US3784794A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electro-optical reader for bar codes or the like
Assignee: NAT BANK OF COMMERCE OF SEATTL
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Filing: 1972-10-10
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1992-10-10
Abstract
Abstract An improved hand-held electro-optical reader includes a housing supporting at one end a transparent, substantially spherical member for conducting light to and from the surface of a record on which coded data in the form of a bar code or the like appears. A first element, which may comprise either a light source or a light detector, is disposed within the housing at some distance from the upper surface of the spherical member. A second element, which also may comprise either a light source or detector, is located adjacent the spherical member''s upper surface. Various embodiments of this basic reader are described and illustrated, including a finger grip design.
Inventors
- 👤 D Allais
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10881
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An electro-optical reader for bar codes or the like which are contained on the surface of a record member, comprising: a. a substantially spherical member composed of a transparent material, b. a housing, said housing having an interior and an exterior, and including means defining a passage connecting said interior to said exterior, c. first means supporting said substantially spherical member in said passage, d. a light source element and a light detector element, e. second means supporting one of said elements at a first position adjacent an upper surface of said substantially spherical member in said housing interior, and third means supporting the other of said elements at a second position in said housing interior at some further distance from said upper surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
An electro-optical reader for bar codes or the like which are contained on the surface of a record member, comprising: a. a substantially spherical member composed of a transparent material, b. a housing, said housing having an interior and an exterior, and including means defining a passage connecting said interior to said exterior, c. first means supporting said substantially spherical member in said passage, d. a light source element and a light detector element, e. second means supporting one of said elements at a first position adjacent an upper surface of said substantially spherical member in said housing interior, and third means supporting the other of said elements at a second position in said housing interior at some further distance from said upper surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A reader as recited in claim 1, wherein said light detector element is disposed in said first position and said light source element is disposed in said second position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A reader as recited in claim 2, wherein said housing further includes masking means situated within said interior adjacent said upper surface for masking all but the central portion of said upper surface from light emanating from said light source element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A reader as recited in claim 3, wherein said light detector and light source elements are substantially aligned with a diameter of said substantially spherical member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A reader as recited in claim 3, wherein said light detecting element comprises a plurality of phototransistors, and said second supporting means comprises a transparent adhesive securing said plurality of phototransistors to the portions of said upper surface which surround said central portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A reader as recited in claim 5, wherein said light source element comprises a light emitting diode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A reader as recited in claim 2, wherein said light source and light detector elements are substantially aligned with a diameter of said substantially spherical member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A reader as recited in claim 2, wherein said substantially spherical member comprises a synthetic sapphire ball.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A reader as recited in claim 2, wherein said light detector element comprises a phototransistor and said light source element comprises a light emitting diode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
A reader as recited in claim 9, wherein said second supporting means comprises a transparent adhesive securing said phototransistor to said upper surface of said substantially spherical member, and said third supporting means includes a shoulder defined by said housing in said interior, and a disc-like means supported by said shoulder and supporting in turn said light emitting diode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A reader as recited in claim 1, wherein said light detector element is disposed at said second position and said light source element is disposed at said first position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A reader as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing exterior is in the shape of a pen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A reader as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing exterior has a finger-grip shape including a tapered portion having exterior finger-grip recesses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A reader as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing further includes a light-absorbing means within said housing interior between said first and second positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A reader as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing is divided into a grippable member having a cavity, and a suppport member situated within said cavity which includes means defining said housing interior and said passage, and further includes said first, second, and third supporting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A reader as recited in claim 2, wherein said light source has a relatively narrow-band wavelength output, and further comprising narrow-band optical filter means disposed between said upper surface of said substantially spherical member and said light detector element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A reader as recited in claim 9, wherein said second supporting means comprises a transparent adhesive securing said phototransistor to said upper surface of said substantially spherical member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A reader as recited in claim 9, wherein said third supporting means includes a shoulder defined by said housing in said interior, and potting means holding said light-emitting diode against said shoulder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3731064A
Cited
US3684868A
Cited
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |