Indicia Reader Sound Port at Housing Edge
Solution Overview
Problem
Fixed-position indicia readers face challenges in effectively transmitting audible indications to users when mounted in various positions due to sound openings being blocked by the mounting surface, leading to increased complexity and cost in adding additional sound sources and structural features.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a housing with two adjacent mounting surfaces that meet to form a common edge, featuring a recessed sound port opening for acoustic communication with a sound source, allowing audible indications to be transmitted effectively regardless of mounting position without additional sound sources or structural complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional sound sources with sound openings on additional surfaces are added to solve the blocking problem, then audible indications can be transmitted in all mounting configurations, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single sound source is designed to serve multiple mounting positions universally. The sound port opening is strategically positioned at the common edge where it can function effectively regardless of which adjacent surface is mounted to the support structure, eliminating the need for position-specific sound sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single sound source and sound port configuration. Instead of having separate sound sources for different mounting positions, one sound source with a strategically placed sound port at the common edge performs the function for all mounting configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional sound sources are added to ensure audible indications are not blocked, then all mounting positions can transmit sound, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sound port opening positioned at the common edge provides universal functionality across all mounting positions. This single position serves all mounting configurations, reducing the number of components needed and thereby lowering manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound port opening is positioned to effectively 'copy' or replicate the sound transmission function for all mounting positions simultaneously, rather than requiring physical duplicates of sound sources for each position.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional sound sources are added to transmit audible indications in all positions, then coverage is improved, but reliability decreases due to more potential failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sound transmission requirements into a single sound source and sound port system. By consolidating rather than duplicating components, the system reduces the total number of potential failure points while maintaining sound transmission coverage across all mounting positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The single sound source with the sound port at the common edge provides universal sound transmission capability for all mounting positions, eliminating the need for multiple sound sources and thereby reducing component failure potential.
4Adaptability or versatility
If mounting mechanisms are provided on all surfaces for maximum configurability, then mounting flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sound port opening is placed specifically at the common edge between two adjacent surfaces, creating a local quality that enables universal functionality. This strategic positioning allows the same structure to serve multiple mounting configurations without requiring mounting mechanisms on all surfaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration ensures clear transmission of audible indications to users when the indicia reader is mounted in different positions, enhancing usability and reducing manufacturing costs and potential component failures.
Implementation Method 1
a sound conducting channel in acoustic communication with the sound source, wherein the sound conducting channel has a sound port opening formed within a beveled portion of the common edge
Data Source
AI summary
An indicia reader can include an indicia-capturing system, an indicia-decoding module, and an audio indicator system having a sound source. An indicia-reader housing can support these components, and the housing includes two adjacent mounting surfaces and a sound port opening formed within a portion of the common edge of the two adjacent surfaces. The indicia reader can be operatively mounted in at least two different positions by attaching one of the two adjacent surfaces to a support structure. The reader's sound port opening is in acoustic communication with the sound source of the audio indicator for transmitting audible indications emitted via the audio indicator system when the indicia reader is mounted in either of the at least two different mounting positions.