Abstract: A fully automatic bar code symbol reading system comprising an automatic (i.e., triggerless) portable bar code symbol reading device with an omnidirectional projection laser scanning engine mounted within the head portion of its hand-supportable housing, and an associated base unit positioned within the data transmission range thereof without a physical wiring connection thereto. The hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device produces a narrowly confined scanning volume for omnidirectional scanning of code symbols presented therein, while preventing unintentional scanning of code symbols on nearby objects located outside thereof.

Abstract: Bar code symbol reading system with automatic modes of hand-held (i.e., hands-on) and stand-supported (i.e., hands-free) operation. In the hand-held mode of automatic operation, the user initiates laser scanning by simply bringing the object within at least a portion of the scan field of the automatic bar code symbol reading device. In the stand-supported mode of automatic operation, a scanner support stand is used to support the automatic bar code symbol reading device relative to a countertop surface so that the scan field is projected away from the scanner support stand and the hand-supportable housing, and extends above the countertop surface permitting the automatic reading bar code symbols on goods passed thereby.

Abstract: A bar code symbol reading system includes an apertured housing through which visible light produced by a laser beam in the housing can exit and enter. A scanning mechanism in the housing scans the laser beam across a scan field and a bar code symbol on an object located in the scan field in response to an activation symbol. Laser light reflected from the bar code symbol is directed in the housing to produce scan data representative of the reflected laser light. That data is processed to detect and decode the scanned bar code signal and to produce symbol character data that is representative of the detected and decoded bar code symbol.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic projection laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols. The system supportable on or above a countertop surface, and includes a laser scanning device having a compact housing from which it automatically produces an object detection field of volumetric expanse for automatic detection of objects, and a scan field including at least one scanning plane for automatic laser scanning of the code symbols on detected objects. Both the object detection field and the scan field spatially arranged with respect to each other and the compact housing to facilitate easy scanning of a bar code symbol presented within the scan field after the associated object has been detected within the object detection field, thereby improving the scanning efficiency of the system.

Abstract: An automatic bar code symbol reading system comprising components for carrying out object detection, scanning, photoreceiving, A/D conversion, bar code presence detection, symbol decoding, data format conversion, data storage and data transmission functions. In general, the bar code symbol reading device includes a control system having a plurality of control centers that control the operation of the system components in accordance with preselected system control operations. Each of the control centers are 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 overriding other control centers to provide diverse control capabilities which facilitates execution of intelligent operations and power consumption, during bar code symbol reading.

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 fully automatic bar code symbol reading system comprising an automatic (i.e., triggerless) portable bar code symbol reading device with an omnidirectional projection laser scanning engine mounted within the head portion of its hand-supportable housing, and an associated base unit positioned within the data transmission range thereof without a physical wiring connection thereto. The hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device produces a narrowly confined scanning volume for omnidirectional scanning of code symbols presented therein, while preventing unintentional scanning of code symbols on nearby objects located outside thereof.

Abstract: Bar code symbol reading system with automatic modes of hand-held (i.e., hands-on) and stand-supported (i.e., hands-free) operation. In the hand-held mode of automatic operation, the user initiates laser scanning by simply bringing the object within at least a portion of the scan field of the automatic bar code symbol reading device. In the stand-supported mode of automatic operation, a scanner support stand is used to support the automatic bar code symbol reading device relative to a countertop surface so that the scan field is projected away from the scanner support stand and the hand-supportable housing, and extends above the countertop surface permitting the automatic reading bar code symbols on goods passed thereby.

Abstract: Bar code symbol reading system with automatic modes of hand-held (i.e., hands-on) and stand-supported (i.e., hands-free) operation. In the hand-held mode of automatic operation, the user initiates laser scanning by simply bringing the object within at least a portion of the scan field of the automatic bar code symbol reading device for automatic object detection and subsequent automatic bar code symbol reading. In the stand-supported mode of automatic operation, a scanner support stand is used to support the automatic bar code symbol reading device relative to a countertop surface so that the scan field is projected away from the scanner support stand and the hand-supportable housing, and extends above the countertop surface permitting the automatic reading bar code symbols on goods passed thereby.

Abstract: A fully automatic bar code symbol reading system having an automatic (i.e., triggerless) portable bar code symbol reading device with an omnidirectional projection laser scanning engine mounted within the head portion of its hand-supportable housing, and an associated base unit positioned within the data transmission range without a physical wiring connection. The hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device produces a narrowly confined scanning volume for omnidirectional scanning of the code symbols presented, while preventing unintentional scanning of code symbols on nearby objects located outside the scaning volume.

Abstract: A laser bar code symbol scanner embodying a narrow band-pass optical filtering system of novel construction. A first optical filter element is installed over the light transmission aperture of the scanner housing, and has wavelength selective properties which transmit only light having wavelengths from slightly below a predetermined wavelength in the visible band of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g., greater than slightly below 670 nanometers). A second optical filter element is installed within the housing, along the focused laser return light path between the light focusing element and the light detecting element, and transmits only light having wavelengths from slightly above the predetermined wavelength (e.g., less than slightly above 670 nanometers). Collectively, the first and second optical filter elements cooperate to form a narrow wavelength band-pass filtering system centered about the predetermined wavelength, providing improved signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A novel system and method programming the function parameters of programmable bar code symbol readers and scanners, while avoiding the need to couple the data communication port of a function parameter computer system and the programmable bar code symbol reader to be configured. 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: A fully automatic bar code symbol reading system which has an automatic (i.e., triggerless) portable bar code symbol reading device with an omnidirectional projection laser scanning engine mounted within the head portion of its hand-supportable housing, and an associated base unit positioned within the data transmission range of the portable unit without a physical wiring connection to the portable unit. The hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device produces a narrowly confined scanning volume for omnidirectional scanning of code symbols presented within the scanning volume, while preventing unintentional scanning of code symbols on nearby objects located outside of the scanning volume.

Abstract: A laser beam experimentation kit, including an accessory device for modulating the intensity of the visible laser beam produced as output from a laser pointer. The accessory device comprises a printed circuit(PC) board of physically thin construction, which is adapted for slidable insertion between the conductive tip portion and the conductive housing portion of a pen-clip actuatable laser pointer. A pair of conductive pads are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the PC board. An input signal jack is mounted on PC board for the purpose of receiving a mated plug connector that is connected to a flexible cable carrying an electrical input signal. An electronic circuit and a battery power source are also mounted on the upper surface of the PC board. The function of the electronic circuit is to respond to a predetermined signal characteristic (e.g.

Abstract: An automatic projection laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols. The system is supportable on or above a countertop surface, and includes a laser scanning device having a compact housing from which it automatically produces an object detection field of volumetric expanse for automatic detection of objects, and a scan field including at least one scanning plane for automatic laser scanning of code symbols on detected objects. Both the object detection field and the scan field spatially arranged with respect to each other and the compact housing to facilitate easy scanning of a bar code symbol presented within the scan field after the associated object has been detected within the object detection field, thereby improving the scanning efficiency of the system.

Abstract: A bar code scanner for stationary disposition at a counter to projecting a scanning pattern comprising first, second, third, fourth and fifth groups of parallel scan line within a relatively narrow, yet diverging, volume, e.g., pyramid, cone, etc., centered about a projection axis. The scanner includes a compact housing mounted on an adjustible base. The housing includes a window, five stationary mirrors, a laser diode, a rotating reflective polygon for sweeping the laser beam from the diode across the mirrors and out a window so that the projection axis is substantially but not precisely perpendicular to the window. The scanner also includes a fixed curved collecting mirror and a concentrating lens to focus light which is reflected off of a bar code to a photodetector. One mirror extends along an axis parallel to the transverse axis to produce the first group of scan lines.

Abstract: A laser bar code symbol scanner embodying a narrow band-pass optical filtering system of novel construction. A first optical filter element is installed over the light transmission aperture of the scanner housing, and has wavelength selective properties which transmit only light having wavelengths from slightly below a predetermined wavelength in the visible band of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g., greater than slightly below 670 nanometers). A second optical filter element is installed within the housing, along the focused laser return light path between the light focusing element and the light detecting element, and transmits only light having wavelengths from slightly above the predetermined wavelength (e.g., less than slightly above 670 nanometers). Collectively, the first and second optical filter elements cooperate to form a narrow wavelength band-pass filtering system centered about the predetermined wavelength, providing improved signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fully automatic bar code symbol reading system having an hand-supportable laser bar code reading device The system has a number of operative states including, an object detection state, bar code presence detection state and a bar code symbol decoding state. During bar code symbol presence detection state, the visible laser scanning beam produced from the hand-supportable device flickers at a rate which improves the visual conspicuousness of the laser scanning beam in the scan field. The flicker characteristics of the laser scanning beam makes it substantially easier for the user to visually align the laser scanning beam with the bar code symbol on the detected object. Consequently, reading bar code symbols is made substantially easier using the automatic laser bar code symbol reading device of the present invention.

Abstract: An automatic bar code symbol reading system comprising components for carrying out object detection, scanning, photoreceiving, A/D conversion, bar code presence detection, symbol decoding, data format conversion, data storage and data transmission functions. In general, the bar code symbol reading device includes a control system having a plurality of control centers that control the operation of the system components in accordance with preselected system control operations. Each of the control centers are 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 overriding other control centers to provide diverse control capabilities which facilitates execution of intelligent operations and power consumption, during bar code symbol reading.

Abstract: A bar code scanner for stationary disposition at a counter to projecting a scanning pattern comprising first, second, third, fourth and fifth groups of parallel scan lines within a relatively narrow, yet diverging, volume, e.g., pyramid, cone, etc., centered about a projection axis. The scanner includes a compact housing mounted on an adjustible base. The housing includes a window, five stationary mirrors, a laser diode, a rotating reflective polygon for sweeping the laser beam from the diode across the mirrors and out a window so that the projection axis is substantially but not precisely perpendicular to the window. The scanner also includes a fixed curved collecting mirror and a concentrating lens to focus light which is reflected off of a bar code to a photodetector. One mirror extends along an axis parallel to the transverse axis to produce the first group of scan lines.