US 6,330,973 B1Granted

Integrated code reading systems including tunnel scanners

AssigneeSymbol Technologies, Inc.

InventorsRaj Bridgelall, Howard Shepard, Edward Barkan, Robert Sanders, Mitch Maiman, Paul Dvorkis, Joseph Boriotti, Mark Krichever, Vladimir Gurevich, Alexander Breytman

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The invention relates to systems and techniques for reading optical codes, and more particularly to code reading systems with plural imaging or scanning modules pointed in various directions toward a target volume, which increase the likelihood that a code symbol on an arbitrarily oriented object in the target volume will be read. Other aspects of the invention relate to use and configuration of hand held readers, docking devices, operator side rails, arched tunnels and mirrors for increasing the coverage of the system, Additional aspects of the invention relate to components associated with point of sale installations or code reading terminals including integrated scales, input pads, system controls and displays.

Claims5

Dependent claims

An optical scanning station for use by an operator in reading optical code symbols on target objects comprising a horizontal surface for supporting target objects;

a housing including a portion on a side of the horizontal surface nearest to the operator and extending above the plane of the horizontal surface, the portion of the housing containing at least a first optical code reading module for reading optical codes on sides of the target objects including a side generally facing the operator;
a horizontal window in said horizontal surface;
at least a second optical code reading module located underneath the horizontal window for reading optical code on at least the underside of target objects located on the horizontal window;
and
wherein the raised portion of the housing is a side rail which rises no more than about two inches above the plane of the horizontal surface and wherein the first optical code reading module is positioned a distance away from the edge of the horizontal window nearest the side rail, said distance being selected to permit the field of view of the first module to project upwardly to a sufficient degree to include symbols on the sides of target objects facing the operator and located above the edge of the horizontal window nearest the operator.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/305,463Filed 6 May 1999 · continuation in part
Priority: 30 Oct 1989
Granted: 18 Dec 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification27 codes

G06K 7/1096
Further details of bar or optical code scanning devices: the scanner having more than one scanning window, e.g. two substantially orthogonally…
G06K 7/10564
Moving beam scanning: light sources
G06K 7/10584
Light sources: source control
G06K 7/10633
Basic scanning using moving elements: by oscillation

Family

Application07/428,770Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Oct 1989
Application07/520,464Parent of this division · filed 8 May 1990
Application07/715,267Parent of this division · filed 14 Jun 1991
Application07/868,401Parent of this division · filed 14 Apr 1992
Application07/981,448Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 25 Nov 1992
Application08/028,107Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Mar 1993
Application08/037,143Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 25 Mar 1993
Application08/108,521Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 19 Jul 1993
Application08/127,898Parent of this division · filed 14 Sep 1993
Application08/153,053Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 17 Nov 1993
Application08/377,732Parent of this division · filed 25 Jan 1995
Application08/652,830Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 23 May 1996
Application08/877,652Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 17 Jun 1997
Application09/182,205Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Oct 1998
Application08/652,830Parent of this division
US 5,691,528 AParent of this division
Application08/377,732Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,504,316 AParent of this continuation-in-part
Application08/153,053Parent of this division
US 5,495,097 AParent of this division
Application08/127,898Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,408,081 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,478,997 AParent of this continuation-in-part
Application07/981,448Parent of this division
US 5,280,165 AParent of this division
US 5,235,167 AParent of this division
US 5,168,149 AParent of this division
Application07/520,464Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,099,110 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,925,872 ARelated patent
US 6,332,575 B1Related patent
US 6,330,973 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.