Bar code scanner
First Claim
1. In a bar code scanning system with an optical scanning mechanism and associated circuits for reading bar code signals and digitizing such signals into digital electrical signals, an I/O device selected from a group of such devices which receives input signals corresponding to said bar codes from said system and provides control signals for control of said system, the improvement comprising signal processor and interface apparatus for handling said bar code and control signals, means for decoding said digital electrical signals into decoded signals, said decoded signals having a format, means for selectively varying said format into configurations recognized by different ones of said I/O devices, and interface means for storing and applying an identification code representing the identity of a selected one of said devices to said decoding means for operating said decoding means and for transferring said decoded signals and said command signals between a selected one of said I/O devices and said decoding means.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable bar code scanner system uses various interchangeable interface boards which allow the scanner system to be used with a plurality of different input/output devices (transaction terminals, computers, cash registers) having different operating characteristics. One of these boards is capable of accepting and transmitting digital character strings of various bit lengths to accommodate the operating characteristics of input/output devices using data in a string of predetermined bit length.
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Citations
17 Claims
- 1. In a bar code scanning system with an optical scanning mechanism and associated circuits for reading bar code signals and digitizing such signals into digital electrical signals, an I/O device selected from a group of such devices which receives input signals corresponding to said bar codes from said system and provides control signals for control of said system, the improvement comprising signal processor and interface apparatus for handling said bar code and control signals, means for decoding said digital electrical signals into decoded signals, said decoded signals having a format, means for selectively varying said format into configurations recognized by different ones of said I/O devices, and interface means for storing and applying an identification code representing the identity of a selected one of said devices to said decoding means for operating said decoding means and for transferring said decoded signals and said command signals between a selected one of said I/O devices and said decoding means.
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7. In a portable bar code reading instrument for scanning an optical beam across a symbol for reading data represented by said symbol in response to light returned to said instrument, said instrument having a housing, a handle attached to said housing, a trigger attached to said handle for activating said optical beam, a scan engine which includes a light source for producing the optical beam which scans across the symbol, and means for translating said returned light into electrical signals, the improvement comprising:
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decoding means for translating said electrical signals into a first decoded signal having a first format recognizable by an attached I/O device, and int a second decoded signal having a second format recognized by a different attached I/O device, and interface means for directing said decoded signal to said attached I/O device and for receiving information and control signals from said I/O device said interface means identifying the attached I/O device and providing control signals to said decoding means to condition said decoding means to provide said decoded signals in the format recognized by the attached I/O device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification