Barcode reader and docking station for charging the barcode reader

• US 10,474,859 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2017
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Utykanski, Phil, Hoobler, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hassan, Aurangzeb
• Application Number:
  US15/630,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20170293787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06018 one-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/146 the method including quality enhancement steps
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Abstract

A barcode-reading system may include a barcode reader that includes an illumination system, an image sensor, an optic system, a supercapacitor, and a first wireless point-to-point interface. The illumination system may be configured to illuminate a target area. The image sensor may be configured to capture an image of the target area. The optic system may be configured to focus reflected light from the target area onto the image sensor. The supercapacitor may be configured to provide operating power to the barcode reader. The barcode-reading system may also include a docking station configured to provide charging power to charge the supercapacitor of the barcode reader. The docking station may include a second wireless point-to-point interface. The first wireless point-to-point interface and the second wireless point-to-point interface may be configured to establish a wireless point-to-point communication link between the barcode reader and the docking station.

Claims

1. A barcode-reading system, comprising:

a barcode reader comprising an illumination system configured to illuminate a target area, an image sensor configured to capture an image of the target area, an optic system configured to focus reflected light from the target area onto the image sensor, a supercapacitor configured to provide operating power to the barcode reader, a first wireless point-to-point interface, and a first charging contact; and

a docking station configured to provide charging power to charge the supercapacitor of the barcode reader, the docking station comprising a second wireless point-to-point interface and a second charging contact, wherein the first charging contact is coupled to the second charging contact when the barcode reader is docked in the docking station;

wherein the first wireless point-to-point interface and the second wireless point-to-point interface are configured to establish a wireless point-to-point communication link between the barcode reader and the docking station, and wherein the barcode reader is configured to send data to the docking station via the wireless point-to-point communication link.

2. The barcode-reading system of claim 1, wherein the docking station further comprises an indicator that illuminates in response to detecting that the first charging contact is coupled to the second charging contact.

3. The barcode-reading system of claim 1, wherein:

the docking station further comprises a power interface that is configured to be coupled to a power source; and

the power source supplies the charging power to charge the supercapacitor when the power interface is coupled to the power source.

4. The barcode-reading system of claim 1, wherein the barcode reader further comprises a speaker configured to provide audible output.

5. The barcode-reading system of claim 1, wherein the barcode reader further comprises targeting illumination circuitry that is configured to project a targeting pattern into the target area.

6. The barcode-reading system of claim 1, wherein the barcode reader further comprises a good read signal indicator that illuminates in response to successfully reading and decoding a barcode.

7. A barcode-reading system, comprising:

a barcode reader comprising an illumination system configured to illuminate a target area, an image sensor configured to capture an image of the target area, an optic system configured to focus reflected light from the target area onto the image sensor, a supercapacitor configured to provide operating power to the barcode reader, and a first wireless point-to-point interface; and

a docking station configured to provide charging power to charge the supercapacitor of the barcode reader, the docking station comprising a second wireless point-to-point interface and a power and data interface that is configured to be coupled to a host computing device;

wherein the host computing device supplies the charging power to charge the supercapacitor when the power and data interface is coupled to the host computing device, wherein the first wireless point-to-point interface and the second wireless point-to-point interface are configured to establish a wireless point-to-point communication link between the barcode reader and the docking station, and wherein the barcode reader is configured to send data to the docking station via the wireless point-to-point communication link.

8. A barcode-reading system, comprising:

a barcode reader comprising an illumination system configured to illuminate a target area, an image sensor configured to capture an image of the target area, an optic system configured to focus reflected light from the target area onto the image sensor, a supercapacitor configured to provide operating power to the barcode reader, and a first wireless point-to-point interface; and

a docking station configured to provide charging power to charge the supercapacitor of the barcode reader, the docking station comprising a second wireless point-to-point interface and a power and data interface that is configured to be coupled to a host computing device;

wherein the first wireless point-to-point interface and the second wireless point-to-point interface are configured to establish a wireless point-to-point communication link between the barcode reader and the docking station, wherein the barcode reader is configured to send data to the docking station via the wireless point-to-point communication link, and wherein the docking station is configured to provide the data to the host computing device via the power and data interface.

9. A barcode reader, comprising:

an illumination system configured to illuminate a target area;

an image sensor configured to capture an image of the target area;

an optic system configured to focus reflected light from the target area onto the image sensor;

a supercapacitor configured to provide operating power to the barcode reader;

a charging contact that is configured to receive charging power for the supercapacitor when the barcode reader is docked in a docking station;

a wireless point-to-point interface that is configured to establish a wireless point-to-point communication link between the barcode reader and the docking station; and

a processor configured to send data to the docking station via the wireless point-to-point communication link.

10. A barcode reader, comprising:

an illumination system configured to illuminate a target area;

an image sensor configured to capture an image of the target area;

an optic system configured to focus reflected light from the target area onto the image sensor;

a supercapacitor configured to provide operating power to the barcode reader;

a charging contact that is configured to receive charging power for the supercapacitor when the barcode reader is docked in a docking station;

a wireless point-to-point interface that is configured to establish a wireless point-to-point communication link between the barcode reader and the docking station; and

targeting illumination circuitry that is configured to project a targeting pattern into the target area.

11. A barcode reader, comprising:

an illumination system configured to illuminate a target area;

an image sensor configured to capture an image of the target area;

an optic system configured to focus reflected light from the target area onto the image sensor;

a supercapacitor configured to provide operating power to the barcode reader;

a charging contact that is configured to receive charging power for the supercapacitor when the barcode reader is docked in a docking station;

a wireless point-to-point interface that is configured to establish a wireless point-to-point communication link between the barcode reader and the docking station; and

a speaker configured to provide audible output.

12. A barcode reader, comprising:

an illumination system configured to illuminate a target area;

an image sensor configured to capture an image of the target area;

an optic system configured to focus reflected light from the target area onto the image sensor;

a supercapacitor configured to provide operating power to the barcode reader;

a charging contact that is configured to receive charging power for the supercapacitor when the barcode reader is docked in a docking station;

a wireless point-to-point interface that is configured to establish a wireless point-to-point communication link between the barcode reader and the docking station; and

a good read signal indicator that illuminates in response to successfully reading and decoding a barcode.

13. A method, comprising:

providing a barcode reader comprising an illumination system configured to illuminate a target area, an image sensor configured to capture an image of the target area, an optic system configured to focus reflected light from the target area onto the image sensor, a supercapacitor configured to provide operating power to the barcode reader, and a first wireless point-to-point interface;

providing a docking station comprising a second wireless point-to-point interface and a power interface;

establishing a wireless point-to-point communication link between the barcode reader and the docking station;

coupling the docking station to a power source via the power interface; and

docking the barcode reader in the docking station such that the docking station provides charging power, supplied by the power source, to charge the supercapacitor of the barcode reader.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the barcode reader projecting a targeting pattern into the target area.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the barcode reader illuminating a good read signal indicator in response to successfully reading and decoding a barcode.

16. A method, comprising:

providing a barcode reader comprising an illumination system configured to illuminate a target area, an image sensor configured to capture an image of the target area, an optic system configured to focus reflected light from the target area onto the image sensor, a supercapacitor configured to provide operating power to the barcode reader, and a first wireless point-to-point interface;

providing a docking station comprising a second wireless point-to-point interface and a power and data interface;

coupling the docking station to a host computing device via the power and data interface;

establishing a wireless point-to-point communication link between the barcode reader and the docking station;

docking the barcode reader in the docking station such that the docking station provides charging power to charge the supercapacitor of the barcode reader;

the barcode reader sending data to the docking station via the wireless point-to-point communication link; and

the docking station providing the data to the host computing device via the power and data interface.

17. A method, comprising:

providing a barcode reader comprising an illumination system configured to illuminate a target area, an image sensor configured to capture an image of the target area, an optic system configured to focus reflected light from the target area onto the image sensor, a supercapacitor configured to provide operating power to the barcode reader, and a first wireless point-to-point interface;

providing a docking station comprising a second wireless point-to-point interface and a power and data interface;

establishing a wireless point-to-point communication link between the barcode reader and the docking station;

docking the barcode reader in the docking station such that the docking station provides charging power to charge the supercapacitor of the barcode reader;

coupling the docking station to a host computing device via the power and data interface; and

the host computing device supplying the charging power to charge the supercapacitor of the barcode reader.