Abstract:
A scan module includes a scan motor, a laser; a sensor; and a mirror module. The mirror module includes (a) a collection mirror having an opening and (b) a fold mirror having a first end physically coupled to the collection mirror. A second end of the fold mirror is separated by a gap from the collection mirror.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/071,002 entitled “Scan Motor” filed on Mar. 3, 2005 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,658, which is a Continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/047,240 filed Jan. 31, 2005 entitled “Scan Motor” issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,489. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is directed to laser scanners and, more particularly to a scan module. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   There are numerous standards for encoding numeric and other information in visual form, such as the Universal Product Codes (UPC) and/or European Article Numbers (EAN). These numeric codes allow businesses to identify products and manufactures, maintain vast inventories, manage a wide variety of objects under a similar system and the like. The UPC and/or EAN of the product is printed, labeled, etched, or otherwise attached to the product as a dataform. 
   Dataforms are any indicia that encode numeric and other information in visual form. For example, dataforms can be barcodes, two dimensional codes, marks on the object, labels, signatures, signs etc. Barcodes are comprised of a series of light and dark rectangular areas of different widths. The light and dark areas can be arranged to represent the numbers of a UPC. Additionally, dataforms are not limited to products. They can be used to identify important objects, places, etc. Dataforms can also be other objects such as a trademarked image, a person&#39;s face, etc. 
   Scanners that can read and process the dataforms have become common and come in many forms and varieties. One embodiment of a scanning system resides, for example, in a hand-held gun shaped, laser scanning device. A user can point the head of the scanner at a target object and press a trigger to emit a light beam that is used to read, for example, a dataform, on the object. 
   In an embodiment, semiconductor lasers are used to create the light beam because they can be small in size, they are low in cost and they do not require a lot of power. One or more laser light beams can be directed by a lens or other optical components along a light path toward an object that includes a dataform. The light path comprises a pivoting scan mirror that sweeps the laser light back and forth across the object and/or dataform. The mirror can be part of a scan motor comprising a spring, and a permanent magnet. The magnet is positioned in the vicinity of a drive coil, which oscillates the scan motor. There are numerous other known methods of sweeping the laser light, such as moving the light source itself or illuminating a plurality of closely spaced light sources in sequence to create a sweeping scan line. The scanner can also create other scan patterns, such as, for example, an ellipse, a curved line, a two or three dimensional pattern, etc. 
   The scanner also comprises a sensor or photodetector for detecting light reflected or scattered from an object and/or dataform. The returning light is then analyzed to obtain data from the object or dataform. Two known scan systems for collecting light are retroreflective scan systems and non-retroreflective scan systems. 
   In retroreflective scan systems, the same pivoting scan mirror that sweeps the laser light to form a scan line, also receives the light that returns to the scanner. The mirror&#39;s surface is made as large as possible to capture as much returning light as possible. The returning light is directed towards a sensor, such as for example, a photodiode, that emits electrical signals corresponding to the returning light. The returning light can be concentrated on the sensor using, for example, a parabolic shaped collection mirror, or in other embodiments the mirror can have a spherical or some other shape. Data is obtained from a targeted dataform by interpreting the electrical signals. The sensor can be relatively small since the field of view of the scanner is dynamic and the instantaneous field of view of the scanner is relatively small. An exemplary retroreflective scan system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,949, which is owned by the assignee of the instant invention and is incorporated by reference. 
   The performance of a retroreflective scan system is related to the scan system&#39;s collection area, i.e., the available area the scan system has to collect returning light. The more collection area the scan system has, the higher the scan system&#39;s performance will be. For example, a larger collection area can increase the range of the scan system and/or improve the scanning of lower contrast dataforms. The collection area for a scan system is determined by many factors including the area of the collection mirror, the area of the scan mirror, the angle of the scan mirror with respect to the front of the scan system, the size and location of the fold mirror, obstructions in the optical path, etc. 
   In non-retroreflective scan systems, the scan mirror that pivots to create a scan line is not used to receive light returning from a target dataform. Since the pivoting scan mirror does not have to receive returning light, it can be relatively small. Instead of using a large collection mirror and a small sensor to receive returning light, the scanner comprises a relatively large sensor that detects the returning laser light across its field of view. Since the field of view of the scanner is not dependant on the scan mirror, the sensor can be positioned below the source of the scan line. An exemplary non-retroreflective scan system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,040, which is owned by the assignee of the instant invention and is incorporated by reference. 
   Known non-retroreflective scan systems use scan motors created by an injection molding (IM) process, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,529, which is owned by the assignee of the instant invention and is incorporated by reference. In an exemplary embodiment, the scan motor comprises injection molded substrates and liquid injection molded (LIM) springs. The springs can be made of silicone, which provide shock protection. Additionally, the injection molded scan motor can be made at relatively low costs. Non-retroreflective scan systems are good candidates for injection molded scan motors because those systems use small mirrors, and small mirrors yield low inertia and low driving voltages. Since a retroreflective system uses a relatively large mirror, LIM scan motors have not been used since the drive voltages would be too high. Known retroreflective systems use scan motors that have springs made of mylar and/or metal. These materials do not have the cost and shock benefits of a material such as silicone. 
   Accordingly, there is a desire for a scan motor that can also be used in a retroreflective system that is durable, resistant to shocks and can be produced at low costs. Additionally, there is a desire for injection molded scan motors for non-retroreflective systems that use less power. 
   Although, retroreflective scan systems use collection mirrors that are relatively large, the overall volume of a retroreflective scan system can be very small, for example, 0.200 in 3 . A retroreflective scan system or more specifically a scan engine can be implemented as part of another device, such as, for example a handheld computer or handheld scanner. Since the devices that scan engines are found in are continuously shrinking, the scan engines included in the devices should be as small as possible, while providing adequate performance. In addition, it might not be possible to alter the shape of the scan engine to optimized internal volume, because an industry standard scan engine shape exists. 
   Because of the limited available volume, known small retroreflective scan engines might have sacrificed some collection area for other necessary features. For example, a relatively large scan motor, the angle of a scan mirror and/or the position of a fold mirror can reduce the collection area of a scan engine. Alternatively, a greater collection area might be obtained by optimizing or increasing the available internal area of a scan engine by changing its shape. Unfortunately, this may not be desirable since industry standards may exists with respect to the shape of a scan engine. Additionally, it is desirable for new scan engines to fit into existing devices. 
   Accordingly, there is a desire for a retroreflective scan system, with a large collection area, that can improve scan performance, reduce manufacturing costs and increase durability. Additionally, there is a desire for improvements in larger scan systems using designs developed for smaller scan systems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention as described and claimed herein satisfies this and other needs, which will be apparent from the teachings herein. 
   An exemplary scan module implemented in accordance with the invention comprises a chassis, a drive coil, a scan motor, a laser, a mirror module and a sensor. The mirror module can comprise a collection mirror comprising an opening, and a fold mirror that extends from the collection mirror. The fold mirror can extend behind the collection mirror. Exemplary scan modules can be a scan engine and/or a scan module of a handheld scanner, a portable computer, etc. 
   An exemplary scan motor that can be used with the exemplary scan module comprises a spring module, a magnet and a reflective element. The spring module comprises a static substrate and a dynamic substrate that are coupled together by a molded flexible spring. In one exemplary embodiment, the substrates are made of thermo plastic and the spring is made of silicone. The spring is relatively small in size and can reduce the power required to drive the scan motor. Additionally, the scan motor can be made at low costs and has very good shock protection. 
   The dynamic substrate comprises an extending member comprising a first side and a second side. A magnet is coupled to the first side of the extending member and a reflective element, such as, for example, a mirror is coupled to the second side of the extending member. The reflective element is relatively large in size and extends beyond the static substrate and/or the dynamic substrate. In an embodiment of the invention, the scan motor comprises a pair of liquid injection molded (LIM) silicone springs and the extending member is positioned between the springs. 
   A method of scanning, implemented in accordance with the invention comprises driving a scan motor, for example by exciting a drive coil positioned opposite the magnet of the scan motor, directing a laser beam towards the reflective element of the scan motor using a fold mirror that is part of a mirror module and creating a scan pattern. A scanner user can aim the scan pattern over a dataform, for example, over a barcode, and read the information displayed in the dataform. The scanner concentrates light retuning from the dataform towards a sensor, which analyzes the light and reads the dataform. The light can be concentrated by a collection mirror or lens that is part of the mirror module. 
   Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, considering in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. It is understood however, that the drawings are designed solely for the purpose of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     The drawing figures are not to scale, are merely illustrative, and like reference numerals depict like elements throughout the several views. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary device implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate three-dimensional views of an exemplary scan engine implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate three-dimensional views of an exemplary spring assembly implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIGS. 6-8  illustrate three-dimensional views of an exemplary scan motor implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary data capture method implemented according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an alternate data capture method implemented according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIGS. 11-12  illustrate an exemplary mirror module implemented according to an embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
   There will now be shown and described in connection with the attached drawing figures several exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatus for providing a scan module. 
   Shrinking scanning devices, such as handheld computers or mobile scanners comprise small scan modules for reading dataforms. Therefore, there is a desire to increase the performance of small scan modules, while reducing manufacturing costs. An exemplary scan module, implemented in accordance with the invention, that comprises a single piece mirror module has an increased collection area and a reduced manufacturing cost while maintaining an industry standard size. 
   Other embodiments of the invention comprise a scan motor with a molded assembly. It is beneficial to have non-retroreflective and retroreflective scan systems comprising a scan motor with excellent shock protection and a minimum number of parts to reduce the cost of the scan motor. For example, some technical specification require shock protection from drops of 6 feet or more when the scan systems are incorporated into an end product, such as, for example, a scanner or a terminal. The injection molded spring module or assembly of the scan motor of the non-retroreflective scan system described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,529, which is owned by the assignee of the instant invention, provides excellent shock protection and can be made at low cost, but the spring assembly&#39;s size and power requirements do not make it a good alternative for some smaller sized retroreflective scan systems. 
   In an embodiment of the invention, a reduced sized injection molded spring assembly can be used in a scan motor for a non-retroreflective or a retroreflective scan system or module. The exemplary spring assembly comprises a static substrate and a dynamic substrate that can be coupled together by a flexible spring. An exemplary static substrate can be, for example, an injection molded thermoplastic material that can be secured to a chassis of a scan engine and remains static with respect to the scan engine. The dynamic substrate can also be, for example, an injection molded thermoplastic material. 
   In an embodiment of the invention, the substrates are coupled together by a flexible spring made of LIM or any other injection moldable material, such as, for example, silicone. In alternate embodiments, any material that can have flexible properties can be used to make the spring. The substrates can be coupled together using a multiple shot molding process, such as, for example, an over mold process. LIM material provides excellent shock protection because it can withstand substantial elongation before failure. This property allows any shock event, such as, for example, a drop from six feet, to significantly lower g-levels by stretching out the shock event in time. Since the amount of energy in a shock event is determined by the g-level and the duration of the event, i.e., the amount of energy in the shock event is equal to the area under a curve of g-level vs. time, a shock event for a LIM material is long in time and has a much lower g-level. Other spring materials, such as, for example, mylar or metal springs, do not absorb shock as well as a LIM material since those materials do not have much elongation before failure. 
   In an alternate embodiment, the dynamic substrate and the spring can be molded as one piece using the same material. The working portion of the spring is made sufficiently small and/or thin to improve efficiency and to meet volume requirements of small scan engines. The dynamic substrate also comprises an extending member that extends towards the static substrate. In an embodiment, the extending member has a wedge-like shape that grows wider as it extends towards the static substrate. 
   An exemplary scan motor comprises a spring assembly, a mirror and a magnet. The mirror is positioned next to the spring or springs rather than between a pair of springs. The extending member of the dynamic substrate receives a mirror on a first side and a magnet on a second side, and their angles relative to the spring can be manipulated by adjusting the size and/or the angle of inclination of the receiving sides of the wedge shaped extending member. Thus, the plane in which the mirror lies can be at any angle relative to the plane in which the spring or springs lie, and the plane in which the magnet lies can also be at any angle relative to the plane in which the spring or springs lie. The extending member of the dynamic substrate comprises a cradle on its first side to receive the large mirror, and the mirror comprises a receiving structure for coupling to the cradle. The magnet is bonded, for example, using an adhesive, to the second side of the extending member. 
   In known non-retroreflective scan systems, a relatively small mirror is coupled to an injection molded spring assembly between a pair of springs. Retroreflective systems use relatively large mirrors. Therefore, the mirror of the exemplary reduced sized injection molded spring assembly is positioned to the side of the springs, rather than between a pair of springs. This allows the spring assembly to receive a mirror that can be larger than the space between the springs. Additionally, positioning the mirror next to the springs creates a low moment of inertia, which helps to keep the operating power of the scan engine low. Power savings are also created by reducing the size of the spring assembly. The power saving from reducing the size of the spring assembly can also be applied to a non-retroreflective scan system that has been modified to receive a smaller spring assembly. 
   In an exemplary scan module, the scan motor is positioned in close proximity to a drive coil, such as, for example, a bi-directional drive coil as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,060, which is owned by the assignee of the instant invention and is incorporated by reference. When powered, the drive coil causes the scan motor to oscillate back and forth. A laser beam impinging on the mirror is then moved back and forth to create a scan line that can be used to read dataforms, such as, for example, barcodes. 
   The scan motor is properly aligned within the scan module so that the laser beam reflects off the scan motor&#39;s mirror and creates a scan line in a desired direction. In an exemplary retroreflective scan module, the static substrate comprises a pivoting base, that is used to align the scan motor. The scan motor also comprises a chassis having a feature to receive the pivoting base. After the scan motor is aligned correctly, it is secured in place using an adhesive. The retroreflective scan module can be, in some embodiments, an independent scan engine that can be a module of a scanning device. 
   In an exemplary non-retroreflective scan system implemented in accordance with the invention, the extending member of the spring assembly can be modified to cradle a small mirror. The smaller mirror makes the scan motor even more efficient. 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exemplary block diagram of a device  101  comprising a scan module  100 , a processing unit  105  and memory  120  coupled together by bus  125 . The modules of device  101  can be implemented as any combination of software, hardware, hardware emulating software, and reprogrammable hardware. The bus  125  is an exemplary bus showing the interoperability of the different modules of the invention. As a matter of design choice there may be more than one bus and in some embodiments certain modules may be directly coupled instead of coupled to a bus  125 . The device  101  can be, for example, a laser scanner, a mobile computer, a point of service, etc, and the scan module can be, for example, a retroreflective scan engine  100 . 
   Processing unit  105  can be implemented as, in exemplary embodiments, one or more Central Processing Units (CPU), Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), etc. In an embodiment, the processing unit  105  may comprise a plurality of processing units or modules. Each module can comprise memory that can be preprogrammed to perform specific functions, such as, for example, signal processing, interface emulation, etc. In other embodiments, the processing unit  105  can comprise a general purpose CPU that is shared between the scan engine  100  and the device  101 . In alternate embodiments, one or more modules of processing unit  105  can be implemented as an FPGA that can be loaded with different processes, for example, from memory  120 , and perform a plurality of functions. Processing unit  105  can also comprise any combination of the processors described above. 
   Memory  120  can be implemented as volatile memory, non-volatile memory and rewriteable memory, such as, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM) and/or flash memory. The memory  120  stores methods and processes used to operate the device  101 , such as, data capture method  145 , signal processing method  150 , power management method  155  and interface method  160 . 
   In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the device  101  can be a handheld scanner  101  comprising a trigger. When a scanning operation is initiated, for example the trigger is pressed, the scanner  101  begins data capture method  145 . An exemplary embodiment of data capture method  145  is described below with reference to  FIG. 9 . During the data capture method  145 , laser light is emitted by the scanner  101 , which interacts with a target dataform and returns to the scanner  101 . The returning laser light is analyzed, for example the received analog laser light is converted into a digital format, by the scanner  101  using signal processing method  150 . Power management method  155  manages the power used by the scanner  101  and interface method  160  allows the scan engine  100  to communicate with the scanner  101 . 
   The exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  illustrates data capture method  145 , signal processing method  150 , interface method  160  and power management method  155  as separate components, but those methods are not limited to this configuration. Each method described herein in whole or in part can be separate components or can interoperate and share operations. Additionally, although the methods are depicted in the memory  120 , in alternate embodiments the methods can be incorporated permanently or dynamically in the memory of processing unit  105 . 
   Memory  120  is illustrated as a single module in  FIG. 1 , but in some embodiments image scanner  100  can comprise more than one memory module. For example, the methods described above can be stored in separate memory modules. Additionally, some or all parts of memory  120  may be integrated as part of processing unit  105 . 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate a three-dimensional view of a scan engine  100 , implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The scan engine  100  can be used as the scan engine  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a laser module or assembly  110  positioned in the upper left hand corner of the scan engine  101  chassis  112 . During an exemplary operation of data capture method  145 , the laser assembly  110  emits a laser beam  210  that is reflected by a fold mirror  115 . The laser beam  210  goes through a hole in the collection mirror  130  and impinges on the scan mirror  170 . The scan mirror  170  is part of a scan motor  165 , which moves back and forth creating a scan line for reading dataforms. 
   After interacting with a dataform, some of the emitted laser light returns to the scan engine  100 . The returning light is received by the scan mirror  170  and is reflected towards the collection mirror  130 . The collection mirror  130 , which can have a concave shape, such as, for example, an off axis parabola shape, spherical shape, etc., collects the returning light and concentrates it towards the sensor  140 . In alternate embodiments, the returning light can be concentrated towards a sensor by a lens. The sensor  140  is positioned in a receiving structure located on the right side of the chassis  112  and in front of the scan motor  165 . The sensor  140  can be implemented, in an exemplary embodiment, as a photodiode. The returning light is detected by the sensor  140  which produces a corresponding electrical signal. The electrical signal is analyzed and the target dataform is decoded. 
   In the exemplary scan engine  100 , the fold mirror  115  and the collection mirror  130  are constructed as one mirror module  132 .  FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate different views of the mirror module  132 . The fold mirror  115  comprises a reflective surface  116  and the collection mirror  130  comprises a reflective surface  131 . The fold mirror  115  extends behind the collection mirror  130  from one side of the collection mirror  130 . In an embodiment, the mirror module  132  is molded as one piece, but in alternate embodiments a single piece mirror module can be assembled by coupling a fold mirror to the back of a collection mirror. The mirror module  132  can also comprise one or more dowels or pegs, which are used to secure the mirror module  132  in receiving structures on the chassis  112 . Exemplary mirror module  132  comprises two dowels  134 ,  137  on the bottom of the collection mirror  130 , and one peg  133  on the top right side of the collection mirror  130 . These dowels  134 ,  137  and peg  133  are placed in corresponding receiving structures in the chassis  112 , and can be further secured using an adhesive. 
   Some known scan modules, comprise collection/fold mirror modules, as one piece, but the fold mirror is insert molded to the surface of the collection mirror rather than extending behind the collection mirror. In other known scan modules, the fold mirror is a separate piece that is positioned behind the collection mirror, and a laser is reflected by the fold mirror towards a scan mirror through a hole in the collection mirror. Both the hole in the collection mirror and the fold mirror molded on the surface of the collection mirror reduce the collection area of the scan module, but the hole in the collection mirror can be made smaller than a fold mirror molded on the collection mirror. Therefore, a fold mirror on the collection mirror reduces the collection area of the scan module more than a hole in the collection mirror. 
   Referring to the exemplary scan engine  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , if the fold mirror is placed on the collection mirror, the collection mirror would be moved to the left and there would not be a lot of room for the collection mirror. The laser lens assembly would vignette collected light and the effective collection area would be reduced. If the fold mirror and the collection mirror were not attached, the collection mirror would be moved to the right to accommodate the separate fold mirror and any receiving structure for coupling the fold mirror to the chassis  112 . Moving the collection mirror to the right causes the collection mirror to vignette collected light and effectively reduces collection area. Thus, the single piece mirror module  132  gives the scan engine  100  the space and reflective area to produce an excellent collection area. 
   Known scan modules are designed with scan motors having springs or flexures made of mylar or metal that oscillate the scan mirror. These scan motors work well, but they have some limitations including a relatively large amount of space required for the spring, clamps, mounting bracket, mirror and magnet; and they are made of a large number of small parts that are assembled, adding to part and manufacturing costs. 
   Known mylar or metal scan motors have a mirror positioned perpendicular to the plane of the flexure. This is done to reduce twisting of the flexure during operation. If the flexure twists, the laser impinging on the scan mirror may create a curved scan line, which negatively affects a scanner&#39;s performance. Unfortunately, positioning the mirror perpendicular to the flexure, places the mirror further from the center of rotation. Thus, during normal operation, when the mirror is oscillating, the mirror needs more open space to avoid hitting other parts of the scan module. In addition, there is more translation of the mirror when it is perpendicularly mounted, so the mirror has to be bigger to avoid moving out of the optical path at the ends of its travel. Only part of the mirror is used to collect light at any time, so the collection area is smaller than the area of the scan mirror. 
   A scan module using an injection molded scan motor, has a mirror that can be placed much closer to the center of rotation because an injection molded flexure is less prone to twisting than mylar or metal springs. Thus, even though the mirror is not mounted perpendicular to the plane of the flexures, there is much less translation as it oscillates. As a result of the mirror&#39;s positioning, more of the mirror&#39;s reflective surface is working throughout the entire scan angle. Thus, a scanner using an injection molded flexure can have a larger collection area for a given sized mirror. 
   Additionally, since the flexures are not mounted perpendicular to the mirror, the flexures do not protrude out as far behind the scan mirror as in known designs. This allows the mirror to be moved towards the back of the scan module, where it is possible to rotate the mirror to present more of its reflective surface to incoming light. In other words, the mirror is more parallel to the front plane of the scan module than in similar known scan modules having mylar or metal springs, so the projected area is larger and the collection area of the module increases. 
   The scan motor  165  of exemplary scan engine  100  comprises a spring module  175 , a scan mirror  170  and a magnet  180 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate an exemplary spring module  175 . The exemplary spring module  175  comprises a static substrate  177  and a dynamic substrate  176  coupled together by a flexible spring  179 . In one exemplary embodiment, the flexible spring  179  is made of a pair of silicone springs  179  that are over molded  410  to the dynamic substrate  176  and the static substrate  177 . The springs  179  are liquid injection molded to the substrates  176 ,  177 . In alternate embodiments, the flexible springs  179  can be made of thermoplastic using an injection molding process, or alternatively, the springs  179  and the dynamic substrate  176  can be made of an LIM material. 
   The exemplary static and dynamic substrates  176 ,  177  are made of a thermoplastic material. The static substrate  177  comprises a pivoting base  178  that is used to properly align and secure the scan motor  165  to the scan engine  100  chassis. The dynamic substrate  176  comprises an extending member  181  that receives the magnet  180  and the scan mirror  170 . 
   The extending member  181  has a first side  405  and a second side  505 . The first side  405  comprises a cradle for receiving the scan mirror  170 , and the second side  505  comprises a receiving structure for receiving the magnet  180 . The extending member  181  has a triangular or wedge-like shape. The extending member  181  starts at one end of the spring module  175  and gets larger as it extends from the dynamic substrate  176  towards the static substrate  177 . 
     FIGS. 6 through 8  illustrate the scan motor  165 . A magnet  180  is positioned in the receiving structure located on the second side  505  of the extending member  181 . The mirror  170  is coupled to the first side  405  of the extending member  181 . The mirror  170  comprises a receiving structure that receives the first side  405  of the extending member  181 . The magnet  180  and the mirror  170  can be secured to the extending member  181  using an adhesive. 
   In an alternate embodiment, the flexible springs  179  and the dynamic substrate  176  can be molded as one unit that is made of the same material. For example the combined unit can be made of silicone or thermoplastic. 
   Returning to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the scan motor  165  is positioned in proximity to the drive coil  135 . The magnet  180  coupled to the scan motor  165  interacts with the magnetic field created by the drive coil  135  and oscillates the scan motor  165  when the drive coil  135  is excited. 
   An exemplary scan engine  100 , implemented in accordance with the invention, comprising a single piece mirror module  132  as illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12  and a scan motor  165  as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8  can have a collection area with almost 50% more collection area than known scan modules with a similar volume and shape. Additionally, the scan engine  100  can be manufactured for significantly less cost because there are fewer pieces and, as described above, the injection molded scan motor  165  can be made for less money than known scan motors. 
   The layout of scan engine  100  is similar to some larger scan modules, but since larger scan modules have more space, they can include parts that could not be implemented in a smaller sized volume. For example, larger scan modules have more room to use a large mylar flexure to drive its scan mirror, and its collection mirror can have an adjustment to direct light to a photodiode. 
   The performance to volume ratio, or packing efficiency, of a scan module can be used to compare different scan modules. For example, the relative volume a scan module occupies is divided by the scan module&#39;s collection area to obtain a measurable metric. The smaller the number, the higher the packing efficiency of the scan module. A known large scan module has a volume of 1.91 in 3  and a collection area of 0.28 in 2 , thus having a packing efficiency of 7. A known small scanner having a shape similar to scan engine  100 , has a volume of 0.205 in 3 , and a collection area of 0.034 in 2 , thus having a packing efficiency of 6. Exemplary scan engine  100  has a volume of 0.205 in 3  and a collection area of 0.050 in 2 , thus having a packing efficiency of 4. Therefore, the packing efficiency of scan engine  100  is 50% better than a similarly sized scan module and roughly 100% better than a large scan module. 
   While scan engine  100  is relatively small, having a volume of 0.205 in 3 , the layout of the scan engine  100  and the modules that make up the scan engine  100  are not limited to small scan systems. In other embodiments of the invention, the modules and layout of the scan engine  100  can be modified to work with larger scan systems, providing those systems with the same reliability, performance and cost benefits. 
     FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method  900  for scanning dataforms. Reference to device  101  is made in the description of method  900 . The steps of method  900  and other methods described herein are exemplary and the order of the steps may be rearranged. Data capture method  900  begins with start step  905 . In an exemplary embodiment, the method  900  begins when the device  101 , for example a scanner  101  receives power, for example, when a trigger or button on the scanner  101  is pressed. The method  900  may also be initiated by a command from another program running on the device  101 . The device operator is normally aiming the device  101  at a target dataform when the data capture method  900  is initiated. 
   Processing proceeds from step  905  to step  910 , where the scanner  101  initiates a laser  110 . The laser strikes a fold mirror  115  and is directed towards the scan mirror  170 . About or at the same time, in step  915 , the scanner  101  initiates the drive coil  135  by providing power to the drive coil  135 . The magnet  180  reacts to the magnetic field created by the drive coil  135  and begins to oscillate the scan motor  165 . As a result, the laser light impinging on the scan mirror  170  moves back and forth, creating a scan line.  FIG. 10  illustrates data capture method  1000 , which is an alternate embodiment of method  900 , where step  915  occurs before step  910 . Meaning, the drive coil  135  is initiated before the laser  110  is initiated. 
   The emitted laser light of the scan line interacts with the dataform and, in step  920 , the scanner  101  receives any light that returns to the scanner  101 . For example, the returning light is reflected by the scan mirror  170  towards a collection mirror  130 . The collection mirror directs the returning light towards a sensor. Since the scan mirror  170  is moving back and forth, the field of view of the scanner  101  also moves back and forth. 
   Following step  920 , in step  925 , the received light is analyzed and the target dataform is decoded. In step  930 , if the analysis is successful, processing proceeds to step  935 , where the decoded data is further processed. For example the data can be transmitted to another device. Following step  935 , processing of method  900  proceeds to step  950  where the method  900  ends. The scanner  101  may be in a standby mode, ready to process another dataform. 
   Returning to step  930 , if the scanner  101  does not successfully decode the target dataform, processing proceeds to step  940 . In some embodiments, the scanner  101  does nothing and/or times out, and ends in step  950 , but in other embodiments the scanner  101  can emit an audible fail indicator to the scanner operator, transmit a fail signal to an attached device, etc. Still in other embodiments, the scanner  101  continues steps  910  through  925  until the dataform is successfully read or the operator removes power to the scan engine, for example, by releasing the trigger, or in other embodiments, the scanner can time out. 
   While the exemplary scan motor has been described as part of a retroreflective scan system, the scan motor of the invention can also be used in a reduced sized non-retroreflective scan system. The relatively large mirror can be replaced by a smaller mirror and the angle between the flat plane of the mirror and the spring can be properly adjusted, for example to 45 degrees, by adjusting the width of the wedge shaped extending member. Additionally, the structure of the static substrate can be modified so that the scan motor can be secured to a scan module coupled to a circuit board. An exemplary scan motor of the invention can help to increase the efficiency of the non-retroreflective scan system, since the exemplary scan motor uses less power. 
   While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and detail of the disclosed invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.