Symbol Technologies, LLC

Harold Charych

Edward D Barkan

Paul Dvorkis

Simon Bard

Howard M Shepard

Raj Bridgelall

David Tsi

James R Giebel

John Barile

Paul R Poloniewicz

Steven M Chew

Sundeep Kumar

Anthony D Biuso

Henry Grossfeld

Stephen M Osterweil

Mark Dryzmala

Mark E Drzymala

Jerome Swartz

Joseph M Katz

Boris Metlitsky

Ian R Jenkins

Yajun Li

Askold Strat

Chin-Hung Jwo

Theodore Koontz

Robert A Doran

A multiple working range scanner includes a collection mirror which is segmented, with each segment having differing optical properties, such as focal length, optical axis, and so on. Differing segments or combinations of segments deal with reflected light received at differing working ranges, and direct it to a photodetector. In another embodiment, beam shaping may be applied to an astigmatic laser beam, for example by means of a part-concave mirror, to create an x waist in the beam which is further from the scanner than the y waist. This provides enhanced performance when the scanner is used on a bar code symbol which is not accurately aligned. In order to provide improved optical alignment within a bar code scanner, the collection mirror may be adjustable both in the x direction and in the y direction.

Optical scanner with segmented collection mirror

An optical scan module, for example for an optical scanner, includes an integrally molded plastics material member which defines not only the laser focusing lens, but also the laser focusing aperture and the collection mirror. In addition, the molded member may act to house and to locate both a semiconductor laser and a photodetector, thereby ensuring easy and accurate placement of those elements within the scanning assembly. The optical assembly may be in modular form, mounted onto a common printed circuit board with a beam scanner.

One piece optical assembly for low cost optical scanner

Electro-optical reader with hands-free and hand-held modes of operation

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.

Laser scanner for controlling the optical scanning of bar codes

To reduce the size and weight of an optical scanner, the present invention provides a mirrorless beam scanning unit. A flexible member, such as a multi-wire, flat, electrical cable is connected to the light emitter. Reciprocation of the light emitter during emission of light by the light emitter causes the light to scan a surface, such as a surface bearing a bar code label. The cable flexes during such reciprocation.

Scanner with flexible flat cable electrically connected to light emitter

Laser scanner system for controlling the optical scanning of bar codes

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.

Scanner with flexibly supported light emitter

Laser scanning system and scanning method for reading bar codes

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. The scanning unit may be rotated relative to the base member to adjust the spacing of the field of view from the vertical surface, and the position-holding mechanism within the pivot structure maintains the scanning unit at a selected angular position. No tightening or other position-holding step is required following adjustment of angular position.

Tilting wall-mounted optical scanner

Growing community of inventors

East Setauket, NY, United States of America

Harold Charych