Optical information reading apparatus having means for judging laser deterioration
US5552590A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 7, 1993 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 7, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06K2207/1018
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optical information reading apparatus comprises: a semiconductor laser (30); an optical scanning mechanism (50) for scanning bar code (90) using a laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser (30); a photodetector (70) receiving a returning laser beam reflected at the bar code (90); information reading device (130, 140) for reading out information from the bar code on the basis of the returning laser beam received by the photodetector (70); sweep angle regulating mechanism (150, 180) for restricting a sweep angle of the laser beam used in a scanning operation of the optical scanning device (50) within a predetermined angle so as to scan only one bar code; an operational current detecting circuit (120) for detecting an operational current value of the semiconductor laser (30); and a deterioration judging device for making a judgement as to whether the semiconductor laser (30) is deteriorated or not on the basis of the operational current detected by the operational current value detecting circuit (120).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.