Barcode single laser scanner targeting

A positional determination device, the device comprising:

• a barcode scanner with a scan path affixed to a moveable object;
• an attenuation surface affixed to the barcode scanner, wherein the attenuation surface is located such that at least one end of the scan path is controlled by the attenuation surface;
• and
• a positional encoding device for determining the location of the object with respect to an external object.

A method for determining the position of a robot relative to a target, the method comprising:

• translating a robot having a barcode scan engine with a scan path having a scan path width controlled by an attenuation surface in a direction substantially parallel to the scan path;
• determining a first parallel position at which the target is first readable by the barcode scan engine;
• and
• determining a second parallel position at which the target is first becomes unreadable by the barcode scan engine.

A system for determining the position of a robot relative to a target, the system comprising:

• first means for translating a robot having a barcode scan engine with a scan path having a scan path width controlled by an attenuation surface in a direction substantially parallel to the scan path;
• second means for determining a first parallel position at which the target is first readable by the barcode scan engine;
• and
• third means for determining a second parallel position at which the target is first becomes unreadable by the barcode scan engine.