United States Patent [19] [li] Patent Number: 4,805,175
Knowles [45] Date of Patent: Feb. 14,1989
[54] ULTRA-COMPACT, HAND-HELD LASER SCANNER
[75] Inventor: Carl H. Knowles, Moorestown, N.J.
[73] Assignee: Metrologic Instrumetns, Inc., Bellmawr, N.J.
[21] Appl. No.: 128,299
[22] Filed: Dec. 3,1987
[51] Int. CI* HOIS 3/10
[52] U.S. Q 372/24; 235/472
[58] Field of Search 372/26, 24; 235/472
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
D. 281,977 12/1985 Sklaroff D14/116
4,387,297 6/1983 Swartz et al 235/462
4,409,470 1/1983 Shepard et al 235/472
4,460,120 7/1984 Shepard et al 235/472
4,496,831 1/1985 Swartz et al 235/472
4,575,625 3/1986 Knowles 235/467
4,593,186 6/1986 Swartz et al. 235/472
4,607,156 8/1986 Koppenaal et al 235/472
4,673,805 6/1987 Shepard et al 235/472
4,736,095 5/1988 Shepard et al 372/26
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 861301458.5 2/1986 European Pat. Off. .
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein,
Cohen & Pokotilow, Ltd.
[57] ABSTRACT
An ultra-compact laser scanner comprising a self-contained housing including a handle portion configured to be readily held within the hand of a person and a short length body portion projecting outward from the handle portion. A subassembly including a laser tube and associated power supply is mounted on a circuit board within the handle and can be readily removed therefrom. A signal processing subassembly is located within the body portion above the handle. A motor and optic system subassembly is also mounted within the body portion and is arranged to direct a beam of laser light from the laser tube through an arc out through a window in the front of the body portion of the housing to sweep across a bar code symbol at which the device is aimed. A beam width adjusting/beam blocking moveable curtain is mounted over the window. Light reflecting off the bar code enters back into the housing through the window, passes through a compact optic path to a photodetector and associated signal processing components so that the bar code scanned is decoded. The device includes a trigger for effecting the scanning operation. The decoded signals are provided via a cable to associated peripheral equipment, such as electronic cash registers, computers, etc.
