US4962980A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser scanner engine with folded beam path
Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1989-01-23
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Granted: 1990-10-16
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Expires: 2009-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A scanner module for use in a laser scanning system. The module is self contained within a housing having a window, and comprises a source of laser light, a mechanism for sweeping the laser beam within the housing to produce a scan pattern comprising at least one line, a reflective beam folding system for projecting the pattern out of the window and onto an object, such as a bar code, and a system for receiving light reflected off the object to convert the reflectd light into an electrical signal indicative thereof. The beam sweeping mechanism comprises an oscillating reflective member. The reflective beam folding system comprises at least two mirrors disposed generally opposite each other to receive the beam of light from the beam sweeping mechanism and to fold its path by reflecting it back and forth within the housing. The module may be connected to a handle or some other member, e.g., a data terminal, including a control system for actuating the module and for decoding the electrical signal provided by the module.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl H. Knowles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; G06K7/10871; G06K7/10554; G06K7/10594; G06K7/10683; G06K7/10693; G06K7/10881; G06K7/1098
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
A module for use in a scanning system, said module comprising a housing comprising a front end and a rear end, said front end having a window therein, first means for sweeping a laser beam from a predetermined point within said housing through a predetermined angle to produce a swept beam scan pattern comprising at least one line, and second means for projecting said pattern out of said window, the length of said line at said window being predetermined, said swept bean forming a path through said housing, said second means being located between said first means and said window and comprising beam folding means, said beam folding means comprising first and second reflecting means, one of said reflecting means being located within said housing adjacent said window and the other of said reflecting means being located within said housing adjacent said rear end and disposed generally opposite to said first reflecting means, said first means directing said swept beam to said first reflecting means, said first reflecting means directing said swept beam to said second reflecting means, said second reflecting means directing said swept beam to said window, whereupon said beam folding means folds the path of said swept beam within said housing so that said predetermined point may be located closer to said window that if said swept beam was projected linearly through said predetermined angle from a point to said window to produce a scan line of said predetermined length at said window, thereby enabling said housing to be very compact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
254 words
A module for use in a scanning system, said module comprising a housing comprising a front end and a rear end, said front end having a window therein, first means for sweeping a laser beam from a predetermined point within said housing through a predetermined angle to produce a swept beam scan pattern comprising at least one line, and second means for projecting said pattern out of said window, the length of said line at said window being predetermined, said swept bean forming a path through said housing, said second means being located between said first means and said window and comprising beam folding means, said beam folding means comprising first and second reflecting means, one of said reflecting means being located within said housing adjacent said window and the other of said reflecting means being located within said housing adjacent said rear end and disposed generally opposite to said first reflecting means, said first means directing said swept beam to said first reflecting means, said first reflecting means directing said swept beam to said second reflecting means, said second reflecting means directing said swept beam to said window, whereupon said beam folding means folds the path of said swept beam within said housing so that said predetermined point may be located closer to said window that if said swept beam was projected linearly through said predetermined angle from a point to said window to produce a scan line of said predetermined length at said window, thereby enabling said housing to be very compact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The module of claim 1 wherein said first and second reflecting means each comprises a fixed mirror, one of said mirrors being mounted within said housing adjacent said front end and the other of said mirrors being mounted within said housing adjacent said rear end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module of claim 2 wherein said first means comprises a reflective member being arranged for reciprocating oscillation about an axis through said predetermined angle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The module of claim 3 wherein said angle is approximately 14 degrees.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module of claim 4 wherein the distance between said front end and said rear end of said housing is approximately 1.5 inches (3.9 cm).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module of claim 2 wherein the distance between said front end and said rear end of said housing is approximately 1.5 inches (3.9 cm).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The module of claim 2 wherein each of said mirrors is generally planar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The module of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a front end, a rear end, and a top, said top having said window therein, said first and second reflecting means each comprising a fixed mirror, one of said mirrors being mounted within said housing adjacent said front end and the other of said mirrors being mounted within said housing adjacent said rear end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module of claim 8 wherein said first means comprises a reflective member being arranged for reciprocating oscillation about an axis through said predetermined angle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The module of claim 9 wherein said angle is approximately 14 degrees.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module of claim 10 wherein the distance between said front end and said rear end of said housing is approximately 1.5 inches (3.9 cm).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module of claim 8 wherein the distance between said front end and said rear end of said housing is approximately 1.5 inches (3.9 cm).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module of claim 8 wherein said first means comprises a reflective member being arranged for reciprocating oscillation about an axis through said predetermined angle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The module of claim 13 wherein said angle is approximately 14 degrees.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module of claim 13 wherein the distance between said front end and said rear end of said housing is approximately 1.5 inches (3.9 cm).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module of claim 8 wherein the distance between said front end and said rear end of said housing is approximately 1.5 inches (3.9 cm).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The module of claim 4 wherein each of said mirrors is generally planar.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module of claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a reflective member being arranged for reciprocating oscillation about an axis through said predetermined angle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The module of claim 18 wherein said angle is approximately 14 degrees.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
70 words
The module of claim 1 wherein one of said reflecting means being located at a higher elevation within said housing than the other of said reflecting means, with the higher one of said reflecting means being oriented at a slight downward angle and with the lower of said reflecting means being oriented at a slight upward angle, whereupon said beam exits said window generally horizontally with respect to said housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The module of claim 20 wherein said first means is located within said housing at approximately the same elevation as the lower of said reflecting means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module of claim 19 wherein said first means comprises a reflective member arranged for reciprocating oscillation about a vertical axis through said predetermined angle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The module of claim 22 wherein said angle is approximately 14 degrees.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The module of claim 23 wherein the distance between said front end and said rear end of said housing is approximately 1.5 inches (3.9 cm) and wherein the height of said housing is approximately 0.75 inch (1.9 cm).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
89 words
The module of claim 20 wherein said module additionally comprises light collection means for collecting light reflected back into said window from an object being scanned by said scan pattern, said light collecting means comprising light sensing means and convergent optic means, said convergent optic means being located within said housing at approximately the same elevation as said first means, said reflected light entering said window and reflecting off of said light folding means, said first means and said light collecting means for receipt by said light sensing means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
61 words
The module of claim 25 wherein housing comprises a front end and a rear end, said front end having said window therein, said first and second reflecting means each comprising a fixed mirror, one of said mirrors being mounted within said housing adjacent said front end and the other of said mirrors being mounted within said housing adjacent said rear end.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The module of claim 26 wherein said first means is located within said housing at approximately the same elevation as the lower of said reflecting means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module of claim 27 wherein said first means comprises a reflective member arranged for reciprocating oscillation about a vertical axis through said predetermined angle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The module of claim 28 therein said angle is approximately 14 degrees.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
The module of claim 29 wherein the distance between said front end and said rear end of said housing is approximately 1.5 inches (3.9 cm) and wherein the height of said housing is approximately 0.75 inch (1.9 cm).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The module of claim 26 wherein each of said mirrors is generally planar.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The module of claim 25 wherein said convergent optic means comprises a concave mirror.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
70 words
The module of claim 1 wherein one of said reflecting means being located at a higher elevation within said housing than the other of said reflecting means, with the higher one of said reflecting means being oriented at a substantial upward angle and with the lower of said reflecting means being oriented at a slight upward angle, whereupon said beam exits said window generally vertically with respect to said housing.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
The module of claim 33 wherein said first means is located within said housing at approximately the same elevation as the lower of said reflecting means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module of claim 33 wherein said first means comprises a reflective member arranged for reciprocating oscillation about a vertical axis through said predetermined angle.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
The module of claim 35 wherein said angle is approximately 14 degrees.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
38 words
The module of claim 36 wherein the distance between said front end and said rear end of said housing is approximately 1.5 inches (3.9 cm) and wherein the height of said housing is approximately 0.75 inch (1.9 cm).
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
89 words
The module of claim 33 wherein said module additionally comprises light collection means for collecting light reflected back into said window from an object being scanned by said scan pattern, said light collecting means comprising light sensing means and convergent optic means, said convergent optic means being located within said housing at approximately the same elevation as said first means, said reflected light entering said window and reflecting off of said light folding means, said first means and said light collecting means for receipt by said light sensing means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
62 words
The module of claim 38 wherein housing comprises a front end, a rear end, and a top, said top having said window therein, said first and second reflecting means each comprising a fixed mirror, one of said mirrors being mounted within said housing adjacent said front end and the other of said mirrors being mounted within said housing adjacent said rear end.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The module of claim 39 wherein said first means is located within said housing at approximately the same elevation as the lower of said reflecting means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module of claim 40 wherein said first means comprises a reflective member arranged for reciprocating oscillation about a vertical axis through said predetermined angle.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
12 words
The module of claim 41 wherein said angle is approximately 14 degrees.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
38 words
The module of claim 42 wherein the distance between said front end and said rear end of said housing is approximately 1.5 inches (3.9 cm) and wherein the height of said housing is approximately 0.75 inch (1.9 cm).
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
The module of claim 39 wherein each of said mirrors is generally planar.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
14 words
The module of claim 38 wherein said convergent optic means comprises a concave mirror.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
88 words
The module of claim 1 wherein said module is adapted for use in a hand-held scanning system, and wherein said housing comprises a top wall, a front wall, and a rear wall, said window being located within said front wall closely adjacent said top wall and extending substantially the width of said housing, said second means directing said pattern out of said window closely adjacent the top of said window, whereupon said housing does not interfere with the aiming of said pattern onto an object to be scanned.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
The module of claim 46 wherein said housing is approximately 1.5 inches (3.9 cm) long, by 1.75 inches (4.44 cm) wide, by 0.75 inch (1.9 cm) high.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
16 words
The module of claim 1 wherein said module comprises a portion of a hand-held scanning system.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
70 words
The module of claim 48 wherein one of said reflecting means being located at a higher elevation within said housing than the other of said reflecting means, with the higher one of said reflecting means being oriented at a slight downward angle and with the lower of said ,reflecting means being oriented at a slight upward angle, whereupon said beam exits said window generally horizontally with respect to said housing.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
45 words
The module of claim 49 wherein said first and second reflecting means each comprise a fixed mirror, one of said mirrors being mounted within said housing adjacent said front end and the other of said mirrors being mounted within said housing adjacent said rear end.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
70 words
The module of claim 48 wherein one of said reflecting means being located at a higher elevation within said housing than the other of said reflecting means, with the higher one of said reflecting means being oriented at a substantial upward angle and with the lower of said reflecting means being oriented at a slight upward angle, whereupon said beam exits said window generally vertically with respect to said housing.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
56 words
The module of claim 51 wherein housing additionally comprises a top, said top having said window therein, said first and second reflecting means each comprising a fixed mirror, one of said mirrors being mounted within said housing adjacent said front end and the other of said mirrors being mounted within said housing adjacent said rear end.
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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) | 1993-10-15 | 1994-04-16 | 1994-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-15 | 1998-04-16 | 1998-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-15 | 2002-04-16 | 2002-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |