WO2007111686A2 - Scan engine with built-in auto trigger - Google Patents
Scan engine with built-in auto trigger Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2007111686A2 WO2007111686A2 PCT/US2006/060571 US2006060571W WO2007111686A2 WO 2007111686 A2 WO2007111686 A2 WO 2007111686A2 US 2006060571 W US2006060571 W US 2006060571W WO 2007111686 A2 WO2007111686 A2 WO 2007111686A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- light
- symbols
- mirror
- scanning
- reflected
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
- G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
- G06K7/10544—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum
- G06K7/10821—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum further details of bar or optical code scanning devices
- G06K7/10851—Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K2207/00—Other aspects
- G06K2207/1012—Special detection of object
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to scan engines, more particularly, relates to a scan engine with a built-in auto trigger.
- Scan engines used for scanning symbols having data identifying characteristics such as barcodes are known.
- manual triggers used in scan systems are known.
- United States Patent No. 5,329,106 to Hone et al describes a handle-less barcode scanning system with a manually actuated trigger on the printed circuit board.
- a prior art auto trigger optical system is shown.
- a separate and independent auto trigger subsystem to the scanning system is shown.
- a separate light emitting diode (LED) used for triggering purposes is suitably positioned within a hand held barcode code scanner.
- the scanner contains a separate scan engine therein.
- the trigger LED emits light, which when reflected from a desired barcode type, is detected or received by a photo detector (PD).
- PD photo detector
- the reflected light input to the PD is transformed into an electronic signal, which in turn is processed by a processor (not shown) causing the scan engine to initiate desired barcode scanning.
- Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the prior art scanning system showing a separate path for the trigger subsystem 6.
- a separate barcode PD and a separate trigger PD are used for triggering and barcode reading respectively.
- a switch 8 is used to switch between a trigger subsystem 6 and the barcode scanning system.
- known systems use separate and independent triggering optical components.
- the separate and independent components each has dimension and takes up space.
- the components may be placed besides the barcode scanning optical path.
- an extra circuit board may be required for placing the component and the wirings associated therewith.
- More components necessarily lowers the life span of the scanner in that the failure of one component disrupts the operation of the whole system. Therefore, it is desirable to have a scan system free of the separate and independent triggering optical components described supra. It is further desired to have the scan system with a triggering function achieved efficiently using the existing components of a scan engine.
- the present invention generally provides a scan engine with a built-in auto trigger.
- the present invention further provides a scan engine free of manual trigger actions.
- the present invention still further provides hands free scanning such as using a reader located in a fixed porsition.
- the present invention yet further provides lower power consumption during non- operational periods by periodically generating light pulses instead of continuous light.
- the present invention yet still further provides lengthened life span for scanning light source such as laser diodes due to the provisioning of non-operational periods between pulses.
- the present invention additionally provides auto trigger scanning with the scanning mirror in stationary position, thereby extends the life span of the scanning mirror mechanism.
- a method for identifying symbols having data identifying characteristics includes the steps of: providing a scan engine having a light source for scanning said symbols and generating a light, a light receiver for receiving the generated light when reflected back from said symbols, and an oscillatable mirror interposed between said light source and said light receiver in relation to a light path; maintaining said oscillatable mirror in a stationary state, whereby only sufficient amount of information identifying the existence of said symbols is transferred by the reflected light; and determining whether sufficient amount of information identifying the existence of said symbols is transferred by the reflected light.
- a barcode scanning system for identifying symbols having data identifying characteristics is provided.
- the system has a scan engine comprising a light source for scanning said symbols and generating a light, a light receiver for receiving the generated light when reflected back from said symbols, and an oscillatable mirror interposed between said light source and said light receiver in relation to a light path; and a controller for maintaining said oscillatable mirror in a stationary state, whereby only sufficient amount of information identifying the existence of said symbols is transferred by the reflected light, and determining whether sufficient amount of information identifying the existence of said symbols is transferred by the reflected light.
- Fig. 1 depicts a prior art scan system.
- Fig. 2 depicts a block diagram of the prior art scan system of Fig. 1.
- Fig. 3 depicts an auto trigger scan system of the present invention.
- Fig. 4a is a first detailed depiction of Fig. 3.
- Fig. 4b is a second detailed depiction of Fig. 3.
- Fig. 5 depicts a block diagram of the present invention.
- Fig. 6 depicts a timing diagram of the present invention.
- Fig. 7 depicts a flowchart of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
- the present invention relates to using the same scanning path for both barcode scanning and the detection of the existence of barcode. Referring to Figs 3-7, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described.
- a scanning system having a hand held scanner 10 including a scan engine 12 is described. No triggering device such as the photo detector in Fig. 1 is required. Scan engine 12 is used for scanning symbols such as a barcode 16. In addition, scan engine 12 may be mounted on a circuit board 14 used for scanning barcode 16.
- a mounting layer 18 which may be a circuit board 14 having the respective components mounted thereon is provided.
- An oscillating mirror 20 disposed to oscillate in relation to a center point is provided for reflecting light used in determining barcode information.
- Oscillating mirror 20 has a face 20a used specifically for reflecting light.
- An electro-magnetic actuator 22 controls oscillating mirror 20.
- the electro-magnetic actuator 22 in turn is controlled by a micro-controller unit (MPU) 30.
- MPU micro-controller unit
- a laser diode assembly 24 is also mounted on mounting layer 18.
- Laser diode assembly 24 generates a laser which can be either discrete pulses, or continuous light emissions. In other words, depending upon circumstances, laser diode assembly 24 can operate in two modes, i.e. a discrete mode, and a continuous mode both of which is discussed in detail infra.
- a stationary concave mirror 26 is positioned in front of the laser path. Mirror 26 has an aperture for permitting the laser to pass through to thereby reach face 20a, which in turn reflects the laser and directs the same to an object for scanning. If barcodel ⁇ is detected, light is reflected back therefrom reaching oscillating mirror 20 which may be oscillating or stationary (non-oscillating) depending upon which mode of operation the system is operating. Oscillating mirror 20 reflects light onto a face 26a of mirror 26, which in turn reflects the laser onto a photo diode assembly 28.
- a micro-processor unit 30 controls a laser driver 32 that drives laser diode 24.
- Laser diode assembly 32 operates exclusively in two modes discussed supra, i.e. the discrete mode and the continuous mode.
- Micro-processor 30 further controls a mirror driver 22 that drives oscillating mirror 20.
- Photo diode assembly 28 is coupled to an amplifier 36, which is coupled to a barcode automatic gain controller (AGC) 38.
- a trigger processing block 40 is coupled to an analog-to-digital convector 42 with the resultant converted digital signal fed into processor 30.
- the continuous mode is achieved.
- the laser diode 24 radiates light continuously in time.
- the barcode scanning mode the scanning mirror 20 oscillates.
- the reflected light patterns of the barcode is received or collected on photo diode 28 via collecting mirror 26.
- Photo diode 28 in turn transforms the light patterns into electronic signals which is further amplified to a desired or constant level by the AGC 38.
- the amplified electronic barcode signal is further converted to a digital signal by the A/D converter 42, which outputs the digital signal for further processing by the MPU 30.
- the laser diode In the discrete or auto trigger mode, the laser diode periodically spurts out or radiates discrete light pulses. Further, in the auto trigger mode, only information in the neighborhood of point 16c is received by oscillating mirror 20 due to its non-oscillation as shown in Fig. 4b, in which the auto trigger mode of the present invention is described.
- scanning mirror 20 In the auto trigger mode, scanning mirror 20 is kept stationary in a non-oscillating mode in that actuator 22 does not exert an actuating force upon oscillating mirror 20.
- the laser diode radiates light pulsing and the sensing mirror is not oscillating. In other words, sensing mirror is kept stationary causing the sensing of only a center portion of the scanning area, e.g.
- the reflected light patterns caused by the symbols are collected by the photodiode via the collecting mirror 26 in the same manner as during the barcode scanning mode.
- MPU 30 detects symbol derived signals at absolute levels or the variations of the absolute level. Therefore, AGC 38 is not necessary, although it may be used, in this mode in that MPU 30 sets AGC 38 in fixed gain state and the band path frequency in 10OkHz.
- the presence of a bar code can be determined by either detecting the actual signal, or the
- Pulsed laser 44 is generated periodically with the laser source inactive during periods 46. Pulses 44 are further modulated at a fixed frequency.
- the laser light is typically pulsed every 10 mSec with the pulse lasting 1 mSec. Further, the pulsed laser is modulated at a frequency of 100 kHz for anti-ambient light purposes. That is, the frequency during the pulse is set so that it will pass through a system that is designed to filter ambient light.
- a flowchart 50 is shown.
- a dual mode scan engine described supra is provided (step 52).
- the oscillating mirror 20 is kept non-moving or stationary before it is determined that barcode subject to scanning exits (step 54).
- a modulated pulse 44 is generated by laser diode 24 and reflected by the non-moving mirror 20 upon a symbol or an object (step 56). If it is determined that the object is a barcode or part of a barcode (step 58), continuous laser is generated by laser diode 24 (step 60) and oscillating mirror moves (step 62) with both under the control of MPU 30. If no barcode is detected, the system reverts back to step 54.
- Step 58 may be also arranged to simply determine the presence of an object.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2008540313A JP2009515229A (en) | 2005-11-09 | 2006-11-06 | Scanning engine with automatic trigger device |
DE112006002838.3T DE112006002838B4 (en) | 2005-11-09 | 2006-11-06 | Scanner with built-in self-timer |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/270,015 US7549587B2 (en) | 2005-11-09 | 2005-11-09 | Scan engine with built-in auto trigger |
US11/270,015 | 2005-11-09 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2007111686A2 true WO2007111686A2 (en) | 2007-10-04 |
WO2007111686A3 WO2007111686A3 (en) | 2008-03-06 |
Family
ID=38002761
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2006/060571 WO2007111686A2 (en) | 2005-11-09 | 2006-11-06 | Scan engine with built-in auto trigger |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US7549587B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2009515229A (en) |
DE (1) | DE112006002838B4 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007111686A2 (en) |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5699180A (en) * | 1994-10-27 | 1997-12-16 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Laser scanner with curved anamorphic mirror |
US5804809A (en) * | 1991-02-07 | 1998-09-08 | Psc Inc. | Optical system for scanning and reading bar codes which is adapted to be configured in a hand held unit |
US20050051632A1 (en) * | 2003-09-08 | 2005-03-10 | Leach Robert J. | Drive circuit for controlling a resonant motor |
Family Cites Families (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US5235167A (en) * | 1988-10-21 | 1993-08-10 | Symbol Technologies, Inc. | Laser scanning system and scanning method for reading bar codes |
US4933538A (en) * | 1988-10-21 | 1990-06-12 | Symbol Technologies, Inc. | Scanning system with adjustable light output and/or scanning angle |
US5561283A (en) * | 1988-10-21 | 1996-10-01 | Symbol Technologies, Inc. | Laser scanning system and scanning method for reading bar codes |
US5260553A (en) * | 1990-09-17 | 1993-11-09 | Metrologic Instruments, Inc. | Automatic hand-supportable laser bar code symbol scanner and method of reading bar code symbols using the same |
US5484992A (en) * | 1990-09-17 | 1996-01-16 | Metrologic Instruments, Inc. | Automatic hand-supportable laser scanner with flickering laser scanning beam to improve visibility thereof and beam-symbol alignment during bar code symbol presence detection |
JPH06123851A (en) | 1991-05-16 | 1994-05-06 | Omron Corp | Semiconductor laser light source unit |
JP3260820B2 (en) * | 1992-06-08 | 2002-02-25 | オリンパス光学工業株式会社 | Focus detection device |
JPH06274669A (en) * | 1993-03-23 | 1994-09-30 | Olympus Optical Co Ltd | Scanning mechanism for scanner |
US5381438A (en) | 1993-08-26 | 1995-01-10 | Industrial Technology Research Institute | Laser diode unit including an adjusting member provided with a through hole |
FR2798491B1 (en) * | 1999-09-10 | 2001-11-23 | Intermec Scanner Technology Ct | OPTOELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR ACQUIRING IMAGES OF PLANS-OBJECTS, ESPECIALLY BAR CODES |
JP4539934B2 (en) | 2000-04-20 | 2010-09-08 | ローム株式会社 | Ink droplet detection module and assembly method thereof |
US6382509B1 (en) * | 2001-04-03 | 2002-05-07 | Yu-Chun Chang | Signal reading control method for barcode scanner |
US7206109B2 (en) | 2001-08-31 | 2007-04-17 | Optoelectronics Co., Ltd. | Module for optical information reader |
-
2005
- 2005-11-09 US US11/270,015 patent/US7549587B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2006
- 2006-11-06 WO PCT/US2006/060571 patent/WO2007111686A2/en active Application Filing
- 2006-11-06 DE DE112006002838.3T patent/DE112006002838B4/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2006-11-06 JP JP2008540313A patent/JP2009515229A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5804809A (en) * | 1991-02-07 | 1998-09-08 | Psc Inc. | Optical system for scanning and reading bar codes which is adapted to be configured in a hand held unit |
US5699180A (en) * | 1994-10-27 | 1997-12-16 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Laser scanner with curved anamorphic mirror |
US20050051632A1 (en) * | 2003-09-08 | 2005-03-10 | Leach Robert J. | Drive circuit for controlling a resonant motor |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE112006002838T5 (en) | 2008-09-18 |
JP2009515229A (en) | 2009-04-09 |
WO2007111686A3 (en) | 2008-03-06 |
US7549587B2 (en) | 2009-06-23 |
DE112006002838B4 (en) | 2014-09-18 |
US20070102524A1 (en) | 2007-05-10 |
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