Handheld laser scanner with built-in stand

A scanner constructed so that it includes a built-in stand which allows it to sit generally upright on a table when not held in the hand. The scanner can be programmed to automatically scan labels without needing to actuate the trigger, so that when it is set on the table in its "standing" position it can act as a "hands free" scanner. The scanner also includes aiming markings to make it easier for the user to intuitively aim the scanner at bar codes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The field of the present invention relates to scanners and more 
particularly to handheld laser scanners. 
A laser scanner is used for the purpose of non-contact reading of bar 
codes, emits a scanning line of laser light from an opening on the 
scanner, and can be used either held in the hand or free-standing on the 
table, without the use of any other stand devices. The scanner includes a 
protective housing which incorporates all electronics, optics, light 
sources, and scanning mechanisms necessary to generate the scanning beam 
of light, detect the light scattered by the bar code, convert the detected 
light energy into a digital bit stream, decode the digital information and 
turn it into a valid bar code, and communicate that information to a data 
terminal. The scanner is constructed so that it includes a built-in stand 
which allows it to sit generally upright on a table when not held in the 
hand. The scanner can be programmed to automatically scan labels without 
needing to actuate the trigger, so that when it is set on the table in its 
"standing" position it can act as a "hands free" scanner. The scanner also 
includes aiming markings to make it easier for the user to intuitively aim 
the scanner at bar codes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
This invention relates to laser scanning systems which can be held in the 
hand or set on a table to operate in a "hands free" mode. 
More particularly, invention relates to a new type of handheld laser 
scanner, with features to make it easier for the scanner user to set the 
scanner down on a table when not in use, as well as to allow the scanner 
to operate in a "hands free" mode without the need for special 
electro-mechanical "smart stands" that are currently used in the industry. 
The scanner also includes special means to help the user more intuitively 
aim the scanner at bar codes. 
In one embodiment of the invention, the scanner housing described below 
will enclose the following parts: a laser light source such as a visible 
laser diode, a focussing means for the light source, a scanning means for 
the light source, a means of relaying the scanning beam away from the 
scanner housing so that it hits a target bar code, a means of collecting 
the light energy scattered by the bar code, a means of converting that 
light energy into an analog electronic signal representative of the bar 
code, a means of converting that analog electronic signal into a digital 
bit stream, a means of translating the digital bit stream into valid bar 
code information, a means of formatting the bar code data so that it may 
be understood properly by a data terminal, a means of communicating with a 
data terminal, and a means of transmitting the scanned bar code data to 
the data terminal. 
One embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. 1. The scanner includes a 
handle 1 which allows the user to support the scanner in his or her hand 
in the "hand held" mode of operation. A top portion 2 of the scanner, when 
combined with handle 1 and a trigger 3, forms the traditional "gun shape" 
of traditional handheld scanners. Trigger 3, when activated, activates all 
electronics inside the scanner, so that the laser turns on, the scanning 
mechanism is set in motion, and all analog detection and digital 
processing electronics are activated. When the laser is turned on, the 
output scanning beams exit from transparent scanning window 4, and the 
light scattered from the bar code during the scanning process is also 
collected through transparent scanning window 4. 
A stand portion 5 can also be built into the scanner. This stand portion, 
shown in FIG. 1 as a rectangular-shaped stand positioned under transparent 
scanning window 4, can be built into the scanner so that top portion 2, 
handle 1, and stand portion 5 are all one part. It is also possible to 
have stand portion 5 be a detachable or interchangeable unit with a 
variety of purposes. 
The bottom of handle 1 and stand portion 5 are designed so that the scanner 
can rest stably on resting points 6 on stand portion 5 or suitable resting 
points on other table-like structures. 
Such standing scanners can either be operated so that a user must pull the 
trigger to activate scanning, or the can be used in a "hands free" mode. 
In this second mode of operation, a user can activate a special button on 
the scanner, or pass a special programming bar code in front of the 
scanner, so that it operates in a "continuous scanning" mode even when the 
trigger is not actuated. If desired, the scanner can also be designed so 
that the "continuous scan" mode would be disabled the moment the scanner 
was picked up and trigger 3 pushed again. 
FIG. 1 also indicates the positioning of an LED indicator 7 on the top of 
top portion 2 of stand portion 5. This indicator could glow amber when the 
laser beam is on and glow momentarily green when the scanner has 
successfully decoded a label. Aiming line 8 is a line painted, molded, or 
silk-screened on the top of the scanner so that one end of the mark is 
centered over the center of the transparent scanning window, and the other 
end of the mark is connected to LED indicator 7. Aiming line 8 allows the 
scanner operator to more intuitively aim the scanner at bar codes during 
the reading process. 
A second version of a scanner with a built-in stand is shown in FIG. 2. In 
this version handle 9 and trigger 11 perform similar functions to handle 1 
and trigger 3, respectively, of the scanner shown in FIG. 1. A curved 
stand and electronics housing 10 now forms part of the stand, so that it 
and handle 9 can sit comfortably on a table on resting points 13. A 
trapezoidal head 16 includes transparent scanning window 12; this window 
12 works in much the same manner as window 4 in the scanner of FIG. 1. 
Finally, LED Indicator 14 and aiming line 15 provide the same features as 
provided by the LED indicator 7 and aiming line 8, respectively, in FIG. 
1. 
In the scanner shown in both figures, there is no restriction on where the 
various internal functional parts of the scanner need to be located. In 
more traditional handheld scanners, for example, a handle such as handle 1 
or handle 9 might have included the decoding and interfacing electronics. 
For ease of manufacture and possible upgrades by users, however, stand 
portion 5 or curved stand and electronics housing 10 could be used to 
house either decoding or interface electronics if desired. 
One feature of the present invention is to provide a built-in stand for a 
handheld laser scanner, so that the scanner can just as easily be used in 
a "hands free" mode as it is as a "hand held" scanner. 
A second feature of the present invention is to provide a handheld scanner 
with a built-in stand that can operate without the need for triggering the 
device manually. 
A third feature of the present invention is to provide additional places to 
locate additional electronics and optical subsystems for the product, to 
aid with ease of upgradeability and manufacturing options for the product. 
A fourth feature of the present invention is to provide additional aiming 
devices for a laser scanner, through the use of an aiming line and an LED 
indicator.