Abstract: A scanner determines whether a target is a bar code symbol and, if so, whether that symbol is one-dimensional or two-dimensional. For two-dimensional symbols, the scanner aligns a scanning pattern with the symbol and expands the scanning pattern to reach only to the top and bottom edges of the symbol, not beyond. The scanner also has a microprocessor-control scanning engine that uses a coil to drive a scanning element and pick up feed back signals from the scanning element. A pulse-width-modulated regulator also provides fast and efficient operation for driving the coil. The scanning engine can also be designed to generate a pattern that precesses across the target, and a powerful interface to the scanning engine allows decoding and control logic to work efficiently with and independently of the scan engine.

Abstract: To reduce the size and weight of an optical scanner, the present invention provides a mirrorless beam scanning unit. A flexible support structure, such as one or more strips of mylar, movably mounts the light emitter in response to a motive force, for example as might be applied by a combination of a permanent magnet coupled to the light emitter and a fixedly mounted electromagnet driven by an alternating current signal. Reciprocation of the light emitter during emission of light by the light emitter causes the light to scan a surface, such as a surface beating a bar code label.

Abstract: A scanner determines whether a target is a bar code symbol and, if so, whether that symbol is one-dimensional or two-dimensional. For two-dimensional symbols, the scanner aligns a scanning pattern with the symbol and expands the scanning pattern to reach only to the top and bottom edges of the symbol, not beyond. The scanner also has a microprocessor-control scanning engine that uses a coil to drive a scanning element and pick up feed back signals from the scanning element. A pulse-width-modulated regulator also provides fast and efficient operation for driving the coil. The scanning engine can also be designed to generate a pattern that precesses across the target, and a powerful interface to the scanning engine allows decoding and control logic to work efficiently with and independently of the scan engine.

Abstract: A wall-mounted, hands-free scanner capable of having its field of view adjusted using a pivot structure with a position-holding mechanism. The spacing of the field of view from the wall can be quickly adjusted to accommodate different size objects and different placement of indicia on objects. The scanner includes a base member configured to be installed on a vertical surface, a scanning unit including a light scanning source directing a light beam across a field of view toward an indicia located within the field of view, a pivot structure connecting the scanning unit to the base member (the pivot structure having a generally horizontal axis of rotation about which the scanning unit rotates relative to the base member), and a position-holding mechanism within the pivot structure.

Abstract: A serial-to-parallel and parallel-to-serial data format converter has a plurality of first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffer memory devices, an input circuit for receiving serial data bits, an output circuit for outputting serial data bits and a clocking circuit for clocking selected ones of the data bits into and out of selected ones of the FIFO buffer memory devices. The clocking circuit clocks serial data bits either into or out of each of the FIFO buffer memory devices at a rate slower than the rate of the receipt of the serial data bits by the input circuit, or the rate of the outputting of serial data bits by the output circuit, respectively.