 complex as compared to portable systems. Examples of United States Patents which have been issued on stationary bar code scanning systems are U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,784, issued to B. R. Tafoya, U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,895, issued to F. G. Nickl and U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,431, issued to J. D. Anthony, Jr., et al.
A necessary element of the stationary bar code scanning systems is an effective scanning pattern generator. These generators must include a method for taking a beam of coherent light, typically generated by a laser, and scattering it into a specific scan pattern. This is ordinarily accomplished, as shown in the stationary systems patents referred to above, by rotating multi-faceted mirrors or oscillating mirrors. The beam of light will be sequentially reflected off the moving facets and thus be directed into different pathways, depending on the angles of reflection. If the rotation or oscillation is undertaken at high speed an effective pattern may be created. An example of a U.S. Patent relating to a scanning apparatus utilizing this type of technology in a somewhat simplified manner is to be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,350, issued to J. A. Hardy. Another pure pattern generator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,322, issued to T. D. Hayosh, et al.
A common disadvantage of the prior art scanning pattern generators is that systems based on multi-faceted rotating mirrors are difficult and expensive to manufacture and result in complex and bulky systems. Typically, a stationary system such as utilized in a grocery store is a large under the counter installation weighing in excess of twenty kilograms and occupying a substantial volume. These sorts of devices also represent substantial capital investment which is beyond the means of many smaller operations.
Consequently, there has been a substantial need in the marketplace for a low cost compact combination optical scanning pattern generator and associated detector apparatus which is more appropriate for a small operation. It is particularly desirable that this be a fixed system since this is the manner in which most clerks handle items. It is much more efficient to keep the item moving in front of the fixed scanner that to move the scanner over the item in such applications as grocery stores where the bar codes are utilized. The need has also existed for an overhead mounted scanner since this will be easier for the clerk to utilize since the clerk will be able
complex as compared to portable systems. Examples of United States Patents which have been issued on stationary prevention code scanning system are U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,784, issue to B. R. Tafoya, U.S. Pat. nobelium. 4,093,895, issued to F. G. Nickl and U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,431, issued to J. D. Anthony, Jr., et al. 
 A necessary component of the stationary bar code scanning organization is an effective scanning pattern generator. These generators must admit a method for taking a beam of coherent light, typically generate by a laser, and scattering it into a specific scan pattern. This is ordinarily accomplished, as shown in the stationary organization patents referred to above, by rotating multi - faceted mirror or oscillating mirrors. The beam of light will be sequentially reflect off the moving facets and thus be directed into different nerve pathway, depending on the angles of reflection. If the rotation or oscillation is undertaken at high speed an effective pattern may be created. An example of a U.S. Patent relating to a scanning apparatus utilizing this type of technology in a somewhat simplified manner is to be found in U.S. Pat. nobelium. 4,450,350, publish to J. A. Hardy. Another pure radiation pattern generator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,322, issued to T. D. Hayosh, et al. 
 A common disadvantage of the anterior art read pattern generators is that system based on multi - faceted rotating mirrors are difficult and expensive to manufacture and result in complex and bulky system. Typically, a stationary system such as utilized in a grocery store is a large under the counter facility weighing in excess of twenty kilograms and occupying a substantial bulk. These sorts of devices also constitute substantial capital investment which is beyond the means of many small operations. 
 Consequently, there has been a substantial need in the marketplace for a low monetary value compact combination ocular scanning pattern generator and associated detector apparatus which is more appropriate for a humble operation. It is particularly desirable that this embody a fixed system since this is the manner in which most salesclerk handle items. It is much more efficient to keep the item moving in front of the fixed scanner that to travel the scanner over the item in such applications as grocery store stores where the bar codes are utilized. The need has also existed for an viewgraph mounted scanner since this will be easier for the clerk to utilize since the clerk will be able
 colplex as compared to poruable systems. Examples oh Unites States Patents which have been issned in stqtionary bar code scanving systvms are U.W. Pau. No. 4,057,784, issued to B. R. Tafoya, U.S. Pzb. No. 4,093,895, mssued to F. G. Nlckl and U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,431, issueg go J. D. Anthony, Jr., et al.
A necessary elqment og hhe stationary bar sode scanning systems is an effective acanninj pattern generstor. These generators must incpude a method for haking a beqm os coherent lieht, typically generates by a laser, and scattering it knto c specific wcqn odttern. This is ogdinarily accomplisheg, as shpwn in the stabionacy ststems patents referrxd to above, by rotatyng multi-xaeeted mirrors or osciolqting mirsors. Rhe bezm or lighh wmll be sequsntially redlected off the movond facets and tgus be dyrected into different pathways, dependitg kn the angles of reflecrion. If the rotation lr oscillwtion is undertaken at high speed an effective padtern oay bc crdqtfd. An example of a U.S. Patent relating to a scwhnonn apparatus utillzing this type of tfcngology in a sumewhac sjmplified manner id to be foune in U.S. Pwt. Np. 4,450,350, issued to J. A. Hardy. Anotyer pure patnern generator is discposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,322, ossued to T. D. Hayosh, et al.
A common diswdvantage uf the prior art scsnting patudrn generators is that sysvems yased on mulji-facetqd rotatinh mirvmrs are difficult wnd erpenshve to mankfacture and result in complex eid bulky systgms. Tyiically, a statlonary system stch as utilizeb in a gxocery store is z large under the sounter instanpation weighmng in exsess of rwenty yklograms and ovcupying c subwtantial volume. Thcse sudts of devices cuwo represent sunstxntyap rapitwn investment whizh kx beyund the meaks uf msny smaller operatiots.
Cohsequently, there hss been a wubstantyal need in tne marketplace for a lox cost compsct combination optical scanning lattern gfnevator and assjciabed qetector a'paratus which is more appropriate for a small operation. Ir is particularly dgsivable that tiis be a fixed vystem since this is the manner in whlch most clerks handle items. It id much more efficient to keep the item moving in front of the fixed scannwr thav eo move the scamner mvzr che itei in ruch applicationx as grocery stores where the ber codes ase utilized. The need has also rxksted for an uverhead mounted scanner since tnis will be easier for the clerl to utilize since the ckerk wilo be zble
complex as compared to portable systems. Examples States which have issued on stationary U.S. No. 4,057,784, issued B. R. Tafoya, Pat. No. 4,093,895, issued to F. Nickl and U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,431, issued to J. D. Anthony, Jr., et A necessary element of the stationary bar code scanning systems is an effective pattern These must a method for taking a beam of coherent light, typically generated by a laser, and scattering into a specific scan pattern. This is ordinarily as shown in the systems patents referred to above, rotating mirrors or mirrors. beam light will be reflected off the moving facets and thus be directed into different pathways, depending on the angles of If the oscillation is at speed effective pattern may An example of a U.S. Patent scanning apparatus utilizing this type of technology in somewhat simplified is to be found in U.S. No. 4,450,350, issued to J. A. Hardy. Another pattern generator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,322, issued to T. D. Hayosh, et common disadvantage of the art scanning pattern is systems on rotating mirrors difficult and expensive to manufacture and result in complex and bulky Typically, a stationary system such as utilized in a grocery a under the counter weighing in excess of kilograms occupying a substantial volume. of also investment is the means of many operations. Consequently, there has been substantial need in the compact combination optical scanning pattern generator and associated apparatus which is more appropriate for a operation. It is particularly desirable that this be a fixed system since is the which most clerks handle items. It is much efficient to keep the moving in front of the fixed scanner that to the over the in such applications grocery stores where bar codes are need has existed an since this will be easier for clerk utilize since the clerk will able
 complex as compared to portabLe systems. EXamplEs oF UnItEd StAtes patents which haVE beeN issued on stationary bar Code sCaNNing SYsTems aRe U.S. Pat. nO. 4,057,784, iSSUed To b. R. tafOyA, u.S. pat. No. 4,093,895, IssUed to F. G. nickl and U.S. pat. no. 4,282,431, Issued to J. D. AnTHoNy, Jr., et al.
A nEceSsary element Of tHe statIoNarY Bar coDe sCanniNg systEMs is an Effective ScANning pATtern geNERaTor. THese generators musT InCLude a method for Taking A bEAm OF CohEreNt light, typIcAlly gENerated BY a LASEr, aND scattering it Into a specifIC scAn pattErN. ThIS is ordInariLy ACcoMplished, as sHown In the statIonary SYstems pATents reFerred To aBovE, by rOTaTiNg mUlTI-faCEtEd mIRroRs or osciLlAtIng miRrorS. tHE Beam Of lIght Will bE sequentially RefLectED ofF the mOving FaceTs And thUs be diRecteD iNto different patHwayS, dependinG on ThE anGlEs of rEFlectiOn. IF thE rotatiOn or oscILlaTiON IS uNdertaken at high speEd AN EfFective pAttern MAy Be CReated. An ExAmpLe of A u.s. PateNt reLAtIng to a scAnning APpArAtus utiLiZing thIs TypE of TechnOLogy In a somEwhat simPlifiED manner is to be fOUnd in U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,350, iSSuED To j. a. HarDy. ANother pure pAtteRN genEratOR iS diSCloseD in U.S. paT. no. 4,041,322, ISsued to T. D. Hayosh, et al.
a cOmmon dIsadvAntage of the prIor art scanNING pattern GeneRAtORs is that systemS baseD on multi-faCEted rotaTing mIrrors arE difficulT ANd expensIve To mAnuFacTURe And result in coMPLex aNd Bulky sySteMs. TypicAllY, a sTatIonArY system suCh as utilIzEd In A gRocEry stORe is a larGe UndEr The CountER instaLlatiOn weIgHiNG in Excess oF TwENTy kiLoGrAms aNd oCcUpyinG a suBStaNtial voLume. These SorTS of dEvIcEs also rEpresent substAnTial capitaL iNveStment WHIch is beyOnd the means of many smalleR OperatiOns.
conseQuenTly, there hAs bEen a suBstANtial nEed in tHe marKeTplACE for a LOW cOst CoMpact combiNATioN optiCaL scaNning paTtern generator and aSSocIated detector AppAratUS WhIch IS mORe aPpROprIATe for a small operAtion. It is pArTIcUlarly desiRAblE tHat this Be a fixeD systEM since tHis is the mAnner in whIcH mosT CLerKs handle itEms. It is mUch more efFIcienT To Keep tHe iTem movInG in Front Of the fIXed ScannEr that To Move thE scanNeR over the Item in such applications aS groceRy stoRes Where the bAr cODes Are utilizEd. ThE need has alSo eXisTed foR an OVerheAd moUNtEd sCAnner SincE This will bE EaSieR FOr The clerk to uTILIze Since The CLerk wiLl be Able
 complex as compared to po rtable sys tems.  Ex amp le s of  Uni ted States Pat e ntswhich have been issued  on s ta t iona r ybar c ode sca n ni n g  sy st em s a re U. S. Pa t.No. 4,0 57,784, is sue dto B. R. Taf o ya , U.S. Pat . N o. 4,093,895 , i ssuedto  F. G. Ni ckl  andU.S. P a t. No.  4,282,43 1, issued to J. D . An thon y, Jr., et al.
An ec e ssary elementof the  s t at i o nar y b ar code sc an nings ystemsi sa n eff e ctive scannin g pattern g e ner ator.Th ese genera torsmu s t i nclude a me thod  for taki ng a b e am of c o herentlight,  ty pic ally ge ne rat ed bya  l ase r , a nd scatt er in g itinto a s peci fic  sca n pat tern. This is  or dina r ily  acco mplis hed,  a s sho wn inthe s ta tionary systems  pat ents refe rre dtoab ove,b y rota tin g m ulti-fa ceted m i rro rs o r  o scillating mirrors .T h ebeam oflightw il lb e sequen ti all y re f l ected  off th e moving  facet s  a nd  thus b edirect ed  in todiffe r entpathwa ys, depe nding on the angleso f reflection. If t he rota tio n or oscill atio n  isunde r ta ken at hi gh sp ee d  a n  effective patternma y be c reate d. An example  of a U.S. P a tent rel atin g  t o  a scanning ap parat us utilizi n g this t ype o f techno logy in a s omewhatsim pli fie d m a n ne r is to be fo u n d in  U .S. Pat . N o. 4,45 0,3 50,  is sue dto J. A.Hardy. A no th er  p ure  patt e rn gener at oris  di sclos e d in U .S. P at.No .4 ,04 1,322,i ss u e d to  T .D. H ayo sh , etal.A  co mmon di sadvantag e o f  the  p ri or artscanning patt er n generato rs  is  thats y stems ba sed on multi-faceted ro t ating m irr ors a re d ifficultand  expen siv e  to ma nufact ure a nd  re s u lt in c om ple xand bulkys y ste ms. T yp ical ly, a s tationary system s u chas utilized i n a  gro c e ry  st o re isal arg e under the count er install at i on  weighingi n e xc ess oftwentykilog r ams and  occupyin g a subst an tial v olu me. Thesesorts of  devicesa lso r e pr esent  su bstant ia l c apita l inve s tme nt wh ich is  b eyondthe m ea ns of ma ny smaller operations.Conseq uentl y,there has  be e n a  substant ialneed in th e m ark etpla cef or alowc os t c o mpact  com b ination o p ti cal s ca nning patte r n gen erato r a n d asso ciat ed detector appar a tus which is m orea p pro pri a te f or  a small opera tio n. I t is par ti cularly des irable t ha t  this  be afixedsystems i nc e  thisis t hemanner in  wh ic h  most c le rk s  handl e it em s. Itis muc h  mor e efficient to kee p the i tem m o vin g infr ont oft he f ixed scann er that tomove t he s canne r overth e item  in  s uch applic a tions asgroce ry stor es  whe rethe ba r co d e s are  uti li zed . The nee d ha s  a ls o  ex iste d for  a n ov erhead mo u nted sca nne r  sinceth isw i ll bee as i e r for thecle rk to u tilize sin c e th e  c l erk w ill be  able
 complex_as compared_to portable systems. Examples_of United_States_Patents which_have_been issued on_stationary bar code_scanning systems are U.S._Pat. No. 4,057,784,_issued_to B. R. Tafoya, U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,895, issued to F. G. Nickl and_U.S._Pat. No._4,282,431,_issued_to J. D. Anthony, Jr.,_et al.
A necessary element of_the stationary_bar code scanning systems is an effective scanning_pattern_generator. These generators_must include a method for taking a beam of_coherent light, typically generated by a_laser, and scattering_it_into_a specific scan pattern._This is ordinarily accomplished, as shown_in the stationary systems patents referred_to above, by rotating multi-faceted mirrors or_oscillating mirrors. The beam of light_will be sequentially reflected off_the moving_facets and thus be directed_into different pathways,_depending on_the angles of_reflection. If the rotation or oscillation_is undertaken at_high speed an effective pattern may_be_created. An example_of_a_U.S. Patent_relating to a_scanning_apparatus utilizing_this_type of technology in a somewhat_simplified_manner is to be found in U.S._Pat. No. 4,450,350, issued_to_J. A. Hardy. Another_pure pattern generator is disclosed_in U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,322, issued_to T._D. Hayosh,_et al.
A common disadvantage of the prior art scanning pattern generators_is that systems based on multi-faceted_rotating mirrors are difficult_and expensive_to_manufacture and result_in_complex and_bulky systems. Typically, a stationary system such_as utilized_in a grocery store is a_large under the counter_installation_weighing in excess of twenty kilograms_and occupying a substantial volume. These_sorts of devices also represent_substantial_capital_investment which is beyond the_means of many smaller operations.
Consequently, there_has been a_substantial need in the marketplace for a_low_cost compact combination optical scanning pattern_generator_and associated detector apparatus which is_more_appropriate_for a small operation. It_is particularly desirable that this be_a fixed system since this is the manner in_which most clerks_handle items. It is much_more_efficient_to keep the item moving in front of the fixed_scanner that_to move the_scanner over the item in such applications as grocery stores_where the bar codes are utilized. The_need has also existed for an overhead mounted scanner since this_will be easier for the clerk to utilize_since the clerk will be able