The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 14, 1984
Filed:
Nov. 13, 1981
LeRoy D Dickson, Raleigh, NC (US);
Charles M Pierce, Raleigh, NC (US);
Olen L Stokes, Cary, NC (US);
Norman J Woodland, Raleigh, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corp., Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An optical scanner in a retail store checkout stand includes a single item detector upstream of the scanner window. Output signals from the item detector and from symbol recognition logic are used to open and close a shutter in the beam path of the scanner laser. The shutter is opened and a first time out sequence is started when the beam path is interrupted. A second, short time out sequence is restarted each time a valid symbol is recognized. A third time out sequence of intermediate length supersedes the first time out sequence when the beam path is cleared. The laser shutter is closed and the symbol is transferred to a terminal or controller upon the completion of any active time out sequence or upon recognition of a predetermined number of identical symbols, whichever comes first.