Bar code symbol scanning system having a holographic laser scanning disc utilizing maximum light collection surface area thereof and having scanning facets with optimized light collection efficiency

A holographic laser scanning system for scanning code symbols, comprising:

• a housing;
• laser beam producing means for producing a laser beam;
• and
• a laser scanning disc disposed within said housing, having a total surface area available for light collection, and plurality of holographic optical elements for scanning said laser beam and producing a laser scanning pattern for scanning code symbols,
• wherein each said holographic optical element has an optimized light collection efficiency and a light collection surface area which is maximized with respect to said total surface area available for light collection.

A holographic laser scanner comprising:

• laser beam producing means for producing a laser beam;
• a support disc rotatable about an axis of rotation, and having an inner perimeter, an outer perimeter, and an available light collecting region defined between said inner perimeter and outer perimeter;
• and
• a plurality of holographic optical elements for scanning said laser beam and producing a laser scanning pattern for scanning code symbols, each said holographic optical element being supported on said support disc between the inner and outer perimeters of said support disc, and each having a surface area for use in light collecting operations,
• wherein substantially all of the available light collecting surface area on said support disc is utilized and the light collection efficiency of each said holographic optical element is substantially equal.

A holographic laser scanner for scanning code symbols, comprising:

• a laser for producing an outgoing laser beam;
• a support disc having an axis of rotation, and an inner perimeter, an outer perimeter, and an available light collecting region defined between said inner perimeter and said outer perimeter;
• and
• a plurality of holographic optical elements for scanning said laser beam and producing a laser scanning pattern for scanning code symbols, each said holographic optical element being supported on said support disc between the inner and outer perimeters of said support disc, and each having a light collection area for use in light collecting operations,
• wherein the size and shape of the light collection area of each holographic optical element is controlled independent of the angular sweep of said outgoing laser beam in order to make maximum use of the disk surface area for light collection functions during laser scanning operations.