Bar code reader with an integrated scanning component module mountable on printed circuit board

A bar code reader has an integrated scanning component module which is mountable on a printed circuit board. In one embodiment, the module may include the digitizer/decoder electronics, enabling the module to be used with a generic PCB. In some embodiments, the module includes a high speed optical scanning arrangement having an optical element which extends longitudinally of a flexible member, secured at one end. In other embodiments, the invention extends to a hand-held optical scanner having a scanning assembly, detector and data transmission coupling all mounted to a common printed circuit board, preferably located within a manually-graspable handle. In yet a further embodiment, an abuse-detector or accelerometer is provided for determining when the device is exposed to deceleration above a predetermined limit, and optionally for automatically shutting down applications programs and for providing a black-box-record of a short time frame before the device was exposed to an unexpected shock. Preferably, the reader is shock protected by a thermo-plastic elastomer housing section. An outgoing light beam is directed at a non-orthogonal angle relative to the PCB.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates generally to a high-speed scanning
 arrangement, and particularly although not exclusively to such a scanning
 arrangement for use in hand-held or fixed optical scanners such as bar
 code scanners. In one embodiment the invention relates to a bar code
 reader with an integrated scanning component module mountable on a printed
 circuit board.
 2. Description of the Related Art
 Various optical readers and optical scanners have been developed heretofore
 to optically read bar code symbols applied to objects in order to identify
 the object by optically reading the symbol thereon. The bar code symbol
 itself is a coded pattern comprised of a series of bars of various widths
 and spaced apart from one another to bound spaces of various widths, the
 bars and spaces having different light reflecting properties. The readers
 and scanners electro-optically decoded the coded patterns to multiple
 digit representations descriptive of the objects. Scanners of this general
 type have been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,251,798;
 4,360,798; 4,369,361; 4,387,297; 4,593,186; 4,496,831; 4,409,470;
 4,808,804; 4,816,661; 4,816,660; and 4,871,904, all of said patents having
 been assigned to the same assignee as the instant invention and being
 hereby incorporated herein by reference.
 As disclosed in the above-identified patents and applications, a
 particularly advantageous embodiment of such a scanner resided, inter
 alia, in emitting a light beam, preferably a laser beam, emitted from a
 light source, preferably a gas laser or a laser diode, and in directing
 the laser beam to a symbol to be read. En route to the symbol, the laser
 beam was directed to, and reflected off, a light reflector of a scanning
 component. The scanning component moved the reflector in a cyclical
 fashion and caused the laser beam to repetitively scan the symbol. The
 symbol reflected the laser beam incident thereon. A portion of the
 incident light reflected off the symbol was collected and detected by a
 detector component, e.g. a photodiode, of the scanner. The photodiode had
 a field of view, and the detected light over the field of view was decoded
 by electrical decode circuitry into data desciprive of the symbol for
 subsequent processing. The cyclically movable reflector swept the laser
 beam across the symbol and/or swept the field of view during scanning.
 U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,387,297 and 4,496,831 disclose a high speed scanning
 component including an electric motor operative for reciprocatingly
 oscillating a reflector in opposite circumferential directions relative to
 an output shaft of the motor. Electrical power is continuously applied to
 the motor during scanning. The light beam which impinges on the light
 reflector is rapidly swept across a symbol to be scanned in a
 predetermined cyclical manner. The scanning component comprises at least
 one scan means for sweeping the symbol along a predetermined direction
 (X-axis) lengthwise thereof. The scanning component may also comprise
 another scan means for sweeping the symbol along a transverse direction
 (Y-axis) which is substantially orthogonal to the predetermined direction,
 to thereby generate a raster-type scan pattern over the symbol. In
 addition to a single scan line and the raster-type pattern, other types of
 scan patterns are also possible, such as, x-shaped, Lissajous, curvilinear
 (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,904), etc. For example, if the X and Y axis
 scanning motors are both driven such that the light reflectors are driven
 at a sinusoidally-varying rate of speed, then the scan pattern at the
 reference plant will be a Lissajous-type pattern for omni-directional
 scanning of the symbols. The use of two separate scanning motors and
 control means to produce the multi-axis and omni-directional scanning
 pattern increases material and labor costs as well as the amount of
 electrical power needed to operate the scanner. In addition, the
 relatively complicated motor shaft and bearing arrangements of the
 scanning components may result in a useful life that is inadequate for
 some applications.
 Europeon patent application 456,095 also discloses various prior art types
 of high speed scanning arrangements, as do U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,280,165 and
 5,367,151.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 Objects of the Invention
 It is a general object of the present invention to enhance the
 state-of-the-art of high speed scanning arrangements, and particularly
 although not exclusively for such arrangements for use in optical scanners
 for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity, particularly laser
 scanners for reading bar code symbols.
 A further object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive,
 robust and easily replaceable scanning arrangement.
 Yet another object of the invention is to increase the working lifetime of
 the scanning components.
 Yet another object is to provide a robust, low cost, hand-held optical
 scanner.
 Yet a further object is to provide a means for determining when a scanner
 has been exposed to high levels of mechanical shock.
 Yet a further object is to attempt to alleviate high levels of mechanical
 shock.
 Features of the Invention
 According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an optical
 scanning assembly including an optics module having an optical scanner and
 an optical detector for detecting light reflected from an indicia being
 read and for providing data signals representative thereof, and a printed
 circuit board (PCB) carrying electrical circuitry for controlling said
 optics module. A first electrical connector jointly movable with the
 optics module mates with a second electrical connector fixed to the PCB
 for electrically coupling the optics module and the PCB.
 The electrical connectors may supply both power and control signals to the
 optics module, and may also operate to transfer the data signals from the
 optics module to the PCB. The electrical connection is conveniently of the
 plug-in type (for example, it maybe PCMCIA-compatible). In preferred
 embodiments, the electrical connectors act to mount the optics module on
 the PCB. Alternatively, the module may be otherwise secured to the PCB,
 with the electrical connectors acting simply to transfer power and/or
 data.
 According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
 hand-held electronic device including an abuse-detector for determining
 when said device has been exposed to mechanical shock above a
 predetermined design limit.
 The abuse-detector may conveniently be secured, for example by means of an
 adhesive, to a PCB of the electronic device. Preferred electronic devices
 include all types of portable and/or hand-held electronic equipment,
 including portable computer terminals, data entry devices, bar code
 readers, digital cameras and so on.
 According to yet a further aspect of the present invention there is
 provided a hand-held electronic device including an accelerometer for
 determining when said device is exposed to acceleration above a
 predetermined limit and for producing a signal representative thereof, and
 a CPU for running an applications program, said CPU being arranged to shut
 down said applications program and to store related status information
 when said signal is received from said accelerometer.
 The invention further extends to a method of determining when a hand-held
 electronic device is exposed to acceleration above a predetermined limit.
 Such a method preferably includes the step of producing a signal
 representative thereof, and closing down any active applications programs
 and storing related status information.
 When it is determined that the device is being exposed to an acceleration
 above a predetermined limit, the CPU may enter a power-down mode. In
 addition, one or more mechanical protection devices may operate to prevent
 mechanical damage from the expected resultant shock. For example,
 mechanical protection may be applied, by means of a mechanical lock, shock
 absorbers, or the like, to prevent mechanical damage to the heads and/or
 platters of a disk drive.
 In yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided a hand-held
 electronic device including an accelerometer having an accelerometer
 output, a deceleration-level detector for determining from said
 accelerometer output when said device has been exposed to a deceleration
 above a given value, and a store for storing for later analysis values
 representative of the accelerometer output for a time period prior to the
 deceleration-level detector determining that the device has been so
 exposed.
 In yet another aspect there is provided a method of operating a hand-held
 electronic device, said device including an accelerometer having an
 accelerometer output and a store, the method comprising:
 (a) Monitoring said accelerometer output, and determining when said device
 has been exposed to a deceleration greater than a given value; and
 (b) Storing in the store, for later analysis, values representative of the
 accelerometer output for a time period prior to the said determination.
 Preferably, the accelerometer output is filtered or smoothed, before being
 applied to the deceleration-level detector. Means may then be provided,
 for example, a signal comparator, for determining when the deceleration
 level is sufficiently high. Once such a determination has been made, the
 prior output of the accelerometer (for example over the preceding five or
 ten seconds) is stored in memory for future analysis. Conveniently, an A/D
 converter is also provided, sampling the signal at sufficiently frequent
 intervals that future analysis may be carried out on the discrete
 digitized and stored values.
 Separate x, y and z accelerometers may be provided, supplying respectively
 acceleration outputs in the x, y and z directions. Each output may be
 separately filtered and compared with a given acceleration level, thereby
 allowing separate triggering in each of the x, y and z channels. In
 addition, a separate channel may be provided for other status information,
 such as for example temperature information, on/off status information for
 the electronic device and so on. A further store may be provided for
 storing such information in the event that a deceleration is detected of a
 fixed limit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 Referring now to the drawings, as shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 10
 generally identifies a hand-held scanner having a head 12 and an
 ergonomically-shaped handle 14. A manually-operable trigger 16 is situated
 below the head 12 on an upper, forwardly-facing part of the handle 14. As
 known from the above-identified patents incorporated by reference herein,
 a light source component, typically, but not necessarily, a laser, is
 mounted inside the head 12. The light source emits a light beam along a
 transmission path which extends outwardly through a window 18 that faces
 indicia, e.g. bar code symbols, to be read. Also mounted within the head
 is a photodetector component, e.g. a photodiode, having a field of view,
 and operative for collecting reflected light returning through the window
 18 along a path from the symbol.
 A scanner component (to be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
 2) is mounted within the head 12, and is operative for scanning the symbol
 and/or the field of view of the photodetector. The scanner component
 includes at least one light reflector positioned in the transmission path
 and/or the return path. The reflector is driven in oscillatory fashion by
 an electrically-operated drive, preferably at the resonant frequency of
 the scanner component, thereby producing a scanning light beam.
 The photodetector generates an electrical analog signal indicative of the
 variable intensity of the reflected light. This analog signal is converted
 into a digital signal by an analog-to-digital converter circuit. This
 digital signal is conducted to a decode module (not shown) within the
 scanner. The decode module decodes the digital signal into data
 descriptive of the symbol and the data are passed out along an external
 cable 20 to an external host device 24, normally a host computer. Here the
 data are stored for further processing. Instead of the cable 20, the
 scanner 10 and the external host device 24 may be in communication by a
 wireless connection, e.g., a radio link.
 In operation, each time a user wishes to have a symbol read, the user aims
 the head at the symbol and pulls the trigger 16 to initiate reading of the
 symbol. The trigger 16 is an electrical switch that actuates the drive
 means. The symbol is repetitively and rapidly scanned. As soon as the
 symbol has been successfully decoded and read, the scanning action is
 automatically terminated, thereby enabling the scanner to be directed to
 the next symbol to be read in its respective turn.
 In addition, the head need not be a portable hand-held type, as fixedly
 mounted heads are also contemplated in this invention. Furthermore,
 scanners in accordance with the present invention may have manually
 operated triggers, or may alternatively be continuously operated by direct
 connection to an electrical source.
 The oscillations need only last a second or so, since the multiple
 oscillations, rather than time, increase the probability of getting a
 successful decode for a symbol, even a poorly printed one. The resonating
 reflector has a predetermined, predictable, known, generally uniform,
 angular speed for increased system reliability.
 Turning now to FIG. 1b, there is shown an alternative hand-held optical
 scanner, this time taking the form of a scanning terminal 26. The terminal
 comprises a hand-held case 28 having a data display screen 30 and a data
 input keypad 32. A high speed scanning arrangement within the case 28
 produces a scanning light beam which extends outwardly through a window 34
 which faces the indicia to be read. Light reflected from the indicia
 passes back through the window 34 and impinges on a photodetector
 component (not shown), for example a photodiode, which creates a returning
 light output signal. The information content within that signal may be
 stored in an on-board memory (not shown) or may be downloaded to a remote
 computer via a data port 36. Alternatively, the information may be
 transmitted via a radio frequency signal produced by an on-board radio
 transmitter/receiver 38.
 FIG. 2a shows an embodiment of a high speed scanning arrangement suitable
 for use with either of the optical scanners of FIGS. 1a and 1b. The
 arrangement has a flexible beam 50, one end 53 of which is fixedly mounted
 by means of a screw 52 to a base support 54. The beam 50 preferably
 comprises a generally planar leaf spring, which may be made of
 Mylar(.TM.), a plastics material, metal, or any other convenient flexible
 material. At the distal end 55 of the beam 50 is a mounting bracket 56,58
 which is secured to the beam by means of a further screw 60. Secured to
 one portion 56 of the mounting bracket is a generally rectangular mirror
 (62) having a reflective mirror surface 64. The mirror extends downwardly
 from the distal end 55 of the beam 50, generally parallel with the length
 of the beam, towards the other end of the beam 53.
 Mounted to the second portion 58 of the mounting bracket, on the other side
 of the beam 50 from the mirror, is a permanent magnet 66. This is
 positioned generally on an axis 68 of an electromagnetic coil 70, but is
 mounted perpendicular to the axis to save space.
 In operation, the coil 70 is driven either with a pulsed electrical signal,
 or an AC signal (e.g., a sine-wave signal), thereby creating a continuous
 or repetitive force on the magnet 66. The force repeatedly moves the
 magnet into and out of the coil 70, thereby flexing the beam 50 and
 causing oscillation of the mirror in the direction shown by the
 double-headed arrow 75. Alternatively, the force may be unidirectional
 only: for example a repeated pulse may draw the magnet into the coil, with
 the magnet moving in the other direction purely by virtue of the
 resilience of the beam 50. The perpendicular mounting of the magnet 66
 means that it does not protrude beyond the coil 70 when the beam 50 bends
 to its fullest extent.
 Preferably, the coil 70 is driven so that the scanning arrangement
 oscillates at a resonate frequency which is above the fundamental. The
 preferred mode of oscillation is a higher order mode, as is shown
 schematically in FIG. 2b. In this Figure, the dashed lines 50' represent
 the rest position of the beam 50, and the solid lines represent one of the
 instantaneous positions of the beam during oscillation. For the sake of
 clarity, the mirror and mounting bracket are omitted, and the amount of
 curvature is exaggerated. In this preferred embodiment, the beam is caused
 to oscillate in such a way that there is a fixed node or axis 79
 approximately one third of the way along its length. The portion of the
 beam 80 above this point bends as shown, as does the portion 82 between
 the axis 79 and the base support 54: however, the node 79 remains
 substantially stationary. Other modes of oscillation, other than the
 fundamental, could also be used, depending upon the oscillation frequency
 required. The exact frequency will of course depend upon the size and mass
 of the components, but in the preferred embodiment the frequency may for
 example be between 100 and 200 Hz; or it could be greater than 200 Hz.
 By mounting the mirror 62 to the distal end 55 of the beam, and arranging
 for it to extend downwardly, parallel to the beam, the mirror center of
 mass 72 may be brought close to the node 79. This allows for high speed
 scanning to take place without unduly stressing the beam 50. As will be
 appreciated, the mirror 62 is effectively oscillating about a nominal
 rotation axis which is coincident with the node 79. Since the mirror 62
 and the magnet 66 are rigidly coupled together, they oscillate as one
 unit, which simplifies the drive signal control.
 To further reduce stress on the beam 50, the mounting bracket 56,58 and the
 permanent magnet 66 are both made relatively small and light in comparison
 with the mirror. The fact that the magnet is small, and positioned far
 away from the nominal rotation axis 79, allows the coil 70 to provide
 enough rotational moment for the start-up time to be extremely rapid (less
 than 50 milliseconds).
 The relative lengths and masses of the beam 50 and the mirror 62 may be
 adjusted, as will be evident to the skilled man in the art, to provide the
 required frequency of oscillation. If necessary, additional weights 74 may
 be secured to the mirror, thereby bringing the overall center of mass 72
 close to the nominal axis of rotation.
 In alternative embodiments (not shown) the mirror 64 could be replaced with
 any other suitable optical arrangement for diverting a light beam. For
 example, instead of the light beam being reflected from the mirror surface
 62, it could instead be diverted by passing through a lens, a prism, a
 diffraction grating, or a holographic optical element. Also, the mirror 62
 could be replaced with a solid state laser, the scanning motion of the
 beam being caused by oscillation of the laser itself.
 This last arrangement is shown schematically in FIG. 3, in which like
 elements are given like reference numerals. In this embodiment, the mirror
 62 is replaced with a solid state laser 162 which is mounted to the
 mounting bracket 56 by a rigid elongate support 164, extending
 longitudinally of the beam 50. The laser 162 includes beam-shaping optics
 and a stop 166, and produces an output beam 163. In use, as the beam 50
 oscillates (as shown schematically in FIG. 2b) the laser 162 also
 oscillates, thereby causing a scanning motion of the laser beam 163. The
 scanning frequency may be high (for example between 100 and 200 Hz)
 because of the close proximity of the nominal axis of rotation (the node
 79) and the center of mass 168 of the laser 162. Preferably, the support
 164 is light but rigid so that it does not affect substantially the
 position of the center of mass of the support/laser assembly.
 The embodiment of FIG. 3 may be used in combination with the embodiment of
 FIG. 2a, in optical series, to provide the capability of two dimensional
 scanning. Alternatively, the embodiment of FIG. 3 may be used in
 conjunction with any other known method of one dimensional scanning.
 Also, two high speed scanning arrangements of FIG. 2 may be used together,
 in optical sequence, to create a beam which scans in more than one
 direction. In that way, high speed multi-axis scan patterns may be
 produced across the indicia to be read. Alternatively, the high speed
 scanning arrangement of FIG. 2 may be used in association with other known
 (one-dimensional) scanning arrangements to produce a similar effect.
 In either arrangement, the drive signal applied to the coil 70 preferably
 causes continued oscillation at the required frequency. Alternatively,
 however, a single pulse or drive signal could be applied to the coil,
 simply starting the oscillation off, with the scan element then coming
 naturally to rest in a damped manner.
 Either of the embodiments of FIGS. 2 or 3 may be manufactured as a
 self-contained scan module or element which may be mounted as a unit
 within any type of hand-held or fixed optical scanner, for example those
 shown in FIG. 1a or 1b. In such a modular scanning arrangement, the base
 support 54 may comprise part of the optical scanner casing, as shown for
 example at reference numeral 12 in FIG. 1a or reference numeral 28 in FIG.
 1b. In such an arrangement, the coil 70 may also be directly mounted to
 the casing (with the coil therefore not forming part of the replaceable
 module). Alternatively, the base support 54 of FIGS. 2 and 3 may comprise
 a common mounting bracket to which is secured not only the beam 50, but
 also the coil 70. In that arrangement, the coil 70 forms part of the
 replaceable module, and is secured to the casing along with the other
 scanning components via the intermediary of the support bracket 54.
 FIGS. 4a and 4b show respectively top and side views of a low cost housing
 within which the previously described scanning arrangements may be
 incorporated.
 The housing of FIG. 4 comprises a head portion 200 and a manually-graspable
 handle portion 202 having a trigger 204 which can be operated by the
 user's finger. A scanning mechanism generally indicated at 206 is located
 in the head portion, and provides a scanning laser beam indicated by the
 dotted lines 208 which leaves the scanner via a window 210.
 The scanning mechanism 206 is surface-mounted to an elongate printed
 circuit board (PCB) 212 which extends downwardly into the handle. Power
 and/data transfer capabilities are provided via an external lead 214 which
 couples to the PCB via a suitable power and/data transfer coupling 216 at
 the lower end of the board. The trigger 204 has, within the handle, an
 elongate metal tongue 218 which, when the trigger is pressed, applies
 force to an ON/OFF micro-switch 220 on the PCB.
 The PCB may, in addition, include decode electronics 222 providing for
 in-housing decoding of bar code symbols or other indicia which are being
 read by the scanner.
 Preferably, all of the mechanical and/or electronic components within the
 housing, apart from those associated with the trigger 204 and the tongue
 218, are surface mounted to the PCB. The PCB is then simply secured to the
 housing by screws or other appropriate couplings 224,226.
 Instead of or in addition to the data cable 214, the scanner may be
 provided with a radio communications link 300. In such a case, power may
 be provided not via an external lead but rather by an on-board battery
 pack 302.
 In one preferred embodiment, the scanning mechanism 206 may be of the type
 shown in FIG. 2a or of the type shown in FIG. 3. In an alternative
 embodiment, the mechanism may be of the type now to be described with
 reference to FIG. 5a .
 In FIG. 5a, the scanning mechanism 206' includes a laser diode 230 that
 produces an outgoing laser beam which is reflected from a collection
 mirror 232 onto an oscillating scanning mirror 234 to produce an outgoing
 scanning beam 236. Light reflected from the indicia (not shown) being
 scanned impinges first on the scanning mirror 234, then on the collection
 mirror 232 from which it is reflected to a photodiode or other
 photodetector 238. The photodetector produces an electrical output signal
 which travels via the PCB to the PCB electronics 222 (FIG. 4b).
 The scanning mirror 234 is caused to oscillate back and forth about an axis
 240 by means of a drive signal applied to a coil 242. This interacts with
 a magnet 244 on a rotating member 246 to which the mirror 234 is also
 secured.
 As best shown in FIG. 5b, the scanning mechanism is secured to the PCB 212
 by means of an angled mounting bracket 250. A flange 252 of the mounting
 bracket is secured to the PCB by one or more screws 254.
 An alternative module design is shown in FIGS. 12 to 14. In this design, a
 small optics module carries the mechanical and optical elements, with the
 majority of the electronics being located elsewhere. In the preferred
 embodiment, the optics module has an electrical connector for connection
 to a printed circuit board (PCB) which carries the electronic components
 such as the laser drive, the motor drive, the digitizer and the decoder.
 FIGS. 12 to 14 show an exemplary design in which the optics module
 generally indicated at 950 comprises a variety of optical and mechanical
 components mounted to a base 952. Electrical connections 953 are provided
 for coupling the module to a PCB 954.
 On the module base 952 is mounted a semiconductor laser 962 the output beam
 963 of which passes through a focusing lens 964 before being internally
 reflected by a prism 966. The beam then passes through an aperture 968 in
 a collector 970 before impinging upon an oscillating scanning mirror 956
 to provide an outgoing scanning laser beam 972. The scanning mirror 956 is
 arranged to oscillate over an angle of about 28.degree. . . . by virtue of
 the interaction between a fixed magnet 958 and an electro-magnet coil 960.
 Light 974, reflected from the indicia, impinges back onto the scanning
 mirror 956 and onto the collector 970 which focuses it via an aperture 976
 in a housing 978 to a photodetector 980.
 Electrical connections, schematically illustrated at 953, 953' and 953",
 couple the optics module 950 to the PCB 954. The connections may include
 power connections, ground connections, signal/control connections and
 drive connections for the coil 960 and the laser 962. Signal connections
 are also provided enabling the output from the photodetector 980 to be
 passed to the PCB 954.
 On the PCB 954 are mounted the electronic circuits 982 for operating the
 optics module 950. These may include, for example, the laser driver, the
 motor drive, the digitizer and the decoder.
 Such an arrangement provides for an efficient and convenient manufacturing
 operation.
 An alternative optics module is shown schematically in FIG. 15. In this
 arrangement, outgoing laser light from a semiconductor laser 600 passes
 through a focusing lens 602, an aperture 604 in a collecting mirror 606
 and impinges upon the scanning mirror 608 to form an outgoing scanning
 beam 610. The scanning mirror 608 is mounted on a Mylar strip 612, and is
 caused to oscillate by virtue of the interaction between a permanent
 magnet 614 and an electromagnetic driving coil 616.
 Reflected light 618 from the indicia (not shown) being read first impinges
 once more onto the scanning mirror 608, and is then focused by means of
 the concave collection mirror 606 onto a filter 620 and photodetector 622
 assembly.
 The optical elements are mounted to a base 624 which carries an electrical
 connector 626 via which electrical signals can be transferred to and from
 the module. In particular, the connector 626 may carry power, ground
 lines, control signals, drive signals for the coil 616 and (via the
 additional coupling 628) for the laser 600. In addition, the connector 626
 may include data lines for transferring from the module data signals
 representative of light received by the photodetector 622.
 The base 624 may further include one or more application-specific
 integrated circuits 630.
 In the embodiments of FIGS. 12 and 15, the modules may optionally include
 some or all of the required electronic components such as a digitizer
 and/or a decoder. In such a case, the module is self-contained and simply
 plugs into a generic PCB. The generic PCB then need not carry decode or
 digitizing circuitry.
 In any of the preceding embodiments, the data and/or other connections may
 be made by way of a standard PCMCIA card connector, if desired. For
 example, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the data lead 214 may be coupled to
 the PCB 212 via a PCMCIA card-type connector. Alternatively, the radio
 frequency transmitter 300 may also be coupled via this type of connector.
 Where a PCMCIA card connector is used, the preferred arrangement is as
 shown in FIG. 6. In order to prevent radio frequency leakage from a PCMCIA
 package, the plastic PCMCIA connector is selectively coated with an
 appropriate conductive material such as silver, copper, nickel or gold ink
 or paint. Other conductive coatings could of course be envisaged such as,
 for example, the coating supplied by Acheson Colloids Company of Ontario,
 Canada, under product reference Electrodag 18DB70.
 The coating covers the upper surface 410 of the connector, the lower
 surface 412 and the front surface 414. The coating at least partially
 continues inside some of the cavities, to make an electrical connection
 between the exterior coating and ground. According to the PCMCIA standard,
 socket positions 1, 34, 35 and 68 are grounded and the coating may extend
 into, and make electrical contact with ground within, any or all of these
 sockets.
 In addition, coating is provided within the other contact load positions,
 but no electrical connection is made to the grounded exterior shell
 coating.
 The electrically conductive coating is, in addition, in electrical contact
 with the PCMCIA top and bottom covers (not shown).
 When used with a standard metal card frame assembly, this embodiment
 ensures substantial sealing of RF leakage out of the PCMCIA assembly.
 The embodiment of FIGS. 4a and 4b may include an abuse-detector generally
 indicated by reference numeral 700, and illustrated in more detail in
 FIGS. 7 and 8 to which reference should now be made.
 The abuse detector 700 comprises a molded plastics material ring 702,
 having inwardly-directed spokes 704 which support a central weight 706.
 The ring 702, the spokes 704 and the weight 706 may be all of one piece,
 as is illustrated in FIG. 8 which is a longitudinal cross-section along
 the central line of one of the spokes. Each spoke 704 is coated with a
 stress-sensitive coating 708. The unit is secured to a suitable support
 within the scanner, for example the PCB 212 in FIG. 4b, by means of an
 annular adhesive coating 710 applied to one side of the ring 702.
 The coating 708 is chosen so that it visibly cracks when the equipment is
 subjected to a level of acceleration that exceeds the specified limits of
 use(e.g., 2000 g). This occurs by the twisting or longitudinal bending of
 the spokes 704 as the weight 706 moves slightly with respect to the ring
 702. It will be noted from FIG. 8 that in the preferred embodiment the
 weight 706 is spaced slightly forwardly of the PCB, by virtue of a
 rearwardly-extending annular boss on the ring 702, thereby enabling the
 weight to move freely as the spokes bend and/or twist.
 In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the ring 702 may be secured to a
 circular base, which may itself be attached, for example by means of an
 adhesive, to the PCB 212.
 An abuse meter of the type illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 may be applied to
 any type of hand-held equipment, not only bar code readers. It may have
 particular application to hand-held computer terminals and like equipment
 which may, in a busy industrial or commercial environment, be liable to
 sustain accidental shocks.
 A rather more sophisticated approach to the problems of unexpected shock is
 illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11. This proceeds from the recognition that
 although sudden shock, due for example to banging or dropping the device,
 may not cause permanent damage, it can cause interruption of the operation
 of the electrical process/software within. Such electronic interruptions
 may cause data and/or software program loss that may not be easily
 recoverable. Accordingly, the embodiment of FIG. 4b includes an
 accelerometer with associated circuitry 800 for sensing sudden
 acceleration of the device and for automatically causing the computer to
 pause or to shut down the current process before the possible shock causes
 loss of data and/or disruption of that process. A suitable accelerometer
 for use in all types of hand-held or portable computer peripherals is the
 Model 3031 accelerometer supplied by IC Sensors of Milpitas, Calif.
 In operation, the accelerometer is designed to detect sudden accelerations,
 for example that caused when the device is dropped, and to alert the
 central processing unit (CPU) accordingly. The computer is therefore
 warned of a possible imminent shock, allowing all current processing to be
 frozen and for the electronics to be shut down before the shock occurs. At
 the time of the shock, no processing will be in progress, and hence no
 electronic information will be lost due to the shock. Of course, this does
 not preclude loss of capability of the device due to actual physical
 damage.
 Upon indication that the device is accelerating, the CPU is arranged to
 enter a low-power "pause" mode in which the current processes, and the
 status conditions, are saved. After the impact, the user may reactivate
 the system and can continue the processing, from the point at which it was
 shut down, without loss of data.
 Shock prediction may also be used to protect physical components from
 damage due to a sudden shock. Once the computer has been warned of the
 high acceleration rate, it may actuate electro-mechanical devices to
 provide additional mechanical protection. For example, a miniature disk
 drive can be locked before impact to provide additional protection to the
 drive head and platters.
 It will be understood that acceleration-detection in three dimensions will
 typically be preferred, since the impact may occur at any angle. However,
 one-dimensional acceleration sensing could suffice if, in a particular
 application, protection from shock is needed only in a particular
 direction.
 FIG. 9 shows the alerting algorithm in more detail. Starting at 910,
 acceleration of the device is continually monitored at 912 by the
 accelerometer 800 (FIG. 4b). When the accelerometer determines at step 914
 that a threshold is exceeded, an alert is sent at 916 to the CPU, for
 appropriate action to be taken. The accelerometer then continues to
 monitor the acceleration level, so that it can signal a return to normal
 conditions. If the limit was not exceeded at step 914, monitoring simply
 continues.
 FIG. 10 shows the flow of the CPU response to an acceleration alert.
 Starting at 920, the CPU first, at step 922, sends a message to actuate
 any electro-mechanical locking devices to prepare for the shock. At 924
 the CPU then stops all current running programs, and saves the status
 information of those processes. Finally, at 926, the CPU puts the computer
 into a power-down or "sleep" mode.
 The recovery from a power-down event caused by an acceleration alert is
 illustrated schematically in FIG. 11. Starting at 930, when the user wakes
 up the unit (via a keystroke or other input), the CPU then checks at 932
 to see whether the power-down mode it is coming out of was due to an
 acceleration alert. If not, control then passes at 933 to the normal
 wake-up routine.
 If the power-down was caused by an acceleration alert, the CPU informs the
 user at 934 that it experienced an acceleration shutdown. The system then
 asks whether the user wishes to continue the application from the point at
 which it was paused. The user's input is checked at 936, and if the user
 has decided not to continue from the point at which the process was
 paused, a top level routine 937 may then be initiated. On the other hand,
 if the user does decide to continue the application from the paused point,
 the electro-mechanical locks are removed at 938, and at 940 the process
 status information is re-installed and the application continued from the
 appropriate point.
 An alternative and yet more sophisticated approach is illustrated in FIGS.
 16 to 19. FIG. 16 shows a hand-held scanner body 1610 having a head
 portion 1620 and a manually-graspable handle portion 1630. The internal
 scanning components (not shown) are actuated by means of a
 digitally-operated trigger 1640.
 Mounted within the handle 1630 is a printed circuit board 1650 which is
 coupled by means of a flexible electrical connection 1660 to x, y and z
 accelerometers 1670, fixedly secured to the housing.
 The PCB 1650 mounts electronic components, shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, for
 processing the signals received from the accelerometers 1670.
 FIG. 17 illustrates the signal processing for the x-channel. An
 acceleration a.sub.x applied to the accelerometer 1670x produces a raw
 output signal 1708x on the accelerometer output 1710x. This signal is
 applied to an x-filter 1712x which produces a smoothed output 1714x on the
 filter output 1716x. The y and z channels are identical.
 The three channels already described in connection with FIG. 17, may be
 seen on the left-hand side of FIG. 18. As shown in that drawing, the
 filter output for each channel is applied to one input of a comparator
 1802. The other input, in each case, is a fixed voltage 1804
 representative of an acceleration of 200 g. The respective comparator
 outputs 1806 are then applied to three respective inputs of a central
 OR-gate 1810. This accordingly creates a wake-up signal on an output 1812
 when any one or more of the comparators 1804 have registered an
 acceleration in excess of 200 g. The wake-up signal on the line 1812 is
 placed on a bus 1814 which supplies the information respectively to x, y
 and z microprocessors 1816. Analog signals are also supplied to the
 respective microprocessors from the output of the x, y and z filters 1712.
 Each microprocessor has associated with it a corresponding memory 1818.
 The memories are coupled with a further bus 1820 to a common output port
 or data coupling 1822, whereby the information in the memories 1818 may be
 downloaded to a fixed central computer (not shown).
 In operation, the individual outputs of the accelerometers are constantly
 monitored, and a "wake-up" signal is supplied on the line 1812 if any one
 or more of the accelerometers records an acceleration of greater than 200
 g. In that event, data representative of the filter outputs are supplied
 to the respective microprocessors, and may be stored in the memories for
 further study or processing. The precise waveform which has triggered the
 "wake-up" signal on the line 1812 may still be recovered and stored in
 memory by virtue of its having been delayed in transit by a delay element
 1824. The respective x, y and z delay elements may comprise standard delay
 lines, or may, more preferably, comprise EEPROMs, arranged to store the
 incoming signals on a temporary basis, and to pass them on if and only if
 a "wake-up" signal is generated. For example, each EEPROM may store
 waveforns relating to the most recent five second period, with previous
 time periods being constantly overwritten unless and until a "wake-up"
 signal is generated, in which case the waveforms are passed on to the
 microprocessors 1816. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the EEPROMs
 may comprise part of the respective microprocessors 1816.
 In a further development of the idea, additional sensors 1826 may be
 provided, for each channel, to supply additional information that may be
 useful to assist in the analysis of the waveforms. For example, it may
 under some circumstances be advantageous to retain information relating to
 the raw (pre-filtered) signals, and/or the x, y, z attitude of the
 equipment, over a period of time.
 In addition, or alternatively, a further channel (not shown) may be
 provided for the storage of additional information such as the ambient
 temperature, the temperature of the laser diode, the on/off state of the
 scanner, the frequency/duration of use, or the state of various electronic
 or mechanical components. With this additional information, the device
 effectively acts as a "black-box" for an optical scanner, or other
 electronic equipment, allowing the manufacturer or other testing personnel
 access to a complete device log. If a user reports that a particular
 scanner has stopped working, or has developed a malfunction, it is then an
 easy matter to download the log via the connector 1822, and to investigate
 the device's recent history. It may for example may become evident from
 the log that the device has been subject to abusive treatment which has
 not been reported by the user.
 Turning now to FIG. 19, there is shown a preferred mode of operation, which
 differs slightly from that already discussed in connection with FIG. 18,
 in that the entire waveform is loaded into memory only if a deceleration
 of greater than 500 g has been detected; if the detected deceleration is
 between 200 and 500 g, the system simply makes a note of that fact.
 At step 1910, the algorithm is launched as the scanner is powered up. If
 the user wishes to upload the information stored in the memories, he
 requests an upload at step 1914, and the upload is effected at 1916. In
 this diagram, "EE" represents an erasable EPROM.
 If an upload has not been requested, the system goes into a suspended mode
 at 1918. It remains in that mode until a "wake-up" signal is supplied at
 1920, this telling the system that at least one accelerometer has detected
 a deceleration of greater than 200 g (compare the "wake-up" signal on the
 line 1812 of FIG. 18).
 At step 1922, an A/D converter is initialized, the corresponding waveform
 sampled at 100 sampling points, and the digital values stored in RAM. A
 check is then made at 1924 to see whether any of these samples are
 representative of decelerations greater than 500 g. If not, then control
 passes to box 1926. The current value of the counter representing
 decelerations of between 200 and 500 g is read, the value is incremented,
 and the new value is then stored in EE. Control then passes back to box
 1918, to await a further "wake-up" signal.
 If any samples of greater than 500 g are found at step 1924, control passes
 the box 1928. The entire digitized sample is then stored in EE, and the
 pointers updated, allowing the waveform to be reconstructed at a later
 stage. Other relevant information may then be stored, at 1930, such as for
 example the temperature. Control then returns to box 1918 and further
 activity is suspended until another "wake-up" signal is detected.
 It will of course be appreciated that the equipment and processes described
 above, and illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11 and 16 to 19 may find application
 in many types of portable equipment, not only bar code readers. Other
 applications include portable hand-held and notebook computers, computer
 terminals and other electronic equipment.
 FIG. 20 depicts a terminal analogous to the one shown in FIG. 1b in that it
 has a display 30 and a keypad 32. However, the window is not located at
 the front, but instead a window 210 is located on a bottom wall 211. The
 scan module or engine 206 is mounted on the PCB 212 such that the outgoing
 laser scan beam exits the housing at an acute angle on the order of
 30.degree. relative to the horizontal. The scan beam is not perpendicular
 or parallel to any outer wall of the terminal, or to the PCB 212.
 Since hand-held electronic devices are subject to a considerable amount of
 mechanical stress due to dropping to hard surfaces, etc., it is important
 that the housing be designed in a durable manner. Another feature of the
 present invention, as shown in FIG. 21, is to provide an external housing
 of a hand-held device such as a lap top computer, a bar code reader, etc.,
 comprised of three distinct sections or components, namely an upper
 housing 11, a middle housing 13, and a lower housing 15, although such
 sections may be any three (or more) segments or regions of the housing.
 The upper housing and the lower housing are made of a relatively rigid
 thermoplastic such as ABS/PC while the middle housing which separates the
 upper housing and lower housing, is preferably made from a "semi-rigid"
 thermoplastic elastometer such as Texin.RTM. (Texin.RTM. is a trademark of
 Miles Inc., of Pittsburgh, Pa., relating to a family of urathane thermo
 plastic materials). We use the term "semi-rigid" to describe Texin as a
 material that is a cross between an elastometer, with the properties of
 high strain and low set and a standard thermoplastic, with the properties
 of high rigidity and brittleness.
 The shape and design of the housing is such that the middle housing is the
 first point of contact on a side load that might typically occur when the
 reader is dropped. This portion of the housing, when made from Texin, is
 capable of sustaining relatively large strains without experiencing
 permanent deformation. The large deflection serves to gradually slow down
 the impact against sensitive internal components, hence, reducing the
 shock load, much the same way that an internal shock mounting system such
 as rubber bumpers, would.
 The housing can easily be designed to allow the energy absorbent properties
 of the middle housing to work for a load directed onto the upper housing
 and a soft boot or "foot" typical of the handle portion of a gun-shaped
 bar code reader, would be needed for a bottom load. Another important
 difference in this design is that the optical assembly can be rigidly
 mounted to the lower housing for accurate mechanical registration. This
 reduces the likelihood of the common problem of alignment of a "soft
 mounted" or suspending optical assembly to the housing. An additional
 benefit is the fact that the Texin.RTM. material has enough
 compressibility to provide a moisture and dust proof seal when fastened
 snugly to the other portions of the housing. Thus, if sealing is desired,
 the need for a separate gasket is eliminated.
 It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or
 more together, may also find useful applications in other types of
 constructions which differ from those specifically desccribed above.
 Elements described in connection with one embodiment may, where
 compatible, be combined with those described in connection with another
 embodiment.
 While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a
 high speed scanning arrangement, it is not intended to be limited to the
 details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be
 made without departing in any way from the spirit or scope of the present
 invention.
 Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of
 the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,
 readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that,
 from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential
 characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and,
 therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended
 within the meaning and range of equivalence of the appended claims.