Battery-powered optical bar code reader and voltage regulator therefor
First Claim
1. A battery-powered optical bar code reading system comprising user-actuated power switch means for switching from a first to a second state to initiate operation of the system, a voltage regulator connected to the power switch means for providing a regulated supply voltage from a battery, the voltage regulator being turned on for an initial time interval in response to the power switch means being switched from its said first state to its said second state and remaining turned on thereafter only if a regulator control signal is received, an optical bar code reader powered by the regulated supply voltage for producing an output representative of an optical bar code as relative movement of the reader with respect to the optical bar code occurs, an annunciator for providing a warning in response to an annunciator control signal, and computer means powered by the regulated supply voltage for converting the output of the reader to digital data representative of the optical bar code, the computer means providing said regulator control signal and said annunciator control signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery-powered, microcomputer controlled optical bar code reader automatically turns itself off under certain predetermined conditions, so as to prevent operation when the battery voltage is low, when the microcomputer of the circuitry controlled by the microcomputer is malfunctioning, or when the scanner has been turned on, but is not being used.
124 Citations
19 Claims
- 1. A battery-powered optical bar code reading system comprising user-actuated power switch means for switching from a first to a second state to initiate operation of the system, a voltage regulator connected to the power switch means for providing a regulated supply voltage from a battery, the voltage regulator being turned on for an initial time interval in response to the power switch means being switched from its said first state to its said second state and remaining turned on thereafter only if a regulator control signal is received, an optical bar code reader powered by the regulated supply voltage for producing an output representative of an optical bar code as relative movement of the reader with respect to the optical bar code occurs, an annunciator for providing a warning in response to an annunciator control signal, and computer means powered by the regulated supply voltage for converting the output of the reader to digital data representative of the optical bar code, the computer means providing said regulator control signal and said annunciator control signal.
- 7. A battery-powered optical bar code reading system comprising a voltage regulator for providing a regulated supply voltage based upon electrical energy from a battery, an optical bar code reader powered by the regulated supply voltage for producing an output representative of an optical bar code as relative movement of the reader with respect to the optical bar code occurs, computer means powered by the regulated supply voltage for converting the output of the reader to digital data representative of the optical bar code, an annunciator controlled by the computer means for providing a nonuse time-out warning when the output of the reader has remained unchanged for a first predetermined time interval, and wherein the computer means controls operation of the voltage regulator to cause the voltage regulator to discontinue providing said supply voltage if the output of the reader remains unchanged during a second predetermined time interval following the nonuse time-out warning.
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13. A battery-powered electronic system which includes user-actuated power switch means for switching from a first to a second state to initiate operation of the device, voltage regulator means connected to the power switch means and to a battery for producing a supply voltage, and computer means powered by the supply voltage for controlling operation of the system as a function of input signals and a stored program, the computer means performing predetermined initialization procedures upon application of said supply voltage thereto after said power switch means switches to its said second state and providing a regulator control signal which indicates successful completion of the initialization procedures, wherein the voltage regulator means includes capacitor means for providing said supply voltage, charging current control means connected between the battery and the capacitor means for controlling current flow from said battery to the capacitor means as a function of a control signal, first comparator means for providing the control signal as a function of a comparison of a first signal derived from the supply voltage and a first reference voltage, integrator means connected through said power switch means to the battery for producing the integrator signal, comparator control means connected between the battery and the first comparator means for supplying current to the first comparator means when said power switch means is in its said second state and the integrator signal is less than a threshold value, and integrator disable means for preventing the integrator signal from reaching the threshold value in response to the regulator control signal from the computer means.
- 14. An optical bar code reading system comprising optical bar code reader means for producing an output representative of an optical bar code as relative movement of the reader with respect to the optical bar code occurs, battery means for providing electrical current, capacitor means for providing a supply voltage, user-actuated power switch means adapted to be switched from an open condition to a closed condition to initiate operation of the system, integrator means for receiving current from the battery means when the power switch means is closed, the integrator means producing an integrator signal which changes toward a threshold value with time, control transistor means for supplying current from the battery means when the power switch means is closed and the integrator signal is less than the threshold value, first comparator means powered by current from said control transistor means for comparing a first signal derived from the supply voltage to a first reference voltage, charging current control means connected between the battery means and the capacitor means for controlling current flow from the battery means to the capacitor means as a function of an output of the comparator means, computer means powered by the supply voltage for converting the output of the reader means to digital data representative of the optical bar code, the computer means performing predetermined initialization procedures upon application of the supply voltage thereto after the power switch means is closed and providing a disable signal upon successful completion of the predetermined initialization procedures, and integrator disable means for disabling the integrator means to permit continued operation of the computer means if the computer means provides a control signal before the integrator signal reaches its said threshold value.
Specification