable arm for adjusting the position of said one housing relative to the indicia, said one housing including a keyboard, a display, and a card reader for reading encoded cards.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 15, wherein the mounting means includes a detachable electro-mechanical connector having one part on said end of the arm, and a mating part on said one housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 41 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 1; and further comprising means for converting one of the housings for use by a specific hand of a user, said converting means including means for steering the light beam to one of two courses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 163 words
A mounting method in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising the steps of: (A) emitting a light beam from a light source component; (B) optically-modifying and directing the light beam by a light source component along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system; (C) detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia by a photodetector component having a field of view, and generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity; (D) scanning at least one of the light beam and the field of view by a scanning component; (E) conducting the electrical signal away from the photodetector component by an electrical connecting component; (F) mounting all of said components together in a common assembly to constitute a compact, lightweight scan module; and (G) mounting the scan module in an interchangeable, modular manner in housings of different configurations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 104 words
A hands-free scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising: (a) a housing having a window; (b) actuatable electro-optical scanner means in the housing, for projecting a light beam through the window to indicia to be read, for scanning the indicia, and for detecting light of variable intensity that is reflected off the indicia to generate an electrical signal representative of the indicia; (c) means for mounting the housing on an arm of an operator; and (d) actuating means for actuating the scanner means to initiate reading of the indicia upon movement of the operator's hand relative to the arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 44 words
The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the window is located adjacent the operator's wrist, and wherein the scanner means projects the light beam over the back of the operator's hand in a pointing direction along which the operator's out-stretched forefinger generally points.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
The system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the actuating means includes a trigger switch switchable between switched states by flexure of the wrist of the operator's hand.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the switch includes a movable armature mounted on the housing.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 83 words
A method of reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising the steps of: (a) mounting an actuatable electro-optical scanner having a window on an arm of an operator; and (b) actuating the scanner by moving the operator's hand relative to the arm to project a light beam through the window to indicia to be read, to scan the indicia, and to detect light of variable intensity that is reflected off the indicia for generating an electrical signal representative of the indicia.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the actuating step is performed by pointing the operator's outstretched forefinger toward the indicia, and by tracing the forefinger in free space across the indicia while simultaneously flexing the operator's wrist.

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