US4736095A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Narrow-bodied, single- and twin-windowed portable laser scanning head for reading bar code symbols
Assignee: Symbol Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1986-02-20
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Granted: 1988-04-05
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Expires: 2006-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A narrow-bodied, single- and twin-windowed, hand-held, laser scanning head for reading bar code symbols includes at least one window mounted at the rear region of the head, and through which either the incident beam going to the symbol and/or the reflected beam returning from the symbol, passes unobstructedly and exteriorly of, and past, the front and intermediate body regions of the head. A field-replaceable laser tube arrangement, a laser tube and method of making the same, an arrangement for and method of controlling a scanning system, optical passive elements for increasing the depth of field, a trigger protective device, and a one-piece support bench and method of fabricating the same by mass-production techniques are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard M. Shepard
- 👤 Edward D. Barkan
- 👤 Jerome Swartz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10881; G06K17/00; G06K17/0022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A field-replaceable laser tube arrangement for a laser scanning head of a laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols, said arrangment comprising: (a) a laser tube for emitting a laser beam; (b) optic means for directing the emitted laser beam towards the bar code symbol to be read; and (c) means for mounting the laser tube in a non-soldered relationship with the head and in an automatically optically-aligned relationship with the optic means to permit quick and easy tube replacement for field maintenance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A field-replaceable laser tube arrangement for a laser scanning head of a laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols, said arrangment comprising: (a) a laser tube for emitting a laser beam; (b) optic means for directing the emitted laser beam towards the bar code symbol to be read; and (c) means for mounting the laser tube in a non-soldered relationship with the head and in an automatically optically-aligned relationship with the optic means to permit quick and easy tube replacement for field maintenance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein the laser tube has an output end and a non-output end, and wherein the tube-mounting means includes a bore concentric with the output end for receiving the latter in optically-aligned relationship, and wherein the tube-mounting means includes an electrically conductive element in electromechanical non-soldered contact with the output end of the tube, and biasing means at the non-output end and in non-soldered contact therewith, for urging the output end of the tube into affirmative electromechanical contact with the electrically conductive element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a scanning system for reading bar code symbols of the type including actuatable components for directing an incident light beam towards a bar code symbol for reflection therefrom, for detecting the light intensity of the reflected light, and for processing the detected light intensity into data descriptive of the symbol, a scanning head comprising: (a) trigger means including a depressable element fixedly mounted on the head and electrically connected to the actuatable components, and a user-operated movable trigger element mounted on the head for movement relative to the depressable element along a trigger path for depressing the depressable element to actuate the components and initiate symbol reading; and (b) safety overload means associated with the movable trigger element, and operative for preventing the latter from depressing the depressable element with a force exceeding a predetermined safety limit so as to prevent damage to the depressable element in the event that the user moves the trigger element with a force exceeding the safety limit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a scanning system for reading bar code symbols of the type including actuatable components for directing an incident light beam towards a bar code symbol for reflection therefrom, for detecting the light intensity of the reflected light, and for processing the detected light intensity into data descriptive of the symbol, a scanning head comprising: (a) trigger means including a depressable element fixedly mounted on the head and electrically connected to the actuatable components, and a user-operated movable trigger element mounted on the head for movement relative to the depressable element along a trigger path for depressing the depressable element to actuate the components and initiate symbol reading; and (b) safety overload means associated with the movable trigger element, and operative for preventing the latter from depressing the depressable element with a force exceeding a predetermined safety limit so as to prevent damage to the depressable element in the event that the user moves the trigger element with a force exceeding the safety limit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
The head as defined in claim 3, wherein the trigger element includes a user-engaging portion and an actuating portion operatively connected to the latter for joint movement during one portion of the trigger path, and wherein the safety overload means includes means in the trigger element of causing the user-engaging portion to move relative to the actuating portion during another portion of the tirgger path when the user has moved the trigger element with a force exceeding the safety limit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a scanning head for reading bar code symbols of the type including light source means for generating an incident light beam, optical means for directing the incident beam towards a bar code symbol for reflection therefrom to generate reflected light, and scanning means for scanning the bar code symbol, a support structure comprising: a light-weight, one-piece plastic support bench for supporting the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means within the head, said bench being fabricated by mass-production techniques.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a scanning head for reading bar code symbols of the type including light source means for generating an incident light beam, optical means for directing the incident beam towards a bar code symbol for reflection therefrom to generate reflected light, and scanning means for scanning the bar code symbol, a support structure comprising: a light-weight, one-piece plastic support bench for supporting the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means within the head, said bench being fabricated by mass-production techniques.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The support structure as defined in claim 5, wherein the bench is constituted of a moldable plastic material.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of fabricating a support structure for supporting a light source means, an optic means and a scanning means within a scanning head for reading bar code symbols, said method comprising the steps of: forming a light-weight support bench of one-piece plastic construction by mass-production techniques.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of fabricating a support structure for supporting a light source means, an optic means and a scanning means within a scanning head for reading bar code symbols, said method comprising the steps of: forming a light-weight support bench of one-piece plastic construction by mass-production techniques.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as defined in claim 7, wherein said forming step is performed by molding the bench.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
114 words
A support structure for use in a scanning head of the type having a light source means for generating a light beam, optic means for directing the light beam toward an object to be scanned, and scanning means for scanning the object, said support structure comprising: a light-weight support for separately positionably supporting each one of the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means at predetermined optically-precise locations relative to one another in an operative optically-aligned assembly, said support being operative for separately re-positionably supporting each one of the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means at said optically-precise locations and in said optically-aligned assembly for field replacement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
A support structure for use in a scanning head of the type having a light source means for generating a light beam, optic means for directing the light beam toward an object to be scanned, and scanning means for scanning the object, said support structure comprising: a light-weight support for separately positionably supporting each one of the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means at predetermined optically-precise locations relative to one another in an operative optically-aligned assembly, said support being operative for separately re-positionably supporting each one of the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means at said optically-precise locations and in said optically-aligned assembly for field replacement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The support structure as defined in claim 9, wherein the light source means includes a gas laser tube for emitting a laser light beam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The support structure as defined in claim 9, wherein the light source means includes a semiconductor laser diode for emitting a laser light beam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The support structure as defined in claim 9; and further comprising shock mounts on the support for shock mounting the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means within the head.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-04-05 | 1991-10-05 | 1992-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-04-05 | 1995-10-05 | 1996-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-04-05 | 1999-10-05 | 2000-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |