Laser-beam bar code reader

Abstract

Bar code reader including two sources which are enabled to emit respective laser beams with a cyclic alternation; the laser beams are focused by optical elements on two different regions of a read area. Reflected rays from the read area are processed by a decoding unit operatively connected to the laser-beam sources so that when the presence of a code in the read area is detected, only the laser beam which is focused on the region in which the bar code is present remains enabled.

We claim:  
     
       1. A laser-beam bar code reader, including one single scanner unit, said unit comprising: 
       at least two laser beam sources;  
       an electric control means having an input which receives timing pulses and at least two outputs connected to said at least two laser beam sources, said outputs assuming two opposing logical states, said electric control means being connected to change the logical state of said at least two outputs with each timing pulse, such as to alternately enable said sources to emit respective laser beams, said electric control means being further connected to disable alternate operation and lock said outputs in their current states upon receipt of a disable signal;  
       an optical means receiving the alternatively emitted laser beams, said optical means being suitable for directing the alternatively emitted beams onto a read area and for independently focusing each of said beams onto different preset regions which form said read area, said optical means being suitable for directing the beams reflected from said area to optical return means; and  
       a processing means connected between said optical return means and a further input of said electric control means, said processing means being suitable for detecting the presence of a bar code in one of said regions of said read area according to the data received from said optical return means and for generating said disable signal upon detection of the presence of a bar code in a region of said area, said disable signal causing said electric control means to lock said at least two laser beam sources in their instant states, such that only the laser source which emits the beam which is focused on said region in which the bar code is present remains in an active state.  
     
     
       2. Reader according to claim  1 , wherein each of said at least two laser beam sources comprises a respective solid-state diode. 
     
     
       3. Reader according to claim  1 , wherein each of said at least two laser beam sources comprises a respective power supply. 
     
     
       4. Reader according to claim  1 , wherein said optical means includes: 
       at least two optical assemblies for focusing the laser beams emitted by said at least two sources onto two different regions which form said read areas, said beams intersecting one another;  
       a semireflecting mirror arranged in the intersection point of said beams so that both said beams are reflected through said semireflecting mirror, the angles of incidence being chosen so as to generate a unidirectional beam;  
       a receiver assembly provided with a hole through which said unidirectional beam is guided; and  
       a polygonal rotor with mirrors which is arranged after said receiver assembly and is suitable for deflecting said unidirectional beam onto a read area so as to scan it, said optical receiver assembly being suitable for directing the beam reflected from said read area toward said optical return means.  
     
     
       5. Reader according to claim  4 , wherein said optical return means includes: 
       a video amplifier which is suitable for providing a signal which corresponds to the image of the scanned area to said processing means detecting said signal.  
     
     
       6. Reader according to claim  5 , further comprising a rotation sensor means which is operatively associated with said polygonal rotor such that to generate said timing pulses corresponding to the passage of one mirror of said polygonal rotor, said rotation sensor being connected to said input of electric control means. 
     
     
       7. A laser-beam bar code reader, including one single scanner unit, said unit comprising: 
       at least two laser beam sources;  
       an electric control means having an input which receives timing pulses and at least two outputs connected to said at least two laser beam sources, said outputs assuming two opposing logical states, said electric control means being connected to change the logical state of said at least two outputs with each timing pulse, such as to alternately enable said sources to emit respective laser beams, said electric control means being further connected to disable alternate operation and lock said outputs in their current states upon receipt of a disable signal;  
       an optical means receiving the alternatively emitted laser beams, said optical means being suitable for directing the alternatively emitted beams onto a read area and for directing the beams reflected from said read area to optical return means, said optical means being suitable for independently focusing each of said beams onto different preset regions which form said read area; and  
       an electric control means having an input which receives timing pulses and at least two outputs connected to said at least two laser beam sources, said outputs assuming two opposing logical states, said electric control means being connected to change the logical state of said at least two outputs with each timing pulse, such as to alternately enable said sources to emit respective laser beams, said electric control means being further connected to disable alternate operation and lock said outputs in their current states upon receipt of a disable signal;  
       an optical means receiving the alternatively emitted laser beams, said optical means being suitable for directing the alternatively emitted beams onto a read area and for independently focusing each of said beams onto different preset regions which form said read area, said optical means being suitable for directing the beams reflected from said area to optical return means; and  
       a processing means connected between said optical return means and a further input of said electric control means, said processing means being suitable for detecting the presence of a bar code in one of said regions of said read area according to the data received from said optical return means and for generating said disable signal upon detection of the presence of a bar code in a region of said area, said disable signal causing said electric control means to lock said at least two laser beam sources in their instant states, such that only the laser source which emits the beam which is focused on said region in which the bar code is present remains in an active state.  
       external sensors connected to a further input of said electric control means, said sensors being suitable for detecting the presence of the code on an object in a region of said read area and for generating said disable signal upon detection of the presence of a bar code in a region of said read area, said disable signal causing said electric control means to lock said at least two laser beam sources in their instant states the entire time during which the object remains within said region of said read area, such that only the laser source which emits the beam which is focused on said region in which the bar code is present remains in an active state.  
     
     
       8. A laser-beam bar code reader, including one single scanner unit, said unit comprising: 
       first means for generating a first laser beam;  
       second means for generating a second laser beam; directing and focusing means for directing said first laser beam and said second laser beam along a mutual direction and for focusing said first laser beam to define a first read area and for focusing said second laser beam to define a second read area, said first read area defining a first width extending along said mutual direction and said second read area defining a second width also extending along said mutual direction, said first width and said second width extending along different portions of said mutual direction;  
       a control means operatively connected to said first and said second means for generating said first and said second laser beam, said control means being suitable to alternately enable said first and said second means for generating said first and said second laser beam in dependence upon externally generated timing pulses, said control means being further connected to disable alternate operation and lock said outputs in their current states upon receipt of a disable signal; and  
       a detection means for detecting a reflected beam from said read areas, said detection means generating said disable signal when a reflected beam is detected, said detection means being operatively connected to said control means for locking said control means when said disable signal is generated, such that only one of the means for generating said laser beams which is focused on the read area associated to the reflected beam remains in an active state.  
     
     
       9. A laser-beam bar code reader, including one single scanner unit, said unit comprising: 
       at least two laser beam sources which are supplied by respective power supplies;  
       at least two optical assemblies for focusing the laser beams emitted by said sources onto different regions which form a read area;  
       an optical means suitable for superimposing the sources of said beams, which thus become coincident in terms of direction and origin so as to generate a unidirectional beam;  
       a receiver assembly provided with a hole through which said unidirectional beam is guided;  
       a deflecting rotating mirror means with mirrors arranged after said receiver assembly and suitable for deflecting said unidirectional beam onto said read area so as to perform the scanning thereof, said optical receiver assembly being suitable for directing the beam reflected from said read area toward a video amplifier which is suitable for providing a signal which corresponds to the image of the scanned area to a unit for decoding said signal, said decoding unit generating an enable signal when it does not detect the presence of a bar code in one of the regions of the read area;  
       a device for controlling said laser beam sources which is controlled by said decoding unit and by a rotation sensor which detects the rotation of said mirror means, said device for controlling comprising a timing input receiving timing pulses generated by said rotation sensor, an enable input receiving said enable signal from said decoding unit and at least two outputs connected to said laser beam sources and assuming two opposing logical states, said device for controlling being connected to change with each timing pulse the logical state of said output lines while said enable signal is active, so as to alternatively activate the sources of the laser beams and thus alternatively scan the regions which form the read area, whereas when said enable signal is low said device for controlling is connected to enable only the laser beam which is focused on the region of the read area in which the bar code is present.  
     
     
       10. A laser-beam bar code reader, including one single scanner unit, said unit comprising: 
       two sources of laser beams which are powered by respective power supplies;  
       two optical assemblies for focusing the laser beams emitted by said sources onto two different regions which form a read area, said beams intersecting one another;  
       a semireflecting mirror arranged in the intersection point of said beams so that one of said beams is reflected and the other one through said semireflecting mirror, the angles of incidence being chosen so as to generate a unidirectional beam;  
       a receiver assembly provided with a hole through which said unidirectional beam is guided;  
       a rotating deflecting mirror means with mirrors which are arranged after said receiver assembly and are suitable for deflecting said unidirectional beam onto said read area so as to scan it, said optical receiver assembly being suitable for directing the beam reflected from said read area toward a video amplifier which is suitable for providing a signal which corresponds to the image of the scanned area to a unit for decoding said signal, said decoding unit generating an enable signal when it does not detect the presence of a bar code in one of the regions of said read area;  
       a device for controlling said laser beam sources which is controlled by said decoding unit and by a rotation sensor which detects the rotation of the rotating mirror, said device for controlling comprising a timing input receiving timing pulses generated by said rotation sensor, an enable input receiving said enable signal from said decoding unit and at least two outputs connected to said laser beam sources and assuming two opposing logical states, said device for controlling being connected to change with each timing pulse the logical state of said output lines while said enable signal is active, so as to alternatively activate the laser beam sources and thus alternatively scan the regions which form the read area, whereas when said enable signal is not active the device for controlling is connected to enable only the source the laser beam whereof is focused on the region of the read area in which the bar code is present.  
     
     
       11. A laser-beam bar code reader, including one single scanner unit, said unit comprising: 
       at least two laser beam sources which are supplied by respective power supplies;  
       at least two optical assemblies for focusing the laser beams emitted by said sources onto different regions which form a read area;  
       an optical means suitable for superimposing the sources of said beams, which thus become coincident in terms of direction and origin so as to generate a unidirectional beam;  
       a receiver assembly provided with a hole through which said unidirectional beam is guided;  
       a polygonal rotor with mirrors arranged after said receiver assembly and suitable for deflecting said unidirectional beam onto said read area so as to perform the scanning thereof;  
       a video amplifier, said optical receiver assembly being suitable for directing the beam reflected from said read area toward said video amplifier, said video amplifier being connected to generate a signal which corresponds to the image of the scanned area;  
       a decoding unit receiving said signal, said decoding unit generating an enable signal when it does not detect the presence of a bar code in one of the regions of the read area; and  
       a device for controlling said laser beam sources, said device being controlled by said decoding unit and by a rotation sensor which detects the rotation of the polygonal rotor, said device for controlling comprising: a  
       timing input receiving timing pulses generated by said rotation sensor,  
       an enable input receiving said enable signal from said decoding unit, and  
       at least two outputs connected to said laser beam sources and assuming two opposing logical states,  
       said device for controlling being connected to change with each timing pulse the logical state of said output lines while said enable signal is active, so as to alternatively activate the sources of the laser beams and thus alternatively scan the regions which form the read area, whereas when said enable signal is low said device for controlling being connected to enable only the source the laser beam which is focused on the region of the read area in which the bar code is present.  
     
     
       12. Laser-beam bar code reader, including one single scanner unit, said unit comprising: 
       two sources of laser beams which are powered by respective power supplies;  
       two optical assemblies for focusing the laser beams emitted by said sources onto two different regions which form a read area, said beams intersecting one another;  
       a semireflecting mirror arranged in the intersection point of said beams so that one of said beams is reflected and the other one through said semireflecting mirror, the angles of incidence being chosen so as to generate a unidirectional beam;  
       a receiver assembly provided with a hole through which said unidirectional beam is guided;  
       a polygonal rotor with mirrors which is arranged after said receiver assembly and is suitable for deflecting said unidirectional beam onto said read area so as to scan it;  
       a video amplifier, said optical receiver assembly being suitable for directing the beam reflected from said read area toward said video amplifier, said video amplifier being connected to generate a signal which corresponds to the image of the scanned area;  
       a decoding unit receiving said signal, said decoding unit generating an enable signal when it does not detect the presence of a bar code in one of the regions of said read areas; and  
       a device for controlling said laser beam sources which is controlled by said decoding unit and by a rotation sensor which detects the rotation of the polygonal rotor, said device for controlling comprising:  
       a timing input receiving timing pulses generated by said rotation sensor,  
       an enable input receiving said enable signal from said decoding unit, and  
       at least two outputs connected to said laser beam sources and assuming two opposing logical states,  
       said device for controlling being connected to change with each timing pulse the logical state of said output lines while said enable signal is active, so as to alternatively activate the laser beam sources and thus alternatively scan the regions which form the read area, whereas when said enable signal is not active the device for controlling is connected to enable only the source the laser beam whereof is focused on the region of the read area in which the bar code is present.  
     
     
       13. Laser- beam bar code reader including one single scanner unit, said unit comprising:    
       
         at least two laser beam sources;  
       
       
         power supply means for enabling said sources to emit respective laser beams;  
       
       
         optical focusing means suitable for focusing the emitted beams,  
       
       
         optical means for directing the focused beams on read areas and for directing the beams reflected from said areas to processing means;  
       
       
         electric control means for activating the power supply means to emit said laser beams;  
       
         each of said laser beams being focused by the optical focusing means on read areas defined at preset different distances from the laser - beam bar code reader along substantially the same scanning path.   
     
     
       14. Laser- beam reader according to claim  13 , wherein said optical means is adapted to superimpose the beams emitted by said sources and focused at different distances from the laser - beam bar code reader, so as to generate a unidirectional beam.   
     
     
       15. Laser- beam reader according to claim  14 , wherein said beams are intersecting one another and in that said optical means comprises a semi - reflecting mirror, arranged at the intersection point of the beams, so that one of said beams is reflected and the other one passes through the semi - reflecting mirror, the angles of incidence of said beams onto the mirror being chosen so as to generate said unidirectional beam.   
     
     
       16. Laser- beam reader according to claim  14 , wherein said optical means comprises a receiver assembly provided with a hole through which said unidirectional beam is guided, a polygonal rotor being arranged after said receiver assembly for deflecting said unidirectional beam onto one of said read areas so as to perform the scanning thereof.   
     
     
       17. Laser- beam reader according to claim  16 , wherein said receiver assembly directs the beam reflected from said read areas towards a video amplifier which is suitable for providing a signal which corresponds to the image of the scanned area to a unit for decoding said signal.   
     
     
       18. Laser- beam reader according to claim  17 , wherein said electric control means is controlled by said decoding unit and by a rotation sensor operatively associated with the rotor, so that when the decoding unit does not detect the presence of a bar code in the read areas, the electric control means is enabled by the rotation sensor so as to alternatively activate the laser beam sources and thus alternatively scan the read areas, whereas when the decoding unit detects the presence of a bar code in the read areas, the electric control means enables only the source of the laser beam which is focused on the read area in which the bar code is present.   
     
     
       19. Laser- beam reader according to claim  13 , wherein said laser beam sources comprise a solid - state diode.   
     
     
       20. Laser- beam reader according to claim  13 , further comprising an external sensor for detecting the presence of a bar code on an object so as to activate the source of the laser beam which is focused on the read area where the bar code is present for the entire time during which the object remains within the read area.   
     
     
       21. Laser- beam reader according to claim  13 , wherein the processing means, upon detection of the presence of a bar code in one of said read areas, selectively activates said electric control means so as to cause them to enable only the source which emits the beam which is focused on said area and to disable the remaining source.   
     
     
       22. Laser beam reader according to claim  13 , wherein said electric control means activates the power supply means to emit said laser beams with cyclic alternation.