Robert A Blake

US Patent:

6412700, Jul 2, 2002

Filed:

Mar 22, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/273825

Inventors:

Robert Blake - Woodbury Heights NJ
Carl H. Knowles - Moorestown NJ
George B. Rockstein - Audubon NJ
David M. Wilz - Sewell NJ

Assignee:

Metrologic Instruments, Inc. - Blackwood NJ

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23547201, 23546201

Abstract:

The invention is a method and apparatus for automatically reading bar code symbols. One aspect of the present invention concerns a method of reading bar code symbols using an automatic hand-holdable bar code symbol reading device. In general, the automatic bar code symbol reading device comprises a hand-holdable housing containing operative elements which provide an object detection field and a scan field each defined external to the housing. The method involves automatically detecting the presence of an object within the object detection field by sensing object sensing energy reflected off the object. In a preferred embodiment, the object sensing energy is IR radiation produced from an object sensing energy source disposed within the housing. In automatic response to the detection of the object within the object detection field, the hand-holdable device detects the presence of a bar code within the scan field using a laser beam produced within the housing. Then, in automatic response to the detection of a bar code in the scan field, the automatic hand-holdable bar code symbol reading device reads the detected bar code in the scan field by producing scan data signals from the detected bar code and thereafter collecting and analyzing the same.

US Patent:

6595420, Jul 22, 2003

Filed:

Dec 2, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/452976

Inventors:

George B. Rockstein - Audobon NJ
Robert E. Blake - Woodbury Heights NJ
Mark Schmidt - Williamstown NJ
Garrett Russell - Newark DE
Donald T. Hudrick - Sicklerville NJ
Stephen J. Colavito - Brookhaven PA
Carl Harry Knowles - Moorestown NJ

Assignee:

Metrologic Instruments, Inc. - Blackwood NJ

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23546201, 23546225, 23546244

Abstract:

Disclosed is an automatically-activated body-wearable code symbol reading system comprising a bar code symbol reading mechanism contained within a body-wearable housing having a manually-activatable data transmission switch. During symbol reading operations, the bar code symbol reading mechanism automatically generates a visible laser scanning pattern for repeatedly reading one or more bar code symbols on an object during a bar code symbol reading cycle, and automatically generating a new symbol character data string in response to each bar code symbol read thereby. During system operation, the user visually aligns the visible laser scanning pattern with a particular bar code symbol on an object (e. g. product, bar code menu, etc. ) so that the bar code symbol is scanned, detected and decoded in a cyclical manner.

US Patent:

6607133, Aug 19, 2003

Filed:

May 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/863863

Inventors:

George Rockstein - Audubon NJ
Robert E. Blake - Woodbury Heights NJ
Mark Schmidt - Williamstown NJ
Garrett Russell - Wilmington DE
C. Harry Knowles - Moorestown NJ

Assignee:

Metrologic Instruments, Inc. - Blackwood NJ

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23546245, 23546248, 23546225

Abstract:

Disclosed is an automatically-activated code symbol reading system comprising a code symbol reading mechanism contained within a hand-supportable housing having a manually-actuatable data transmission switch. The symbol reading mechanism automatically generates a visible laser scanning pattern for repeatedly reading one or more code symbols on an object during each symbol reading cycle, and automatically generating a new symbol character data string in response to each read symbol. The user visually aligns the laser scanning pattern with a code symbol on an object. Each time the scanned symbol is successfully read in a cyclical manner, a new symbol character string is produced, and an indicator light is actively driven. During the symbol reading cycle, the user actuates the data transmission switch producing a data transmission control activation signal and enabling a subsequently produced symbol character data string to be automatically selected and transmitted to the host system.

US Patent:

6637659, Oct 28, 2003

Filed:

Aug 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/924954

Inventors:

George Rockstein - Audubon NJ
Robert E. Blake - Woodbury Heights NJ
Mark Schmidt - Williamstown NJ
Garrett Russell - Wilmington DE
C. Harry Knowles - Moorestown NJ

Assignee:

Metrologic Instruments, Inc. - Blackwood NJ

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23546245, 23546248

Abstract:

Disclosed is an automatically-activated omni-directional laser scanning bar code symbol reading system comprising a bar code symbol reading mechanism contained within a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture and manually-actuatable data transmission switch. During symbol reading operations, the bar code symbol reading mechanism automatically projects a visible omni-directional laser scanning pattern through the light transmission aperture for repeatedly reading one or more bar code symbols on an object during a bar code symbol reading cycle, and automatically generating a new symbol character data string in response to each bar code symbol read thereby. During system operation, the user presents a bar code symbol on an object (e. g. product, bar code menu, etc. ) within the omni-directional laser scanning pattern so that the bar code symbol is automatically scanned, detected and decoded in a cyclical manner.

US Patent:

6705526, Mar 16, 2004

Filed:

Sep 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/667190

Inventors:

Xiaoxun Zhu - Philadelphia PA
Ka Man Au - Philadelphia PA
Gennady Germaine - Cherry Hill NJ
Timothy A. Good - Blackwood NJ
Michael Schnee - Aston PA
Ian Scott - Haddonfield NJ
John Groot - San Jose CA
George B. Rockstein - Audobon NJ
Robert E. Blake - Woodbury Heights NJ
LeRoy Dickson - Morgan Hill CA
Carl Harry Knowles - Moorestown NJ

Assignee:

Metrologic Instruments, Inc. - Blackwood NJ

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23547201, 23546225, 23546201

Abstract:

A fully automated package identification and measuring system, in which an omni-directional holographic scanning tunnel is used to read bar codes on packages entering the tunnel, while a package dimensioning subsystem is used to capture information about the package prior to entry into the tunnel. Mathematical models are created on a real-time basis for the geometry of the package and the position of the laser scanning beam used to read the bar code symbol thereon. The mathematical models are analyzed to determine if collected and queued package identification data is spatially and/or temporally correlated with package measurement data using vector-based ray-tracing methods, homogeneous transformations, and object-oriented decision logic so as to enable simultaneous tracking of multiple packages being transported through the scanning tunnel.

US Patent:

6742709, Jun 1, 2004

Filed:

Nov 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/996079

Inventors:

Robert E. Blake - Woodbury Heights NJ
Stephen J. Colavito - Brookhaven PA
Xiaoxun Zhu - Marlton NJ
Charles Naylor - Sewell NJ
Thomas C. Amundsen - Turnersville NJ
Thomas Carullo - Marlton NJ
C. Harry Knowles - Morristown NJ

Assignee:

Metrologic Instruments, Inc. - Blackwood NJ

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23546211, 23546201

Abstract:

A bar code symbol reading system is disclosed comprising a hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device which embodies an electronically-controlled bar code symbol reading engine for producing a raster-type laser scanning pattern in either a hands-free or hands-on mode of operation for scanning 1-D and 2D bar code symbols. The electronically-controlled bar code symbol reading engine has (i) a high-speed/high-resolution raster scanning mode of operation, during which a high-speed, high-resolution raster-type scanning pattern is precisely generated under electronic control, and (ii) a high-speed/low-resolution raster scanning mode of operation during which a high-speed, low-resolution raster-type scanning pattern is precisely generated under electronic control. The electronically-controlled bar code symbol reading engine is induced into its high-speed/high-resolution raster scanning mode of operation when the hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device is removed from its support stand, and into its high-speed/low-resolution raster scanning mode when the hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device is placed into its support stand. The bar code symbol reading engine comprises a pair of mechanically-damped off-resonant laser beam scanning mechanisms that are arranged on a miniature optical bench and electronically-controlled by either a synchronously or asynchronously driven drive circuit.

US Patent:

6772949, Aug 10, 2004

Filed:

Apr 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/116682

Inventors:

George Rockstein - Audubon NJ
Robert E. Blake - Woodbury Heights NJ
Mark Schmidt - Williamstown NJ
Garrett Russell - Wilmington DE
C. Harry Knowles - Moorestown NJ

Assignee:

Metrologic Instruments, Inc. - Blackwood NJ

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23546245, 23546248, 23546225

Abstract:

A portable hand-supportable data terminal for allowing an operator to enter, collect, and display data. The data terminal comprises a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture and an automatically-activated laser scanning bar code symbol reading subsystem integrated therewithin. The bar code symbol reading subsystem includes a bar code symbol reading mechanism. Each instant a bar code symbol is read within a predetermined time period, a symbol character data string representative of the read bar code symbol is automatically produced. A manually-activatable data transmission switch generates a data transmission control activation signal in response to the activation of the switch. A system controller controls a data transmission circuit so that the symbol character data string, produced at substantially the same time when the data transmission control activation signal is generated, is transmitted to a data storage device aboard the data terminal or to a host system in communication therewith.

US Patent:

6783075, Aug 31, 2004

Filed:

Apr 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/114422

Inventors:

George Rockstein - Audubon NJ
Robert E. Blake - Woodbury Heights NJ
Mark Schmidt - Williamstown NJ
Garrett Russell - Wilmington DE
C. Harry Knowles - Moorestown NJ

Assignee:

Metrologic Instruments, Inc. - Blackwood NJ

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23546245, 23546248, 23546225

Abstract:

A portable hand-supportable data terminal for allowing an operator to enter, collect, and display data. The data terminal comprises a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture and an automatically-activated bar code symbol reading subsystem integrated therewithin. The bar code symbol reading subsystem includes a bar code symbol reading mechanism. Each instant a bar code symbol is read within a predetermined time period, a symbol character data string representative of the read bar code symbol is automatically produced. A manually-activatable data transmission switch generates a data transmission control activation signal in response to the activation of the switch. A system controller controls a data transmission circuit so that the symbol character data string, produced at substantially the same time when the data transmission control activation signal is generated, is transmitted to a data storage device aboard the data terminal or to a host system in communication therewith.