EP0573018A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical readers
Assignee: Symbol Technologies LLC
•
Filing: 1993-06-02
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2013-06-02
Abstract
Abstract To read optically encoded information over a wide range of densities, the present invention provides a spacer system on the tip of an optical reader. The optical reader may be a contact wand type device, for example including a fixed laser emitter. Alternatively, the optical reader may be a moving spot scanner. In either case, the emitter element of the optical reader produces a diverging beam of light. During a reading operation, the spacer contacts the object surface on which optically encoded indicia is formed. The spacer selectively defines at least two different distances between the light emitter, or the focal point of the emitted beam of light, and the object surface. Because of the beam divergence, the diameter of the beam at its point of impact on the object surface will be different for each of the two different distances. The different beam diameters provide the optical reader with different effective sensing spots for reading different density symbols. The present invention also incorporates an optical reader, typically a moving spot laser scanner, into a number of different types of computer data input devices, such as the stylus of a digitizer table and a computer "mouse." In one such integrated terminal embodiment, the optical reader is combined with a touch sensitive display and data input device.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Dvorkis
- 👤 Ralph Thomas
- 👤 David Goren
- 👤 Robert Fuller
- 👤 Leonard H. Goldner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10881; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03543; G06F3/03545
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A device for reading optically encoded information comprising: means for producing a diverging beam of light for direction toward optically encoded information; a photodetector for sensing light reflected back from the optically encoded information; and means, coupled to the means for producing a diverging beam of light, for contacting a surface on which the optically encoded information is formed to selectively define at least two different distances between the means for producing a diverging beam of light and the optically encoded information, whereby the diameter of the diverging beam of light at its point of impact on the optically encoded information will be different for each of the two different distances.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A device for reading optically encoded information comprising: means for producing a diverging beam of light for direction toward optically encoded information; a photodetector for sensing light reflected back from the optically encoded information; and means, coupled to the means for producing a diverging beam of light, for contacting a surface on which the optically encoded information is formed to selectively define at least two different distances between the means for producing a diverging beam of light and the optically encoded information, whereby the diameter of the diverging beam of light at its point of impact on the optically encoded information will be different for each of the two different distances.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device for reading optically encoded information as in claim 1, wherein the means for producing a diverging beam of light include a laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device for reading optically encoded information as in claim 2, wherein the means for producing a diverging beam of light include an optical element for focusing light emitted by the laser to a focal point, and the means for contacting a surface selectively define the at least two different distances between the focal point and the optically encoded information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device for reading optically encoded information as in claim 1, wherein the means for producing a diverging beam of light produce a moving spot beam for optical scanning across the encoded information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device for reading optically encoded information as in claim 1, wherein the means for contacting a surface to selectively define at least two different distances comprise: a housing fixedly supporting the means for producing a diverging beam of light so that the beam of light emerges from one end of the housing; and a spacer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device for reading optically encoded information as in claim 5, wherein the spacer is detachable from the one end of the housing such that the one end of the housing without the spacer defines a first one of the distances and the housing with the spacer mounted on the one end thereof defines a second one of the distances.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device for reading optically encoded information as in claim 5, wherein the spacer slideably mounts on the one end of the housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device for reading optically encoded information as in claim 5, wherein the spacer threadable mounts on the one end of the housing.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of reading optically encoded information comprising: producing a diverging beam of light; contacting a surface on which the optically encoded information is formed to define a first distance between a focal point of the diverging beam of light and the optically encoded information; directing the beam of light toward optically encoded information; sensing light reflected back from the optically encoded information; contacting a surface on which the optically encoded information is formed to define a second distance between the focal point of the diverging beam of light and the optically encoded information, wherein said second distance is different from said first distance; directing the beam of light toward the optically encoded information; and sensing light reflected back from the optically encoded information.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of reading optically encoded information comprising: producing a diverging beam of light; contacting a surface on which the optically encoded information is formed to define a first distance between a focal point of the diverging beam of light and the optically encoded information; directing the beam of light toward optically encoded information; sensing light reflected back from the optically encoded information; contacting a surface on which the optically encoded information is formed to define a second distance between the focal point of the diverging beam of light and the optically encoded information, wherein said second distance is different from said first distance; directing the beam of light toward the optically encoded information; and sensing light reflected back from the optically encoded information.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of reading optically encoded information of different densities comprising: producing a diverging beam of light; contacting a surface on which optically encoded information of a first density is formed to define a first distance between a focal point of the diverging beam of light and the optically encoded information; directing the beam of light toward optically encoded information of the first density; sensing light reflected back and deriving therefrom an electrical representation of the optically encoded information of the first density; contacting a surface on which optically encoded information of a second density is formed to define a second distance between the focal point of the diverging beam of light and the optically encoded information, wherein said second density is different from said first density and said second distance is different from said first distance; directing the beam of light toward the optically encoded information of the second density; and sensing light reflected back and deriving therefrom an electrical representation of the optically encoded information of the second density.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of reading optically encoded information of different densities comprising: producing a diverging beam of light; contacting a surface on which optically encoded information of a first density is formed to define a first distance between a focal point of the diverging beam of light and the optically encoded information; directing the beam of light toward optically encoded information of the first density; sensing light reflected back and deriving therefrom an electrical representation of the optically encoded information of the first density; contacting a surface on which optically encoded information of a second density is formed to define a second distance between the focal point of the diverging beam of light and the optically encoded information, wherein said second density is different from said first density and said second distance is different from said first distance; directing the beam of light toward the optically encoded information of the second density; and sensing light reflected back and deriving therefrom an electrical representation of the optically encoded information of the second density.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
A data input and display device comprising: (a) a housing having an elongated body portion including a front region, a rear region, and an intermediate body region extending between the front and rear regions; (b) means for generating a light beam directed along a light path toward indicia to be read, wherein said indicia have parts of different light reflectivity; (c) means for receiving reflected light from the indicia to produce electrical signals representative of the indicia; (d) a keyboard disposed on the rear region of the housing out of the light path for enabling manual data entry without manually blocking the light beam; and (e) a touch sensitive display disposed on the front region of the housing for displaying information oriented so that an upper surface of the touch sensitive display is parallel to said light path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
138 words
A data input and display device comprising: (a) a housing having an elongated body portion including a front region, a rear region, and an intermediate body region extending between the front and rear regions; (b) means for generating a light beam directed along a light path toward indicia to be read, wherein said indicia have parts of different light reflectivity; (c) means for receiving reflected light from the indicia to produce electrical signals representative of the indicia; (d) a keyboard disposed on the rear region of the housing out of the light path for enabling manual data entry without manually blocking the light beam; and (e) a touch sensitive display disposed on the front region of the housing for displaying information oriented so that an upper surface of the touch sensitive display is parallel to said light path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
A data input and display device comprising: (a) a substantially flat housing having a front surface and a rear surface; (b) means for emitting a light beam from the rear surface of the housing for direction toward indicia to be read, wherein said indicia have parts of different light reflectivity; (c) means for receiving reflected light from the indicia to produce electrical signals representative of the indicia; and (d) a touch sensitive display disposed on the front surface of the housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
81 words
A data input and display device comprising: (a) a substantially flat housing having a front surface and a rear surface; (b) means for emitting a light beam from the rear surface of the housing for direction toward indicia to be read, wherein said indicia have parts of different light reflectivity; (c) means for receiving reflected light from the indicia to produce electrical signals representative of the indicia; and (d) a touch sensitive display disposed on the front surface of the housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
91 words
An electronic stylus for use with a computer having a digitizer, said stylus comprising: a light emitter for emitting light for illumination of optically encoded information; a photodetector for sensing light reflected from the illuminated optically encoded information and producing an electrical signal representative of the optically encoded information; stylus electronics for providing positional input data by contacting the digitizer tablet with said stylus; and a stylus housing containing said light emitter, said photodetector and said stylus electronics, said stylus housing having a tip adapted for contact with the digitizer tablet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
91 words
An electronic stylus for use with a computer having a digitizer, said stylus comprising: a light emitter for emitting light for illumination of optically encoded information; a photodetector for sensing light reflected from the illuminated optically encoded information and producing an electrical signal representative of the optically encoded information; stylus electronics for providing positional input data by contacting the digitizer tablet with said stylus; and a stylus housing containing said light emitter, said photodetector and said stylus electronics, said stylus housing having a tip adapted for contact with the digitizer tablet.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus comprising: a housing adapted for manual movement across a surface; means for engaging the surface and detecting the manual movement of the housing across the surface, said means for engaging being mounted in the housing and extending from a bottom surface of the housing; a light emitter for emitting light through the bottom surface of the housing; optical scanning means for automatically causing the light from the emitter to scan across an object surface; a photodetector for sensing light reflected from the object surface and producing an electrical signal representative of any optically encoded information formed on the object surface.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus comprising: a housing adapted for manual movement across a surface; means for engaging the surface and detecting the manual movement of the housing across the surface, said means for engaging being mounted in the housing and extending from a bottom surface of the housing; a light emitter for emitting light through the bottom surface of the housing; optical scanning means for automatically causing the light from the emitter to scan across an object surface; a photodetector for sensing light reflected from the object surface and producing an electrical signal representative of any optically encoded information formed on the object surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
122 words
A stylus for use with a portable computer comprising a first member including processing means, and a panel having a flat surface and comprising a digitizer-display unit operatively connected to said processing means, said stylus comprising: means in connection with said first member for interacting with said digitizer-display unit such that data may be entered on said digitizer-display unit by contacting said stylus with said flat surface and displayed on said digitizer-display unit; and a symbol detecting means for generating a laser beam directed toward a symbol to be read on a target, and for receiving reflected light from such symbol to produce electrical signals corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light, said electrical signals being transferable to said processing means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
122 words
A stylus for use with a portable computer comprising a first member including processing means, and a panel having a flat surface and comprising a digitizer-display unit operatively connected to said processing means, said stylus comprising: means in connection with said first member for interacting with said digitizer-display unit such that data may be entered on said digitizer-display unit by contacting said stylus with said flat surface and displayed on said digitizer-display unit; and a symbol detecting means for generating a laser beam directed toward a symbol to be read on a target, and for receiving reflected light from such symbol to produce electrical signals corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light, said electrical signals being transferable to said processing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.