Optical scanner for bar code scanning

Claim 1

An optical scanner for scanning bar code data comprising: a) a source of a beam of radiation; b) optical means for deflecting the beam of radiation along an axis normal to the beam; c) an electronic shutter element, optically coupled with the optical means, said shutter element defining a plurality of adjacent regions, each region independently capable of assuming a substantially transparent state; d) digital logic, coupled to said shutter element, for causing said adjacent regions of said electronic shutter to assume said substantially transparent state, in a sequential, directional manner along said axis to affect directional transmission of less than all of the deflected beam onto the target; e) a detector for detecting the presence of radiation reflected from the target; f) second optical means, optically coupled to the detector, for converting the radiation reflected from the target to a beam and for focusing the beam on the detector; and g) a baffle optically isolating the detector from the source, said baffle further optically partitioning each of said plurality of regions of the electronic shutter element into an emission subregion and a detection subregion to affect simultaneous transmission through one of said regions the deflected beam toward the target and said reflected radiation toward said detector.

Claim 5

An apparatus for scanning bar code data records on a target, the apparatus comprising: a) a source emitting a substantially circular beam of radiation; b) beam expander optics, optically coupled to the source, for expanding the diameter of the circular beam; c) a cylindrical lens, optically coupled with said beam expander optics, for deflecting the expanded beam along an axis normal to the expanded beam; d) an electronic shutter element, optically coupled to the cylindrical lens, said shutter element defining a plurality of adjacent regions, each region independently capable of assuming a substantially transparent state; e) a digital processor, coupled to said electronic shutter, for causing said adjacent regions of the electronic shutter to assume said substantially transparent state in a sequential, directional manner along said axis, to affect directional transmission of less than all of the deflected beam onto the target; f) bending optics, optically coupled with said electronic shutter, for focusing less than all the deflected beam onto the target; g) filter optics responsive to radiation reflected from the target; h) a detector responsive to the presence of radiation reflected from the target and for converting radiation detected into electrical signals; i) decode logic, responsive to said detector, for processing said converted electrical signals; j) means, optically coupled with said filter optics, for converting the radiation received by the filter optics to a beam, and for focusing the beam onto the detector; and k) a baffle optically isolating the detector from the source, said baffle further optically partitioning each of said plurality of regions of the electronic shutter element into an emission subregion and a detection subregion to affect simultaneous transmission through one of said regions the deflected beam toward the target and said reflected radiation toward said detector.

Claim 6

An apparatus for scanning bar code data records on a target, the apparatus comprising: a) a source emitting a substantially circular beam of radiation; b) beam expander optics, optically coupled to the source, for expanding the diameter of the circular beam; c) a cylindrical lens, optically coupled with said beam expander optics, for deflecting the expanded beam along an axis normal to the expanded beam; d) an electronic shutter element, optically coupled to the cylindrical lens, said shutter element defining a plurality of adjacent regions, each region independently capable of assuming a substantially transparent state; e) a digital processor, coupled to said electronic shutter, for causing said adjacent regions of the electronic shutter to assume said substantially transparent state in a sequential, directional manner along said axis, to affect directional transmission of less than all of the deflected beam onto the target; f) bending optics, optically coupled with said electronic shutter, for focusing less than all the deflected beam onto the target; g) filter optics responsive to radiation reflected from the target; h) a detector responsive to the presence of radiation reflected from the target and for converting radiation detected into electrical signals; i) decode logic, responsive to said detector, for processing said converted electrical signals; j) means, optically coupled with said filter optics, for converting the radiation received by the filter optics to a beam, and for focusing the beam onto the detector; and k) a baffle optically isolating the detector from the source, said baffle further optically partitioning each of said plurality of regions of the electronic shutter element into an emission subregion and a detection subregion to affect simultaneous transmission through one of said regions the deflected beam toward the target and said reflected radiation toward said detector.