Norand Corporation

Other

Intermec IP Corporation

George E Chadima, Jr

Vadim Laser

Darald R Schultz

Joseph Jay Kubler

William T Gibbs

Jeffrey S Krunnfusz

Eugene G Ristola

In an exemplary embodiment, a hand held bar code reader has a handle portion and a reader head portion which may be held spaced from a bar code data carrier during a reading operation. Light energy is directed outwardly through a window so as to illuminate a bar code sensing region in front of the window having a depth dimension of at least about ten millimeters, and an optical system focuses bar code patterns in the sensing region onto an image photosensor in the reader unit with a resolution so as to read e.g. bar code formats with a minimum bar or space width of about 0.0075 inch or less. The bar code image is converged through a generally rectangular optical aperture and is reflected onto the image photosensor by a reflecting mirror positioned relative to the image photosensor by virtue of their common association with a printed circuit board.

Instant portable bar code reader

In an exemplary embodiment, a hand-held bar code reader has a handle portion and a reader head portion which may be held spaced from a bar code data carrier during a reading operation. Light energy is directed outwardly through a window so as to illuminate a bar code sensing region in front of the window having a depth dimension of at least about ten millimeters, and an optical system focuses bar code patterns in the sensing region onto an image photosensor in the reader unit with a resolution so as to read e.g., bar code formats with a minimum bar or space width of about 0.0075 inch, or even less. Preferably the light source is of an electronically triggerable instant response type and is located substantially within the reader head portion. The bar code image is converged through a generally rectangular optical aperture and is decoded by a battery powered programmable decoder located substantially within the handle portion.

An improved bar code reader unit. The bar code is hand-held and has improved focussing and illumination structure.

In an exemplary embodiment, a hand-held bar code reader has a handle portion and a reader head portion which may be held spaced from a bar code data carrier during a reading operation. Light energy is directed outwardly through a window so as to illuminate a bar code sensing region in front of the window having a depth dimension of at least about ten millimeters, and an optical system focuses bar code patterns in the sensing region onto an image photosensor in the reader unit with a resolution so as to read e.g. bar code formats with a minimum bar or space width of about 0.0075 inch, or even less. Preferably the light source is of an electronically triggerable instant response type and is located substantially within the reader head portion. The bar code image is converged through a generally rectangular optical aperture and is reflected by reflected light gathering means in a folded return path to a photodetector. The reflected light gathering means and the photodetector are mounted on a single printed circuit board. The reflected bar code image is decoded by a battery powered programmed decoder located substantially within the handle portion.

In an exemplary embodiment, a hand held bar code reader has a handle portion and a reader head portion which may be held spaced from a bar code data carrier during a reading operation. Light energy is directed outwardly through a window so as to illuminate a bar code sensing region in front of the window having a depth dimension of at least about ten millimeters, and an optical system focuses bar code patterns in the sensing region onto an image photosensor in the reader unit with a resolution so as to read e.g. bar code formats with a minimum bar or space width of about 0.0075 inch or less. Preferably, the light source is of an electronically triggered instant response type. The bar code image is converged through a generally rectangular optical aperture and is reflected onto the image photosensor by a reflecting mirror positioned relative to the image photosensor by virtue of their common association with a printed circuit board. A total bar code reader system may be conveniently carried by the user during bar code reading operations.

A hand-held portable data collection terminal is encased by an elongate housing of generally rectangular outline. The housing includes upper and lower housing shells which are assembled into a water tight housing. The upper housing shell may support on an upper surface a display and a keyboard with typically alpha-numeric keys. The area taken up by the display and keyboard defines an overall width of the data terminal which may exceed the width of a readily hand fitting grip. The terminal consequently includes in its lower housing shell a grip-conforming inwardly displaced lower wall bounded by inwardly converging angled sidewalls. The inwardly displaced region at the bottom of the housing is spanned by a resilient strap disposed longitudinally across the grip-conforming portion. A user may insert a hand into a space defined between the strap and the inwardly displaced surface. The strap enables a user to relax the grip on the terminal without the terminal being released from holding engagement of the data collection terminal with the user's hand. A battery pack inserted into a battery compartment at a bottom end of the lower housing shell is suitably mounted externally of a sealed environment within the housing. Sealed contacts extending through a wall of the battery compartment into the housing engage contacts of the battery pack and couple power supplied by the battery pack to the circuits of the data terminal within the sealed environment of the housing. The battery pack includes a plurality of external contacts for coupling an external battery charger to the battery pack, for initiating the charging process and for providing access to data transfer circuits through the battery pack to the interior of the data terminal.

Hand-held computerized data collection terminal with contoured hand grip

In an exemplary embodiment, a hand-hald bar code reader has an elongated relatively narrow hand grip portion and an enlarged reader head portion with an extended window of greater width that the hand grip portion. Light energy is outwardly through the extended window so as to flood a bar code sensing region in front of the window having a depth dimension of at least about ten millimeters, and an optical system focuses bar code patterns in the sensing region onto an image plane in the reader unit with a resolution so as to read bars/spaces with a minimum width of about 0.0075 inch, or even less. Preferably the lens system provides a depth of focus for such bar code patterns of at least ten millimeters, so that a bar code pattern of marked curvature can be read in its entirety by means of an instant reading operation.

In an exemplary embodiment, a hand-held bar code reader has an elongated relatively narrow hand grip portion and an enlarged reader head portion with an extended window of greater width that the hand grip portion. Preferably the lens system provides a depth of field for such bar code patterns of at least ten millimeters, so that a bar code pattern of marked curvature can be read in its entirety by means of an instant reading operation. The preferred embodiment provides a single unitary circuit board configuration with a rigid lens mounting arrangement which furthers the achievement of a precise and reliable optical system.

Basic elements of a modular printer system may comprise a rectangular open frame with receptacles for a printer module and computerized terminal module, and with an external configuration for receiving modular components such as a carrying handle, a support foot, an auxiliary terminal module mounting bracket and an AC adaptor module. Respective different paper tray modules may be selectively secured to the open frame to form a bottom closure and to provide a repository for appropriate circuit boards and an on-board battery if needed, as well as containing an appropriate supply of paper for the printer (e.g. 50 sheets or 200 sheets). Respective terminal adaptor modules may secure different generations of computerized terminals in the frame for data transfer to the printer. A terminal module may utilize a spring-urged retainer for retaining a hand-held computerized terminal therewith. Respective printer modules may adapt different printer models to the frame, and each such printer module may be reversible in the frame to accommodate different applications, e.g. as a portable unit, and as a van-mounted unit with in-board, out-board and/or remote mounting of terminal modules.

Modular printer system

In an exemplary embodiment, a hand-held bar code reader has a handle portion and a reader head portion which may be held spaced from a bar code data carrier during a reading operation. Light energy is directed outwardly through a window so as to illuminate a bar code sensing region in front of the window having a depth dimension of at least about ten millimeters, and an optical system focuses bar code patterns in the sensing region onto an image photosensor in the reader unit with a resolution so as to read e.g. bar code formats with a minimum bar or space width of about 0.0075 inch, or even less. Preferably the light source is of an electronically triggerable instant response type and is located substantially within the reader head portion. The bar code image is converged through a generally rectangular optical aperture and is decoded by a battery powered programmed decoder located substantially within the handle portion.

In an exemplary embodiment, a hand-held bar code reader has an elongated hand grip portion and a reader head portion which may be substantially spaced from a bar code data carrier during a reading operation. Light energy is directed outwardly through a window so as to illuminate a bar code sensing region in front of the window having a depth dimension of at least about ten millimeters. An optical system may focus bar code patterns in the sensing region onto an image photodetector in the reader unit with a resolution so as to read e.g. a bar code format with minimum bar or space width of about 0.0075 inch, or even less. Preferably the lens system provides a depth of focus for such bar code patterns of at least ten millimeters, so that a bar code pattern of marked curvature can be read in its entirety by means of an instant reading operation. Preferably the light source is of an electronically triggerred essentially instant response type. A total bar code reader system including an operatively associated data terminal component may be conveniently carried by the user during bar code reading operations, and the light source may be triggered non-manually upon detecting object proximity.

In an exemplary embodiment, a hand-held bar code reader has a handle portion and a reader head portion which may be held spaced from a bar code data carrier during a reading operation. Light energy is directed outwardly through a window so as to illuminate a bar code sensing region in front of the window having a depth dimension of at least about ten millimeters, and an optical system focuses bar code patterns in the sensing region onto an image photosensor in the reader unit with a resolution so as to read e.g. bar code formats with a minimum bar or space width of about 0.0075 inch, or even less. Preferably the light source is of an electronically triggerable instant response type and is located substantially within the reader head portion. The bar code image is converged through a generally rectangular optical aperture and is reflected in a folded return path to a photodetector. The reflected bar code image is decoded by a battery powered programmed decoder located substantially within the handle portion.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

George E Chadima, Jr