Portable bar code symbol reading device with bar code symbol detection circuit for activating microprocessor implemented bar code symbol decoder

• US 5,424,525 A
• Filed: 11/04/1993
• Issued: 06/13/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilz, David M. Sr., Rockstein, George B., Knowles, Carl H., Bubnoski, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL GUNYOUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/147,833
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/463, 235/466, 235/472
• US Class Current: 235/462.31
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/106 having diffraction gratings as scanning elements, e.g. holographic scanners holographic optical elements G02B5/32, holography G03H
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1012 Special detection of object
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1016 Motor control or optical moving unit control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1017 Programmable
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1018 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10564 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10594 Beam path
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10603 Basic scanning using moving elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10663 using hologram
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10673 Parallel lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10693 for omnidirectional scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10792 Special measures in relation to the object to be scanned
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10801 Multidistance reading
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10871 : randomly oriented data-fields, code-marks therefore, e.g. concentric circles-code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 : constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 : the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/109 : adaptations to make the hand-held scanner useable as a fixed scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 : using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 : locating of the code in an image

Abstract

An automatic bar code symbol reading system comprising components for carrying out object detection, scanning, photoreceiving, A/D conversion, bar code presence detection, symbol decoding, data format conversion, data storage and data transmission functions. In general, the bar code symbol reading device includes a control system having a plurality of control centers that control the operation of the system components in accordance with preselected system control operations. Each of the control centers are responsive to control activation signals generated by certain of the system components upon the occurrence of predefined conditions. Certain of the control centers are capable overriding other control centers to provide diverse control capabilities which facilitates execution of intelligent operations and power consumption, during bar code symbol reading.

Claims

1. An automatic bar code symbol reading system, comprising:

a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture through which visible light can exit and enter said hand-supportable housing;

an object detection circuit in said hand-supportable housing, for detection of an object located within at least a portion of a scan field defined external to said hand-supportable housing, and automatically generating a first activation signal in response to the detection of said object in at least a portion of said scan field;

scan data producing means in said hand-supportable housing, for producing, when activated, scan data from said detected object located in said scan field, said scan data producing means including

a laser beam producing means disposed in said hand-supportable housing for producing and projecting a visible laser beam through said light transmission aperture, and repeatedly scanning said visible laser beam across said scan field and a bar code symbol on said detected object, and

laser light detecting means for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off said bar code symbol, and for automatically producing scan data indicative of said detected intensity;

bar code symbol detection circuit for processing produced scan data, when activated, so as to detect said bar code symbol on said detected object, and automatically generating a second activation signal in response to the detection of said bar code symbol;

a programmed microprocessor operably associated with said bar code symbol detection circuit, for processing produced scan data, when activated so as to decode said detected bar code symbol, and automatically produce symbol character data representative of said decoded bar code symbol in response to the decoding of said detected bar code symbol; and

system control means for controlling the operation of said automatic bar code symbol reading system, said system control means including

first control means for automatically activating said scan data producing means and said bar code symbol detection circuit for up to a first predetermined time period in response to the generation of said first activation signal, and

second control means for automatically activating said scan data producing means and said programmed microprocessor for up to a second predetermined time period in response to the generation of said second activation signal.

2. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 1,

wherein said first control means further comprises means for automatically deactivating said scan data producing means and said bar code symbol detection circuit in response to said bar code symbol detection circuit failing to generate said second activation signal within said first predetermined time period, and

wherein said second control means further comprises means for automatically deactivating said scan data producing means and said programmed microprocessor in response to said programmed microprocessor failing to produce said symbol character data within said second predetermined time period.

3. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein said first control means and said second control means comprise first and second electronic circuits, respectively.

4. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein said bar code symbol has first and second envelope borders;

wherein said bar code symbol detection circuit comprises means for detecting said first and second envelope borders.

5. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein said first control means and said second control means comprise first and second control circuits, respectively.

6. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein said bar code symbol detection circuit comprises a bar code symbol envelope detection circuit.

7. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein said laser beam source comprises a laser diode.

8. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein said object detection circuit comprises

signal transmitting means for transmitting a signal into said scan field, and

signal receiving means for receiving said transmitted signal reflected off said object in at least a portion of said scan field, and automatically generating said first activation signal to indicate the detection of said object in at least a portion of said scan field.

9. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 8,

wherein said signal transmitting means comprises an infra-red light source for transmitting a pulsed infra-red light signal from said hand-supportable housing, and

wherein said signal receiving means comprises a means for focusing reflected infra-red light pulses onto an infra-red light detector disposed in said hand-supportable housing.

10. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein said hand-supportable housing comprises a head portion and a handle portion.

11. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 10, wherein said object detection circuit and said scan data producing means are disposed in said head portion.

12. An automatic bar code symbol reading system, comprising:

a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture through which visible light can exit and enter said hand-supportable housing;

an object detection circuit in said hand-supportable housing, for detection of an object located within at least a portion of a scan field defined external to said hand-supportable housing, and automatically generating a first activation signal in response to the detection of said object in at least a portion of said scan field;

scan data producing means in said hand-supportable housing, for producing, when activated, scan data from said detected object located in said scan field, said scan data producing means including

a laser beam producing means disposed in said hand-supportable housing for producing and projecting a visible laser beam through said light transmission aperture, and repeatedly scanning said visible laser beam across said scan field and a bar code symbol on said detected object, and

laser light detecting means for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off said bar code symbol, and for automatically producing scan data indicative of said detected intensity;

a bar code symbol detection circuit for processing produced scan data, when activated, so as to detect said bar code symbol on said detected object, and automatically generate a second activation signal in response to the detection of said bar code symbol;

a programmed microprocessor for processing produced scan data, when activated, so as to decode said detected bar code symbol, and automatically producing symbol character data representative of said decoded bar code symbol in response to the decoding of said detected bar code symbol; and

system control means for automatically activating said scan data producing means and said bar code symbol detection circuit for up to a first predetermined time period in response to the generation of said first activation signal, and automatically activating said scan data producing means and said programmed microprocessor for up to a second predetermined time period in response to the generation of said second activation signal.

13. The portable automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 12,

wherein said system control means further comprises means for automatically deactivating said scan data producing means and said bar code symbol detection circuit in response to said bar code symbol detection circuit failing to generate said second activation signal within said first predetermined time period, and

wherein said system control means further comprises means for automatically deactivating said scan data producing means and said programmed microprocessor in response to said programmed microprocessor failing to produce said symbol character data within said second predetermined time period.

14. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 12,

wherein said bar code symbol has first and second envelope borders, and said bar code symbol detection circuit detects said bar code symbol by detecting said first and second envelope borders.

15. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 12, wherein said object detection circuit comprises

signal transmitting means for transmitting a signal into said scan field, and

signal receiving means for receiving said transmitted signal reflected off said object in at least a portion of said scan field, and automatically generating said first activation signal indicative of the detection of said object in at least a portion of said scan field.

16. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 12, wherein said signal transmitting means comprises an infra-red light source for transmitting a pulsed infra-red light signal, and wherein said signal receiving means comprises an optical element for focusing reflected infra-red light pulses onto an infra-red light detector disposed in said hand-supportable housing.

17. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 12, wherein said laser producing means comprises a laser diode.

18. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 12, wherein said hand-supportable housing comprises a head portion and a handle portion.

19. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 18, wherein said object detection circuit and said scan data producing means are disposed in said head portion.

20. A automatic bar code symbol reading system, comprising:

a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture through which visible light can exit and enter said hand-supportable housing;

an object detection circuit in said hand-supportable housing, for detection of an object located within at least a portion of a scan field defined external to said hand-supportable housing and automatically generating a first activation signal in response to the detection of said object in at least a portion of said scan field;

scan data producing means in said hand-supportable housing, for producing scan data from said detected object located in said scan field, said scan data producing means including

a laser beam producing means disposed in said hand-supportable housing for producing and projecting a laser beam through said light transmission aperture, and repeatedly scanning said laser beam across said scan field and a bar code symbol on said detected object, and

laser light detecting means for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off said bar code symbol, and for automatically producing scan data indicative of said detected intensity;

a bar code symbol detection circuit for processing produced scan data, when activated, so as to detect said bar code symbol on said detected object, and automatically generate a second activation signal in response to the detection of said bar code symbol;

a programmed microprocessor for processing produced scan data, when activated, so as to decode said detected bar code symbol, and automatically producing symbol character data representative of said decoded bar code symbol in response to the decoding of said detected bar code symbol; and

system control circuitry for automatically activating said bar code symbol detection circuit in response to the generation of said first activation signal, and automatically activating said programmed microprocessor in response to the generation of said second activation signal.

21. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 20,

wherein said system control circuitry further comprises means for automatically deactivating said bar code symbol detection circuit in response to said bar code symbol detection circuit failing to generate said second activation signal within a first predetermined time period, and

wherein said system control circuitry further comprises means for automatically deactivating said programmed microprocessor in response to said programmed microprocessor failing to produce said symbol character data within a second predetermined time period.

22. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 21, wherein said object detection circuit comprises

signal transmitting means for transmitting a signal into said scan field, and

signal receiving means for receiving said transmitted signal reflected off said object in at least a portion of said scan field, and automatically generating said activation signal indicative of the detection of said object in at least a portion of said scan field.

23. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 20,

wherein said bar code symbol has first and second envelope borders, and said bar code symbol detection circuit detects said bar code symbol by detecting said first and second envelope borders.

24. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 20, wherein said signal transmitting means comprises an infra-red light source for transmitting a pulsed infra-red light signal, and wherein said signal receiving means comprises an optical element for focusing reflected infra-red light pulses onto an infra-red light detector disposed in said hand-supportable housing.

25. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 20, wherein said laser beam producing means comprises a laser diode.

26. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 20, wherein said hand-supportable housing comprises a head portion and handle portion.

27. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 26, wherein said object detection circuit and said scan data processing means are disposed in said head portion.

28. An automatic bar code symbol reading system, comprising:

a compact housing having a light transmission aperture through which visible light can exit and enter said compact housing;

an object detection circuit in said compact housing, for detection of an object located within at least a portion of a scan field defined external to said hand-supportable housing and automatically generating a first activation signal in response to the detection of said object in at least a portion of said scan field;

scan data producing means in said compact housing, for producing scan data from said detected object located in said scan field, said scan data producing means including

a laser beam producing means disposed in said compact housing for producing and projecting a laser beam through said light transmission aperture, and repeatedly scanning said laser beam across said scan field and a bar code symbol on said detected object, and

laser light detecting means for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off said bar code symbol, and for automatically producing scan data indicative of said detected intensity;

a bar code symbol detection circuit for processing produced scan data in response to the generation of said first activation signal, so as to detect said bar code symbol on said detected object, and automatically generate a second activation signal in response to the detection of said bar code symbol;

a programmed microprocessor operably associated with said bar code symbol detection circuit, for processing produced scan data, when activated, so as to decode said detected bar code symbol, and automatically producing symbol character data representative of said decoded bar code symbol; and

system control circuitry for automatically activating said programmed microprocessor in response to the generation of said second activation signal and automatically deactivating said programmed microprocessor in response to said programmed microprocessor failing to produce symbol character data within a predetermined time period.

29. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 28,

wherein said bar code symbol has first and second envelope borders, and said bar code symbol detection circuit detects said bar code symbol by detecting said first and second envelope borders.

30. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 28, wherein said object detection circuit comprises

signal transmitting means for transmitting a signal into said scan field, and

signal receiving means for receiving said transmitted signal reflected off said object in at least a portion of said scan field, and automatically generating said first activation signal in response to receiving said transmitted signal.

31. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 30, wherein said signal transmitting means comprises an infra-red light source for transmitting a pulsed infra-red light signal, and wherein said signal receiving means comprises an optical element for focusing reflected infra-red light pulses onto an infra-red light detector disposed in said hand-supportable housing.

32. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 28, wherein said laser beam producing means comprises a laser diode.

33. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 28, wherein said compact housing is a hand-supportable housing.

34. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 33, wherein said hand-supportable housing comprises a head portion and a handle portion.

35. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 34, wherein said object detection circuit and said scan data processing means are disposed in said head portion.

36. The automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 34, wherein said object detection circuit, said bar code symbol detection circuit, said programmed microprocessor, and said system control circuitry are disposed in said hand-supportable housing.

37. A method of reading bar code symbols using a portable automatic bar code symbol reading system having a hand-supportable housing, comprising the steps:

(a) supporting said hand-supportable housing adjacent an object bearing a bar code symbol so that said object is located within at least a portion of a scan field defined external to said hand-supportable housing and said hand-supportable housing is disposed in a non-contacting relationship with said object, said automatic bar code symbol reading system further including

(1) a light transmission aperture in said hand-supportable housing, through which visible light can exit and enter said hand-supportable housing,

(2) an object detection circuit in said hand-supportable housing, for automatically detecting said object located within at least a portion of said scan field, and producing a first activation signal in response to the detection of said object,

(3) scan data producing means in said hand-supportable housing, for producing scan data from said detected object located in said scan field, said scan data producing means including

(i) a laser beam producing means for producing and projecting a laser beam through said light transmission aperture, and repeatedly scanning said laser beam across said scan field and a bar code symbol on said detected object, and

(ii) laser light detecting means for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off said bar code symbol, and for automatically producing scan data indicative of said detected intensity,

(4) a bar code symbol detection circuit for processing, when activated, produced scan data in response to the generation of said first activation signal, and detecting said bar code symbol on said detected object, and automatically generating a second activation signal in response to the detection of said bar code symbol,

(5) a programmed microprocessor operably associated with said bar code symbol detection circuit, for processing produced scan data, when activated, so as to decode said detected bar code symbol, and automatically produce symbol character data representative of said decoded bar code symbol in response to the decoding of said detected bar code symbol, and

(6) system control circuitry for automatically activating said programmed microprocessor in response to the generation of said second activation signal and automatically deactivating said programmed microprocessor in response to said programmed microprocessor failing to produce said symbol character data within a predetermined time period;

(b) detecting said object in said scan field, and automatically generating said first activation signal in response to the detection of said object;

(c) producing and projecting a visible laser beam through said light transmission aperture and repeatedly scanning said visible laser beam across said scan field and said bar code symbol on said detected object;

(d) automatically detecting at said laser light detecting means, the intensity of laser light reflected off said bar code symbol as said visible light beam is scanned across said bar code symbol, and automatically producing a first electrical signal responsive to the detected intensity of said reflected laser light;

(e) automatically processing said first electrical signal using said bar code symbol detection circuit in order to detect said bar code symbol on said detected object, and upon detecting said bar code symbol on said detected object, automatically generating a second activation signal;

(f) in response to the generation of said second activation signal, automatically continuing the production and repeatedly scanning of said visible laser beam across said scan field and said detected bar code symbol, and activating said programmed microprocessor for decode processing;

(g) automatically detecting at said laser light detecting means, the intensity of laser light reflected off said detected bar code symbol, and producing a second electrical signal responsive to the detected intensity of said reflected laser light; and

(h) automatically processing said second electrical signal using said programmed microprocessor in order to decode said detected bar code symbol on said detected object, and upon decoding said detected bar code symbol, automatically producing symbol character data representative of said decoded bar code symbol, and upon failing to decode said detected bar code symbol within a predetermined time period, automatically deactivating said programmed microprocessor.

38. The method of claim 37, where step (a) further comprises

containing said object detection circuit, said scan data producing means, said bar code symbol detection circuit, said programmed microprocessor, and said system control circuitry in said hand-supportable housing.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein step (a) further comprises

supporting said hand-supportable housing by way of a handle portion.

40. A portable bar code symbol reading system, comprising:

a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture through which light can exit said hand-supportable housing;

activation signal generating means in said hand-supportable housing, for generating a first activation signal indicative of the presence of an object located within at least a portion of a scan field defined external to said hand-supportable housing;

scan data producing means in said hand-supportable housing, for producing scan data from said detected object located in said scan field, said scan data producing means including

a laser beam producing means disposed in said hand-supportable housing for producing and projecting a laser beam through said light transmission aperture, and repeatedly scanning said laser beam across said scan field and a bar code symbol on said object, and

laser light detecting means for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off said bar code symbol, and for automatically producing scan data indicative of said detected intensity;

a bar code symbol detection circuit for processing produced scan data in response to the generation of said first activation signal, so as to detect said bar code symbol on said detected object, and automatically generate a second activation signal in response to the detection of said bar code symbol;

a programmed microprocessor operably associated with said bar code symbol detection circuit, for processing produced scan data, when activated, so as to decode said detected bar code symbol, and automatically producing symbol character data representative of said decoded bar code symbol; and

system control circuitry for automatically activating said programmed microprocessor in response to the generation of said second activation signal and automatically deactivating said programmed microprocessor in response to said programmed microprocessor failing to produce symbol character data within a predetermined time period.

41. The portable bar code symbol reading system of claim 40,

wherein said bar code symbol has first and second envelope borders, and said bar code symbol detection circuit detects said bar code symbol by detecting said first and second envelope borders.

42. The portable bar code symbol reading system of claim 40, wherein said activation signal generation means further comprises

signal transmitting means for transmitting a signal into said scan field, and

signal receiving means for receiving said transmitted signal reflected off said object in at least a portion of said scan field, and automatically generating said first activation signal in response to receiving said transmitted signal.

43. The portable bar code symbol reading system of claim 40, wherein said laser beam producing means comprises a laser diode.

44. The portable bar code symbol reading system of claim 43, wherein said hand-supportable housing comprises a head portion and a handle portion.

45. The portable bar code symbol reading system of claim 44, wherein said activation signal generation means and said scan data processing means are disposed in said head portion.

46. An automatic bar code symbol reading system of claim 40, wherein said activation signal generation means comprising an object detection circuit disposed in said hand-supportable housing.

47. The portable bar code symbol reading system of claim 40, wherein said activation signal generation means, said bar code symbol detection circuit, said programmed microprocessor, and said system control circuitry are disposed in said hand-supportable housing.

48. A method of reading bar code symbols using a portable automatic bar code symbol reading system having a hand-supportable housing, comprising the steps:

(a) supporting said hand-supportable housing adjacent an object bearing a bar code symbol so that said object is located within at least a portion of a scan field defined external to said hand-supportable housing and said hand-supportable housing is disposed in a non-contacting relationship with said object, said automatic bar code symbol reading system further including

(1) a light transmission aperture in said hand-supportable housing, through which light can exit said hand-supportable housing,

(2) activation signal generation means in said hand-supportable housing, for producing a first activation signal indicative of the presence of said object in at least a portion of said scan field, and,

(3) scan data producing means in said hand-supportable housing, for producing scan data from said detected object located in said scan field, said scan data producing means including

(i) light producing means for producing and projecting light through said light transmission aperture, across said scan field and onto a bar code symbol on said object, and

(ii) light detecting means for detecting the intensity of light reflected off said bar code symbol, and for automatically producing scan data indicative of said detected intensity,

(4) a bar code symbol detection circuit for processing, when activated, produced scan data in response to the generation of said first activation signal, and detecting said bar code symbol on said detected object, and automatically generating a second activation signal in response to the detection of said bar code symbol,

(5) a programmed microprocessor operably associated with said bar code symbol detection circuit, for processing produced scan data, when activated, so as to decode said detected bar code symbol, and automatically produce symbol character data representative of said decoded bar code symbol in response to the decoding of said detected bar code symbol, and

(6) system control circuitry for automatically activating said programmed microprocessor in response to the generation of said second activation signal and automatically deactivating said programmed microprocessor in response to said programmed microprocessor failing to produce said symbol character data within a predetermined time period;

(b) indicating the presence of said object in at least a portion of scan field by generating said first activation signal;

(c) producing and projecting light through said light transmission aperture, across said scan field and onto said bar code symbol on said object;

(d) automatically detecting at said light detecting means, the intensity of light reflected off said bar code symbol as said light projected onto said bar code symbol, and automatically producing a first electrical signal responsive to the detected intensity of said reflected laser light;

(e) automatically processing said first electrical signal using said bar code symbol detection circuit in order to detect said bar code symbol on said detected object, and upon detecting said bar code symbol on said detected object, automatically generating a second activation signal;

(f) in response to the generation of said second activation signal, automatically continuing the production and projecting of said light across said scan field and onto said detected bar code symbol, and activating said programmed microprocessor for decode processing;

(g) automatically detecting at said light detecting means, the intensity of light reflected off said detected bar code symbol, and producing a second electrical signal responsive to the detected intensity of said reflected light; and

(h) automatically processing said second electrical signal using said programmed microprocessor in order to decode said detected bar code symbol on said detected object, and upon decoding said detected bar code symbol, automatically producing symbol character data representative of said decoded bar code symbol, and upon failing to decode said detected bar code symbol within a predetermined time period, automatically deactivating said programmed microprocessor.