Web-enabled system and method for designing and manufacturing laser scanners

A method of designing and manufacturing laser scanning systems comprising

• (a) entering end-user specified laser scanning system specifications into an information server connected to an information network;
• (b) transmitting said end-user specified laser scanning system specifications from said information server to a scanner design workstation over said information server;
• (c) using said scanner design workstation to access a relational database management system over an information network, wherein said relational database management system contains a library of design specifications for predesigned modules and subcomponents of one or more previously designed laser scanning systems;
• (d) at said scanner design workstation, using said end-user specified laser scanning system specifications and said library of design specifications contained in said relational database management system, in order to create a finalized laser scanner design for a laser scanning system to be constructed;
• (e) updating said library of design specifications using said finalized laser scanner design;
• (f) manufacturing the modules and subcomponents for said laser scanning system to be constructed;
• (g) assembling said manufactured modules and subcomponents to construct one or more production units of said laser scanning system in accordance with said finalized laser scanner design.

An Internet-enabled system for designing and purchasing a laser scanning system comprising:

• an Internet information server programmed for hosting a Website capable of supporting an interactive procedure capable of receiving end-user laser scanning system specifications for use in the design and manufacture of a laser scanning system;
• client computer system, including using a Web browser program, for enabling a prospective customer to transmit said end-user laser scanning system specifications to said Website during said interactive procedure;
• a relational database management system connected to said Internet information server over an information network supporting the TCP/IP network protocol, wherein said relational database management system contains a library of design specifications for predesigned modules and subcomponents of one or more previously designed laser scanning systems;
• and
• a scanner design workstation for creating a finalized laser scanner design for a laser scanning system to be constructed, using said end-user specified laser scanning system specifications transmitted to said Internet information server and said library of design specifications contained in said relational database management system;
• wherein said finalized laser scanner design for updating said library of design specifications, manufacturing modules and subcomponents for said laser scanning system to be constructed, and assembling said manufactured modules and subcomponents to construct one or more production units of said laser scanning system in accordance with said finalized laser scanner design.

An Internet-enabled method for designing and purchasing a laser scanning system, comprising the steps:

• (a) hosting on an programmed Internet information server, a Website capable of supporting an interactive procedure;
• (b) using a client computer system having a Web browser program, to enable a prospective customer to transmit end-user laser scanning system specifications of a particular laser scanning system, to said Website during said interactive procedure;
• (c) assigning a unique customer request number to said prospective customer transmitting said end-user laser scanning system specifications to said Website;
• (d) designing a laser scanning system based on said transmitted end-user laser scanning system specifications;
• and
• (e) computing a price quotation based on a finalized laser scanner design for said laser scanning system.

A method of manufacturing a holographic laser scanning system employing modularized subcomponents and subassemblies comprising the steps:

• (a) transmitting end-user specified laser scanning system specifications from an Internet information server to a scanner design workstation operably connected to said Internet information server;
• (b) using said scanner design workstation to access a relational database management system over an information network, wherein said relational database management system contains a library of design specifications for predesigned modules and subcomponents of one or more previously designed holographic laser scanning systems;
• (c) at said scanner design workstation, using said end-user specified laser scanning system specifications and said library of design specifications contained in said relational database management system, in order to create a finalized laser scanner design for a holographic laser scanning system to be constructed from modules and subcomponents;
• (d) updating said library of design specifications using said finalized laser scanner design;
• (e) manufacturing the modules and subcomponents for said holographic laser scanning system to be constructed;
• (f) assembling said manufactured modules and subcomponents to construct one or more production units of said holographic laser scanning system in accordance with said finalized laser scanner design.

An Internet-based information serving system comprising:

• an Internet information server hosting a Website including a plurality of HTML forms for enabling an interactive procedure;
• said interactive procedure enabling a prospective customer, using a client computer system with a Web browser program, to transmit end-user laser scanning system specifications to said Website;
• and said Internet information server assigning a unique customer request number to said prospective customer transmitting said end-user laser scanning system specifications to said Website;
• a laser scanner design workstation for designing a laser scanning system based on said transmitted end-user laser scanning system specifications;
• and
• an electronic commerce server for computing a price quotation based on a finalized laser scanner design for said laser scanning system, and transmitting said price quotation to said end-user or prospective customer of said laser scanning system;
• and
• said electronic commerce server allowing said prospective customer to electronically transmit a purchase order on said finalized laser scanner design.

A system for designing a laser scanning system comprising:

• an Internet information server for hosting a Website;
• and
• a client computer system for accessing said Website and providing thereto a specification of an end-user's scanning requirements;
• wherein said Internet information server uses said specification to generate a model of a laser scanning system which satisfies said end-user scanning requirements.

A holographic laser scanner of modular construction comprising:

• an optical-bench/housing module including as subcomponents, an optical bench, a housing with an output scanning window;
• a holographic scanning-disc/photodetector module including as subcomponents, a holographic laser scanning disc, a scanning motor, one or more photodetector/signal processing boards, and a motor/board mounting assembly;
• a plurality of scanning station modules each including, as subcomponents, a laser beam production module, a base plate for mounting said laser beam production module, an output beam folding mirror and an adjustable support bracket;
• and
• a digital signal processing and I/O module including, as subcomponents, a CPU motherboard with one or more CPUs, and an I/O circuitry.

A system for designing and manufacturing laser scanners of modular construction, comprising:

• a first database management system for storing and managing information models relating to the inventory of the modules and subcomponents of modularized laser scanners;
• a scanner design computer (SD) workstation for designing laser scanners of modular construction, and producing information models for the modules and subcomponents thereof;
• a second database management system for storing and managing said information models for the designs of said modules and subcomponents obtained from said (SD) workstation;
• a manufacturing system for manufacturing said laser scanners of modular construction;
• and
• an information server for storing and serving the information models maintained by said first and second database management systems so that said (SD) workstation and said manufacturing system can access such information models as needed.

A method of designing and manufacturing laser scanners comprising the steps of:

• (a) create a first relational database model for constructed modules and subcomponents of laser scanners available in inventory;
• (b) create a second relational database model for modules and subcomponent designs that have been previously created during the design of other laser scanners;
• (c) storing said first and second relational database models in an information server;
• (d) producing a laser scanner design using inventory and design information stored in the information server;
• (e) updating said second relational database model using the information obtained during step (d);
• (f) manufacturing modules and subcomponents using the laser scanner design produced during step (d);
• (g) updating said inventory;
• and
• (h) constructing a laser scanner according the laser scanner design produced during step (d).