WO1995022118A1 - Portable bar code scanner - Google Patents

Portable bar code scanner Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1995022118A1
WO1995022118A1 PCT/US1995/001710 US9501710W WO9522118A1 WO 1995022118 A1 WO1995022118 A1 WO 1995022118A1 US 9501710 W US9501710 W US 9501710W WO 9522118 A1 WO9522118 A1 WO 9522118A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
hand
front surface
scanner
housing
held
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1995/001710
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Charles J. Hofstetter
Robert F. Meyerson
Original Assignee
Telxon Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Telxon Corporation filed Critical Telxon Corporation
Publication of WO1995022118A1 publication Critical patent/WO1995022118A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
    • G06K7/10544—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum
    • G06K7/10821—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum further details of bar or optical code scanning devices
    • G06K7/10881—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum further details of bar or optical code scanning devices constructional details of hand-held scanners
    • G06K7/10891—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum further details of bar or optical code scanning devices constructional details of hand-held scanners the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
    • G06K7/10544—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum
    • G06K7/10821—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum further details of bar or optical code scanning devices
    • G06K7/10881—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum further details of bar or optical code scanning devices constructional details of hand-held scanners

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to hand-held scanners for scanning bar codes and, more particularly, to hand-held scanners used in the field for scanning bar codes printed on packages and parcels.
  • Bar codes are familiar to the general public through their widespread use by the grocery industry and, increasingly, other retail establishments. In most of these applications, the bar code is either printed directly on the product container, or on a tag affixed to the product. In typical use, the facet of the container or label containing the bar code is either passed over a stationary scanner built into a point-of-sale counter, or scanned by a hand-held scanner. A less widely known, but rapidly growing, use of portable, hand-held scanners is in the tracking of shipments and inventory control. Unlike in supermarket or department store point-of-sale applications, where the size, shape and weight of the stationary scanner are of limited consequence, the portability of the scanner is obviously critical in field applications.
  • the present invention is embodied in a portable scanner for reading bar code symbols having a housing in the form of an elongated arcuate body with a wide upper section, a narrow middle section, and a wide lower section.
  • the three sections are contiguous and define a generally convex back surface curved along the scanner's longitudinal axis and generally rounded along axes transverse to the scanner's longitudi ⁇ nal axis, and a concave front surface curved along the scanner's longitudinal axis and generally straight along axes transverse to the longitudinal axis.
  • the scanner is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis and well balanced about its middle section, which is sized and contoured to be grasped comfortably in an operator's hand.
  • a bar code reader for scanning adjacent bar codes is built into the upper section of the housing, at an angle that allows the operator to scan a bar code without contorting his hand, thus minimizing operator fatigue and improving his efficiency.
  • the bar code reader is activated by either of two depressable buttons located on oppose sides of the housing, in positions that can be comfortably reached by the thumb or forefinger of the operator's hand grasping the middle section of the scanner.
  • a display screen and a keypad are mounted on the scanner's concave front surface, the display screen preferably in the upper section and the keypad preferably directly beneath it, in the middle and lower section.
  • the display screen and the keypad do not come into contact with the surfaces on which the scanner is set or pressed against, thus minimizing the risk of damaging the scanner or unintentionally actuating a control key.
  • the arcuate shape of the housing and the placement of the display screen and keypad in the concave front surface allow the scanner to be pressed against a side panel of a parcel so as to hold the parcel between the scanner and the free hand. This allows the operator to use both of his hands to lift and manipulate a variety of parcels, without having to set the scanner aside.
  • rubberized friction pads are mounted transversely to the longitudinal axis of the scanner, on opposite ends of the concave front surface. These pads are sized and configured so that when the scanner is placed against a flat surface, such as a side panel of a parcel, with the concave front surface facing that flat surface, the parcel is contacted only by the friction pads.
  • a second set of rubberized, generally rectangular pads with wedge-shape tips are mounted on the wide upper and lower sections of the scanner's convex back surface on oppose sides of the narrow middle section. These pads stabilize and protect the scanner when it is set down on a flat horizontal surface with its concave surface facing upwardly.
  • a wrist strap is mounted between the upper and lower sections of the housing, spanning the middle section of the convex back surface.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scanner in accordance with the invention, shown being grasped by an operator, while the operator is using both of his hands to manipulate a shipping container;
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of the scanner of FIG. 1 placed face up on a flat horizontal surface;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the concave front surface of the scanner of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a view of the convex back surface of the scanner of FIG. 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
  • FIG. 1 there is shown an arcuate scanner housing 10 held in an operator's right hand, while a parcel 12 is being carried between the housing and the operator's left hand.
  • the housing has a concave front surface 14 curved along its longitudinal axis but generally straight along its transverse axis and a back surface 16 generally rounded along both the longitudinal and transverse axes.
  • the housing can be viewed as being divisible into three contiguous sections, including a wide upper section 18, a rounded, narrower middle section 20, and a wide lower section 22.
  • the middle section is sized to be comfortably grasped in either of the operator's hands.
  • a display screen 24 is mounted at the upper end of the front surface, and a keypad 26 is mounted just below the screen on the front surface, extending over the housing's middle and lower sections.
  • the upper end 28 of the housing 10, best seen in FIG. 3, includes a window 32 through which is projected a scanning beam from a laser scanning device (not shown) .
  • the upper end and window are angled about 30" towards the scanner housing's front surface 14.
  • the laser scanning device is activated by either of two scanning buttons 34a and 34b located on the respective right and left sides of the housing 10.
  • the two buttons are located symmetrically opposite each other, near the upper end of the scanner's narrow middle section 20. In these locations, one or both of the buttons can be conveniently depressed by the operator's thumb or forefinger, regardless of the scanner housing's relative orientation and regardless of the hand (left or right) in which the housing is grasped.
  • the concave shape of the front surface 14 carrying the display screen 24 and the keypad 26 protects the screen from damage and ensures that a key will not be unintentionally actuated when the scanner is pressed against a shipping box or is laid face down on a flat surface.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates how these friction pads keep the edges of the front surface from contacting the parcel 12, and by deforming slightly under pressure increase the friction between the housing and the parcel, thus improving the operator's hold on the parcel.
  • the exposed sides of the friction pads are rounded, while the undersides of the pads are flat, to facilitate bonding to the housing's front surface by a suitable adhesive.
  • the back surface 16 of the scanner housing 10 is protected from damage when the housing is laid on its back surface on a flat surface 44, as shown in FIG. 2, by upper and lower rubberized cushioning pads 40 and 42, respectively.
  • the upper pad 40 has a generally rectangular shape, with a wedge-shaped tip, mounted on the back surface of the scanner housing's upper section 18, and the lower pad 42 is mounted on the back surface of the scanner housing's lower section 22.
  • the two pads 40 and 42 stabilize the housing and keep the housing's back surface 16 from contacting the flat surface, thus minimizing wear and possible damage to the housing.
  • a strap 46 is secured to the back surface 16 of the housing 10 between the upper pad 40 and the lower pad 42, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. Since the middle section 20 of the housing is both narrower and thinner than the upper section 18 and lower section 22, the strap spans the distance between the two cushioning pads leaving a gap sufficiently large to receive the operator's fingers, yet taut enough to secure the scanner housing to his hand, as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the operator firmly grasps the middle section 20 of the housing 10 in either of his hands, with the strap 46 securing the housing in place.
  • the front surface 14 By orienting the front surface 14 toward him he can readily observe the display screen 24 and enter data into the scanner by depressing appropriate keys with his other hand. He also can direct the upper end of the housing toward any adjacent bar code and depress either of the buttons 34a, 34b using his thumb or forefinger, to actuate the laser scanning device and thereby read the bar code.
  • Eliminating the need to repeatedly set the scanner aside when moving parcels in this way greatly simplifies the operator's movements and thereby correspondingly enhances his efficiency and productivity.
  • eliminating the need to repeatedly set the scanner aside reduces the possibility that the scanner can inadvertently be dropped or otherwise damaged.

Abstract

A hand-held, portable scanner for reading bar code symbols with an elongated arcuate housing (10) having a concave front surface (14) and a convex back surface (16), and a well-balanced middle section (20) contoured to fit comfortably into the operator's hand. The scanner may be held in either the left or right hand and activated with the thumb or forefinger of either hand. Its arcuate shape along with appropriately contoured and positioned rubberized pads (36, 38) protect the scanner and allow the operator to lift and move a variety of parcels without having to set the scanner aside.

Description

PORTABLE BAR CODE SCANNER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to hand-held scanners for scanning bar codes and, more particularly, to hand-held scanners used in the field for scanning bar codes printed on packages and parcels.
Bar codes are familiar to the general public through their widespread use by the grocery industry and, increasingly, other retail establishments. In most of these applications, the bar code is either printed directly on the product container, or on a tag affixed to the product. In typical use, the facet of the container or label containing the bar code is either passed over a stationary scanner built into a point-of-sale counter, or scanned by a hand-held scanner. A less widely known, but rapidly growing, use of portable, hand-held scanners is in the tracking of shipments and inventory control. Unlike in supermarket or department store point-of-sale applications, where the size, shape and weight of the stationary scanner are of limited consequence, the portability of the scanner is obviously critical in field applications.
In the last few years, a number of compact, hand-held scanners have become readily available. These devices typically are pistol-shaped, with a main body that houses a laser- or CCD-scanning device and with pistol grip sized to be conveniently grasped by an operator. Many scanners of this kind are now integrated with a keypad, display screen, and associated processing electronics. In use, scanners of this kind are held in one hand while the other hand is available to key-in information, manipulate shipping containers, etc. As a result, whenever the operator encounters a task requiring the use of both of his hands, such as lifting or moving a heavy or bulky parcel, he must either lay the scanner down or place it in a holster in order to free the hand holding the scanner. Laying the scanner down frequently is disruptive to the flow of work, time consuming, and exposes the scanner to dust, dirt, scratching and possibly serious damage when used in an environment such as a warehouse or a delivery van.
It should therefore be appreciated that there is a need for a lightweight yet rugged, hand-held, ergonomically-shaped scanner that would be comfortable to hold and operate over extended periods, and that would allow the operator to perform routine tasks associated with the scanning of bar codes on parcels, such as lifting and moving those parcels, without having to set the scanner aside. The present invention satisfies that need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general terms, the present invention is embodied in a portable scanner for reading bar code symbols having a housing in the form of an elongated arcuate body with a wide upper section, a narrow middle section, and a wide lower section. The three sections are contiguous and define a generally convex back surface curved along the scanner's longitudinal axis and generally rounded along axes transverse to the scanner's longitudi¬ nal axis, and a concave front surface curved along the scanner's longitudinal axis and generally straight along axes transverse to the longitudinal axis. The scanner is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis and well balanced about its middle section, which is sized and contoured to be grasped comfortably in an operator's hand.
A bar code reader for scanning adjacent bar codes is built into the upper section of the housing, at an angle that allows the operator to scan a bar code without contorting his hand, thus minimizing operator fatigue and improving his efficiency. The bar code reader is activated by either of two depressable buttons located on oppose sides of the housing, in positions that can be comfortably reached by the thumb or forefinger of the operator's hand grasping the middle section of the scanner.
A display screen and a keypad are mounted on the scanner's concave front surface, the display screen preferably in the upper section and the keypad preferably directly beneath it, in the middle and lower section. In normal use the display screen and the keypad do not come into contact with the surfaces on which the scanner is set or pressed against, thus minimizing the risk of damaging the scanner or unintentionally actuating a control key. Significantly, the arcuate shape of the housing and the placement of the display screen and keypad in the concave front surface allow the scanner to be pressed against a side panel of a parcel so as to hold the parcel between the scanner and the free hand. This allows the operator to use both of his hands to lift and manipulate a variety of parcels, without having to set the scanner aside.
To improve the operator's grip on a parcel held between his free hand and the scanner, rubberized friction pads are mounted transversely to the longitudinal axis of the scanner, on opposite ends of the concave front surface. These pads are sized and configured so that when the scanner is placed against a flat surface, such as a side panel of a parcel, with the concave front surface facing that flat surface, the parcel is contacted only by the friction pads.
A second set of rubberized, generally rectangular pads with wedge-shape tips are mounted on the wide upper and lower sections of the scanner's convex back surface on oppose sides of the narrow middle section. These pads stabilize and protect the scanner when it is set down on a flat horizontal surface with its concave surface facing upwardly. To better secure the scanner to the hand holding it, a wrist strap is mounted between the upper and lower sections of the housing, spanning the middle section of the convex back surface.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scanner in accordance with the invention, shown being grasped by an operator, while the operator is using both of his hands to manipulate a shipping container;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the scanner of FIG. 1 placed face up on a flat horizontal surface;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the concave front surface of the scanner of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is a view of the convex back surface of the scanner of FIG. 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an arcuate scanner housing 10 held in an operator's right hand, while a parcel 12 is being carried between the housing and the operator's left hand. The housing has a concave front surface 14 curved along its longitudinal axis but generally straight along its transverse axis and a back surface 16 generally rounded along both the longitudinal and transverse axes. The housing can be viewed as being divisible into three contiguous sections, including a wide upper section 18, a rounded, narrower middle section 20, and a wide lower section 22. The middle section is sized to be comfortably grasped in either of the operator's hands. As shown in FIG. 3, a display screen 24 is mounted at the upper end of the front surface, and a keypad 26 is mounted just below the screen on the front surface, extending over the housing's middle and lower sections.
The upper end 28 of the housing 10, best seen in FIG. 3, includes a window 32 through which is projected a scanning beam from a laser scanning device (not shown) .
The upper end and window are angled about 30" towards the scanner housing's front surface 14.
The laser scanning device is activated by either of two scanning buttons 34a and 34b located on the respective right and left sides of the housing 10. The two buttons are located symmetrically opposite each other, near the upper end of the scanner's narrow middle section 20. In these locations, one or both of the buttons can be conveniently depressed by the operator's thumb or forefinger, regardless of the scanner housing's relative orientation and regardless of the hand (left or right) in which the housing is grasped. The concave shape of the front surface 14 carrying the display screen 24 and the keypad 26 protects the screen from damage and ensures that a key will not be unintentionally actuated when the scanner is pressed against a shipping box or is laid face down on a flat surface. Further, an elongated, one piece friction pad 36 is mounted at the upper edge of the front surface, and two friction pads 38a and 38b are mounted at the lower edge of the front surface. as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 1 illustrates how these friction pads keep the edges of the front surface from contacting the parcel 12, and by deforming slightly under pressure increase the friction between the housing and the parcel, thus improving the operator's hold on the parcel. The exposed sides of the friction pads are rounded, while the undersides of the pads are flat, to facilitate bonding to the housing's front surface by a suitable adhesive.
The back surface 16 of the scanner housing 10 is protected from damage when the housing is laid on its back surface on a flat surface 44, as shown in FIG. 2, by upper and lower rubberized cushioning pads 40 and 42, respectively. The upper pad 40 has a generally rectangular shape, with a wedge-shaped tip, mounted on the back surface of the scanner housing's upper section 18, and the lower pad 42 is mounted on the back surface of the scanner housing's lower section 22. The two pads 40 and 42 stabilize the housing and keep the housing's back surface 16 from contacting the flat surface, thus minimizing wear and possible damage to the housing.
A strap 46 is secured to the back surface 16 of the housing 10 between the upper pad 40 and the lower pad 42, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. Since the middle section 20 of the housing is both narrower and thinner than the upper section 18 and lower section 22, the strap spans the distance between the two cushioning pads leaving a gap sufficiently large to receive the operator's fingers, yet taut enough to secure the scanner housing to his hand, as shown in FIG. 1.
In use, the operator firmly grasps the middle section 20 of the housing 10 in either of his hands, with the strap 46 securing the housing in place. By orienting the front surface 14 toward him he can readily observe the display screen 24 and enter data into the scanner by depressing appropriate keys with his other hand. He also can direct the upper end of the housing toward any adjacent bar code and depress either of the buttons 34a, 34b using his thumb or forefinger, to actuate the laser scanning device and thereby read the bar code.
Further, if the need arises for the operator to move a package or parcel using both of his hands, he need not put the scanner aside; instead, he can grip the parcel between his free hand and the scanner housing itself, with the friction pads 36, 38a and 38b enhancing his grip.
Eliminating the need to repeatedly set the scanner aside when moving parcels in this way greatly simplifies the operator's movements and thereby correspondingly enhances his efficiency and productivity. In addition, eliminating the need to repeatedly set the scanner aside reduces the possibility that the scanner can inadvertently be dropped or otherwise damaged.
While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is to be defined only by the appended claims.

Claims

We claim:
1. A hand-held, portable scanner for reading bar code symbols, comprising: a housing in the form of an elongated arcuate body having a longitudinal axis and having a wide upper section, a narrow middle section, and a wide lower section, the three sections being connected together and cooperating to define a generally convex back surface and a concave front surface curved along the longitudinal axis and generally straight along axes transverse to the longitudinal axis; scanning means mounted in the upper section of the housing, for scanning an adjacent bar code; a display screen mounted on the concave front surface; and a keypad mounted on the concave front surface.
2. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 1, wherein: the display screen is mounted on the portion of the concave front surface defined by the upper section of the housing; and the keypad is mounted on the portion of the concave front surface defined by the middle and lower sections of the housing.
3. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 1, and further comprising friction pads mounted on the concave front surface, at the ends of the upper and lower sections away from the middle section, wherein the friction pads are sized and configured so that, when the scanner is placed against a flat surface with the concave front surface facing the flat surface, the flat surface is contacted only by the friction pads.
4. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 3, and further comprising cushioning pads mounted on the convex back surface on the upper and lower sections, adjacent to the middle section, wherein the cushioning pads are sized and configured so that, when the scanner is placed on a flat surface with the concave front surface facing away from the flat surface, the flat surface is contacted only by the cushioning pads.
5. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 4, wherein: the portion of the cushioning pads in contact with the convex back surface is generally rectangular and aligned with the longitudinal axis; and the portion of the cushioning pads oriented away from the back surface has a wedge shape generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
6. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 4, wherein the friction pads and the cushioning pads are made of a rubberized material.
7. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 3, wherein: the friction pads are elongated strips mounted transversely to the longitudinal axis of the housing; and the friction pads each have a generally flat portion in contact with the front surface and generally rounded portion oriented away from the front surface.
8. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 7, wherein the friction pad mounted on the upper section of the housing is a single, continuous strip and the friction pad mounted on the lower section of the housing includes two spaced-apart strips.
9. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 1, and further including a wrist strap mounted between the upper and lower sections of the housing, spanning the middle section of the convex back surface.
10. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 1, wherein the middle section is sized and configured to be comfortably grasped by either hand of an operator.
11. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 10, and further comprising two or more depressible buttons for activating the scanning means, the buttons being located on both sides of the housing, in positions that can be reached by the thumb or forefinger of the operator's hand as it grasps the housing's middle section.
12. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 1, wherein: the housing is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis; and the center of gravity of the scanner is approximately aligned with the center of the middle section.
13. A hand-held, portable scanner for reading bar code symbols, comprising: an elongated, arcuate housing having a wide upper section, a narrow middle section sized and configured to be comfortably grasped by either hand of an operator, and a wide lower section, the three sections being connected together along a longitudinal axis and cooperating to define a convex back surface and a concave front surface curved along the longitudinal axis and generally straight along axes transverse to the longitudinal axis; scanning means mounted in the upper section of the housing, for scanning an adjacent bar code; a display screen mounted on the concave front surface; a keypad mounted on the concave front surface; elongated friction pads mounted at the upper and lower edges of the concave front surface, such that when the scanner is placed against a flat surface with its front surface facing the flat surface, the front surface is spaced from the flat surface; and two or more depressible buttons for activating the scanning means, wherein the buttons are located on both sides of the housing, in positions that can be conveniently reached by the thumb or forefinger of the operator's hand grasping the scanner.
14. A hand-held, portable scanner for reading bar code symbols, comprising: a housing with an elongated body having relatively large upper and lower sections and a relatively small middle section interconnecting the upper and lower sections, wherein the middle section is sized and configured to be conveniently grasped by an operator's hand, and wherein the upper, lower and middle sections cooperate to define a front surface; scanning means mounted in the upper section of the housing for scanning an adjacent bar code; a display screen mounted on the front surface; and a keypad mounted on the front surface.
15. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 14, and further comprising friction pads mounted on the front surface, wherein the friction pads are sized and configured so that when the scanner is placed against a flat surface with the front surface facing that flat surface, the flat surface is contacted only by the friction pads.
16. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 15, wherein: the friction pads are elongated strips made of a rubberized material; the friction pads are mounted transversely on the opposite ends of the front surface; and the friction pads each have a generally flat portion in contact with the front surface and a generally rounded portion oriented away from the front surface.
17. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 14, wherein: the upper, lower and middle sections of the housing define a longitudinal axis; the housing is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis; and the scanner further includes two or more depressible buttons for activating the scanning means located on both sides of the housing, in positions that can be conveniently reached by the thumb or forefinger of the operator's hand grasping the scanner.
18. A hand-held, portable scanner as defined in claim 14, wherein the center of gravity of the scanner is aligned approximately with the center of the middle section.
19. A hand-held, portable scanner for reading bar code symbols, comprising: an elongated housing, symmetrical about a longitudinal axis, and having relatively large upper end and lower sections and a relatively small middle section interconnecting the upper and lower sections, wherein the middle section is sized and configured to be conveniently grasped by an operator's hand, and wherein the upper, lower and middle sections cooperate to define a front surface; scanning means mounted in the housing for scanning an adjacent bar code; a display screen mounted in the front surface; a keypad mounted on the front surface; elongated friction pads mounted at opposite ends of the front surface, wherein when the scanner is placed against a flat surface with its front surface facing the flat surface, the front surface is not contacted by the flat surface; and two or more depressible buttons for activating the scanning means, wherein the buttons are located on both sides of the housing, in positions that can be conveniently reached by the thumb or forefinger of the operator's hand grasping the scanner.
PCT/US1995/001710 1994-02-08 1995-02-08 Portable bar code scanner WO1995022118A1 (en)

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US19328894A 1994-02-08 1994-02-08
US08/193,288 1994-02-08

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0749085A2 (en) * 1995-06-13 1996-12-18 Symbol Technologies, Inc. Ergonometric hand-held data collection terminal
US6634557B2 (en) 2000-09-06 2003-10-21 Teamaxess Ticketing Gmbh Multidirectional barcode reader

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0069574A2 (en) * 1981-07-07 1983-01-12 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Apparatus for reading bar code
WO1990016033A1 (en) * 1989-06-07 1990-12-27 Norand Corporation Hand-held data capture system with interchangeable modules
EP0414452A1 (en) * 1989-08-21 1991-02-27 AT&T GLOBAL INFORMATION SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL INC. Hand-held bar code reader
EP0425844A2 (en) * 1989-10-30 1991-05-08 Symbol Technologies, Inc. Power saving scanning arrangement
US5371348A (en) * 1992-10-16 1994-12-06 Khyber Technologies Corporation Portable device for handsfree data entry with variably-positionable display/scanner module detachable for handheld use

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0069574A2 (en) * 1981-07-07 1983-01-12 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Apparatus for reading bar code
WO1990016033A1 (en) * 1989-06-07 1990-12-27 Norand Corporation Hand-held data capture system with interchangeable modules
EP0414452A1 (en) * 1989-08-21 1991-02-27 AT&T GLOBAL INFORMATION SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL INC. Hand-held bar code reader
EP0425844A2 (en) * 1989-10-30 1991-05-08 Symbol Technologies, Inc. Power saving scanning arrangement
US5371348A (en) * 1992-10-16 1994-12-06 Khyber Technologies Corporation Portable device for handsfree data entry with variably-positionable display/scanner module detachable for handheld use

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0749085A2 (en) * 1995-06-13 1996-12-18 Symbol Technologies, Inc. Ergonometric hand-held data collection terminal
EP0749085A3 (en) * 1995-06-13 1999-01-13 Symbol Technologies, Inc. Ergonometric hand-held data collection terminal
US6634557B2 (en) 2000-09-06 2003-10-21 Teamaxess Ticketing Gmbh Multidirectional barcode reader

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