Claims
- 1. A bar code reader for reading a bar code displayed on a surface by using light scanned across and reflected by the surface, the bar code reader comprising:
- a scanner for generating and directing a light beam through a scanning area that traverses the surface including the displayed bar code;
- said scanner including a polygon mirror having a perimeter and being arranged for rotation about an axis of rotation;
- said polygon mirror forming at least two reflecting surfaces along the perimeter for reflecting and scanning the light beam generated by said scanner across the surface including the bar code as the polygon mirror is rotated about the axis of rotation;
- a first one of the at least two reflecting surfaces being configured relative to said polygon mirror to extend along a first distance of the perimeter so that a line defined by the intersection between a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the first one of the at least two reflecting surfaces, is subtended by an angle .theta..sub.1 having an apex at the intersection of the plane and the axis of rotation, the first reflecting surface being parallel to the axis of rotation;
- a second one of the at least two reflecting surfaces being configured relative to said polygon mirror to extend along a second distance of the perimeter so that a line defined by the intersection between the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the second one of the at least two reflecting surfaces, is subtended by an angle .theta..sub.2 having an apex at the intersection of the plane and the axis of rotation, the second reflecting surface being parallel to the axis of rotation;
- the angle .theta..sub.2 being greater than the angle .theta..sub.1.
- 2. The bar code reader of claim 1, wherein said polygon mirror forms a plurality of reflecting surfaces spaced about the perimeter of the polygon mirror and wherein each one of a first set of the plurality of reflecting surfaces includes a line defined by the intersection between the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the respective one of the first set of reflecting surfaces, that is subtended by the angle .theta..sub.1 and each one of a second set of the plurality of reflecting surfaces includes a line defined by the intersection of the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the respective one of the second set of reflecting surfaces, that is subtended by the angle .theta..sub.2.
- 3. The bar code reader of claim 2, wherein the first and second sets of the plurality of reflecting surfaces are arranged sequentially, in an alternating pattern, around the perimeter of the polygon mirror.
- 4. A bar code reader for reading a bar code displayed on a surface by using light scanned across and reflected by the surface, the bar code reader comprising:
- a scanner for generating and directing a light beam through a scanning area that traverses the surface including the displayed bar code;
- said scanner including a polygon mirror having a perimeter and being arranged for rotation about an axis of rotation;
- said polygon mirror forming at least two reflecting surfaces along the perimeter for reflecting and scanning the light beam generated by said scanner across the surface including the bar code as the polygon mirror is rotated about the axis of rotation;
- a first one of the at least two reflecting surfaces being configured relative to said polygon mirror to extend along a first distance of the perimeter so that a line defined by the intersection between a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the first one of the at least two reflecting surfaces, is subtended by an angle .theta..sub.1 having an apex at the intersection of the plane and the axis of rotation, the first reflecting surface being parallel to the axis of rotation;
- a second one of the at least two reflecting surfaces being configured relative to said polygon mirror to extend along a second distance of the perimeter so that a line defined by the intersection between the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the second one of the at least two reflecting surfaces, is subtended by an angle .theta..sub.2 having an apex at the intersection of the plane and the axis of rotation, the second reflecting surface being parallel to the axis of rotation;
- the second distance being greater than the first distance.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
1-76915 |
Jul 1989 |
JPX |
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Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/547,842, filed Jul. 3, 1990, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Foreign Referenced Citations (8)
Number |
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1081009 |
Jul 1980 |
CAX |
3602008 |
Jul 1987 |
DEX |
52-55166 |
May 1977 |
JPX |
63-1259 |
Jan 1988 |
JPX |
63-257882 |
Oct 1988 |
JPX |
1-46725 |
Feb 1989 |
JPX |
1-321582 |
Dec 1989 |
JPX |
437111 |
Jan 1975 |
SUX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
547842 |
Jul 1990 |
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