Rotating Scan Engine Maintains Gravity Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine-readable symbol readers require cumbersome operations for scanning and viewing, especially when repeatedly scanning multiple items, as they often need to be switched between scanning and display configurations, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A machine-readable symbol reader with a rotatable scan engine and a controller that maintains a constant orientation relative to gravity, allowing for simultaneous point-and-shoot scanning and display viewing without the need for frequent configuration changes, using a combination of accelerometers, coiled wires, magnets, and motors to adjust the scan engine's orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the scan engine orientation is fixed relative to the housing, then the device structure is simple, but the operator must repeatedly switch between scanning and display configurations when handling multiple items
Solution Approach 1:
The scan engine is mounted to be rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the housing, allowing the field of view to dynamically adjust its orientation. This dynamic mounting enables the scan engine to maintain a constant orientation with respect to gravity while the housing orientation changes, eliminating the need for operators to manually switch between scanning and display configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
An accelerometer detects the orientation of the housing with respect to gravity and provides feedback signals to a controller. The controller processes this feedback and actuates the scan engine to rotate accordingly, maintaining a constant field of view orientation. This closed-loop feedback system automatically compensates for housing orientation changes without operator intervention.
2Productivity
If the scan engine is made rotatable to maintain constant orientation, then scanning efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs an accelerometer to detect housing orientation and a controller to process this information, actuating the scan engine to maintain constant field of view orientation. This feedback mechanism automatically maintains optimal scanning orientation, significantly improving scanning speed and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated control system using accelerometers and electronic actuators. This substitution eliminates the need for operators to physically reposition the scan engine, thereby increasing scanning productivity while the added electronic components provide intelligent automation.
3Ease of operation
If the field of view orientation changes with housing orientation, then the device structure is simple, but the operator comfort and viewing convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The scan engine is dynamically mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation, allowing the field of view to maintain a constant orientation with respect to gravity independent of housing orientation. This dynamic adjustment ensures the display remains conveniently positioned for viewing while the housing is manipulated during scanning operations.
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
Enables efficient and comfortable operation by maintaining a consistent scanning orientation while allowing for convenient viewing of the display, reducing operator effort and increasing scanning speed when handling multiple items.
Implementation Method 1
an accelerometer to output a signal that indicates an orientation of a component of the machine readable symbol reader with respect to gravity
Implementation Method 2
a coiled wire and a magnet positioned to interact with a magnetic field induced by a current that runs through the coiled wire to actuate the scan engine to rotate about the axis of rotation with respect to the housing
Implementation Method 3
a weight coupled to the scan engine to adjust an orientation of the scan engine about the axis of rotation with respect to the housing while an orientation of the housing about the axis of rotation with respect to gravity changes to maintain an orientation of the scan engine and of the field of view at a constant orientation about the axis of rotation with respect to gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A machine readable symbol reader can include a variable orientation scan engine and features to vary the orientation of the scan engine with respect to a housing of the reader to maintain an orientation of the scan engine in a global sense while an orientation of the rest of the reader including the housing changes. Such a machine readable symbol reader can be used in machine-readable symbol readers such as laser scanning machine readable symbol readers, smartphones with barcode readers attached, barcode scanners, optical imaging scanners, cameras, mobile computers, or for machine vision generally.