Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6517003?dq=6,219,045
Timestamp: 2015-07-02 16:54:16
Document Index: 30821965

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'art 6', 'art 6', 'art 6', 'art 10', 'art 10']

Patent US6517003 - Least partially colored optical code reader - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsAn optical code reader comprises a casing (1) consisting of at least two portions (2, 3) connected together, a first portion (2) defining the main reader body and the second portion (3) defining a closure element for that part (5) of the body supporting at least the reader optical members; at least a...http://www.google.com/patents/US6517003?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6517003 - Least partially colored optical code readerAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6517003 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/792,090Publication dateFeb 11, 2003Filing dateFeb 22, 2001Priority dateFeb 22, 2000Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE60038435D1, DE60038435T2, DE60044591D1, EP1128314A1, EP1128314B1, EP1942442A2, EP1942442A3, EP1942442B1, US20010015377Publication number09792090, 792090, US 6517003 B2, US 6517003B2, US-B2-6517003, US6517003 B2, US6517003B2InventorsStefano Vassura, Rinaldo ZoccaOriginal AssigneeDatalogic S.P.A.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (3), Classifications (5), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetLeast partially colored optical code reader
US 6517003 B2Abstract
An optical code reader comprises a casing (1) consisting of at least two portions (2, 3) connected together, a first portion (2) defining the main reader body and the second portion (3) defining a closure element for that part (5) of the body supporting at least the reader optical members; at least a part (10) of the said casing (1) has a coloration which depends on at least one control signal, this coloration being chosen on the basis of the type of use for which the reader is provided.
The present invention relates to an optical reader comprising a casing which has a coloration depending on at least one control signal.
An optical reader is known to comprise a casing consisting of at least two portions coupled together by usual fixing means, and of which a first portion defines the main reader body and the second portion defines a closure element for that part of said body supporting at least the reader optical members and possibly also those electrical and electronic members which enable it to operate.
An object of this invention is therefore to provide optical readers having different appearances for the different uses for which they are provided, and possibly for the different environments in which they are used.
Normally the requirement to diversify the outer appearance of the reader results in complication of the manufacturing process. In this respect, the production chain has to be differentiated by producing the same type of “core” for the reader but a plurality of differently coloured outer “casings”. This complication results in a considerable increase in production and storage costs and times.
This invention enables readers with differently coloured casings to be produced in a simpler and less costly manner. The invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing, which is provided by way of non-limiting example, and on which:
With reference to said figures, a casing for an optical code reader in indicated overall by 1. In the embodiment shown in the figures, it comprises at least two structural portions 2 and 3 connected together in any known manner (for example by hook-like members 2A associated with the portion 2). The first portion 2 comprises a part 4 acting as a handgrip and having an end portion 5 (that upper portion which in FIG. 1 is fixed to the portion 3 and is shown more clearly in FIG. 4) arranged to support a usual part containing optical, electrical and electronic members of the optical code reader (members associated with a part 6) and one or more lighting elements (LEDs) indicating the operation or rather the operating state of the reader. Specifically, the members associated with the part 6 enable the reading light beam to be emitted and the light reflected from an optical code to be collected for reading and for subsequent processing of the optical data obtained. The optical/electronic part associated with the part 6 can be produced by either laser or CCD technology. In the first case, this optical/electronic part comprises a scan engine for emitting the laser beam, a photodiode for collecting the light reflected by the code, and the relative electronic circuit for analyzing or processing the signal. In the second case it can comprise LEDs for illuminating the code, a linear or bidimensional CCD or CMOS sensor for collecting the light reflected by the code, and the relative electronic circuit.
The stand-by state is automatically restored (ie the light source 17 is again lit) on conclusion of the reading process, ie when the reader has decoded the read code or has indicated “no read”.
With this modification the colour in the stand-by state can be defined by the user on the basis of specific requirements. The user “selects” the required colour, and can change it later by suitably modifying the algorithm which controls the microprocessor operation.
1. “ILLUMINATOR ON”, this state indicating that the illumination system is active and ready to scan the code;
2. “GOOD READ”, this state indicating that the code has been decoded;
3. “NO READ”, this state indicating that the code has failed to be decoded.
According to the invention, the printed circuit 18 comprises one or more light sources 17 for “colouring” the reader when in the stand-by state and one or more light sources 17K for indicating the aforelisted other operating states by means of other lights.
If for example the stand-by colour is blue, the “illuminator on” colour is red, the “good read” colour is green and the “no read” colour is yellow, the following cyclic sequence is obtained:
According to another embodiment, the stand-by indication is deactivated when the reading state is activated, and is activated again only on termination of the reading (whether successful or not). In this case the stand-by colour does not mix with those indicating the operating states. If for example the stand-by colour is blue, the “illuminator on” colour is yellow, the “good read” colour is green and the “no read” colour is red, the following cyclic sequence is obtained:
According to a further embodiment, different indication colours can be used for indicating different types of “NO READ”. This means that different colours can be used to indicate different reasons for a failed read, for example:
In a further variant of the invention, an electrically powered coloured liquid crystal display (for example such as that used in a laptop computer) is provided on the coloured part 10 of the casing 1 and can be activated on command to give that part the desired coloration. By suitably powering the “light points” of this display all the desired colours can be obtained from it, together with possible display thereon of logos or images at will.
According to a further embodiment, the coloured part 10 of the casing 1 is provided by at least one piece formed of at least one known electroluminescent polymer such as those marketed by ELUX LTD or ELTECH (Electroluminescent Technologies Corporation). Using these polymers very thin light sources can be obtained of any desired shape. These electroluminescent polymers are also used, for example by the UNIAX Corporation, for forming luminous displays on which “written” information can be displayed by powering different parts of the polymers defining the display.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3699312Mar 18, 1971Oct 17, 1972IbmCode scanning systemUS5231277 *May 29, 1992Jul 27, 1993Fujitsu LimitedOptical scanner using plannar reflecting hologramsEP0755018A2Jul 19, 1996Jan 22, 1997Fujitsu LimitedOptical mark reader* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification235/472.01, 235/462.45International ClassificationG06K7/10Cooperative ClassificationG06K7/10881European ClassificationG06K7/10S9FLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionFeb 22, 2001ASAssignmentOwner name: DATALOGIC S.P.A., ITALYFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:VASSURA, STEFANO;ZOCCA, RINALDO;REEL/FRAME:011565/0474Effective date: 20010212Owner name: DATALOGIC S.P.A. VIA CANDINI 2 40012 LIPPO DI CALDFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:VASSURA, STEFANO /AR;REEL/FRAME:011565/0474Owner name: DATALOGIC S.P.A. VIA CANDINI 2 40012 LIPPO DI CALDOwner name: DATALOGIC S.P.A. VIA CANDINI 2 40012 LIPPO DI CALDFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:VASSURA, STEFANO;ZOCCA, RINALDO;REEL/FRAME:011565/0474Effective date: 20010212Owner name: DATALOGIC S.P.A. VIA CANDINI 2 40012 LIPPO DI CALDFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:VASSURA, STEFANO /AR;REEL/FRAME:011565/0474Effective date: 20010212Jul 31, 2006FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jul 29, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: DATALOGIC SCANNING GROUP S.R.L., ITALYFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DATALOGIC S.P.A.;REEL/FRAME:021301/0674Effective date: 20080603Jul 26, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Aug 7, 2014FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services