Barcode Imaging Engine Cover Orientation and Cable Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a challenge in finding appropriate form factors and user-friendly housing features for barcode imaging engines, particularly due to their small footprint and cabling connectivity issues.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a housing with specific orthogonal sides and a cover with alignment features that allow for alternative orientations, along with a cable tie system to secure connectors and guide cables, enhancing the assembly's versatility and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the imaging engine is designed with a small footprint, then the device size is reduced and portability is improved, but cabling connectivity becomes more difficult to implement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging engine footprintVSAvoidcabling connectivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the housing in a sixth direction (axial direction) from the main body to create a connector housing portion that protrudes outward. This dimensional extension allows cable connectors to be positioned away from the compact main body, solving the cabling connectivity issue while maintaining a small footprint for the imaging engine itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If the housing design uses traditional symmetric mounting, then manufacturing is simplified, but mounting flexibility and adaptability to different orientations are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehousing manufacturingVSAvoidmounting orientation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is designed with asymmetric features including a first wall, second wall, and third wall that are not uniformly distributed. The alignment features are positioned specifically on certain walls rather than symmetrically across all walls, enabling the cover to be mounted in multiple orientations (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) while maintaining ease of manufacture through a unified cover design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If the cover is designed to fit tightly over the housing, then protection and stability are improved, but assembly and disassembly become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover stabilityVSAvoidcover assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the fastening function from the cover itself and implements it through separate alignment features that protrude from the housing and engage with corresponding features on the cover. This separation allows the cover to be securely mounted while maintaining ease of assembly and disassembly, as the alignment features provide clear engagement points without requiring tight interference fits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11748585B2Symbology reader imaging engines and components associated therewith

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORP

AI summary

In an embodiment, the present invention is an imaging engine assembly that includes a housing with a window, an imaging assembly positioned within the housing, the imaging assembly operable to capture image data over a field of view extending through the window and decode an indicium captured in the image data, and a cover positioned at least partially over the housing. The imaging engine housing and the cover are configured such that the cover is alternatively mountable between a first orientation and a diametrically opposed second orientation relative to the housing.