A bar code scanner employs an electronic means for causing the light beam to scan a bar code symbol, rather than using a mechanical device to generate the scan. A linear array of light sources, activated one at a time in a regular sequence, may be imaged upon the bar code symbol to simulate a scanned...http://www.google.com/patents/US5545886?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5545886 - Barcode scanner using an array of light emitting elements which are selectively activated
