Patent US5804809A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5804809A
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Optical system for scanning and reading bar codes which is adapted to be configured in a hand held unit
Assignee: PSC Inc USA
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Filing: 1995-08-07
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Granted: 1998-09-08
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Expires: 2015-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A unitary hand-held bar code scanner and reader produces an elliptical beam, oriented with its major axis along the direction of the bars, utilizing optics employing far field diffraction effects to shape the beam and maintain its elliptical aspect (length to width ratio) constant over a distance in front of the scanner were bar codes may be located. The optics eliminates parallax even though the photodetector and light source (preferably a laser diode) are located offset from each other on a board on which the optics are mounted. A housing assembly has channels which mount the board therein without shock absorbing devices. A digital microcomputer controller and peripheral devices regulate the optical power output from the laser diode and prevents catastrophic failure, if the electrical current through the laser diode exceeds safe limits. Digital control of the gain of the electronic circuits which provide the signals from which bar code information can be decoded and for the operation and control of a motor for oscillating a deflector which scans the beam across the code are also provided utilizing the microcomputer. The microcomputer also controls interface circuits to provide compatibility with auxiliary equipment and host computers which generate commands and requires data inputs of various polarity and format.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay M. Eastman
- 👤 Anna M. Quinn
- 👤 Scott R. Grodevant
- 👤 John A. Boles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10851; G06K7/10554; G06K7/10564; G06K7/10584; G06K7/10594; G06K7/10603; G06K7/10633; G06K7/10683; G06K7/10792; G06K7/10801; G06K7/10811; G06K7/10881; G06K2207/00; G06K2207/1012; G06K2207/1016; G06K2207/1018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A bar code scanner comprising: a motor; a source providing an optical beam; an optical element driven by said motor for scanning the beam across the code; a switch; a resistor operably connected to said switch to sense an amount of pressure applied to said switch; and a controller continuously varying a scan length of the beam in proportion to the amount of pressure applied to said switch, said controller producing first and second control signals for driving said motor, said first control signals being operative to provide a marker beam, and said second control signals being operative to provide a scanning beam of a desired scan length by continuously increasing the scan length of said beam in proportion to an increase in the amount of pressure applied to said switch so as to be sufficiently large to scan across said code, wherein the first control signals are produced by the controller in response to a first predetermined amount of pressure applied to said switch and said second control signals are produced by the controller in response to a second predetermined amount of pressure applied to said switch, said second predetermined amount being larger than said first predetermined amount.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A bar code scanner comprising: a motor; a source providing an optical beam; an optical element driven by said motor for scanning the beam across the code; a switch; a resistor operably connected to said switch to sense an amount of pressure applied to said switch; and a controller continuously varying a scan length of the beam in proportion to the amount of pressure applied to said switch, said controller producing first and second control signals for driving said motor, said first control signals being operative to provide a marker beam, and said second control signals being operative to provide a scanning beam of a desired scan length by continuously increasing the scan length of said beam in proportion to an increase in the amount of pressure applied to said switch so as to be sufficiently large to scan across said code, wherein the first control signals are produced by the controller in response to a first predetermined amount of pressure applied to said switch and said second control signals are produced by the controller in response to a second predetermined amount of pressure applied to said switch, said second predetermined amount being larger than said first predetermined amount.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The bar code scanner according to claim 1, wherein a voltage level across said resistor indicates the amount of pressure applied to said switch, said voltage level being inversely proportional to the amount of pressure applied to said switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The bar code scanner according to claim 2, wherein said controller produces said first and second control signals in accordance with said voltage level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The bar code scanner according to claim 1, wherein the resistor comprises a force sensing resistor including a pad of polymer material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
In an optical scanner, a method of producing a scanning beam of variable scan lengths, comprising the steps of: sensing an amount of pressure applied to a switch of said optical scanner; producing a voltage signal which is inversely proportional to the amount of pressure sensed; producing control signals in accordance with said voltage signal; and driving a motor/mirror assembly of said optical scanner to produce a scanning beam in accordance with said control signals, said control signals producing a marker scanning beam having a first scan length in response to a predetermined amount of pressure applied to said switch and a scanning beam of a desired scan length by continuously increasing the scan length of said marker scanning beam in proportion to an increase in the amount of pressure applied to said switch over the predetermined amount of pressure to provide a scanning beam having the desired scan length which is sufficiently large to scan across a code to be read.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
162 words
In an optical scanner, a method of producing a scanning beam of variable scan lengths, comprising the steps of: sensing an amount of pressure applied to a switch of said optical scanner; producing a voltage signal which is inversely proportional to the amount of pressure sensed; producing control signals in accordance with said voltage signal; and driving a motor/mirror assembly of said optical scanner to produce a scanning beam in accordance with said control signals, said control signals producing a marker scanning beam having a first scan length in response to a predetermined amount of pressure applied to said switch and a scanning beam of a desired scan length by continuously increasing the scan length of said marker scanning beam in proportion to an increase in the amount of pressure applied to said switch over the predetermined amount of pressure to provide a scanning beam having the desired scan length which is sufficiently large to scan across a code to be read.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of producing the control signals includes the step of producing first control signals in response to a first voltage level and second control signals in response to a second voltage level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of producing the control signals includes the step of producing said first and second control signals with reference to first and second tables stored in a memory unit of said optical scanner.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of driving the motor/mirror assembly includes the step of driving the motor/mirror assembly to produce the marker scanning beam having a higher light intensity than the scanning beam of the desired scan length.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of producing the control signals includes the step of producing current pulses and the step of driving the motor/mirror assembly includes the step of driving said motor/mirror assembly by said current pulses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of producing the current pulses includes the step of producing said current pulses with reference to first and second tables stored in a memory unit of said optical scanner.
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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) | 2001-09-07 | 2002-03-09 | 2002-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-07 | 2006-03-09 | 2006-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-07 | 2010-03-09 | 2010-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |