Combination RFID/image reader

• US 20060202032A1
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symagery
• Original Assignee: Symagery
• Inventors: Kricorissian, Gregg R.
• Application Number:
  US11/076,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20060202032A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/435
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers

Abstract

An automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) system is provided. The system includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, an image reader, a memory module, and a central processing unit (CPU). The image reader captures image data from a label and transmits the data to the memory module. The RFID reader captures RFID data from another label and transmits the data to the memory module. The memory module assembles the received image data and RFID data into respective frames, and then transmits the frames to the CPU. The CPU decodes the frames and outputs identifying information as a result of the decoding. The image data may include a two-dimensional image. The system may further include a flash emitter for emitting a flash of light upon the first label after prompting by a user. The system may be contained in a housing, such as a hand-held scanning module. The system may use a low-voltage battery to provide operating power.

Claims

1. An automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) system, comprising:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader;

an image reader;

a memory module, the memory module being in communication with the RFID reader and with the image reader via a bus; and

a central processing unit (CPU), the CPU being in communication with the memory module via the bus,

wherein the RFID reader is configured to capture RFID data from a first label and to transmit the RFID data to the memory module; and

wherein the image reader is configured to capture image data from a second label and to transmit the captured image data to the memory module; and

wherein the memory module is configured to receive the captured image data in an image data frame and to receive the captured RFID data in an RFID data frame, and then to make available each data frame to the CPU; and

wherein the CPU is configured to decode each RFID data frame and each image data frame and to output identifying information as a result of the decoding.

2. The AIDC system of claim 1, wherein the image data comprises a one- or two-dimensional image.

3. The AIDC system of claim 1, the system further comprising a flash emitter, the flash emitter being configured to emit a flash of light upon the second label after prompting by a user.

4. The AIDC system of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader is configured to use the high frequency (HF) band for capturing data from the first label.

5. The AIDC system of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader is configured to use the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band for capturing data from the first label.

6. The AIDC system of claim 1, wherein the system is contained in a housing.

7. The AIDC system of claim 6, wherein the housing comprises a hand-held scanning module, and the system further comprises a low-voltage battery configured to provide operating power to the system.

8. The AIDC system of claim 7, wherein the system is configured to cause the battery to provide reduced power to the system when at least a portion of the system is not in use.

9. The AIDC system of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader is further configured to write data to the first label in response to a command from the CPU.

10. The AIDC system of claim 9, wherein the CPU is further configured to use a result of the decoding to determine the command used for writing data to the first label.

11. The AIDC system of claim 1, further comprising a light source configured to emit light that acts as a pointer to the first or second label.

12. The AIDC system of claim 1, further comprising a light source configured to emit light that acts as a frame for bounding the first or second label.

13. The AIDC system of claim 1, further comprising an indicator configured to provide a status indication as a further result of the decoding.

14. The AIDC system of claim 13, wherein the indicator comprises an array of LED lights, and the status indication includes a configuration of illuminated and unilluminated LED lights on the indicator.

15. The AIDC system of claim 13, wherein the indicator comprises an LCD display.

16. The AIDC system of claim 13, wherein the indicator comprises user-controllable switches.

17. The AIDC system of claim 13, wherein the indicator comprises user-controllable buttons.

18. The AIDC system of claim 13, wherein the status indication includes an audible alert tone.

19. The AIDC system of claim 1, wherein the CPU is further configured to receive commands from an external host computer.

20. The AIDC system of claim 1, further comprising an interface configured to integrate an OEM module to the system by using a software development kit (SDK).

21. The AIDC system of claim 20, wherein the SDK is configured to enable the OEM module to interface directly to the RFID reader and the image reader.

22. The AIDC system of claim 20, wherein the SDK is configured to enable the OEM module to embed a separate functionality into the system.

23. An automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) system, comprising:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader;

an image reader;

a memory module, the memory module being in communication with the image reader via a bus; and

a central processing unit (CPU), the CPU being in communication with the memory module via the bus, and the CPU being in communication with the RFID reader,

wherein the RFID reader is configured to capture RFID data from a first label, process the captured RFID data, assemble the processed RFID data into an RFID data frame, and make the RFID data frame available to the CPU; and

wherein the image reader is configured to capture image data from a second label and to transmit the captured image data to the memory module; and

wherein the memory module is configured to receive the captured image data in an image data frame and to make available each assembled image data frame to the CPU; and

wherein the CPU is configured to decode each RFID data frame and each image data frame and to output identifying information as a result of the decoding.

24. A method of performing an automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) operation on a labeled object, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing radio frequency identification (RFID) data from a first label;

capturing image data from a second label;

assembling the captured RFID data into an RFID data frame;

assembling the captured image data into an image data frame;

decoding the data frames; and

outputting identifying information associated with the labeled object based on a result of the decoding.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the image data comprises a two-dimensional image.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of emitting a flash of light upon the second label after prompting by a user.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of capturing RFID data comprises using the high frequency (HF) band for capturing data from the first label.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of capturing RFID data comprises using the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band for capturing data from the first label.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein every step of the method is performed by using a single device contained within a housing.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the housing comprises a hand-held scanning module, and the method further comprises using a low-voltage battery to provide operating power to the device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the method further comprises causing the battery to provide reduced power to the device when at least a portion of the device is not in use.

32. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of writing RFID data to the first label.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of writing RFID data to the first label comprises using a result of the decoding step to determine a command to be used for writing RFID data to the first label.

34. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of emitting light that acts as a pointer to the first or second label.

35. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of emitting light that acts as a frame for bounding the first or second label.

36. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of providing a status indication based on the result of the decoding.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the status indication includes a configuration of illuminated and unilluminated LED lights on an LED light array.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the status indication is provided using an LCD display.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the status indication includes an audible alert tone.

40. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of interfacing with an OEM module by using a software development kit (SDK).