Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
1995-02-10
2001-05-29
Tremblay, Mark (Department: 2165)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S462250, C235S462370
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237850
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bar code reader and to a method of reading a bar code. More specifically, the invention relates to a bar code reader which is capable of scanning and reading a bar code by employing, for example, a handheld laser scanner or the like, and to a method of reading a bar code.
(2) Description of the Related Art
A portable terminal device called a handheld terminal has been developed in the physical distribution-related services such as stock management (ordering of goods, stocktaking), etc., for the purpose of grasping and collecting data at a moment when the data are produced. The data collected by the handheld terminal are sent to a host computer (personal computer, office computer, etc.) installed in an office where they are analyzed and processed to be used as determined by the management (policy of business, service for customers, management of goods, etc.).
Furthermore, a bar code reader has been widely utilized as a means for inputting data to the handheld terminal. Inputting the data relying upon bar codes has been extensively employed since it is quicker and easier than inputting the data by hand through a keyboard and is more accurate.
The bar code reader will usually be a touch scanner or a pen scanner using a light-emitting diode, but a handheld laser scanner has been widely used. This device contains a transmitter, a vibrating mirror (the angle of vibration of the vibrating mirror being constant), a receiver, a decoder, an interface and the like. Therefore, it becomes difficult to correctly read the data when a plurality of bar codes are included in a scanning range of the scanning beam. This conventional bar code reader will be described later in the description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to eliminate the above-mentioned inconvenience inherent in the conventional device, the object of the present invention is to provide a bar code reader which need not be brought close to a bar code or which does not require bar codes other than the desired bar code to be concealed even when a plurality of bar codes are included in the scanning region of the beam projected from the bar code reader.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bar code reader comprising a transmitter made up of a light source, a vibrating mirror which scans bar codes using a light beam from the transmitter and collects light reflected by the bar codes, a receiver made up of a light sensor which converts the reflected light that is collected into electrical signals, a decoder which converts the electrical signals from the receiver into data characters, and a vibration angle adjuster means for scanning the bar codes while changing the angle of vibration of the vibrating mirror.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of reading a bar code comprising a first step for emitting a light beam from a light beam-emitting element, a second step for operating a vibrating mirror which scans the bar codes using the light beam and collects the light reflected by the bar codes, the vibrating mirror being allowed to change its angle of vibration, a third step for converting the light that is reflected by the bar codes and is collected into electrical signals, and a fourth step for decoding the electrical signals into data characters.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4933538 (1990-06-01), Heiman et al.
patent: 5115121 (1992-05-01), Bianco et al.
patent: 5235167 (1993-08-01), Dvorkis et al.
patent: 5258699 (1993-11-01), Grodevant
patent: 5386107 (1995-01-01), Dvorkis et al.
patent: 5552590 (1996-09-01), Obata et al.
patent: 00517958 (1992-12-01), None
Palmer, Roger C., The Bar Code Book, Helmers Publishing, Inc., pp. 28-35, 69-75, 1991.
Armstrong Westerman Hattori McLeland & Naughton LLP
Fujitsu Limited
Tremblay Mark
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