Holographic laser scanning method and system employing visible scanning-zone indicators identifying a three-dimensional omni-directional laser scanning volume for package transport navigation

Abstract

A method of and system for automatically identifying packages during manual package sortation operations, wherein, a laser scanning system is supported above a workspace environment of 3-D spatial extent, which can be occupied by a human operator involved in the manual sortation of packages bearing bar code symbols. In the illustrative embodiment, the laser scanning system includes a housing having a light transmission aperture, and a laser scanning pattern generator disposed within the housing. During operation of the system, the laser scanning pattern generator employs a holographic scanning disc to project through the light transmission aperture, an omnidirectional laser scanning pattern which is substantially confined within the spatial extent of a predefined 3-D scanning volume that spatially encompasses a substantial portion of the workspace environment, through which packages are transported during sorting operations. Apparatus contained within the housing is used to automatically project a visible scanning-zone indication pattern onto the floor surface immediately beneath the omni-directional laser scanning pattern. As the human operator uses the visible scanning-zone pattern to guide the transport of a package bearing a bar code symbol through the workspace environment, the package is automatically identified by the laser scanning system supported above the workspace environment. Thereafter, the package can be manually sorted by the human operator working beneath the laser scanning system. By virtue of the present invention, bar coded packages can now be automatically identified as a human operator manually sorts the same within the allocated workspace environment, while improving package sortation accuracy and worker productivity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.