Mirrorless scanners with movable laser, optical and sensor components

Claims

We claim:

1. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading coded indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a light source component for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward coded indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system,

(C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the coded indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, and

(D) means for decoding the electrical signal into data identifying an object bearing the coded indicia,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting at least one of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement relative to another of the components; and

(b) drive means for repetitively reciprocatingly moving the mounting means and said at least one component to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view over the coded indicia to identify the object bearing the coded indicia.

2. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a light source component for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and

(C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting at least one of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement relative to another of the components; and

(b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the mounting means and said at least one component to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view, said drive means including a motor having an elongated shaft, and operative for reciprocatingly turning the shaft about an axis which extends along the elongation of the shaft in alternate circumferential directions over arc lengths less than 360.degree., said at least one component being mounted on the shaft for joint turning movement therewith about the axis. axis.

3. The arrangement as recited in claim 2, wherein the light source component is a semiconductor laser diode; and wherein the optical component includes a focusing lens and an aperture stop; and wherein the diode, the lens and the aperture stop are mounted on the shaft for joint turning movement therewith about the axis.

4. The arrangement as recited in claim 3, wherein the mounting means includes a support for holding the diode, the lens and the aperture stop at a spacing from a power supply, and tensile wires spanning said spacing between the power supply and the diode.

5. The arrangement as recited in claim 3, wherein the photodetector is stationary and has an elongated input; and further comprising a collection lens mounted on the shaft, and operative for collecting and directing the reflected light portion to and along the input of the photodetector.

6. The arrangement as recited in claim 4, wherein the tensile wires are connected to joints which are positioned in the immediate vicinity of the axis of the shaft.

7. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a light source component for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and

(C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting at least one, relative to another, of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement; and

(b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the mounting means and said at least one component to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view in a plane which is perpendicular to the optical path.

8. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a light source component including a semiconductor laser diode for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component including a focusing lens and an aperture stop for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and

(C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting at least one of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement; and

(b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the mounting means and said at least one component to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view in a plane which is perpendicular to the optical path, at least one of said diode, lens and aperture stop being movable in said plane.

9. The arrangement as recited in claim 8, wherein the mounting means includes a holder for holding the lens and the aperture stop, and wherein the diode is stationary, and wherein the drive means moves the lens and the aperture stop relative to the stationary diode.

10. The arrangement as recited in claim 9, wherein the holder includes a leaf spring on which the lens and the aperture stop are mounted.

11. The arrangement as recited in claim 10, wherein the drive means is an electromagnetic drive including a permanent magnet mounted on the holder and a drive coil.

12. The arrangement as recited in claim 8, wherein the mounting means includes a holder for holding the lens, and wherein the diode and the aperture stop are stationary, and wherein the drive means moves the lens relative to the stationary diode and the stationary aperture stop.

13. The arrangement as recited in claim 8, wherein the arrangement generates a single scan line for each movement of said at least one component; and further comprising means for generating a scan pattern comprised of multiple scan lines over the indicia.

14. The arrangement as recited in claim 8, wherein the mounting means includes wall means bounding the aperture stop, and wherein the diode and the lens are stationary, and wherein the drive means moves the aperture stop relative to the stationary diode and the stationary lens.

15. The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the mounting means, said at least one component and the drive means constitute a compact module for mounting in a housing of the system.

16. The arrangement as recited in claim 7, wherein the mounting means, said at least one component and the drive means constitute a compact module for mounting in a housing of the system.

17. The arrangement as recited in claim 15, wherein the compact module includes an electrical connector for detachably interconnecting the module to other system components.

18. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a light source component for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system,

(C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, and

(D) a hand-held head having an exit port through which at least one of said light beam and said field of view passes,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting at least one of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement relative to another of the components;

(b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the mounting means and said at least one component to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view;

(c) said mounting means, said at least one component and the drive means constituting a compact module for mounting in the hand-held of the system; and

(d) means for positioning the exit port to a desired side of the head.

19. The arrangement as recited in claim 18, wherein said positioning means includes a top wall on the head and a superstructure on the top wall, said superstructure having a window, and wherein the window is positionable to face the desired side of the head.

20. The arrangement as recited in claim 19, wherein said top wall is swivelable about an axis to a swiveled position, and wherein said positioning means includes means for locking the top wall in said swiveled position.

21. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a light source component for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and

(C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia along a return path, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting all of said components on a common boresight along which the optical and return paths are co-linear for repetitive, reciprocating movement; and

(b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the mounting means and said components to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view.

22. The arrangement as recited in claim 21, wherein the drive means includes a motor having an elongated shaft, and operative for reciprocatingly turning the shaft about an axis which extends along the elongation of the shaft in alternate circumferential directions over arc lengths less than 360.degree., and wherein all of said components are mounted on the shaft for joint turning movement about the axis.

23. The arrangement as recited in claim 22, and further comprising a collection lens mounted on the shaft, and operative for collecting and directing the reflected light portion to an input of the photodetector component.

24. The arrangement as recited in claim 23, and comprising tensile wires connected between the photodetector component and additional electrical circuitry.

25. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading bar code symbols, said system being of the type including:

(A) a laser diode for emitting a laser beam,

(B) a focusing lens and an aperture stop for optically modifying and directing the laser beam along an optical path toward the symbol located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and

(C) a photodetector having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of laser light of variable intensity reflected off the symbol, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected laser light intensity,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting the laser diode, the focusing lens and the aperture stop for repetitive, reciprocating movement; and

(b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the diode, lens and aperture stop together as a unit to scan at least one of said laser beam and said field of view.

26. The arrangement as recited in claim 25, wherein the photodetector is also mounted for joint movement with the diode, lens and aperture stop.

27. The arrangement as recited in claim 25, wherein the drive means turns the diode, lens and aperture stop in alternate circumferential directions about an axis.

28. The arrangement as recited in claim 25, wherein the drive means moves the diode, lens and aperture stop in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to an optical axis which extends along the optical path.

29. A scanner arrangement for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

(A) a movable light source for emitting a light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane lying generally normal to the optical path;

(B) stationary photodetector means having a field of view and being stationarily mounted in the arrangement, said photodetector means being operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity; and

(C) drive means, including an output shaft on which the light source is mounted, for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the light source relative to the photodetector means about an axis along which the shaft extends to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view.

30. A scanner arrangement for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

(A) a subassembly including

(a) a light source for emitting a light beam along an outgoing path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane lying generally normal to the optical path, and

(b) a photodetector having a field of view, and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia along a return path, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity;

(B) means mounting the light source and the photodetector on the subassembly such that the outgoing and return paths are co-linear along a common boresight axis; and

(C) drive means connected to the subassembly, for cyclically moving the subassembly so that said light source and said photodetector scan across said reference plane.

31. A scanner arrangement for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

(A) a light source for emitting a light beam along an optical path;

(B) a mirrorless optical component disposed in the optical path of said beam, for optically modifying and directing the light beam toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane lying generally normal to the optical path;

(C) actuator means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving said optical component along a displacement path relative to said light source so that said light beam is deflected as said optical compnent is repetitively and reciprocatingly moved to form a scanning beam; and

(D) photodetector means having a field of view, and operative for detecting at least a portion of said scanning beam reflected from the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity.

32. A scanner arrangement for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

(A) a light source for emitting a light beam along an optical path;

(B) a stationary first mirrorless optical component disposed in the optical path of said beam, for optically modifying the light beam to produce a modified beam;

(C) a movable second mirrorless optical component disposed in the optical path of said modified beam;

(D) activating means for moving said second component along a track relative to said first component so that as said second component is moved, said modified light beam is deflected and directed toward the indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane lying generally normal to the optical path; and

(E) photodetector means having a field of view, and operative for detecting at least a portion of the light reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity.

33. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a light source component for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward coded indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system,

(C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, and

(D) means for decoding the electrical signal into data identifying an object bearing the coded indicia,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting only one of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement relative to the other two components; and

(b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the mounting means and said only one component to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view over the coded indicia to identify the object bearing the coded indicia.

34. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a light source component for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and

(C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting only two of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement relative to the other component; and

(b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the mounting means and said only two components to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view.

35. A replaceable module for use in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said module comprising:

(A) a light source component for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system,

(C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity,

(D) means for mounting said light source, optical and photodetector components on a common support, and

(E) detachable connector means for electrically and detachably interconnecting said commonly supported light source, optical and photodetector components to other components of the light scanning system.

36. A scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a housing having an interior and an exit port,

(B) a light source component in the interior of the housing, and operative for emitting a light beam,

(C) an optical component in the interior of the housing, and operative for modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path through the exit port toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane located exteriorly of the housing,

(D) a photodetector component having a field of view and mounted in the interior of the housing, and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating a photodetector signal indicative of the detected light intensity, and

(E) a scanning component in the interior of the housing, and operative for scanning at least one of said light beam and said field of view,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) a semi-rigid, bendable, elongated conduit having one end connected to the housing, and an opposite end,

(b) said conduit being manually movable to orient the housing in a desired orientation and to concomitantly position the exit port relative to the indicia being read,

(c) said housing maintaining its desired orientation after being moved to said desired orientation,

(d) said conduit having an internal space in which electrical wiring is routed lengthwise of the conduit, for conveying and returning electrical signals to and from the housing.

37. The arrangement as recited in claim 36, and further comprising a base connected to said opposite end of the conduit, said housing being moved relative to said base.

38. A scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a housing having an interior and an exit port,

(B) a light source component in the interior of the housing, and operative for emitting a light beam,

(C) an optical component in the interior of the housing, and operative for modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path through the exit port toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane located exteriorly of the housing,

(D) a photodetector component having a field of view and mounted in the interior of the housing, and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating a photodetector signal indicative of the detected light intensity, and

(E) a scanning component in the interior of the housing, and operative for scanning at least one of said light beam and said field of view,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for positioning the exit port to a desired location on the housing, said positioning means including means connected to the exit port and mounted on the housing for movement relative to the housing.

39. The arrangement as recited in claim 38, wherein said positioning means includes a movable wall on the housing, said wall being rotatable about an axis between two end-limiting positions.

40. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a light source component for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system, and

(C) a stationary photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at a least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting only the light source component and the optical component for repetitive, reciprocating movement relative to said stationary photodetector component; and

(b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the mounting means the light source component and the optical component to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view.

41. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a light source component for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system,

(C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, and

(D) a hand-held head having manually actuatable trigger means operative for initiating reading of the indicia,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting at least one of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement relative to another of the components;

(b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the mounting means said at least one component to scan at least one of said light beam and aid field of view; and

(c) said mounting means, said at least one component and the drive means constituting a compact module for mounting in the hand-held head of the system.

42. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a light source component for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system,

(C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, and

(D) a desk-top workstation having an overhead head, a base, and a semi-rigid, bendable conduit between the head and the base, and orientable to position the head in a desired orientation relative to the base,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting at least one of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement relative to another of the components;

(b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the mounting means and said at least one component to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view; and

(c) said mounting means, said at least one component and the drive means constituting a compact module for mounting in the desk-top workstation of the system.

43. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a light source component for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system,

(C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, and

(D) a hand-held head having manually actuatable trigger means operative for initiating reading of the indicia,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting at least one of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement;

(b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the mounting means and said at least one component to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view in a plane which is perpendicular to the optical path; and

(c) said mounting means, said at least one component and the drive means constituting a compact module for mounting in the hand-held head of the system.

44. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a light source component for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system,

(C) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, and

(D) a desk-top workstation having an overhead head, a base, and a semi-rigid, bendable conduit between the head and the base, and orientable to position the head in a desired orientation relative to the base,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting at least one of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement;

(b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the mounting means and said at least component to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view in a plane which is perpendicular to the optical path; and

(c) said mounting means, said at least one component and the drive means constituting a compact module for mounting in the desk-top workstation of the system.

45. A mirrorless scanner arrangement in a light scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, said system being of the type including:

(A) a light source component for emitting a light beam,

(B) an optical component for optically modifying and directing the light beam along an optical path toward indicia located in the vicinity of a reference plane exteriorly of the system,

(c) a photodetector component having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity, and

(d) a hand-held head having an exit port through which at least one of said light beam and aid field of view passes,

said arrangement comprising:

(a) means for mounting at least one of the components for repetitive, reciprocating movement;

(b) drive means for repetitively, reciprocatingly moving the mounting means and said at least one component to scan at least one of said light beam and said field of view in a plane which is perpendicular to the optical path;

(c) said mounting means, said at least one component and the drive means constituting a compact module for mounting in the hand-held head of the system; and

(d) means for positioning the exit port to a desired side of the head.