Optical reading device

Abstract

A small-sized optical reading device for performing the high-speed optical scanning of an object to be read, and for returning light irregularly reflected by the object. In this device, a first reflector element is driven in such a manner as to perform reciprocative rotations or vibrations clockwise and counterclockwise. Further, a medium, on which a bar code, namely, the object is recorded, is scanned by light beams reflected by the first reflector element. The light beams irregularly reflected by the medium are returned to a reflector element array consisting of second reflector elements of a reciprocative vibration reflector. Independent drive signals are provided concurrently to the first reflector element and the reflector element array. The reflecting surface of the first reflector element has a size sufficient to the extent that the entire spotlight caused by a semiconductor laser can be reflected. The reflector elements, which have widths sufficient to the extent that the light beams irregularly reflected by the medium can be further reflected by the reflector elements, are arranged in a scanning direction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.