Patent ID: 6561424
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: B82Y,G02B,G06K,G07F,G07G

Abstract:
A method of automatically identifying packages during package transport operations carried out through the doorway of a storage warehouse, said method comprising the steps of:(a) supporting a laser scanning system above a doorway of a storage warehouse, said doorway defining a passageway of 3-D spatial extent through which a human operator may walk while manually transporting packages bearing bar code symbols through said doorway, said laser scanning system including a housing having a light transmission aperture, and a laser scanning pattern generator disposed within said housing; (b) projecting from said laser scanning pattern generator, and through said light transmission aperture, an omnidirectional laser scanning pattern substantially confined within the spatial extent of a predefined 3-D scanning volume and spatially encompassing a substantial portion of said passageway of 3-D spatial extent; and (c) transporting a package bearing a bar code symbol through said doorway as said human operator walks through said doorway so that said omnidirectional laser scanning pattern automatically reads the bar code symbol on said package, and said laser scanning system automatically produces symbol character data representative of said read bar code symbol and the identity of said package.