Abstract: Disclosed is a fully automatic bar code symbol reading system having an hand-supportable laser bar code reading device which can be used in either an automatic hands-on mode of operation, or in an automatic hands-free mode of operation. The system includes a scanner support frame for supporting the hand-supportable device in a user-selected mounting position, and permits complete gripping of its handle portion prior to its use in the hands-on mode of operation. In general, the hand-supportable bar code reading device has long-range and short-range modes of object detection, bar code presence detection and bar code symbol reading. In the illustrative embodiment, the long-range mode is automatically selected when the hand-supportable bar code reading device is placed within the scanner support stand during the automatic hands-free mode of operation.

Abstract: A code symbol reading device includes a portable housing that contains a source of optical energy. This optical energy is projected into a scan field external to the housing and is incident upon a code symbol situated on an object located within the scan field. Optical energy reflected off the code symbol is detected within the housing to produce scan data that is indicative of the detected optical energy. The scan data is processed to detect and decode the code symbol and to produce symbol character data that are representative of the decoded code symbol. A data packet utilizing the symbol character data is constructed and then used to modulate an electromagnetic carrier sign that is transmitted to a base unit. At the base unit, the carrier signal is demodulated and the data packet is recovered. The received data packet is processed to recover the symbol character data, and an acknowledgment signal is generated to acknowledge the receipt of the symbol character data at the base unit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically reading bar code symbols using a reading device containing a laser beam configured to provide a scan field. The method involves automatically detecting the presence of a bar code within the scan field by flickering the laser beam. In automatic response to the detection of a bar code, the automatic bar code symbol reading device generates a laser beam scanning pattern and reads the detected bar code by producing scan data signals from the detected bar code and thereafter collecting and analyzing these data signals. Further aspects of the present invention relate to hand-holdable data collection devices 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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically reading bar code symbols. One aspect of the present invention concerns a method of reading bar code symbols using an automatic hand-holdable bar code symbol reading device that includes a hand-holdable housing containing operative elements which provide an object detection field and a scan field each defined external to the housing. The the presence of an object is automatically detected within the object detection field by sensing object sensing energy reflected off the object. In response, the hand-holdable device automatically detects the presence of a bar code within the scan field using a laser. Then, in automatic response to the detection of a bar code, 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.

Abstract: An automatic scanner which can be used at a point-of-sale (POS) station. The scanner provides a confined scanning volume, so as to avoid unintentional scanning of nearby objects that are located outside of this confined scanning volume. This scanner can be operated in an automatic hands-on mode of operation, or also operated as a stationary laser projection scanner in an automatic hands-free mode of operation. A collimated scanning pattern is projected from the hand-supportable device about a projection axis. The collimated scanning pattern intersects the projection axis within a narrowly confined scanning volume so that bar code symbols disposed within this scanning volume can be read omnidirectionally.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for automatically reading bar code symbols. 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.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically reading bar code symbols using a reading device containing a laser beam configured to provide a scan field. The method involves automatically detecting the presence of a bar code within the scan field by flickering the laser beam. In automatic response to the detection of a bar code, the automatic bar code symbol reading device generates a laser beam scanning pattern and reads the detected bar code by producing scan data signals from the detected bar code and thereafter collecting and analyzing these data signals. Further aspects of the present invention relate to hand-holdable data collection devices 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.

Abstract: A code symbol reading device includes a portable housing that contains a light source. Light from the light source is projected into a scan field external to the housing and onto a code symbol on an object located within the scan field. The light reflected off the code symbol is detected within the housing to produce scan data that is indicative of the detected light intensity. The scan data is processed to detect and decode the code symbol and to produce symbol character data that are representative of the decoded code symbol. A data packet utilizing the symbol character data is synthesized and modulated onto a carrier signal that is transmitted to a base unit where the carrier signal is demodulated and the data packet recovered. The received data packet is analyzed to recover the symbol character data, and an acknowledgment signal is produced to acknowledge the receipt of the symbol character data at the base unit.

Abstract: An automatic bar code symbol reading system provides a hand-supportable laser bar code reading device which can be used in either an automatic hands-on mode of operation, or in an automatic hands-free mode of operation. The system includes a scanner support frame for supporting the hand-supportable device in a user-selected mounting position, and permits complete gripping of its handle portion for use in the hands-on mode of operation. In general, the hand-supportable bar code reading device has long-range and short-range modes of object detection, bar code presence detection and bar code symbol reading. Pursuant to one illustrative embodiment, the long-range mode is automatically selected when the hand-supportable bar code reading device is placed within the scanner support stand during the automatic hands-free mode of operation.

Abstract: A code symbol reading device includes a portable housing that contains a source of optical energy. This optical energy is projected into a scan field external to the housing and is incident upon a code symbol situated on an object located within the scan field. Optical energy reflected off the code symbol is detected within the housing to produce scan data that is indicative of the detected optical energy. The scan data is processed to detect and decode the code symbol and to produce symbol character data that are representative of the decoded code symbol. A data packet utilizing the symbol character data is constructed and then used to modulate an electromagnetic carrier sign that is transmitted to a base unit. At the base unit, the carrier signal is demodulated and the data packet is recovered. The received data packet is processed to recover the symbol character data, and an acknowledgment signal is generated to acknowledge the receipt of the symbol character data at the base unit.

Abstract: A code symbol reading device includes a portable housing that contains a source of optical energy. This optical energy is projected into a scan field external to the housing and is incident upon a code symbol situated on an object located within the scan field. Optical energy reflected off the code symbol is detected within the housing to produce scan data that is indicative of the detected optical energy. The scan data is processed to detect and decode the code symbol and to produce symbol character data that are representative of the decoded code symbol. A data packet utilizing the symbol character data is constructed and then used to modulate an electromagnetic carrier signal that is transmitted to a base unit. At the base unit, the carrier signal is demodulated and the data packet is recovered. The received data packet is processed to recover the symbol character data, and an acknowledgment signal is generated to acknowledge the receipt of the symbol character data at the base unit.

Abstract: A novel bar code scanner includes a mounting/conveying mechanism that is wearable on or mounted to the body of a user, and/or that is adapted for conveying the scanner from place to place. The bar code scanner also includes a housing, an aperture, an object detection mechanism, a scan data producing mechanism, an optical energy producing mechanism, an optical detector, a bar code symbol detection circuit, a programmed microprocessor, and system control circuitry. Optionally, the aforementioned components may be provided in the form of a two-piece system that includes a scanning engine coupled to a remote unit over a wired or wireless, or wired and wireless, communications link.

Abstract: An automatic bar code symbol reading system having an automatic laser scanning device which can be used at a point-of-sale (POS) station as either a portable hand-supported laser scanner when operated in its automatic hands-on mode of operation, or as a stationary laser projection scanner when operated in its automatic hands-free mode of operation. The bar code symbol reading system provides a collimated scanning pattern projected from the hand-supportable device about a projection axis. The collimated scanning pattern intersects the projection axis within a narrowly confined scanning volume so that bar code symbols disposed within this scanning volume can be read omnidirectionally, while inadvertent scanning of bar code symbols outside of the scanning volume is prevented.

Abstract: An automatic bar code symbol reading system provides a hand-supportable laser bar code reading device which can be used in either an automatic hands-on mode of operation, or in an automatic hands-free mode of operation. The system includes a scanner support frame for supporting the hand-supportable device in a user-selected mounting position, and permits complete gripping of its handle portion for use in the hands-on mode of operation. In general, the hand-supportable bar code reading device has long-range and short-range modes of object detection, bar code presence detection and bar code symbol reading. Pursuant to one illustrative embodiment, the long-range mode is automatically selected when the hand-supportable bar code reading device is placed within the scanner support stand during the automatic hands-free mode of operation.

Abstract: A novel system and method for programming one or more functional parameters of programmable bar code symbol readers and scanners, while avoiding the need to connect a data communication port of a computer system to a bar code symbol reader that is to be programmed. In a first illustrative embodiment, the function-encoded parameters of a master bar code symbol reader are determined using a computer-based-function-parameter device and subsequently buffered in memory buffer contained therein; the buffered function-encoded parameters are used to produce a list of function-encoded bar code symbols which are printed in a specified reading sequence; and the list of printed-function encoded bar code symbols are read in the specified reading sequence so as to configure the bar code symbol reader with the same set of function-encoded parameters that were programmed in the master bar code symbol reader.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fully automatic bar code symbol reading system having an hand-supportable laser bar code reading device which can be used in either an automatic hands-on mode of operation, or in an automatic hands-free mode of operation. The system includes a scanner support frame for supporting the hand-supportable device in a user-selected mounting position, and permits complete gripping of its handle portion prior to its use in the hands-on mode of operation. In general, the hand-supportable bar code reading device has long-range and short-range modes of object detection, bar code presence detection and bar code symbol reading. In the illustrative embodiment, the long-range mode is automatically selected when the hand-supportable bar code reading device is placed within the scanner support stand during the automatic hands-free mode of operation.

Abstract: A wireless hand-supportable Internet-enabled transaction-enabling terminal for enablign a user to information-related transaction. An HTML-encoded document, and code associated with a transaction-enabling Applet, are created and stored in an http information server for use in enabling the predetermined information-related transaction. The transaction-enabling Applet is encoded within a bar code symbol. When the Applet-encoded bar code symbol is read using the wireless hand-supportable Internet-enabled transaction-enabling terminal of the present invention, the corresponding code is automatically accessed from the HTTP server, the HTML-encoded document is displayed at the terminal, and the transaction-enabling Applet is initiated for execution so that the customer, consumer or client desiring the transaction can simply and conveniently conduct the information-related transaction over the Internet.

Abstract: A code symbol reading device includes a portable housing that contains a light source. Light from the light source is projected into a scan field external to the housing and onto a code symbol on an object located within the scan field. The light reflected off the code symbol is detected within the housing to produce scan data that is indicative of the detected light intensity. The scan data is processed to detect and decode the code symbol and to produce symbol character data that are representative of the decoded code symbol. A data packet utilizing the symbol character data is synthesized and modulated onto a carrier signal that is transmitted to a base unit where the carrier signal is demodulated and the data packet recovered. The received data packet is analyzed to recover the symbol character data, and an acknowledgment signal is produced to acknowledge the receipt of the symbol character data at the base unit.

Abstract: A portable automatic code symbol reading system having a laser scanning engine that provide hands-free automatic laser scanning capabilities. The automatic code symbol reading system includes a self-contained power supply aboard its housing, and a power-conserving control subsystem for conserving the consumption of electrical power during automatic portable laser scanning operations. The control subsystem of the present invention has a plurality of control centers which control the operation of the system components in accordance with preselected system control operations. Each of the control centers is responsive to control activation signals generated by certain of the system components upon the occurrence of predefined conditions. Certain of the control centers are capable of overriding other control centers to provide diverse control capabilities.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for automatically reading bar code symbols. 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.