초록 ▼

Bar code symbol reading system with automatic modes of hand-held (i.e., hands-on) and stand-supported (i.e., hands-free) operation. In the hand-held mode of automatic operation, the user initiates laser scanning by simply bringing the object within at least a portion of the scan field of the automat

Bar code symbol reading system with automatic modes of hand-held (i.e., hands-on) and stand-supported (i.e., hands-free) operation. In the hand-held mode of automatic operation, the user initiates laser scanning by simply bringing the object within at least a portion of the scan field of the automatic bar code symbol reading device for automatic object detection and subsequent automatic bar code symbol reading. In the stand-supported mode of automatic operation, a scanner support stand is used to support the automatic bar code symbol reading device relative to a countertop surface so that the scan field is projected away from the scanner support stand and the hand-supportable housing, and extends above the countertop surface permitting the automatic reading bar code symbols on goods passed thereby. This way, during the scanner-supported mode of automatic operation, a bar code symbol on an object of virtually any size can be automatically read when the object is automatically detected in the outwardly projected scan field while the hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device is supported within the scanner support stand.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An automatic bar code symbol reading system having hand-held and stand-supported modes of automatic operation, comprising:(a) a hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device including(1) a hand-supportable housing supportable in the hand of a user, and having a light tr

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An automatic bar code symbol reading system having hand-held and stand-supported modes of automatic operation, comprising:(a) a hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device including(1) a hand-supportable housing supportable in the hand of a user, and having a light transmission aperture through which visible light can exit and enter said hand-supportable housing;(2) object detection means in said hand-supportable housing, for detecting an object bearing a bar code symbol and being located within at least a portion of a scan field definable external to said hand-supportable housing, and automatically generating an activation signal in response to the detection of said object in at least a portion of said scan field;(3) scan data producing means in said hand-supportable housing, for producing scan data from said detected object located in said scan field, said scan data producing means including(i) a visible laser beam producing means disposed in said hand-supportable housing for producing and projecting a visible laser beam through said light transmission aperture, and(ii) scanning means for scanning said visible laser beam across said scan field and said bar code symbol on said detected object, and(iii) laser light detecting means for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off said scanned bar code symbol and passed through said light transmission aperture, and automatically producing scan data indicative of said detected light intensity;(4) scan data processing means in said hand-supportable housing for processing produced scan data so as to read said scanned bar code symbol on said detected object, and automatically produce symbol character data representative of said read bar code symbol; and(5) system control circuitry for automatically controlling the operation of said scan data producing means and said scan data processing means in response to the generation of said activation signal,wherein, during said hand-held mode of automatic operation, said activation signal is automatically generated when said object is detected by said object detection means in at least a portion of said scan field while said hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device is supported within the hand of said user; and(b) a scanner stand including(1) housing support means for receiving and supporting at least a portion of said hand-supportable housing, and(2) a base portion mountable relative to a countertop surface so that when said hand-supportable housing is supported within said housing support means during said stand-supported mode of automatic operation, said scan field is projected away from said scanner support stand and said hand-supportable housing, and extends above said countertop surface permitting the automatic reading of bar code symbols on objects passed by said scanner support stand,wherein, during said scanner-supported mode of automatic operation, said activation signal is automatically generated when said object is detected by said object detection means in at least a portion of said scan field projected away from said scanner support stand.