Item processing device with barcode reader and integrated RFID interrogator

• US 20020145037A1
• Filed: 04/09/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Goodwin, John C. III
• Application Number:
  US09/829,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20020145037A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers

Abstract

An item processing device which process both barcode and radio frequency identification (RFID) labels. The item processing device includes a barcode reader and a radio frequency product label interrogator coupled to the barcode reader.

Claims

1. An item processing device comprising:

a barcode reader; and

a radio frequency product label interrogator coupled to the barcode reader.

2. An item processing device comprising:

a barcode reader including a housing; and

a radio frequency product label interrogator in the housing.

3. The item processing device as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

a scale within the housing of the barcode reader.

4. An item checkout device comprising

a barcode reader including

control circuitry for obtaining first identification information from barcode labels;

and

a communication port coupled to the control circuitry for obtaining second identification information from a radio frequency product label; and

a radio frequency interrogator which provides the second identification information to the communication port.

5. An item processing system comprising:

a barcode reader including a housing;

a radio frequency product label interrogator in the housing; and

a computer which obtains first identification information from the barcode reader and second identification information from the radio frequency product label interrogator.

6. An item processing system comprising:

a barcode reader having a housing and including

control circuitry for obtaining first identification information from barcode labels; and

a communication port coupled to the control circuitry for obtaining second identification information from a radio frequency product label;

a radio frequency interrogator which provides the second identification information to the communication port; and

a computer which obtains the first and second identification information from the control circuitry.

7. An item processing method comprising the steps of:

activating an item processing device including a barcode reader to obtain first identification information from an item and a radio frequency product label interrogator to obtain second identification information from the item;

if the item has a barcode label, obtaining the first identification information by the barcode reader; and

if the item has a radio frequency product label, obtaining the second identification information by the radio frequency product label interrogator.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

sensing the item by the item processing device; and

activating the barcode reader and the radio frequency product label interrogator in response to sensing the item by the item processing device.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of:

if the item has both the barcode label and the radio frequency product label, identifying the item using both the first and second identification information.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

obtaining a price of the item if the first and second identification information are associated with the item.

11. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of:

obtaining a price of the item using the first identification information if only the first identification information is obtained.

12. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of:

obtaining a price of the item using the second identification information if only the first identification information is obtained.