Patent US4009369A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4009369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Polyphase scanner for bar code symbols
Assignee: SCHILLER IND Inc
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Filing: 1975-04-16
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Granted: 1977-02-22
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Expires: 1995-04-16
Abstract
Abstract An optical scanner is disclosed for reading of bar code symbols on packages moving through a reading field. The scanner generates a polyphase scan pattern which is adapted for omnidirectional reading of a bar code symbol. The scanner, in one embodiment, comprises an oscillatory mirror driven by an electromechanical resonator for producing beam deflection along the amplitude axis and includes a rotary multifaceted mirror for producing beam deflection along the time axis. In another embodiment an optical galvanometer is used to produce beam deflection along the amplitude axis and in this embodiment a substantially straight line trace is produced in addition to the polyphase pattern.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas D. Hayosh
- 👤 John H. Carosella
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; G06K7/10871; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/64; G02B27/642
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
In a code reader for encoded packages bearing bar code symbols and passing across a scanning window, the code symbols having a rectangular code field, a scanner adapted to scan a reading field adjacent the window and having a transverse axis across which the code symbols are moved and having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the transverse axis, said scanner comprising means for producing a light beam, deflection means, including optical means in the path of the light beam, first drive means operatively coupled with the optical means for cyclically deflecting the beam in the direction of the transverse axis as a linear function of time, and second drive means operatively coupled with the optical means for simultaneously cyclically deflecting the beam in the direction of the longitudinal axis as a sinusoidal function of time to produce a trace segment having a substantially sinusoidal waveform of uniform wavelength in the reading field for a cycle of deflection in the direction of the transverse axis, said deflection means including phase displacing means for displacing successive trace segments in the direction of the transverse axis by a controlled amount, whereby the trace segments produce a polyphase scan pattern on said window.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a code reader for encoded packages bearing bar code symbols and passing across a scanning window, the code symbols having a rectangular code field, a scanner adapted to scan a reading field adjacent the window and having a transverse axis across which the code symbols are moved and having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the transverse axis, said scanner comprising means for producing a light beam, deflection means, including optical means in the path of the light beam, first drive means operatively coupled with the optical means for cyclically deflecting the beam in the direction of the transverse axis as a linear function of time, and second drive means operatively coupled with the optical means for simultaneously cyclically deflecting the beam in the direction of the longitudinal axis as a sinusoidal function of time to produce a trace segment having a substantially sinusoidal waveform of uniform wavelength in the reading field for a cycle of deflection in the direction of the transverse axis, said deflection means including phase displacing means for displacing successive trace segments in the direction of the transverse axis by a controlled amount, whereby the trace segments produce a polyphase scan pattern on said window.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said optical means includes first and second mirror means in the path of the light beam, said first and second drive means being connected respectively with the first and second mirror means, the first mirror means producing a deflection of the light beam in the direction of the transverse axis, said second mirror means producing deflection of the light beam in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the cyclical frequency of the first mirror means is related to the cyclical frequency of the second mirror means so that the second mirror means executes at least one cycle during each cycle of the first mirror means whereby each trace segment comprises at least one full wavelength.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 including control means connected with the second drive means for producing a waveform having a peak-to-peak amplitude greater than the width of the largest code field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said deflection means includes control means for producing a waveform having a wavelength greater than twice the width of the largest code field.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said deflection means includes control means for providing a scan pattern which includes a waveform having a peak-to-peak amplitude greater than the width of the largest code field and a waveform having a wavelength greater than twice the width of the largest code field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said phase displacing means displaces each successive trace segment an amount substantially equal to the height of the code field.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said phase displacing means comprises synchronizing means connected with the drive means of the deflection means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said synchronizing means is operative to maintain the frequency of the first and second mirror means in a ratio equal to a number including a fraction whereby the trace segments are in the pattern of a polyphase waveform with the number of phases equal to the denominator of said fraction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said ratio is equal to an integer plus a fraction which cannot be reduced to yield a denominator less than the number of phases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said second drive means comprises an oscillatory motor having an oscillatable shaft, the second mirror means being mounted on said shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein said first drive means is a rotary motor having a rotatable shaft and the first mirror means is a rotatable multifaceted mirror on said rotatable shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said waveform has a mininum slope dependent upon the aspect ratio of the code field and a maximum slope dependent upon the desired range of speed of the light spot.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as defined in claim 13 wherein said reading field has a width greater than one wavelength and less than two wavelengths.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention as defined in claim 13 wherein the largest acute angle between the trace segment and the transverse axis is in the range of about 45° to about 60°.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said ratio is eleven-sixths.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said ratio is nine-fifths.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein said oscillatory motor is an electromechanical resonator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention as defined in claim 18 including synchronizing means connected between the rotatable motor and the resonator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as defined in claim 19 wherein said synchronizing means comprises an electrical oscillator which includes said resonator, an energizing circuit for the motor, and frequency changing means connected between said oscillator and the energizing circuit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as defined in claim 20 wherein said frequency changing means comprises frequency multiplying means and frequency dividing means.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
108 words
The method of scanning a reading field to intercept the code elements of bar code symbols moving through the reading field in a randon orientation, the method comprising the steps of: repeatedly scanning the reading field from one side to the other with a light spot travelling in a sinusoidal path of uniform wavelength to produce a trace waveform having a peak-to-peak amplitude greater than the width of the largest code field, and shifting each successive trace waveform relative to said reading field in one direction along the axis of the waveform, the amount of said shifting being a fraction of a wavelength to produce a polyphase pattern.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
108 words
The method of scanning a reading field to intercept the code elements of bar code symbols moving through the reading field in a randon orientation, the method comprising the steps of: repeatedly scanning the reading field from one side to the other with a light spot travelling in a sinusoidal path of uniform wavelength to produce a trace waveform having a peak-to-peak amplitude greater than the width of the largest code field, and shifting each successive trace waveform relative to said reading field in one direction along the axis of the waveform, the amount of said shifting being a fraction of a wavelength to produce a polyphase pattern.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as defined in claim 22 wherein the amount of said shifting is substantially equal to the height of the smallest code field.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as defined in claim 23 wherein the amplitude of the waveform is such that the largest angle between the trace segment and the waveform axis is in the range of about 45° to about 60°.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as defined in claim 23 wherein said reading field has a width greater than one wavelength and less than two wavelengths.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as defined in claim 22 wherein the greatest angle between the trace segment and the waveform axis has a value of about 56°.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention as defined in claim 22 wherein the amount of said shifting is one-sixth of a wavelength.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention as defined in claim 22 wherein the amount of said shifting is one-fifth of a wavelength.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention as defined in claim 22 including the additional step of periodically modifying said scanning to cause the light spot to travel in a path to produce a recurrent waveform having a wavelength greater than twice the width of the largest code field.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as defined in claim 22 including the addition step of periodically modifying said scanning to cause the light spot to travel in an undulatory path in which the maximum slope angle is substantially less than 45°.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention as defined in claim 29 wherein said recurrent waveform is a substantially straight line.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as defined in claim 30 wherein the amount of said shifting is less than the height of the smallest code field.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as defined in claim 32 wherein the amplitude of the sinusoidal waveform is such that the largest angle between the trace segment and the transverse axis is in the range of about 45° to about 60°.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention as defined in claim 33 wherein the amount of shifting is one-third of a wavelength.
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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) | 1980-02-22 | 1980-08-23 | 1981-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-02-22 | 1984-08-23 | 1985-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-02-22 | 1988-08-23 | 1989-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |