Abstract: An improved 3-D omni-directional holographic laser scanning system including visible indicia specifying location of the 3-D scanning volume (and the 3-D omni-directional scanning pattern therein) that is visibly discernable to users of the system. Such visible indicia may be one or more visible light beams that provide a visible light pattern characterizing location of the 3-D scanning volume (and the 3-D omni-directional scanning pattern therein). Alternatively, such visible indicia may be visible markings, such as reflective paint or reflective tape, affixed to a surface (over which objects are moved through the 3-D scanning volume) in a manner that characterizes location of the 3-D scanning volume (and the 3-D omni-directional scanning pattern therein).

Abstract: A method of and system for automatically identifying packages during manual package sortation operations, wherein, a laser scanning system is supported above a workspace environment of 3-D spatial extent, which is occupied by a human operator involved in the manual sortation of packages bearing bar code symbols. In the illustrative embodiment, the laser scanning system includes a housing having a light transmission aperture, and a laser scanning pattern generator disposed within the housing. During operation of the system, the laser scanning pattern generator employs a holographic scanning disc to project through the light transmission aperture, an omnidirectional laser scanning pattern which is substantially confined within the spatial extent of a predefined 3-D scanning volume that spatially encompasses a substantial portion of the workspace environment occupied by the human operator, through which packages are transported during sorting operations.

Abstract: Illumination apparatus includes a light source which directs a polarized source beam in a downstream direction along an optical axis and desirably focuses the beam. A polarization-altering element downstream from the source alters the polarization in a portion or portions of the source beam, so that the altered beam includes portions having different polarization directions. The altered beam passes downstream through a polarization-selective filter. The output beam from the polarization-selective filter can include either portion depending on the orientation of the filter. The arrangement can be used to provide a spot of a given size and shape at the focal location in a scanner such as a bar code scanner. The size and depth of field of the spot can be varied dynamically during operation.

Abstract: A laser scanning system capable of producing information specifying the subregion of space within a 3-D scanning volume within which a bar code symbol is detected by a laser scanning pattern. The system comprises a laser scanning pattern generator, a scan data processor, a bar code symbol position data generator and a system controller. In the illustrative embodiment, the laser scanning pattern generator employs a holographic scanning disc to generate an omnidirectional laser scanning pattern within the 3-D scanning volume for scanning a bar code symbol presented therein, and in response thereto, automatically produces scan data indicative of the scanned bar code symbol. The scan data processor automatically processes the produced scan data so as to detect the scanned bar code symbol within the 3-D scanning volume.

Abstract: Disclosed is laser beam scanning apparatus in the form of an electronically-controlled mechanically-damped off-resonant laser beam scanning mechanism. The scanning mechanism comprises an etched scanning element having a small flexible gap region of closely-controlled dimensions disposed between an anchored base portion and a laser beam deflecting portion The light beam deflecting portion supports a permanent magnet and a light beam deflecting element (e.g., mirror or hologram). A reversible magnetic force field producing device (e.g., an electromagnet) is placed in close proximity with the permanent magnet so that it may be forcibly driven into oscillation in response to electrical current flowing through the electromagnet. The resonant frequency of oscillation of the laser beam deflecting portion relative to the anchored base portion is determined by the closely controlled dimensions of the flexible gap region set during manufacture.

Abstract: A novel optical filtering system for a laser bar code scanner having narrow band-pass characteristics is disclosed. The optical filtering system has two different optical filtering elements which are disposed in a scanner housing in a spatially separate relationship. One of the optical filtering elements is positioned inside of the scanner housing in front of and close to the light detection element. The other optical filtering element is positioned in the light transmission aperture of the scanner housing and forms the scanning window. The optical filtering characteristics of the scanning window obscure the internal components of the scanner from plain view making the scanner appear more aesthetically pleasing. Together the optical filtering element cooperate to form a narrow-band pass filter to provide for better light collection and scanning.

Abstract: A bar code symbol scanning system having a holographic laser scanning disc utilizing maximum light collection surface area thereof and having scanning facets with optimized light collection efficiency. The holographic scanning disc has a plurality of holographic optical elements for scanning a laser beam and producing a laser scanning pattern for scanning code symbols. Each holographic optical element being supported on a support disc between the inner and outer perimeters thereof, and each has a surface area for carrying out light collecting operations and at least a portion of the surface area is disposed adjacent the outer perimeter of the support disc for carrying out laser beam scanning operations. The sum of all of the facet surface areas of the plurality of said holographic optical elements is substantially equal to the surface area of the available light collecting region of the support disc.

Abstract: An Internet enabled method and system (1) for designing, and manufacturing laser scanners of modular design and construction (231) using globally based information networks (3), such as the Internet, supporting the World Wide Web (WWW).

Abstract: A holographic laser scanners of ultra-compact design capable of reading bar and other types of graphical indicia within a large scanning volume using holographic optical elements and visible laser diodes, and also a method of designing and operating the same for use in diverse applications.

Abstract: A holographic laser scanners of ultra-compact and modular design capable of reading bar and other types of graphical indicia within a large scanning volume using holographic optical elements and visible laser diodes, and also a method of designing and operating the same for use in diverse applications.

Abstract: Holographic laser scanning system employing a holographic scanning disc which generates a laser scanning pattern having overlapping astigmatic scanning planes for omni-directional code symbol scanning within a 3-d scanning volume.

Abstract: A holographic laser scanning system for scanning bar code symbols and the like, comprising: a holographic scanning disc; a plurality of laser beam sources; a plurality of beam folding mirrors adjacent the holographic scanning disc; a plurality of light focusing elements disposed beneath the holographic scanning disc; and plurality of photodetectors disposed above the holographic scanning disc. The light focusisng elements below the holographic scanning disc focus reflected laser light collected through the elements of the holographic scanning disc and retransmit the same therethrough off Bragg for direct detection by the photodetectors which are proximately dispposed to and above the holographic scanning disc. Several important advantages are obtained by providing light collection optics disposed below the holographic scanning disc, and retransmitting focused/collected laser light through the holographic scanning disc at an angle substantially off a Bragg angle of about 44 degrees.

Abstract: A holographic laser scanning system employing laser beam production module with optical components geometrically constrained so as to be capable of producing a laser scanning beam having a controlled beam aspect-ratio substantially reduced astigmatism and minimal dispersion during laser beam scanning operations.

Abstract: A holographic laser scanning system comprising a support disc rotatable about an axis of rotation, and having an inner perimeter, an outer perimeter, and an available light collecting region defined between the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter. A laser light source produce a laser beam having first and second components characterized by first and second polarization states, respectively. A plurality of holographic optical elements are supported on the support disc between the inner and outer perimeters, for scanning the laser beam and producing a laser scanning pattern for scanning a code symbol. Each holographic optical element has a beam steering portion disposed adjacent the outer perimeter for scanning the laser beam, and a light collecting portion disposed between the inner and outer perimeters for collecting laser light reflected off a code symbol scanned by the laser beam.

Abstract: A laser bar code symbol scanner employing a narrow band-pass optical filtering system of novel construction is disclosed. A first optical filtering element is installed in the light transmission aperture of a bar code scanner housing. A second optical filtering element is installed inside the scanner housing near the light detecting element. The first and second optical filtering elements have wavelength selective properties such that taken together they cooperate to form a narrow wavelength band-pass optical filtering system which allows only transmission of light at and around a certain predetermined wavelength into the photodetector element. The present invention also hides aesthetically unappealing electro-optical components mounted in the scanner housing from plain view and the optical filtering elements of the system can be easily and inexpensively manufactured without compromising the performance of the scanner.

Abstract: A holographic laser scanning system for producing a highly defined 3-D scanning volume for omni-directional laser scanning of bar code symbols therein having a minimum element width on the order of about 0.017 inches or less. The holographic laser scanning system comprise a housing, a plurality of laser sources, a holographic scanning disc and a plurality of photodetectors. The plurality of lasr sources are disposed within the housing, for producing a plurality of laser beams. The holographic scanning disc is disposed within the housing, and has a plurality of holographic optical elements for scanning the laser beams and producing a plurality of laser scanning planes for scanning a code symbol. Each laser scanning plane has predefined beam characteristics and is spatially confined within a highly-defined 3-D scanning volume having at least three focal zones, a depth of field of at least 10 inches, and a scanning volume of at least 1,440 cubic inches.

Abstract: A holographic laser scanning system comprising: a housing of compact construction; a plurality of laser beam sources; a holographic scanning disc supporting a plurality of holographic optical elements having fringe structure of variable spatial frequency; a plurality of laser beam folding mirrors disposed about the holographic scanning disc; a plurality of light focusing surfaces disposed below the holographic scanning disc; and a plurality of photodetectors disposed at the focal points of the light focusing surfaces. During laser beam scanning operations, each laser beam is transmitted through the outer edge portion of each holographic optical element at an angle of incidence substantially greater than twenty-three degrees relative to a normal vector drawn thereto, preferably forty-three degrees.

Abstract: A bar code symbol reading system for reading bar code symbols disposed on rotating containers, such as cans and bottles, which have various capacities and arbitrary surfaces upon which the bar code symbols are printed. The system includes a laser scanning engine which produces a three-dimensional laser scanning pattern having unique geometrical characteristics over a predefined scanning region, within which each container is rotated. Owing to its unique geometry, the laser scanning pattern facilitates reading of bar code symbols printed on arbitrary container surfaces while rotated within the predefined scanning region. As a result of the present invention, a single bar code symbol reading system can be used to read bar code symbols that are printed on the arbitrary surfaces of cans and bottles.

Abstract: Holographic laser scanning system employing a holographic scanning disc with holographic facets having dual-fringe contrast regions optimized for scanning and light collection operations. In the preferred embodiments, the first region of each holographic facet is optimized for laser light having a first polarization state, whereas the second portion thereof is optimized for laser light having a second polarization state. The dual-fringe contrast scanning disc construction of the present invention provides for improved laser scanning efficiency during scanning operation, and improved laser light collection efficiency during laser light collection/detection operation within the system.