Instant portable bar code reader

Claim 2

In portable bar code reader system, (a) a hand-held bar code reader having an elongated hand grip portion for grasping in the hand of a user and having a reader head portion connected with said elongated hand grip portion, (b) said elongated hand grip portion having a length and cross sectional configuration so as to be grasped by the hand with the fingers in gripping relation thereto, (c) said hand-held bar code reader having a bar code sensing region, and having a window to be directed toward a bar code in said sensing region and providing for transmission of light between the bar code sensing region and the interior of the reader head portion, (d) a photodetector positioned within said reader head portion for sensing light reflected from a bar code located within said bar code sensing region, so as to generate a bar code signal representing the bar code, (e) said hand-held bar code reader having a reflected light path therein from the window to the photodetector, and having an optical system positioned in said reflected light path between said window and said photodetector for receiving light reflected from a bar code in said bar code sensing region during a bar code reading operation and for directing the reflected light onto said photodetector for sensing thereby while the reader head portion is substantially spaced from the bar code and free of any contact with the bar code carrier, and without requiring any movement of the hand-held bar code reader as a whole to effect a complete bar code reading operation, (f) a printed circuit board in said hand-held bar code reader having circuitry thereon connected with said photodetector for transmitting the successive bar code signals generated by said photodetector, and (g) said printed circuit board having said optical system mounted thereon, and having said photodetector secured therewith, so that the printed circuit board, optical system and photodetector comprise a unitary mounting framework for mounting in the bar code reader.

Claim 3

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 1, said photodetector having pins directly extending into holes of said printed circuit board.

Claim 4

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 1, said reader head portion having a light source supplying light via an outgoing light path to said sensing region.

Claim 5

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 3, said optical system defining a reflected light path of length between the window and the photodetector which substantially exceeds the direct distance between the window and the photodetector.

Claim 6

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 4, said optical system, said light source, and said photodetector all occupying a space within the reader head portion, said reader head portion having a width not substantially greater than a value of the order of three inches and a length not substantially greater than a value of the order of two and one quarter inches.

Claim 7

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 5, said elongated hand grip portion having width and height dimensions tapering from a maximum cross section to a substantially reduced cross section in a direction toward a rear end of the elongated hand grip portion.

Claim 8

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 1, said reader head portion having a light source supplying light via an outgoing light path to said sensing region, said hand-held bar code reader having portable battery power supply means for supplying energizing power to said light source, and said hand-held bar code reader, exclusive of said portable battery power supply means, having a weight not exceeding a value of the order of eight ounces.

Claim 9

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 6, said reader head portion having a top surface portion which extends at a substantial acute angle to the horizontal when the hand-held bar code reader is oriented in scanning relation to a bar code having a vertical disposition, so as to facilitate observation of a bar code as the hand-held bar code reader is placed in scanning relation to such a bar code by the user.

Claim 10

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 8, said optical system comprising a mirror in the reflected light path extending near the top of the space within the reader head portion and spaced rearwardly from the window for receiving reflected light transmitted through the window from a bar code and for directing such reflected light from a bar code downwardly and forwardly within said reader head portion.

Claim 11

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 9, said hand-held bar code reader having portable battery power supply means for supplying energizing power to said light source, and said hand-held bar code reader, exclusive of said portable battery power supply means, having a weight not exceeding a value of the order of eight ounces.

Claim 12

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 1, said reader head portion having a top surface portion which extends a substantial acute angle to the horizontal when the hand-held bar code reader is oriented in scanning relation to a bar code having a vertical disposition, so as to facilitate observation of a bar code as the hand-held bar code reader is placed in scanning relation to such a bar code by the user.

Claim 13

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 1, said hand-held bar code reader having portable battery power supply means for supplying energizing power to said reader, and said hand-held bar code reader, exclusive of said portable battery power supply means, having a weight not exceeding a value of the order of eight ounces.

Claim 14

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 1, said hand-held bar code reader being part of a completely portable bar code reader system which is completely portable without requiring any connecting wires to stationary equipment.

Claim 15

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 1, said optical system comprising a narrow optical aperture with a height parallel to the bars of a bar code of a value of the order of four millimeters.

Claim 16

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 1, said hand-held bar code reader being operative to collect light energy from a bar code sensing region defined by convergent marginal reflected light paths forming respective angles to a central light path of values in the range from about ten degrees to about twenty degrees.

Claim 17

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 1, said unitary mounting framework supporting a filter in the reflected light path between the window and the photodetector, serving to block wavelengths greater than a value of the order of seven hundred nanometers from reaching the photodetector.

Claim 18

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 1, said optical system defining a reflected light path of length between the window and the photodetector which substantially exceeds the direct distance between the window and the photodetector.

Claim 19

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 1, said reader head portion having a light source supplying light via an outgoing light path to said sensing region, said optical system, said light source, and said photodetector all occupying a space within the reader head portion, said reader head portion having a width not substantially greater than a value of the order of three inches and a length not substantially greater than a value of the order of two and one quarter inches.

Claim 20

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 1, said elongated hand grip portion having width and height dimensions tapering from a maximum cross section to a substantially reduced cross section in a direction toward a rear end of the elongated hand grip portion.

Claim 21

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 1, said reader head portion having a top surface portion which extends at a substantial acute angle to the horizontal when the hand-held bar code reader is oriented in scanning relation to a bar code having a vertical disposition, so as to facilitate observation of a bar code as the hand-held bar code reader is placed in scanning relation to such a bar code by the user.

Claim 22

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 1, said optical system comprising a mirror in the reflected light path extending near the top of the space within the reader head portion and spaced rearwardly from the window for receiving reflected light transmitted through the window from a bar code and for directing such reflected light from a bar code and for directing such reflected light from a bar code downwardly and forwardly within said reader head portion.

Claim 23

In a portable bar code reader system, (a) a hand-held bar code reader having an elongated hand grip portion for grasping in the hand of a user and having a reader head portion connected with said elongated hand grip portion, (b) said elongated hand grip portion having a length and cross sectional configuration so as to be grasped by the hand with the fingers in gripping relation thereto, (c) said hand-held bar code reader having a bar code sensing region, and having a window to be directed toward a bar code in said sensing region and providing for transmission of light between the bar code sensing region and the interior of the reader head portion, (d) a photodetector positioned within said reader head portion for sensing light reflected from a bar code located within said bar code sensing region, so as to generate a bar code signal representing the illuminated bar code, (e) said hand-held bar code reader having a reflected light path therein from the window to the photodetector, and having an optical system positioned in said reflected light path between said window and said photodetector for receiving light reflected from a bar code in said bar code sensing region during a bar code reading operation and for directing the reflected light onto said photodetector for sensing thereby while the reader head portion is substantially spaced from the bar code and free of any contact with the bar code carrier, and without requiring any movement of the hand-held bar code reader as a whole to effect a complete bar code reading operation, said optical system comprising a reflecting mirror aligned with said window and spaced a substantial distance from the window for receiving reflected light as it travels from the window, and for redirecting the reflected light generally toward a frontal end of the reader head portion, (f) a printed circuit board in said hand-held bar code reader having circuitry thereon connected with said photodetector for transmitting the successive bar code signals generated by said photodetector, and (g) said printed circuit board having said photodetector secured thereto, and having said optical system fastened thereto so that the reflecting mirror is positioned relative to the photodetector by virtue of their common association with the printed circuit board.

Claim 24

In a portable bar code reader system, (a) a hand-held bar code reader having an elongated hand grip portion for grasping in the hand of a user and having a reader head portion connected with said elongated hand grip portion, (b) said elongated hand grip portion having a length and cross sectional configuration so as to be grasped by the hand with the fingers in gripping relation thereto, (c) said hand-held bar code reader having a bar code sensing region, and having a window to be directed toward a bar code in said sensing region and providing for transmission of light between the bar code sensing region and the interior of the reader head portion, (d) a photodetector positioned within said reader head portion for sensing light reflected from a bar code located within said bar code sensing region, so as to generate a bar code signal representing the illuminated bar code, (e) said hand-held bar code reader having a reflected light path therein from the window to the photodetector, and having an optical system positioned in said reflected light path between said window and said photodetector for receiving light reflected from a bar code in said bar code sensing region during a bar code reading operation and for directing the reflected light onto said photodetector for sensing thereby while the reader head portion is substantially spaced from the bar code and free of any contact with the bar code carrier, and without requiring any movement of the hand-held bar code reader as a whole to effect a complete bar code reading operation, said optical system comprising a reflecting mirror aligned with said window and spaced a substantial distance from the window for receiving reflected light as it travels from the window, and for redirecting the reflected light generally toward a frontal end of the reader head portion, (f) a printed circuit board in said hand-held bar code reader having circuitry thereon connected with said photodetector for transmitting the successive bar code signals generated by said photodetector, and (g) said printed circuit board having said photodetector secured thereto, and having said optical system fastened thereto so that the reflecting mirror is positioned relative to the photodetector by virtue of their common association with the printed circuit board.

Claim 25

In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 22, said photodetector having pins directly extending into holes of said printed circuit board, and electrically connecting with said circuitry on said printed circuit board via said pins.

Claim 26

In a portable bar code reader system according to claim 22, said reader head portion having only one printed circuit board therein.

Claim 27

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 22, said optical system defining a reflected light path of length between the window and the photodetector which substantially exceeds the direct distance between the window and the photodetector.

Claim 28

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 22, a light source having associated circuit components on the printed circuit board and connected therewith, said optical system, said light source, and said photodetector all occupying a space within the reader head portion, said reader head portion having a width not substantially greater than a value of the order of three inches and a length not substantially greater than a value of the order of two and one quarter inches.

Claim 29

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 26, said reader head portion which contains the optical system, the light source and the photodetector having a maximum height dimension of not greater than about one inch.

Claim 30

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 27, said reader head portion having a configuration at its top side which is unobstructed so as to facilitate observation of a bar code over the top side of the reader head portion as the hand-held bar code reader is placed in scanning relation to such a bar code by the user.

Claim 31

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 28, said reflecting mirror in the reflected light path extending in an upper portion of the space within the reader head portion and spaced rearwardly from the window for receiving reflected light transmitted through the window from a bar code and for directing such reflected light from a bar code downwardly and forwardly within said reader head portion such that the reflected light path has a folded configuration.

Claim 32

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 29, said hand-held bar code reader having portable battery power supply means for supplying energizing power to said light source, and said hand-held bar code reader, exclusive of said portable battery power supply means, having a weight not exceeding a value of the order of eight ounces.

Claim 33

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 22, said hand-held bar code reader having portable battery power supply means for supplying energizing power to said reader, and said hand-held bar code reader, exclusive of said portable battery power supply means, having a weight not exceeding a value of the order of eight ounces.

Claim 34

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 31, said hand-held bar code reader being part of a completely portable bar code reader system which is completely portable without requiring any connecting wires to stationary equipment.

Claim 35

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 22, said reflecting mirror being operative to collect light energy from a bar code sensing region defined by convergent marginal reflected light rays forming respective angles to a central longitudinal reflected light ray of values in the range from about ten degrees to about twenty degrees.

Claim 36

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 22, said printed circuit board having a filter in the reflected light path between the window and the photodetector, serving to block wavelengths greater than a value of the order of seven hundred nanometers from reaching the photodetector, said filter being secured with said printed circuit board so as to be removable from the reader head portion as a unit therewith.

Claim 37

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 22, said reader head portion having a light source supplying light via an outgoing light path to said sensing region, means secured with said printed circuit board for limiting the effective cross section of one of the outgoing light path and the reflected light path, said means providing a narrow rectangular optical aperture with a longer axis aligned with the long axis of the bars of the bar code when the hand-held bar code reader is oriented in scanning relation to a bar code.

Claim 38

In a portable bar code reader according to claim 35, said means secured with said printed circuit board providing a narrow rectangular optical aperture with a height parallel to the bars of a bar code of a value of the order of four millimeters.