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Automatic laser bar code symbol reading system and method of reading bar code symbols using same    
United States Patent5525789   
Link to this pagehttp://www.wikipatents.com/5525789.html
Inventor(s)Rockstein; George (Audubon, NJ); Wilz, Sr.; David (Sewell, NJ); Blake; Robert (Woodbury Hts, NJ); Knowles; C. Harry (Moorestown, NJ)
AbstractMethod and apparatus for automatically reading bar code symbols is disclosed. One aspect of the present invention concerns a method of reading bar code symbols using an automatic hand-holdable bar code symbol reading device. In general, the automatic bar code symbol reading device comprises a hand-holdable housing containing operative elements which provide an object detection field and a scan field each defined external to the housing. The method involves automatically detecting the presence of an object within the object detection field by sensing object sensing energy reflected off the object. In a preferred embodiment, the object sensing energy is IR radiation produced from an object sensing energy source disposed within the housing. In automatic response to the detection of the object within the object detection field, the hand-holdable device detects the presence of a bar code within the scan field using a laser beam produced within the housing. Then, in automatic response to the detection of a bar code in the scan field, the automatic hand-holdable bar code symbol reading device reads the detected bar code in the scan field by producing scan data signals from the detected bar code and thereafter collecting and analyzing the same. Another aspect of the present invention concerns a hand-holdable data collection device adapted for use with the automatic bar code symbol reading device to form a portable symbol reading system characterized by versatility and simplicity of use.



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Drawing from US Patent 5525789
Automatic laser bar code symbol reading system and method of reading bar

     code symbols using same - US Patent 5525789 Drawing
Automatic laser bar code symbol reading system and method of reading bar code symbols using same
Inventor     Rockstein; George (Audubon, NJ); Wilz, Sr.; David (Sewell, NJ); Blake; Robert (Woodbury Hts, NJ); Knowles; C. Harry (Moorestown, NJ)
Owner/Assignee     Metrologic Instruments, Inc. (Blackwood, NJ)
Patent assignment
All assignments
Publication Date     June 11, 1996
Application Number     08/293,493
PAIR File History     Application Data   Transaction History
Image File Wrapper   Patent Term   Fees
Litigation
Filing Date     August 19, 1994
US Classification     235/462.22 235/462.35 235/462.45
Int'l Classification     G06K 007/10
Examiner     Hajec; Donald T.
Assistant Examiner     Minh; Le Thien
Attorney/Law Firm     Hopgood, Calimafde, Kalil & Judlowe
Address
Parent Case     This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 07/761,123 entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY READING BAR CODE SYMBOLS" filed Jan. 17, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,971; which is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 07/583,421 filed Sep. 17, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,553.
Priority Data    
USPTO Field of Search     235/467 235/472 235/454 235/455 235/470 235/469 235/462 255/555 359/890 359/887 359/885
Patent Tags     automatic laser bar code symbol reading reading bar code symbols
   
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 References Submit all comments and votes
 
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 U.S. References
 
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5420411
Salatto, Jr.
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Rockstein
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 Technical Review Submit all comments and votes
 Claims Submit all comments and votes
 


We claim:

1. An automatic bar code symbol reading system, comprising:

a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture through which visible light can exit and enter into said hand-supportable housing;

object detection means in said hand-supportable housing, for detecting an object located in a scan field defined external to said hand-supportable housing, and automatically generating an activation signal in response to the detection of said object located in said scan field;

activatable scan data producing means in said hand-supportable housing, for producing scan data from a detected object located in said scan field, said scan data producing means including,

laser beam generating means for generating a visible laser beam,

means for directing said visible laser beam through said light transmission aperture and into said scan field,

laser beam scanning means for repeatedly scanning said visible laser beam across said scan field and a bar code symbol on said detected object,

laser light detecting means for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off said bar code symbol and passing through said light transmission aperture as said visible laser beam is repeatedly scanned across said scan field and said bar code symbol on said detected object, and

means for automatically producing scan data indicative of said detected intensity;

activatable scan data processing means for processing produced scan data so as to detect and decode said bar code symbol on said detected object, and automatically producing symbol character data representative of said decoded bar code symbol; and

control means for controlling the operation of said automatic bar code symbol reading system, said control means including

means for automatically activating said activatable scan data producing means and said activatable scan data processing means for up to a predetermined time period in response to the generation of said activation signal, and

means for automatically deactivating said activatable scan data producing means and said activatable scan data processing means in response to the failure of said scan data processing means to detect and decode said bar code symbol on said detected object within said predetermined time period.

2. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein said laser beam generating means comprises a laser diode.

3. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein said bar code symbol has first and second envelope borders, and wherein said scan data processing means comprises means for detecting the first and second envelope borders of said bar code symbol, and means for decoding said detected bar code symbol.

4. The automatic bar code symbol reading system, of claim 1, wherein said object detection means comprises means for receiving energy reflected from an object within an object detection field defined external to said housing and having an essentially volumetric extent, and

wherein said scan field is characterized by at least one scanning plane having an essentially planar extent, and

wherein said object detection field spatially encompasses at least a portion of said scan field.

5. The automatic bar code symbol readi