Claims
- 1. A device for electro-optically reading a bar code symbol having bars and spaces of different light reflectivity arranged sequentially and spaced apart along a scan direction, each bar extending vertically along a transverse direction that extends generally perpendicular to the scan direction, the device comprising:
a) a light source for generating a light beam; b) an optical element for directing the light beam toward the symbol for reflection therefrom; c) a scanner for scanning the light beam along the scan direction; and d) a linear array of solid state detector elements arranged along the transverse direction, for detecting return light reflected from the symbol over a field of view, and for generating an electrical signal representing the symbol.
- 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the linear array is composed of charge coupled device cells.
- 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the cells have monochromatic sensitivity.
- 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the cells have color sensitivity.
- 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the light source is a laser.
- 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the laser is composed of a linear array of laser diodes arranged along the transverse direction.
- 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the optical element is an oscillatable scan mirror for reflecting the light beam directly to the symbol, and also for directly receiving the return light from the symbol, and comprising a collection mirror for collecting the return light reflected off the scan mirror and for reflecting the collected return light to the array of solid state detector elements.
- 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the collection mirror has an aperture, and wherein the light beam from the light source is directed through the aperture en route to the scan mirror.
- 9. A device for electro-optically reading a bar code symbol having bars and spaces of different light reflectivity arranged sequentially and spaced apart along a scan direction, each bar extending vertically along a transverse direction that extends generally perpendicular to the scan direction, the device comprising:
a) a linear array of light emitting elements arranged along the transverse direction, for generating a light beam; b) an optical element for directing the light beam toward the symbol for reflection therefrom; c) a scanner for scanning the light beam along the scan direction; and d) a detector for detecting return light reflected from the symbol over a field of view, and for generating an electrical signal representing the symbol.
- 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the light emitting elements are diodes.
- 11. The device of claim 9, wherein the light emitting elements are lasers.
- 12. The device of claim 9, wherein the detector is a linear array of solid state detector elements arranged along the transverse direction.
- 13. A bar code reader, comprising: a pair of linear arrays of solid state detector elements arranged adjacent and parallel to each other, each of the arrays being operative for detecting return light reflected from a bar code symbol over a field of view, and for generating an electrical signal representing the symbol.
- 14. The reader of claim 13, wherein one of the arrays is a one-dimensional array of charge coupled device cells with monochromatic sensitivity.
- 15. The reader of claim 13, wherein one of the arrays is a one-dimensional array of charge coupled device cells with color sensitivity.
- 16. The reader of claim 13, and further comprising a white light source of light emitting elements for illuminating the symbol.
- 17. The reader of claim 13; and further comprising a scanner for scanning a light beam in a scan direction across bars and spaces of the symbol, each bar extending along a transverse direction that extends generally perpendicular to the scan direction; and wherein each of the arrays is arranged along the transverse direction.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/540,404, filed Mar. 31, 2000, now allowed, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/833,650, filed Apr. 8, 1977, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,264, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/269,170, filed Jun. 30, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,858.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08269170 |
Jun 1994 |
US |
Child |
08833650 |
Apr 1997 |
US |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08833650 |
Apr 1997 |
US |
Child |
09540404 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09540404 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Child |
10120338 |
Apr 2002 |
US |