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AssigneeMetrologic Instruments, Inc.
InventorsMark Lucera, Timothy A. Good, Mark S. Schmidt, Matt Jefferson
Estimating the term…
A modular omnidirectional laser-based bar code symbol scanning system having at least one scan module insert that is removably disposed (e.g., removably installed) within a system housing (or portion thereof) through a service port (e.g., opening) in the system housing (or portion thereof). The scan module insert is a self-contained unit including at least the following components (in addition to mechanical support structures for such components): at least one laser diode, a rotating scanning element, an electric motor that rotates the rotating scanning element, one or more photodetectors, and analog signal processing circuitry that conditions (e.g., amplifies and/or filters out unwanted noise in) the electrical signal produced by the one or more photodetectors. The scan module insert can optionally include additional components including one or more light collecting optical elements, one or more beam folding mirrors, circuitry for detecting and decoding bar code symbols scanned by the system, etc. The modular architecture of omnidirectional laser scanner of the present invention enables quick access to the scan module insert for efficient repair/reconfiguration/configuration of the optical components, electro-optical, electro-mechanical components and/or electrical components integral thereto.
A laser scanning system comprising:
The laser scanner of claim 13, wherein said first electrical interconnect and second electrical interconnect are fixably mounted to the system housing and scan module insert, respectively, in a manner that provides for spatial registration and electrical connection between the two interconnects when the scan module insert is mated to system housing.
A method of reconfiguring or repairing a laser scanning system, the method comprising the steps of:
The method of 34, wherein components of one of said two scan module inserts contributes to production of an omnidirectional laser scanning beam projected through one of the two scanning windows, while components of the other of said two scan module inserts contributes to production of an omnidirectional laser scanning beam projected through the other one of the two scanning windows.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.