Ultra-compact bar-code scanner

An ultra-compact scanner for reading and interpreting a printed code, said scanner comprising:

• a scan pattern generator, including a light source, for producing a light pattern in a field of view adjacent the scanner in which the printed code may be located, including a scanning mirror driven by a motor and an array of plural mirror facets fixedly arranged frustoconically thereabout;
• processor means responsive to light scattered from such printed code, said processor means producing a signal representative of such code, independent of the axial orientation of the code within said field of view of the light pattern;
• a decoder coupled with said processor means, said decoder being responsive to said signal to reproduce information represented by such code;
• means for communicating said reproduced information to an external device;
• a housing containing said generator, said detector, said decoder and said communication means;
• said housing having an exterior predetermined volume not exceeding approximately 967 cm3 (59 in3).

A high-functional density code scanner capable of reading an elongated bar code independent of the code's axial orientation relative to the scanner, said scanner comprising:

• a first housing;
• an optical scanning subsystem contained within said first housing, said subsystem including a scan pattern generator having a light source for producing a light pattern and projecting said pattern in a field of view adjacent the scanner in which the printed code may be located, said subsystem further including a detector responsive to light scattered from such code, said detector producing a signal representative of such code within said field of view of said light pattern;
• a second housing operatively connectable with said first housing;
• electronics contained within said second housing, said electronics including processing means coupleable with said detector via a flexible signal harness, said decoder being responsive to said signal to reproduce information represented by such code, said electronics further including means for communicating said reproduced information to an external device;
• said first housing having a first exterior predetermined volume not exceeding approximately 492 cm3 (30 in3);
• and
• said second housing having a second exterior predetermined volume not exceeding approximately 574 cm3 (35 in3).

An improved motor-spin monitoring circuit for use with a motor directing a coherent light beam source within an optical system comprising:

• a motor-spin monitor capable of starting and stopping such light beam source, said monitor including a voltage sensor connected with the drive terminals of such motor for producing a first input signal proportional to the back EMF across the motor's excitation winding;
• a current sensor connected with the drive terminals of such motor for producing a second input signal proportional to the current through such excitation winding;
• and
• a comparator for differentially comparing either side of said first input signal to produce an output signal representative of a predefined voltage condition in such winding, and for comparing either side of said second input signal to produce a second output signal representative of a predefined current condition in such winding;
• said monitor being responsive to said first and said second output signals by stopping such light beam source upon condition that either one or both of said output signals meet(s) predefined criteria indicating that the motor has stopped spinning.

A housing for an ultra compact scanner comprising:

• a base;
• a towerhousing attached to said base;
• and
• a scan head housing mounted on said tower housing and rotatably adjustable relative thereto in a single plane about a rotation axis.

An ultra-compact scanner for reading and interpreting coded indicia, said scanner comprising:

• a scan pattern generator that produces a scan pattern by scanning a beam of light in a field of view adjacent the scanner in which may be located coded indicia;
• a light pattern that permits coded indicia to be read independently of how said code is positioned angularly about the scanning beam within the scan pattern;
• a detector responsive to the amount of light scattered from such coded indicia, said detector producing a signal representative of said coded indicia;
• a signal processing circuit coupled with said detector, said circuit determining the locations of edges within the coded indicia by processing the signal from said detector to produce edge location-representative data;
• a decoder coupled with said signal processing circuit, said decoder being responsive to said data to decode the encoded information in such coded indicia;
• means for communicating said decoded information to a device external to the scanner;
• a housing containing said pattern generator, said detector, said signal processing circuit, said decoder and said communication. means;
• said housing having an exterior predetermined volume not exceeding approximately 1230 cm3 (75 in3).