US5883373A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Object-sensing workstation with adjustable scanning head
Assignee: Symbol Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1997-02-03
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Granted: 1999-03-16
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Expires: 2017-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A workstation has a base supportable on a support surface at a point-of-transaction site. A scanning head having a field of view is adjustably positioned on and above the base with multiple freedoms of movement to fix the field of view relative to the support surface. The presence of an object to be processed in the field of view is automatically sensed, whereupon identification indicia on the object is automatically electro-optically scanned and read.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome Swartz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/343; G06K; G06K17/00; G06K17/0022; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10554; G06K7/10594; G06K7/10603; G06K7/10633; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; G06K7/10871; G06K7/10881; G06K7/109; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06Q10/087; G06Q10/0877; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036; G07G1/0045; G07G1/0081; G06K2207/00; G06K2207/1016
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
An arrangement for processing objects at a point-of-transaction site, comprising: a) a workstation having a support; b) a terminal having an updatable database in which object identity information and attribute data corresponding to attributes of each object are stored and updated, said terminal also having a keyboard for enabling a user to manually enter information, and a display for displaying information; c) a scanning head for electro-optically scanning and reading identification indicia on each object, and for interrogating the terminal to retrieve the attribute data; d) means for selectively positioning the head relative to each object to be processed between a hand-held mode in which the user holds the head, and a hands-free mode in which the support holds the head; e) a transmitter for transmitting the retrieved attribute data to the point-of-transaction site to visually display the retrieved attribute data on the display prior to completion of a transaction involving the objects; f) means at the point-of-transaction site for completing the transaction; and g) a printer incorporated in said scanning head for printing transaction data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
An arrangement for processing objects at a point-of-transaction site, comprising: a) a workstation having a support; b) a terminal having an updatable database in which object identity information and attribute data corresponding to attributes of each object are stored and updated, said terminal also having a keyboard for enabling a user to manually enter information, and a display for displaying information; c) a scanning head for electro-optically scanning and reading identification indicia on each object, and for interrogating the terminal to retrieve the attribute data; d) means for selectively positioning the head relative to each object to be processed between a hand-held mode in which the user holds the head, and a hands-free mode in which the support holds the head; e) a transmitter for transmitting the retrieved attribute data to the point-of-transaction site to visually display the retrieved attribute data on the display prior to completion of a transaction involving the objects; f) means at the point-of-transaction site for completing the transaction; and g) a printer incorporated in said scanning head for printing transaction data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means includes an elongated, bendable arm having one end connected to the support, and an opposite end connected to the head in the hands-free mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the arm is constituted of a material capable of being repeatedly, manually bent to a selected orientation, and of staying in said selected orientation when so bent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the arm is constituted of a gooseneck-type, semi-rigid, metal material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The arrangement according to claim 1, and further comprising means for generating an inhibiting signal after the scanning head has read the indicia on the object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the scanning head includes means within the head for directing a scanning beam toward the indicia for reflection therefrom, means for detecting light reflected off the indicia to generate a signal corresponding to the indicia, and means for processing the signal to generate data indicative of the indicia.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the directing means includes a laser source for generating a laser beam, and optical means for focusing the laser beam at a focal plane exteriorly of the head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is connected by an electrical cable to the support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The arrangement according to claim 1, and further comprising means for automatically sensing the presence of an object to be processed over a field of view in the hands-free mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the sensing means includes an infrared beam sensor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the sensing means includes means for emitting an infrared light beam, and means for determining an interruption in the infrared beam by the object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means includes an elongated, bendable arm having one end connected to the head, and an opposite end connected to the terminal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the support is a stand extending upwardly from a support surface, said stand having a holder for supporting the head in the hands-free mode.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of processing objects at a point-of-transaction site, comprising the steps of: a) providing a workstation with a support; b) storing object identity information and attribute data corresponding to attributes of each object in an updatable database of a terminal, and updating the stored information and data; c) electro-optically scanning and reading identification indicia on each object with a scanning head, and interrogating the terminal to retrieve the attribute data; d) selectively positioning the head relative to each object to be processed between a hand-held mode in which a user holds the head, and a hands-free mode in which the support holds the head; e) enabling the user to manually enter information at the terminal; f) displaying information at the terminal g) transmitting the retrieved attribute data to the point-of-transaction site to visually display the retrieved attribute data prior to completion of a transaction involving the objects; h) completing the transaction at the point-of-transaction site; and i) incorporating a printer in said scanning head for printing transaction data.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of processing objects at a point-of-transaction site, comprising the steps of: a) providing a workstation with a support; b) storing object identity information and attribute data corresponding to attributes of each object in an updatable database of a terminal, and updating the stored information and data; c) electro-optically scanning and reading identification indicia on each object with a scanning head, and interrogating the terminal to retrieve the attribute data; d) selectively positioning the head relative to each object to be processed between a hand-held mode in which a user holds the head, and a hands-free mode in which the support holds the head; e) enabling the user to manually enter information at the terminal; f) displaying information at the terminal g) transmitting the retrieved attribute data to the point-of-transaction site to visually display the retrieved attribute data prior to completion of a transaction involving the objects; h) completing the transaction at the point-of-transaction site; and i) incorporating a printer in said scanning head for printing transaction data.
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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) | 2002-03-15 | 2002-09-14 | 2003-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-15 | 2006-09-14 | 2007-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-15 | 2010-09-14 | 2011-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |