Abstract: High speed scanning arrangements in scanners for reading bar code symbols by oscillating a scanner component in single or multi-axis scan patterns.

Abstract: High speed scanning arrangements in scanners for reading bar code symbols by oscillating a scanner component in single or multi-axis scan patterns.

Abstract: An adaptive system and a method for reading bar code symbols or the like, including a scanner for generating a light beam directed toward a target, the light beam sweeping the symbol to be read. The system further includes a photodetector for receiving reflected light from such symbol, and circuitry to determine whether the signal received is sufficiently distinct to determine that a valid symbol has been scanned, and signal processing circuitry having adjustable gain, bandwidth, and digitizer threshold characteristics for processing such signals.

Abstract: A writing instrument, such as a pen, mechanical pencil, felt marker, or touch-screen stylus, which incorporates a (a) laser pointer, for highlighting a target, and/or (b) a laser bar code reader, which is operable either (i) by manual scanning by the user of the laser beam over the symbol, or (ii) by automatic self-scanning or motion of the beam over a path by means of a motor drive. A manually operable switch is disposed from one mode of use to the other, and also functions to move an appropriate focusing optical element in and out of the beam path.

Abstract: An arrangement for and method of projecting an image on a viewing surface include sweeping a light beam along a plurality of scan lines that extend over the viewing surface, and selectively illuminating parts of the image at selected positions of the light beam on the scan lines. The viewing surface can be remote from a housing supporting the arrangement, or can be located on the housing.

Abstract: High speed scanning arrangements in scanners for reading bar code symbols by oscillating a scanner component in single or multi-axis scan patterns.

Abstract: An integrated scanner for scanning a barcode is formed on a common substrate. The scanner may include a micro-machined mirror, a laser diode, and a detector, mounted on a single substrate or several connected substrates. Lenses can be used to focus a laser beam from the laser diode as well as expand a laser beam deflected by the micro-machined mirror. The scanner may also scan a barcode without using a micro-machined mirror by rotating the laser diode.

Abstract: An optical scanning system for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity has an optical scan module which is adapted to be mounted on a finger of a user. A first peripheral module, preferably in the form of a wrist watch, has a receiver which detects the reflected light. A second peripheral module, mounted on the other arm of the user, communicates with the first module by radio frequency transmission. According to other aspects of the invention, the light detector may be mounted in a housing which is separate and part from the optical scan module. According to another aspect, a laser pointer or scanner is mounted to a ring which is arranged to be worn on a single finger of the user.

Abstract: A hand-held optical reader for reading printed indicia on a remote target includes a light source for generating a scanning light beam and a detector for detecting the light reflected from the printed indicia. The light source and detector are housed within a housing having a window through which the light beam passes from the source to the target for reflection from the target to the detector. The housing includes parallel front and rear faces, each being generally rectangular in shape and having a lower portion and upper portion. The front and rear faces are joined by a substantially planar base face at their lower edges. The window is disposed in the front face with the reader being ergonomically configured so as be comfortably held in the hand of a user, with the user's palm adjacent the rear face to enable the user to direct the scanning light beam at a remote target.

Abstract: A system for storing articles having different descriptions in an enclosure and providing the enclosure with an wireless interrogatable unit having stored indications of the descriptions of the stored articles. The system further contemplates interrogating the enclosure's wireless interrogatable unit to determine the enclosure content.

Abstract: A scanning device for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity, including bar code or matrix array symbols, has a single light emitter, such as a laser or light emitting diode, for generating a scanning light beam to visually illuminate sequential portions of the indicia. A sensor, such as a charge coupled or other solid state imaging device, simultaneously detects light reflected from portions of the indicia and generates an electrical signal representative of the spacial intensity variations the portions of the indicia. The scanning device may also include an ambient light sensor, and a second light emitter for use only in aiming or orienting the scanning device. A photodetector may also be provided to separately detect one symbol virtually simultaneous with the detection of another symbol by the sensor or to provide dual modalities. A method for reading indicia is also provided.

Abstract: An optical scanner for scanning various optical indicia uses one or more tunable optical components for noise reduction purposes. The scanner may include a narrow band-pass tunable optical filter for passing selected wavelengths of incoming light. The scanner may also have a tunable light source, such as a tunable laser source, whereby the wavelength of the generated laser light is sensed and controlled by the scanner's electronic sub-system.

Abstract: A beam generator, or beam shaping system, for example for use in an optical scanner, creates a non-Gaussian beam which provides improved indicia-reading characteristics. In one embodiment, diffractive optical elements are used to create a Bessel-Gaussian scanning beam, which comprises a coherent combination of a Gaussian beam and a Bessel beam.

Abstract: A miniaturized electro-optical, retro-reflective scanning module. The module has a base, a first circuit board, and a second circuit board mounted substantially orthogonal to the first circuit board. The base supports a light emitter for producing a scanning beam and optical elements for directing and collecting light energy. The emitted beam reflects off a fold mirror onto a reflector mounted on a drive for oscillation. The oscillating reflector, in turn, redirects the beam onto an indicia being read. The reflected light is reflected off the oscillating reflector and directed to the collection mirror before reaching a detector. The detector included in the module senses light reflected from an indicia scanned by the beam. The reflector is driven by an electro-magnetiz driven system, including a flexure and an actuation arm.

Abstract: Authorized access by a user to an application server in a wireless local area network is obtained by printing machine-readable indicia on a portable, physical ticket, and by presenting the ticket to an electro-optical reader for reading the indicia.

Abstract: An integrated scanner/radio includes a bar code reader and an RF transceiver integrated on a semiconductor substrate. The bar code reader includes a light source, a scanner for directing light from the light source across a bar code symbol, and a detector for detecting the light reflected from the bar code symbol and creating an electrical signal representative of the detected light. The RF transceiver includes an antenna for transmitting and receiving modulated RF carrier signals.

Abstract: High speed scanning arrangements in scanners for reading bar code symbols by oscillating a scanner component in single or multi-axis scan patterns.

Abstract: A bar code scanner and method for scanning a bar code symbol that splits a light beam using a liquid crystal device and directs the split light beams toward a bar code symbol using a moveable mirror. The light reflected by the symbol from each of the split light beams is summed and converted to an electrical signal indicative of the bar code symbol. The electrical signal is processed to decode the bar code symbol, but, if decoding is unsuccessful, the liquid crystal device is changed to affect the number of split light beams incident on the bar code symbol.

Abstract: An optical scanner for reading indicia having areas of different light reflectivity, such as bar code symbols includes a stationary, multi-surface, fold mirror having a first surface of a first aplanar profile and a second surface of a second, different aplanar profile.

Abstract: An optical scanning system is provided for producing a signal representative of a spatial distribution of indicia having different degrees of reflectivity to light, such as a bar code (14). The system includes an optical scanner (12) for scanning beam of light over the spatial distribution of indicia (14) and for producing an electrical signal corresponding to changes in the degree of reflectivity of the indicia. A digitizer (20), responsive to detections in a predetermined characteristic of the produced electrical signal is provided. The digitizer (20) converts the detections into digital words, such digital signals having a plurality of bits. The digitizer includes a timing generation circuit (42) for producing a pulse in response to each one of the detections with a time duration representative of the degree of reflectivity of the indicia as the beam of light. A decoder converts the time duration of the pulse into the digital word having a plurality of bits. An enhancement filter (30) is also disclosed.