Scanner and method for sweeping a beam across a target

Abstract

A scanner such as a bar-code scanner includes a scan-beam generator, a beam reflector having a first magnet, and a beam-sweep mechanism having a second magnet. The beam-sweep mechanism causes the reflector to sweep the scan beam across a target such as a bar-code symbol by exerting a force on the first magnet with the second magnet. In one example, attraction between the magnets holds the reflector steady in a non-sweep position. Conversely, in a sweep position, repulsion between the magnets causes the reflector to oscillate and sweep the scan beam across a target such as a bar-code symbol. Because it does not include a motor for rotating a beam-sweep mirror, the scanner is often smaller and uses less electrical energy than motorized bar-code scanners.

1 - 29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . A hand-held bar code scanner comprising: 
 a planar circuit board having a scan engine and electronic circuitry mounted thereon;    a housing comprising a top cover and a bottom cover configured to internally mount the planar circuit board substantially at a plane defining the half thickness of the housing;    a window configured to allow the passage of a laser beam and scattered light from the laser beam respectively from and to the inside of the housing to and from an external scan field, the window being formed at a front end of the housing; and    a scan button positioned in the top cover approximately one-third of the length from the front end of the housing to the back end of the housing, closer to the front end of the housing; and    wherein the housing has a first length region with a tapering width between the mid-point of its length and the back end of the housing, a second length region with a convexly varying width wider than the width of the first region between the scan button and the front end of the housing, and a tapering transition length region between first and second regions smoothly transitioning from the first tapering width to the second convexly varying width.    
   
   
       31 . The hand-held bar code scanner of  claim 30  wherein the top cover along its centerline is substantially equidistant from the planar circuit board along the length of the first region and forms a smoothly convex top surface along its centerline along the length of the transition region and the second region, the maximum distance from the circuit board being approximately at a distance from the front of the housing corresponding to the scan button.  
   
   
       32 . The hand-held bar code scanner of  claim 30  wherein the bottom cover along its centerline is substantially equidistant from the planar circuit board along the length of the first region and forms a smoothly convex bottom surface along its centerline along the length of the transition region and the second region, the maximum distance from the circuit board being approximately at a distance from the front of the housing corresponding to the scan button.  
   
   
       33 . The hand-held bar code scanner of  claim 30  wherein the top cover substantially across its width forms a smoothly convex surface having a maximum distance from the planar circuit board along its centerline.  
   
   
       34 . The hand-held bar code scanner of  claim 30  wherein the bottom cover substantially across its width forms a smoothly convex surface having a maximum distance from the planar circuit board along its centerline.  
   
   
       35 . The hand-held bar code scanner of  claim 30  wherein the first, transition, and second length regions of the housing form an ogee having substantially no discontinuity between the front and back ends of the housing.  
   
   
       36 . The hand-held bar code scanner of  claim 30  wherein the first tapering and transition length regions of the housing form a concavely varying width; and wherein the transition and second convexly varying length regions form a convexly varying width.  
   
   
       37 . The hand-held bar code scanner of  claim 30  further comprising a bezel circumjacent the scan button and where the bezel and the scan button are configured to cooperate to guide a user's thumb toward the scan button when the housing is grasped by the user.  
   
   
       38 . The hand-held bar code scanner of  claim 30  wherein the housing further is configured to have rounded corners between the top and the sides, the radius of the corners being substantially less than the radius across the top of the housing.  
   
   
       39 . The hand-held bar code scanner of  claim 30  wherein the housing is further configured to have rounded corners between the bottom and the sides, the radius of the corners being substantially less than the radius across the bottom of the housing.  
   
   
       40 . The hand-held bar code scanner of  claim 30  wherein the first, second, and tapering length regions are configured to cooperate to guide varying hand sizes to comfortably grip the housing with a thumb resting on the scan button.  
   
   
       41 . The hand-held bar code scanner of  claim 30  further comprising an LED opening in the housing between the scan button and the front of the housing.  
   
   
       42 . A housing for a portable bar code scanner comprising: 
 a bottom cover; and    a top cover having a scan button aperture formed therein;    wherein the bottom cover and the top cover are configured to join along a substantially planar midline having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion having greater lateral extent than the rear portion.    
   
   
       43 . The housing for a portable bar code scanner of  claim 42  wherein the top cover and bottom cover are configured to support a planar circuit board substantially along the planar midline.  
   
   
       44 . The housing for a portable bar code scanner of  claim 42  wherein the front portions of the top and bottom covers describe a convex outward shape along the midline.  
   
   
       45 . The housing for a portable bar code scanner of  claim 42  wherein the rear portions of the top and bottom covers describe a concave outward shape along the midline.  
   
   
       46 . The housing for a portable bar code scanner of  claim 42  wherein the front portions of the top and bottom covers are configured to have a convex outward shape along the midline between the covers and the rear portions of the top and bottom covers are configured to have a concave outward shape along the midline between the covers.  
   
   
       47 . The housing for a portable bar code scanner of  claim 42  further comprising a window configured to be captured between the top and bottom covers at the front end of the housing, the window being wider than the width of the back end of the housing.  
   
   
       48 . A portable bar code scanner having a flattened body for gripping with a hand comprising: 
 a bilaterally symmetric housing having top and bottom surfaces with a scan button formed in the top surface, configured for holding in the hand of a user with fingers wrapped around the bottom surface and a thumb resting on the scan button in the top surface, the housing forming concave and convex curved sides along a length of the housing relative to a plane of symmetry in vertical and longitudinal dimensions, wherein the convex curvature forms a widened region corresponding to the position of the thumb and the concave curvature forms a narrowed region corresponding to a heal of the hand.    
   
   
       49 . The portable bar code scanner of  claim 48  wherein the bilaterally symmetric housing forms a convex curvature on the top and bottom of the housing relative to a horizontal plane of symmetry, the convex curvature being formed across the width of the housing.