Automatic sensing and programming circuit and programming method for optical scanners
First Claim
1. A sensing circuit for an optical scanner comprising:
- means for emitting a diffuse infrared signal occupying a first volume of space adjacent the scanner;
means coupled to the emitting means for generating a modulation signal for modulating the infrared signal;
means for receiving the modulated infrared signal after it has reflected from an item within the first volume and for generating an output signal; and
means for energizing the optical scanner in response to the output signal from the receiving means;
wherein the first volume of space substantially encompasses a second volume of space occupied by the scan pattern emitted by the optical scanner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic sensing and programming circuit for optical scanners which produces a diffuse volume of light substantially encompassing the scan volume of the scanner. A method for programming one optical scanner from another uses the circuit to emit a plurality of pulse trains which in combination represent a predetermined function or set of functions, each pulse train representing predetermined hexadecimal digit, and each pulse train including a predetermined number of binary pulses. A method of programming an optical scanner employs a plurality of tags which in combination represent a predetermined function or set of functions, each tag representing a predetermined hexadecimal digit encoded as bar code labels.
59 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A sensing circuit for an optical scanner comprising:
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means for emitting a diffuse infrared signal occupying a first volume of space adjacent the scanner; means coupled to the emitting means for generating a modulation signal for modulating the infrared signal; means for receiving the modulated infrared signal after it has reflected from an item within the first volume and for generating an output signal; and means for energizing the optical scanner in response to the output signal from the receiving means; wherein the first volume of space substantially encompasses a second volume of space occupied by the scan pattern emitted by the optical scanner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A sensing circuit for an optical scanner comprising:
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means for emitting a diffuse infrared signal occupying a first volume of space adjacent the scanner including an infrared LED, and a drive circuit coupled to the LED; means for receiving the infrared signal after it has reflected from an item within the first volume and for generating an output signal, including an infrared detector diode and a receiver circuit coupled to the infrared detector diode; and a controller, coupled to the emitting means, the receiving means, and the optical scanner, for generating a clock signal for modulating the infrared signal and for energizing the optical scanner in response to the output signal from the receiving means; wherein the first volume of space substantially encompasses a second volume of space occupied by the scan pattern emitted by the optical scanner.
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7. An apparatus for programming a second optical scanner with information from a first optical scanner comprising:
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means within the first optical scanner for emitting a diffuse infrared signal; means coupled to the emitting means for generating a modulating signal containing the information for modulating the infrared signal; means within the second scanner for receiving the modulated infrared signal and for generating an output signal containing the information; and means within the second scanner for storing the information in the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for programming a second optical scanner with information from a first optical scanner comprising:
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means within the first optical scanner for emitting a diffuse infrared signal, including an infrared LED and a drive circuit coupled to the LED; means coupled to the emitting means for generating a modulating signal containing the information for modulating the infrared signal including a first controller; means within the second scanner for receiving the modulated infrared signal and for generating an output signal containing the information, including an infrared detector diode and a receiver circuit coupled to the infrared detector diode; and means within the second scanner responsive to the output signal for storing the information, including a second controller.
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13. A method for programming a second optical scanner with information from a first optical scanner comprising the steps of:
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(a) deenergizing the lasers and motors of the first and second scanners. (b) emitting a diffuse infrared signal from the first scanner; (c) generating a modulating signal containing the information at the first scanner; (d) modulating the infrared signal at the first scanner; (e) receiving the modulated infrared signal at the second scanner; (f) generating a signal containing the information at the second scanner; and (g) storing the information in the second scanner. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for programming an optical scanner comprising the steps of:
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(a) scanning a plurality of bar code labels, wherein each bar code label represents a predetermined hexadecimal digit, wherein the combination of bar code labels arranged in sequence represents a predetermined scanner function; (b) decoding the sequence of hexadecimal digits; and (c) implementing the predetermined scanner function.
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18. A method for programming an optical scanner comprising the steps of:
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(a) scanning a plurality of bar code labels, wherein each bar code label represents a predetermined hexadecimal digit, wherein the combination of bar code labels arranged in sequence represents a first predetermined scanner function; (b) decoding the sequence of hexadecimal digits; (c) implementing the first predetermined scanner function; and (d) scanning a single bar code label representing a second predetermined scanner function.
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Specification