Portable multi-directional bar code scanner

Abstract

An apparatus for scanning bar code on an article comprises a housing with a window; a laser light source for transmitting a laser beam which is disposed in the housing; a first mirror fixedly disposed in the housing for reflecting the laser light beam; a member mounted in the housing for rotatable driving and provided with second rotatable mirror; and a detector for receiving the laser light coming from the bar code reflected by the fixed mirror and the rotatable mirror and admitted via the window. The fixed and rotatable mirrors are disposed such that a pattern of a comparatively large number of relatively short scan lines partly overlapping each other is created as seen on the window. The scan lines first converge relative to each other to an area on a predetermined distance from the window and the scan lines diverge from each other beyond the area in the direction away from the window, so that the area, for instance on a distance 0-30 cm from the window, is traversed at different angles in each case by the scan lines.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.