Instant portable bar code reader

An improved bar code reader system of having:

• (a) a hand-held bar code reader unit including a reader head portion with a frontally directed window means providing optical coupling of said reader unit with a bar code having a complete line of bar code information, said reader head portion having a top side which is upwardly directed during reading of a bar code with vertically disposed bars, and a handle portion extending from said reader head portion providing for hand-held support of said reader unit;
• (b) manually actuatable trigger means for initiating a bar code reading operation;
• (c) such hand-held bar code reader unit being of configuration such that during said bar code reading operation an operator manually grasping said handle portion moves said reader unit by means of said handle portion to place said reader unit in reading relationship with said bar code and to direct said window means towards said bar code information such that said bar code is located in front of said reader unit;
• (d) said reader head portion having a battery powered automatic bar code reader system therein including;
• i) a light source energizable for producing light energy to be directed outwardly through said window means, and being operable to effectively illuminate said bar code over a substantial range of distances and to create a reflected optical signal therefrom;
• ii) reflecting means reflecting said optical signal to define a folded return path;
• iii) a photodetector responsive to said reflected optical signal for developing an electrical output signal representing said received optical signal;
• and
• (e) a single printed circuit board within said head portion for maintaining said photodetector and reflecting means in spaced optical alignment.

A portable reader unit for reading information from a data carrier that carries bar code indicia or the like, and having a size and weight so as to be completely carried by a user during use and being of a configuration such that during a reading operation a user manually grasps and moves said reader unit into reading relationship with said data carrier, said portable reader unit comprising;

• (a) a frontally directed window providing optical coupling of said portable reader unit with a data carrier that carries bar code indicia or the like;
• (b) a manually actuatable trigger to initiate automatic reading operations;
• (c) a battery power source;
• (d) a light source energizable to produce light energy which is directed toward and reflected from said data carrier, and said light source being operable to effectively illuminate said data carrier over a substantial range of distances;
• (e) a photodetector operable to supply an electrical signal in response to said reflected light energy from said data carrier positioned at any of said substantial range of distances in front of said portable reader unit;
• (f) a signal processing circuit connected with said photodetector amplifying and digitizing said electrical signal therefrom so as to provide a useful output corresponding to the information carried by said data carrier located at any of said substantial range of distances in front of said portable reader unit;
• (g) reflected light gathering means interposed in a reflected light path for said reflected light energy between said window and said photodetector and operative with respect to said information carried by said data carrier at any of said substantial range of distances for concentrating reflected light energy from said data carrier at said photodetector for effective detection thereof;
• and
• (h) a single printed circuit board having said signal processing circuit thereon and having said photodetector fixedly secured therewith, said reflected light gathering means being mechanically connected with said single printed circuit board such that said photodetector is maintained in optical alignment with said reflected light gathering means along said reflected light path.

A portable reader unit for reading information from a data carrier that carries bar code indicia or the like, and having a size and weight so as to be completely carried by a user during use and being of a configuration such that during a reading operation a user manually grasps and moves said reader unit into reading relationship with said data carrier, said portable reader unit comprising:

• (a) a frontally directed window providing optical coupling of said portable reader unit with a data carrier that carries bar code indicia or the like;
• (b) a manually actuatable trigger to initiate automatic reading operations;
• (c) a battery power source;
• (d) a light source energizable to produce light energy which is directed toward and reflected from said data carrier, and said light source being operable to effectively illuminate said data carrier over a substantial range of distances;
• (e) a photodetector responsive to said reflected light energy from said data carrier for developing an electrical signal corresponding to the information carried by said data carrier;
• (f) reflecting means within said portable reader unit for reflecting said reflected light energy to define a folded return path;
• and
• (g) a single printed circuit board which maintains said photodetector and reflecting means in spaced optical alignment.