Method and apparatus for optically reading an information pattern
US5949056A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 22, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 7, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 22, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D30/70
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A portable, hand-held data terminal of modular structure includes a base module with a keyboard and a display screen. A data collection and communications module includes a stacked arrangement of a communications interface main circuit board, a radio and a laser scanner assembly which are housed in a housing shell which is attachable to the base module. The radio is mounted in spaced relationship to one side of the main circuit board, while the laser scanner assembly is mounted to the other side of the main circuit board. A support frame and a plurality of ground planes in the sandwiched main circuit board and a routing circuit board form an RF cage for shielding RF interference which may be generated by the radio. Also disclosed is a method for reducing the operational power consumption requirements of laser bar code scanners by analyzing reflected laser light in order to determine the presence of optically readable information sets. In a first embodiment, the reflected light intensity of a pulsed laser light beam is compared to the ambient light intensity to provide a control signal to actuate the scanning mode if a threshold differential is satisfied. In a second embodiment, a m…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.