US5250791A — Scanning system with adjustable light output and/…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 102 words

A system for reading bar code symbols or the like, comprising scanning means for generating a laser beam directed toward a target producing a narrow angled or spot laser beam that enables the user to manually aim and direct the beam to the location desired by the user and a wide angled laser beam that sweeps an entire symbol to be read, said narrow angled or spot laser beam and said wide angled laser beam being generated from a single laser, and detection means for receiving reflected light from such symbol to produce electrical signals corresponding to data represented by such symbol.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 102 words

A system for reading bar code symbols or the like, comprising scanning means for generating a laser beam directed toward a target producing a narrow angled or spot laser beam that enables the user to manually aim and direct the beam to the location desired by the user and a wide angled laser beam that sweeps an entire symbol to be read, said narrow angled or spot laser beam and said wide angled laser beam being generated from a single laser, and detection means for receiving reflected light from such symbol to produce electrical signals corresponding to data represented by such symbol.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

A system according to claim 1 wherein said scanning means includes a semiconductor laser light source as said single laser to produce said laser beam.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

A system according to claim 1 wherein said scanning means moves said laser beam on a first scan path to produce the narrow-angled or spot beam, and on a second scan path with a wide angled beam when reading the symbol.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

A system according to claim 3 wherein said second scan path is longer than said first scan path, and wherein said first and second scan paths are alternated by changing the scanning angle of said light beam.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 88 words

A method of scanning bar code symbol or the like in a laser scanner comprising the steps of: a) providing a fixed or spot laser light beam from a single laser for enabling the user to aim and direct the beam toward a bar code symbol to be read; b) scanning a laser light beam produced from said laser on a path along said symbol to read said symbol; and c) detecting light reflected from the symbol and generating an electrical signal in response to said reflected light.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 88 words

A method of scanning bar code symbol or the like in a laser scanner comprising the steps of: a) providing a fixed or spot laser light beam from a single laser for enabling the user to aim and direct the beam toward a bar code symbol to be read; b) scanning a laser light beam produced from said laser on a path along said symbol to read said symbol; and c) detecting light reflected from the symbol and generating an electrical signal in response to said reflected light.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of scanning includes changing the path of said spot laser beam to a wide angled path.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 5 further comprising the step of changing the intensity of said light beam.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of scanning further includes controlling the intensity of said light beam and the length of said path in response to the character of said electrical signal.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 115 words

A system for reading bar code symbols or like targets, comprising: (a) scanning means including a single laser for generating a laser beam and directing a first laser beam from said laser in an aiming mode toward a desired location on the target to illuminate a spot-like zone thereon, thereby enabling a user to manually aim and direct the laser beam to the target, and also for directing said laser beam from said laser in a reading mode in a linear path across the target for reflection therefrom; and (b) detection means for receiving laser light reflected off the target in the reading mode to produce electrical signals corresponding to data represented by the target.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 115 words

A system for reading bar code symbols or like targets, comprising: (a) scanning means including a single laser for generating a laser beam and directing a first laser beam from said laser in an aiming mode toward a desired location on the target to illuminate a spot-like zone thereon, thereby enabling a user to manually aim and direct the laser beam to the target, and also for directing said laser beam from said laser in a reading mode in a linear path across the target for reflection therefrom; and (b) detection means for receiving laser light reflected off the target in the reading mode to produce electrical signals corresponding to data represented by the target.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

A system according to claim 9, wherein the scanning means includes a semiconductor laser light as said laser to produce the laser beam.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 34 words

A system according to claim 9, wherein the scanning means moves the same laser beam along a first scan path in the aiming mode, and along a second scan path in the reading mode.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 42 words

A system according to claim 9, wherein the second scan path is longer than the first scan path; and wherein the scanning means includes means for alternating between the aiming and reading modes by changing the scanning direction of the laser beam.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 82 words

A method of scanning a bar code symbol or the like, comprising the steps of: a) directing a narrow light beam from a single light source toward said symbol to allow a user to aim the light beam toward said symbol; b) directing a wider scanned light beam from said single light source toward said symbol, the light beam being scanned on a path along said symbol; c) detecting light reflected from said symbol to provide an electrical representation of said symbol.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 82 words

A method of scanning a bar code symbol or the like, comprising the steps of: a) directing a narrow light beam from a single light source toward said symbol to allow a user to aim the light beam toward said symbol; b) directing a wider scanned light beam from said single light source toward said symbol, the light beam being scanned on a path along said symbol; c) detecting light reflected from said symbol to provide an electrical representation of said symbol.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method according to claim 13 wherein said light beams are formed by a laser beam.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method according to claim 14 wherein said narrow light beam and said wider light beam are scanned beams of narrow and wider angles from a single semiconductor laser.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 79 words

A bar code scanner comprising: a) a single light source for directing a narrow light beam toward a bar code symbol to allow a user to aim the light beam toward said symbol; b) a scanner for directing a wider scanned light beam from said light source toward said symbol, the light beam being scanned on a path along said symbol; c) a detector responsive to light reflected from said symbol to provide an electrical representation of said symbol.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 79 words

A bar code scanner comprising: a) a single light source for directing a narrow light beam toward a bar code symbol to allow a user to aim the light beam toward said symbol; b) a scanner for directing a wider scanned light beam from said light source toward said symbol, the light beam being scanned on a path along said symbol; c) a detector responsive to light reflected from said symbol to provide an electrical representation of said symbol.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 13 words

A scanner according to claim 16 wherein said light source is a laser.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 31 words

A scanner according to claim 16 wherein said narrow light beam and said wider light beam are from said light source and scanned by said scanner at narrow and wider angles.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 36 words

A system according to claim 1 wherein said scanning means changes from said narrow angled or spot laser beam to said wide angled laser beam in response to said electrical signals indicating a bar code symbol.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

A method according to claim 3 wherein said step of scanning is in response to said electrical signal indicating a bar code symbol.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 14 words

A method according to claim 3 wherein said laser is a semiconductor laser diode.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 34 words

A system according to claim 8 wherein said second laser beam is scanned across said target in said reading mode in response to said electrical signal indicating a bar code symbol at said target.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method according to claim 9 wherein said step of directing said wider scanned light beam is performed in response to said electrical signal indicating a bar code symbol.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

A scanner according to claim 16 wherein said scanner produces said wider scanned light beam in response to said electrical representation of said symbol.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 85 words

A system for reading bar code symbols or the like, comprising symbol detection means for generating a laser beam directed toward a symbol to be read on a target, and for receiving reflected light from such symbol to produce electrical signals corresponding to data represented by the symbol, wherein the improvement comprises means for changing the scanning angle of said light beam so as to change from a bright small line to a longer, but less visible, line on the target sweeping the entire symbol.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 85 words

A system for reading bar code symbols or the like, comprising symbol detection means for generating a laser beam directed toward a symbol to be read on a target, and for receiving reflected light from such symbol to produce electrical signals corresponding to data represented by the symbol, wherein the improvement comprises means for changing the scanning angle of said light beam so as to change from a bright small line to a longer, but less visible, line on the target sweeping the entire symbol.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-10-04	1997-04-05	1997-10-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-10-04	2001-04-05	2001-10-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-10-04	2005-04-05	2005-10-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Scanning system with adjustable light output and/or scanning angle

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