Ncr Corporation

At&t Global Information Solutions Company

Rex A Aleshire

Donald Alexander Collins, Jr

Stephen J Ames

Charles K Wike, Jr

Yeming Gu

Hong Tang

Michael A Spencer

Daniel B Seevers

William Martin Belknap

George Heys, Jr

Jeffrey P Treptau

Harold J Sampson

Douglas A Baehl

Paul Oliver Detwiler

Steven Joel Hammer

Floyd G Speraw

David E Weeks

Wayne L Orwig

Jonathan D Bassett

Frank Hines

Deborah Ann Detwiler

Chris A Schuhmacher

An optical scanner includes a scanner housing including a scan window, a laser light source, reflected light detector and a mirrored polygon spinner. The spinner is arranged both to spin around an axis of rotation and to move so as to displace said axis of rotation.

Optical scanner

A checkout device with a barcode reading apparatus, scale, and electronic article surveillance (EAS) system. The checkout device includes a scale including a base portion and a weigh plate over the base portion, a security label deactivation system between the base portion and the weigh plate, and a barcode reading apparatus including a first barcode reader adjacent the scale including a first aperture, and a second barcode reader between the base portion and the weigh plate including a second aperture. The weigh plate includes a third aperture over the second aperture.

Checkout device including barcode reading apparatus, scale, and EAS system

A produce data collector which includes a spectrometer which minimizes noise from scattered light and from wavelengths outside the operating range of the spectrometer. The produce data collector includes a light source for illuminating a produce item. The spectrometer obtains spectral information about the produce item in incoming reflected light from the produce item and includes a linear variable filter, a photodetector adjacent the linear variable filter, and an optical slit member above a primary surface of the linear variable filter which has a slit with a width sufficient to minimize scattering of the incoming light by interior surfaces of the linear variable filter. The produce data collector may additionally include a filter, such as an infrared filter.

Produce data collector with enhanced LVF spectrometer

A produce data collector and produce recognition system which illuminates a produce item with substantially uniform light to enhance the accuracy of collected produce data and subsequent identification of the produce item as part of a transaction in a transaction establishment. The produce data collector includes a light source for illuminating the produce item with substantially uniform light during the transaction, a light separating element for splitting light collected from the produce item into a plurality of different light portions having different wavelengths, a detector for converting energy in the plurality of light portions into a plurality of electrical signals, and control circuitry which digitizes the plurality of electrical signals to produce a digital spectrum from the produce item which contains information to identify the produce item for the purpose of determining its unit price.

Linear variable filter spectrometer

Produce data collector and produce recognition system

A modular bar code scanner and scale assembly which does not use wire cables to connect a bar code scanner to a scale. The assembly includes a bar code scanner including a first printed circuit board having a connector, and a scale including a second printed circuit board having a connector which directly couples to the connector of the first printed circuit board when the scanner is coupled to the scale.

Modular bar code scanner and scale assembly

A convertible barcode scanner includes a housing in which are disposed a laser, spinner, and plurality of pattern mirrors optically aligned with the spinner for reflecting a beam from the laser to produce a first pattern of scan lines out a window at a first exit angle. A conversion mount adjustably supports a diverting one of the pattern mirrors in different tilt orientations for changing reflection angle thereon and correspondingly changing at least one of the scan lines from the first exit angle to a different exit angle.

Convertible barcode scanner

A weighing scale includes a housing having a top opening defined by a top flange. A weighing module is mounted inside the housing for measuring weight. A scale platform is disposed inside the top opening and rests atop the weighing module by gravity. A proximity sensor is mounted inside the housing adjacent to the platform for detecting proximity thereof, and is joined in communication with the weighing module. An elongate lift bar is pivotally mounted atop the platform for movement between a stowed position flush with the platform and a deployed position spaced in part upwardly above the platform for extending size of the platform and for permitting manual lifting of the platform away from the proximity sensor and return adjacent thereto for resetting the weighing module.

Scale with reset extender bar

A vertically mounted bar code scanner assembly which is an alternative to a scanner having integral mounting hardware. The assembly includes a modular scanner having a back surface and a front surface containing a scanning aperture which emits scanning light beams, a mounting bracket including a bottom wall which fastens to a substantially horizontal mounting surface and a vertical wall coupled to the bottom wall. The vertical wall of the mounting bracket couples to the back surface of the scanner, placing the scanning aperture in a substantially vertical orientation.

Vertically mounted bar code scanner assembly

A bar code scanner which is sealed against moisture and dust intrusion. The scanner includes a housing having a base portion and a lid portion. A mirror basket is located within the base portion. A seal between the lid portion and the base portion prevents dust and fluids from entering the mirror basket and the housing when the lid is secured to the base portion. A circuit board seal prevents dust and fluids from entering an aperture in the mirror basket through which a laser and a detector on the circuit board protrude.

Bar code scanner with sealed housing

A universal mounting apparatus and method for bar code scanners which allows newer, smaller scanners to fit within the checkout counter apertures of larger scanners. The mounting apparatus includes a cover plate having a size large enough to cover the aperture. A scanner attaches to the cover plate and is suspended from the cover plate using additional mounting hardware.

Universal mounting apparatus and method for bar code scanners

An automatic sensing and programming circuit for optical scanners which produces a diffuse volume of light substantially encompassing the scan volume of the scanner. A method for programming one optical scanner from another uses the circuit to emit a plurality of pulse trains which in combination represent a predetermined function or set of functions, each pulse train representing predetermined hexadecimal digit, and each pulse train including a predetermined number of binary pulses. A method of programming an optical scanner employs a plurality of tags which in combination represent a predetermined function or set of functions, each tag representing a predetermined hexadecimal digit encoded as bar code labels.

Automatic sensing and programming circuit and programming method for

A laser diode alignment apparatus and method for an optical scanner which independently minimizes lateral and angular deviation of a laser beam from the scanner axis. The alignment apparatus includes a socket member and a plug member. The socket member includes a cylindrical wall portion, including a circular inner ridge having an inwardly facing spherical surface, and a base portion coupled to the cylindrical wall portion having a rearwardly facing spherical surface and a circular aperture therethrough. The plug member contains the laser diode and includes a cylindrical front end portion including a spherical front edge section, having the same curvature as the rearwardly facing spherical surface, and a spherical center portion coupled to the cylindrical front end portion having the same curvature as the inwardly facing spherical surface. The plug member has a beam origin point coinciding with the diode's combined center of rotation and pivot point. The alignment method centers a screen, having a reference point, on the axis and at the focal point of the scanner, places the laser beam origin point on the scanner axis, and moves the laser diode until the laser beam image coincides with the reference point on the screen.

Laser diode alignment apparatus and method for optical scanners

A self-contained optical scanning unit for use in a bar code scanner includes a motor driven hollow drive shaft through which is projected a laser light beam from a laser source positioned adjacent one end of the drive shaft. Mounted on the other end of the drive shaft is an optical transceiver which includes a deflecting portion which deflects the laser light beam outwardly towards a ring of mirrors which forms a scanning pattern for scanning a coded indicia and a collection portion which collects the reflected light beams from the coded indicia and directs the light beams at a detecting member. The collection portion of the transceiver is orientated obliquely across the spin axis of the drive shaft while the deflection portion is oriented obliquely to the spin axis and to the face of the collection portion. The detection member is located on the spin axis between the transceiver and the coded indicia.

Growing community of inventors

Buford, GA, United States of America

Rex A Aleshire